This is My Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits Store Email That I Wrote and Posted Last July 2012 : Read It & ENJOY IT! Cheers, TONY

HEADLINE HERE IT'S HOT, TOMORROW'S THE 4th Of JULY!, Many People still do not have electricity and power and so things are a bit different this 4th of July. We hope you can all rally and still enjoy all the festivities and activities that are core to this very special day of our independence. On Sunday it was Canada Day and we hope that it was a big success as we get ready for our 4th as well as anticipate France's 14th ( Bastille Day ) celebrations as well. Fun, exciting and busy times for us all. We have plenty here to help you all stay cool and refreshed and not lose your kool! I KNOW THAT MICHEL and I ordered lots of your " favorite basic/essential " wines to come in today so that we would not run out as you never know what people will need or want and there are always so many " last minute " needs as well. DO NOT WORRY - plenty of bubbly and also " value ' sparkling wines to mix and otherwise drink straight. We know that a lot of you want to mix some of the St. Germain elderflower liqueur ( On Special for $32.99 ) with a dry sparkling bubbly : we had many requests for both this past weekend. I recommended that many of you buy our SIMONET dry French sparkling wine made in Wissembourg, Alsace to mix with the St. Germain or also make a kir royale with either Creme de Cassis, Poire or some Framboise liqueur from MATHILDE : ALL are $13.99 a 375ml bottle. Any of these would be nice for this intense heat and bright sunshine. THIS PAST WEEKEND we tasted some of Alaska when we made three mixed drinks with our " new " liquors from Alaska : 1) ALASKA Distillery Hand-Crafted Smoked Salmon Flavored Vodka ( $35.99, 40% alcohol by volume, alaskadistillery.com, Wassila ) mixed to make a tasty Bloody Mary and made from grain. 2) ALASKA Distillery Hand-Crafted " Buzz " Honey-Flavored vodka ( $35.99, 35% alcohol by volume, alaskadistillery.com, Wasilla, ) made with Golden Alaska Wildflower honey was very popular said Ravi. 3) Hemp Seed Distilled To Make Grain Neutral Spirits , this " Purgatory " ( $46.99. 40% alcohol by volume, alaskadistillery.com, Wasilla ) : what a great story using ingredients that go back 10.000 years. Drink American this 4th and experience three new liquors from our beloved Alaska. Cheers. OH : DON'T FORGET TO USE the " Fat And Juicy " Extra-High Grade, Fully-Loaded flavor Bloody Mary Mix ( $7.99, 32 Fl. Oz - 946 Ml. bottle , www.fatandjuicymix.com ) to mix with the Smoked Salmon vodka from the ALASKA Distillery, $35.99. It's so thick and rich and filled with so many ingredients that you cannot see through it : intense! LIGHTEN UP with some of the " newer " SKINNYGIRL offerings like the " Pina Colada " and the " White Peach " Margarita. We have plenty of the Sangria, too : ALL 3 are On Special for $12.99 a 750ml bottle : as well a number of the " new " vodka mixed drinks. For more info go to : skinnygirlcocktails.com. TITO'S Handmade Vodka, Austin Texas : what could be more American?!? A corn-based vodka made in Texas, crafted in an old-fashioned pot still like many of the cognacs made in France, and from 5th generation America?!? And besides all of that the taste is quite good as well. 40% alcohol by volume, made from 100% corn, distilled six times to be as smooth as possible, no sugar or gelatin added, go to : titosvodka.com for more info. It's a " Unanimous Double Gold Medal Winner of the World Spirits Competition, ... " Tito's Handmade Vodka is designed to be savored by spirit connoisseurs ... ". SANTOS HAS MANY BEERS for you all, many that are small, hand-crafted beers made around the country. Here are some in all shapes and sizes, small and larger bottles, cans, 4-packs, 6-packs : you name it : something for everyone : 1) FAT TIRE Amber Ale from the NEW BELGIUM Brewing, ( $9.49 a 6-pack of bottles, Fort Collins, CO. USA, 5.2% alcohol by volume ) was impossible to get until recently. This is great for all of you that craved it for so many years but were not able to find it here. Great to celebrate the 4th of July at a grill outside in the shade preferably. Ask about the other flavors and styles, too : and enjoy our new store window display with the old-fashioned bike to remember decades past. 2) OLD CHUB Scotch Ale from OSKAR BLUES Brewing ( $9.49 a six-pack of 12-ounce cans, Colorado, USA, 8% alcohol by volume, ) : AND the " Dale's Pale Ale " from OSKAR BLUES Brewery ( $9.49 a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans, 6.5% alcohol by volume ) are both really popular with our customers and easy to transport and take to parties tomorrow and throughout the week since many of you may be off from work? We have ordered extra for you all. For more info go to : www.oskarblues.com. Cheers : happy 4th! 3) Trippel Ale Belgian-Style, Bottle-Conditioned from ALLAGASH Brewing from Portland, Maine ( $13.99 a 4-pack of 12 ounce bottles, 9% alcohol by volume, www.allagash.com ) was just requested earlier today by a young lady from Maine I must assume as she asked for it by name and knew about the Allagash river there and was pleased to discover a " new " Maine beer : Peak's that we also sell really well and have here. She bought the Peak's this time to discover something new. Everyone was happy. That's the way it is supposed to be that. That's what we strive for here everyday! Happy 4th!! 4) " Le Freak " Ale, zesty brew, fine hand-crafted ales from the GREEN FLASH Brewing Company ( $6.99, 1 Pt. 6 Fl. Oz, 9.2% alcohol by volume, San Diego, California, USA. www.greenflashbrew.com ) : " An " out of the box " modern ale crafted by converging two beer styles, Belgian Trippel and American Imperial IPA ... " Happy 4th!! DON'T FORGET, TOO : MANY GLUTEN-FREE beers and apple ciders now available for you all to enjoy. Here's a really great American hard apple cider : 1) Natural Hard Apple Cider Artisinal Reserve Honey Crisp, smooth & crisp with organic honey from CRISPIN ( On Special for $6.99 a bottle, 6.5% alcohol by volume, 22 Fl. Oz, 650ml, crispincider.com, Colfax, CA. and Minneapolis, MN ) : " Naturally fermented using a premium blend of unpasteurized fresh-pressed apple juice, not from concentrate, with no added malt, spirit or grape alcohols ". Delicious and smooth and tasty : fun and perfect also for the 4th of July! NOW LET'S LOOK TO WINE : WE have everything from dry and low-alcohol Portuguese Vinho Verde's, like the ANJOS De Portugal, mede from 40% Arinto, 30% Trajadura, and 30% Loureiro ( $8.99, 9.5% alcohol, slight sparkle ) to just about everything else you can imagine. Here are some " favorites " to enjoy this 4th of July : WHITES : 1) " Blue Moon " Oregon Pinot Gris 2009 from BRIDGEVIEW ( On Special for $10.99 a 12-ounce bottle, 13% alcohol by volume, www.bridgeviewwine.com ) is really quite dry and flavorful and a better food wine than a casual sipping one. It's perfect for the more tasty salads and the fish and the shell-fish that we all grill and include this week as we celebrate and try and enjoy ourselves in this incredibly hot weather. We just discovered it and are thrilled to have it. 2) CHARD Central Coast Chardonnay 2010 ( $13.99 ) is that lovely bright, rounded buttery-style Chardonnay that so many love. Nice to simply sip in the shade. 3) Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2009 RAMEY ( $24.99, 14.5% www.rameywine.com 707-433-0870 ) steps the equation up as the Russian River Valley is renowned for making really great California Chardonnays and this RAMEY is a great example of that with loads of fleshy Chardonnay and buttery flavors with weight and gravitas, too. Special : reasonably-priced. 4) Riesling Central Coast 2009 STERLING Vintner's Collection ( $14.99, Sonoma, CA. www.sterlingvineyards.com ) is a soft and floral and medium-bodied smooth Riesling that is great to sit around and sip and relax with. It's perfect for this hot weather. Chill really well and enjoy with or without a meal. lovely inside or outside. This is a pleasing wine, too for many that are just beginning to enjoy wine because it has no harshness or bite or burn. REDS : 1) 2010 Select Red Santa Barbara County, CA. is a Tempranillo, Syrah and Mourvedre smooth, bright, fresh and pleasing California red from YELLOW Plus BLUE that comes in a recyclable liter box, certified sustainable and is a great value at $10.99, too. I was really very favorably impressed with this wine four or month's ago when I tried it. It works on so many levels and will stay fresher in this box for longer . Do chill it and enjoy it cooler and when not drinking keep it in the refrigerator. It can always warm up to the correct temperature. Cheers. 2) Zinfandel Central Coast 2008 from STERLING Vintner's Collection ( $14.99, www.sterlingvineyards.com, 13.5% alcohol by volume ) is a delightful soft, bright, silky dry medium-bodied red to enjoy by itself or with many a meal. It is very versatile and pleasing and I really like how the alcohol is kept to a respectable level so that the wine never becomes too heavy or cloying and does not simply taste of alcohol. Say what you will : Sterling has preserved the freshness and the fruit in the Zinfandel grape and I respect and appreciate that a whole lot. GREAT for the 4th of July!! 3) Proprietary Red Wine Blend, 2010 from FLEUR DE LYETH ( $10.99 ) , a collaboration with the French Boisset family and California has got some great flavor and stuffing and at 13.5% alcohol by volume it is a great wine to chill up to thirty minutes and enjoy now when you grill and barbecue. It's a balanced, flavorful, fruit and spice-forward dry red at a great price : highly recommended. 4) Merlot 2009 , the " Los Osos " from J. LOHR in Paso Robles, ( On Special for $13.99 a bottle, 13.5% alcohol by volume ) is one of Michel's favorite wines from J.LOHR. He likes the California wines from the Paso Robles region of California and we have arranged for our local J.LOHR wine rep to do a wine-tasting here of the J.LOHR wines this weekend. This would be a nice wine to enjoy tomorrow and through the week. 5) Petit Verdot 2009 from Monticello, Virginia from the WHITE HALL Vineyards ( $19.99, 13% alcohol by volume, www.whitehallvineyards.com ) is a nicely-balanced dry red made from the 5th, and least-known red grape that goes into the making of red Bordeaux wines from France. Virginia is doing a great job with this dry, medium-bodied red that I think will become the red that Virginia definitely becomes known for, even more than the Cabernet Franc grape now. We will see : in the meantime this dry red is a delight and with a chill of thirty minutes will be great for the 4th. Cheers. 6) Zinfandel 2009 from California's Mendocino County, this EDMEADES ( $19.99, 15.5% alcohol by volume, edmeades.com ) is one of the oldest wineries and uses old vines to make a thick, dense, deeply-colored that will penetrate your tongue and imbue it with color, texture, flavors and ripeness : ahhhhh, the lulling, deliciousness of this all! What a treat! 7) Merlot Napa Valley 2008 from the STERLING VINEYARDS ( $26.99 ) was one of the first three Merlots labelled in California and is still excellent and a real treat for the 4th of July! Feel special, buy a bottle. 8) 100% Nebbiolo from Barbaresco in Piemonte, Italy ( $21.99 ) : a GREAT PRICE on a really fine region in Italy, one of the greatest! This is a GREAT DEAL, too : you all need to get some! Cheers, happy 4th! WEEK'S TASTINGS : FRIDAY, July 6th, 2012 ( 5-8PM ) : We have our local J. LOHR rep coming to do a California J. LOHR wine-tasting : join us, never any charge! Cheers! Bring family and friends. SATURDAY, July 7th, 2012 ( 2-6PM ) : We have John and Theresa Morrison coming to taste some of their great South African wine selections here that are new and fun and exciting and a real treat for this weather, time and enjoyment. Bring family and friends and extend the celebration of the 4th through the weekend. Cheers. HAPPY 4th, 2012 to one and to all : thanks for everything, we appreciate all your faith and trust in us. Come and see us, let's get through this heat and humidity brilliantly together! Let us know anything that we may do for you. Cheers and thanks again. TONY