Anthony Quinn's Tuesday Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits' Store Email Today, September 23rd, 2013 : Read It & Enjoy It : Cheers!

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SCRAMBLING - OH WHAT FUN! So much to share with you all. This beautiful weather is contagious and puts a broad smile on my face. We have some special treats for you all here that I will mention from Michel Dumas, Ravinder Sharma, Santos Rivera and me - Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn.   I WANT TO " Shout Out " for Ravi that works our register, buys the spirits and sells you all so many winning lottery tickets, too. Ravi is retiring and going to India to spend a month, maybe more. He's here until October 15th, 2013 : so if you have not yet said your " bye byes ", this is the time.   RAVI MAY BE BACK TO WORK, he may not : that remains to be seen. It's all up to him. We love having him here and will sorely miss him, all that he has done, all that he has meant to us and the many of you that have gotten to know and love his broad grin and beaming smile. He has added so much to the daily fabric of our lives. he has solved many problems, his level-headed approach to many situations has been a real saving grace that we will remember, grin at, and miss. HOW DO YOU MEASURE 20 years?!? That's a mini lifetime, a mini-marriage, a real chunk of both time and change. Ravi : the stories you can tell, the things that you have seen pass through this long rectangular space. So much life, so many marriages, celebrations, birthdays, reunions, partings, returns, births and deaths. You could spend another twenty years writing all these stories down, emailing them, tweeting them, blogging and pod-casting them.   THINGS CHANGE and life and business and communities, neighborhoods all go on, keep changing and morphing, the characters and the players, the observers, the landscape, city-and-neighborhood-scapes all continue to adjust. We as humans try and adjust. It's hard when you figure into all of this things like the fact that we have one week to establish a budget and pass it for our government to continue functioning.   THE THINGS THAT SUSTAIN US , nourish us, provide us with comfort and order and a certain calm and joy - like Ravi - have stayed the same. He has been here weekly for all of you, for us : we have weathered together many a storm. We are grateful for Ravi's service to Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits as well as to our fabulous Cleveland Park neighborhood.   THANK YOU RAVI,gracias, merci, prego, obregado. You are always welcome here! What will we ever do without you?!?   SO : HAVING SAID ALL this about you Ravi I will start out with your spirits and talk about them first. Santos you will follow Ravi in today's store email.    WHAT HAVE YOU FOR US RAVI :             LIQUEUR :        1) Asian Pear Eau De Vie from SUBARASHI KUDAMONO, Pear Brandy ) $49.99, 375ml bottle, 49% alcohol by volume,  go to :www.winesofsubarashi.com for more info, Ashford, CT ) : " celebrates fruit at it's finest : fresh, clean, flavorful. Select Asian pears from the Subarashi Kudamono orchards create a liveliness and intense fruit essence. " ALL SO TRUE : we have tasted it here now twice and it is so bright and brilliant and subtle and elegant and refined. A little bit goes a very long way. What a great way to welcome sleep and a good rest for a day well-spent!           LIQUOR :        1) " Tombo " Shochu / Soju Spirits distilled from Barlet ( $14.99, 24% alcohol by volume, product of Vietnam ) :      " Once known as the dragonfly islands. Japan is steeped in history and traditions of the powerful Samurai who often emblazoned their armor with the dragonfly symbol. Tombo is a reflection of their courage and strength. Enjoy the elegant strength of Tombo on the rocks, with a splash of cool water or mixed in your favorite cocktails "      GO TO : www.tomboschochu.com for more info.      MY WIFE asked me if I knew about this? I said I did and that we sold it. She forwarded an email onto me saying that there was a push to have it become even more popular here than vodka, that it sells really well all over the world.   MY RESPONSE was that I doubted it would do as well here, and that the people selling it to us had really dropped the ball as this is the only one we have.   WHERE are all the others?   WHY have we not seen them yet? Where's all the push and advertising here to boost sales?   WHY have we never been approached to do an in-store soju tasting? Many unanswered questions. Only time will tell. Come check this out!   WHAT DO YOU ALL KNOW? Please share with us. This is something worth taking a much closer look at, don't you agree?        2) Genever Style Gin from GENEVIEVE / Essay 0-SSG-GM-1 ( $54.99. 47.3% alcohol by volume, established 1993. San Fransisco, from ANCHOR Distilling Co. Go to : www.anchordistilling.com for more info ) : " Genevieve Genever-Style Gin is an offshoot of our research into the history and evolving production methods that led to modern gin. ...   The earliest gins, however- which came to be known as ' genever ' ( or ' Geneva gin ', or ' Hollands gin ' or ' Schiedam-style gin ' - were a very different product.   To be sure , juniper berries and other botanicals are used in both styles, but 17th-century 'genever ' gin was distilled in primitive pot stills from a grain mash.   Genevieve is our attempt to re-create this ancient and mysterious gin style. ... "   TOO MUCH to type, come read the label, come buy the gin and try it! Cheers.        3) THE TYRCONNELL Single Malt Irish Whiskey  10 Years Old & Finished In Port Casks ( $81.99, Est. 1762, Riverstown, County Louth , go to : www.tyrconnellwhiskey.com for more info ) : " Initially matured in American oak and finished in port casks to impart further depth and flavour creating an inviting single malt with a deep antique copper colouring. ... a silky sweet taste of rich fruits, honey and spice with a beautiful lingering oak finish. "        4) Tres Agaves TEQUILA Blanco/ Estate-Bottled ( $36.99 a 750ml bottle, 40% alcohol by volume, Jalisco Mexico,  go to :www.tresagaves.com for more info ) : " ... Since it does not age in oak barrels, Blanco Tequila simply reflects the clean, herbaceous character of blue agave. "        5) Grappa Elevata in Barili di SASSICAIA / Tenuat San Guido & Jacopo Poli ( $59.99, a 375ml bottle, 40% alcohol by volume, Poli Distillerie Schiavon ( Veneto ) Italy ) : MARCHESI INCISA DELLA ROCCHETTA.        6) ZING ZANG Not HJust Another Bloody Mary Mix ( On Special for $8.99 a 1/2 Gallon, 1.8 Liter plastic bottle, go to : www.zingzang.comfor more info ) : Come make the Classic Zing Zang Bloody Mary - 4 Parts Zing Zang, 1 Part of your favorite vodka, Pour over ice, stir, add squeeze of lime and garnish with a celery stalk. Cheers.  NOW FOR YOU SANTOS : Beer, Cider & Ale :        1) Virginia Draft BOLD ROCK Hard Cider ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 4.7% alcohol by volume, from Nellysford, VA. ) : Made by Brian Shanks!        2) Pipeline Porter with 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee Seasonal Release  from KONA Brewing Co. ( On Special for $8.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 5.3% alcohol by volume, go to :www.konabrewingco.com for more info ) : " Pipeline Porter is full bodied with a rich, smooth, dark roasted malt flavor. "        3) Amber Ale from PEAK ORGANIC Brewing Company (On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, from Portland, Maine ) : We just did a PEAK ORGANIC Beer tasting here this past Friday and I loved the smooth, creamy, flavorful taste of this Amber Ale. The other night I showed it to our customer Susan and her eyes lit up! She said that she vacations there and she picked up two six packs and put them on our counter to pay immediately! Yes!        4) Creme Brulee Blackwater Series from SOUTHERN TIER Brewing Company ( $9.49, 9.5% alcohol by volume, from Lakewood, New York , go to : southerntierbrewing.com for more info ) : Very dark in color, full body, medium bitterness : great with organic vanilla ice cream, cheesecake. What a fun treat.        5) " Bacchus " Belgian Ale from the CASTLE BREWERY ( On Special for $7.49 a 12.7 Fl. Oz bottle, Van Honsebrouck, Belgium) treat yourselves!        6) " Four Witches " 2013  Black Saison The High Gravity Series from NEW HOLLAND Brewing ( $8.99 a 1 Pt. 6-Fluid Ounce bottle, from Holland, Michigan, go to : www.New HollandBrew.com for more info , 8.92% alcohol by volume ) : " White and dark roasted wheat join caramel rye and barley in a flavorful backdrop for yeast character accentuated by mild spicing. Pairings : grilled or blackened fish, jambalaya, mushroom sautees. "     WINES From Michel & Tony :             WHITE :        1) Sauvignon Blanc 2012  from California's Lake County, the Line 39 ( $10.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, from CECCHETTI Wine Company , go to : www.ceccettiwineco.com ) : consistent, fresh, bright, balanced and a phenomenal value!        2) 2012 Sauvignon Blanc from France's Loire Valley, a Touraine " En Lieu-Dit- LES JARRIERS " ( $11.99, from Aligny-Cosne, France ) : Both Michel and I really liked this the other day. Over delivers for the money.        3) 2004 Dry Riesling from the FORREST ESTATE in New Zealand's Marlborough region ( On Special for $14.99. regularly $28.99 a bottle, 12% alcohol by volume, ) : presented to Michel and me by the owner John Forrest, this mature, flavorful, dry Riesling is exceptional and drinking beautifully : buy several bottles while you still can. No petrol nose, clean, brisk and razor-sharp acids that ripple and delineate you to the core, to your foundation! Wow, I love it, I really do : one of our very best sales ever.        4) " Charmed " Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from California's JAQK CELLARS ( $29.99, 13.9% alcohol by volume, go to :www.jaqkcellars.com for more info ) : More taste, more body, more width and stuffing - yet bright and tasty and really it does sparkle without any sparkle - all on the palate, a shindig of shindigs here : and an amazing label, too. Great treat, great gift.        5) 2011 Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco Vigneti Delle Dolomiti from FORADORI ( $30.99 a bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume, ) : we like very much the dry red teroldego wines of Elisabetta, here is her white that also speaks volumes to us. A flavorful dry white that is a great wine to pair with a meal. Has the body of a red, the brilliance and lyrical quality of a white. Go to : www.elisabettaforadori.com for more info. Both Michel and I loved it , all over again, thanks Regis!           ROSE:        1) 2012 Touraine Dry Rose from the DOMAINE BELLEVUE ( $11.99, 13% alcohol by volume, Loire Valley, France, ) : this is a great sipping dry French medium-to-lighter-bodied rose. Many of you already love it - Justin, Zack and many more ... and it just makes you feel good to enjoy a glass with or without a meal. Great now as we are officially in Autumn! Cheers.             REDS :        1) Pinot Noir 2011 from California's REDTREE - the CECCHETTI Wine Company ( $9.99 , 12.5% alcohol by volume, go to :www.cecchettiwineco.com for more info ) made from 100% Pinot Noir and it tastes like real Pinot Noir : more elegant and bright and not heavy in the least - a breath of fresh Pinot Noir air!        2) Petite Sirah Central Coast 2011, this LINE 39 dry California red from grapes grown in the Central Coast ( $10.99 a bottle, from Bob Browman of CECCHETTI Wine Company, go to :www.cecchettiwineco.com for more info ) : good weight, good balance, a good taste, too : a treat for this price that sells really well. Nadine loves it as do many of our good customers! Cheers.        3) " Chatte D'Avignon 2011 " Seven Of Hearts " GSM - Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre red blend from the SEVEN OF HEARTS ( $29.99 a bottle, Columbia Valley, Washington State, 329 cases made, Dundee, Oregon, go to : www.sevenheartswine.com for more info ) : a delightful, superb red blend of 35% Grenache, 52% Syrah and 13% Mourvedre. Wow, double wow!        4) " Magnificat " Vigneto Singolo - Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from DREI DONA in Romagna, Italy ( $42.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume, go to : www.dreidona.it for more info ) : this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a real delight : classic Italian style dry red, I like it better than many of the Super Tuscan reds I try in this price range. Regis, our local rep brought the 2009 for Michel and me to taste last week and it was  showing really well, the 2007 is that much further along in it's development. It's a food wine. Enjoy largely!        5) 2003 Vigna D'Alfiero Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano from Tenuta VALDIPIATTA ( $62.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume ) : as good as any Tuscan wine can be, the very top-level of classic, great Sangiovese-Sangiovetto Grosso grapes! Guido the owner says it best : as great as any Brunello. The TOP TOP TOP! Great present to yourselves. I brought a bottle back with me from Tuscany I liked it so much! Cheers.   OUR FABulous 3-Part Non-Sparkling, Madeira, Marsala, Port, Sherry, Sake SALE :        1) Buy ANY  bottle at $19.99 or more from these categories above and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.      2) BUY ANY SIX ( 6 ) bottles at any price from the categories listed above and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker prices.      3) BUY ANY TWELVE ( 12 ) or more bottles from these same categories and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.      MIX them up, get a variety and SAVE BIG on Wednesdays. If you cannot come then call Michel or Tony ( me ) and place your order over the phone, or here by responding to this email. We also deliver here in Washington D.C. where it is legal. CALL : 202-363-4265. PAY Wednesdays and save. Cheers.     WEEKEND TASTINGS :        Friday, September 27th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Keith of Vine Connections here pouring the Argentina Susana BALBO wines that include the " Crios " series, too. This will be fun, this will be a treat, Both Michel and I love the Bonarda-Syrah blend, There's also the dry white Torontes and the dry rose, as well as others. Keith will also taste the Malbec from LUCA as we have some of it as well to sell. What fun! Join us, never any charge! Free to taste, only costs you something when you buy a bottle! Cheers.      Saturday, September 28th, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : we have Oscar Losama of the Voila Selections Import Company of primarily French country wines to pour some exciting wines that include dry red, white and rose, and maybe also a sparkling wine from regions around France like Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Southwest France and maybe the Rhone Valley , too? To be decided tomorrow. Call for an update or just come by and taste with Oscar! Cheers.    I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS and am sorry for that and will make up for it soon as I get back into my regular emails. These are a bit shorter and do not include as much as I would like and so I will add those things back in starting next week. Sorry for any inconvenience. Check on us on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, on Twitter at : cpwinespirits, and at : chatwine.blogspot.com. Cheers and thanks for all your support!   CHEERS,   TONY