Anthony Quinn's Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits Store Email Written & Posted On Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 : See How Things Have Changed! Cheers!!

Cleveland Park Wine Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine
Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits

SO MANY NEW PRODUCTS to Taste & EVALUATE... MICHEL, RAVI, SANTOS & TONY

WINES / BEERS / LIQUORS to watch tonight's debate between President Obama and
Mitt Romney ...

IT'S A BIG JOB when you stop to realize that there is always someone coming
through our front door with some thing " new " to show and taste us and
sometimes the products fit in immediately and sometimes not. We just had the
people from LEOPOLD GOURMEL Cognac, France come to us and taste us on some
pretty special and refined/elegant-tasting cognacs. I liked them but realized
how expensive they are and told Rick our local rep that he would have to plan
doing an in-store wine-tasting of the " Premieres Saveurs ", the " Age In Fruit
" and the " Ten-Year-Old " to give people a sense of this new vision from
cognac, France. I know Rick will do this, too so when it happens I will alert
you all to this decadently delicious cognac LEOPOLD GOURMEL tasting.

AND SOMETIMES WE CAN TAKE IMMEDIATELY what we taste as in the case of the 2010
BILTMORE Reserve North Carolina Chardonnay ( $17.99, 13% alcohol by volume,
Ashville, North Carolina, 28803, www.biltmore.com , 800-922-0048. It all started
months ago when Stephanie A. Restuccio ( Field Sales Manager ) of BILTMORE Wines
came calling with Lauren Jones to taste and sell Eon and me some of the BILTMORE
wines from North Carolina. There was only one wee little problem : the wines
that we were tasting were all made from grapes purchased in California. That
simply does not work for me : I want to sell wines from North Carolina if they
come from the Biltmore estate, simple as that.

WELL, IT TOOK THREE TRIES ( the third time being the charm in this case ) as
Lauren and Stephanie cam last week with this delicious, balanced and distinct
2010 BILTMORE Reserve N.C. Chardonnay that's elegant, not heavy, medium-bodied,
fresh and fruit-forward, with oak more as an accent to give the body some weight
as well as brightness. Both Michel and I liked it and so we bought a case to
share with everyone. We both recommend it. Come check it out.

THE OTHER DAY I was talking with one of our customers named Gabriela Dorilhiac
and once I found out she was from Brazil I showed her our selection of Brazilian
wines. We then talked about cachacas, too and she told us her favorites. So that
I would not forget I had her write them down for us and we are checking into
them : SAGATIBA,  NEGA FULO,  ESPIRITO DE MINAS,  and SELETA. Hove any you heard
of these? Let us know. The funny thing was that she was shopping for a bottle of
rum a gift. It's a really small world. Hopefully next time that you come here
Gabriela we will have one of these cachacas that you recommend from Brazil, and
that you will also buy a bottle of MIOLO or CASA VALDUGA or LIDIO CARRARO? We
will see. It was fun to talk with you anyway and exchange ideas and impressions.
Cheers.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL THIS MORNING, I enjoyed a glorious ride with my son this morning,
even stuck in traffic, even with him worrying that we would not make our
rendezvous, I told him not to worry, that we would make it ... I kept commenting
on the trajectory of the many planes taking off from the Dulles airport ... they
are so beautiful to watch. AND, we made it on time, and I made it to work ten
minutes early. There is beauty in the day and it was a great way to start this
day for me that, I am sure will quickly fill up with things that I have to do
and that's okay.

WITH TONIGHT'S DEBATE These could all be possibilities : the Chateau Vartely
2010 dry Chardonnay is superb and only $11.99 a bottle

CHATEAU VARTELY & HILLCREST Estate :

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GREAT Wine-Tastings scheduled for this weekend. I do not
even know exactly what we will taste but we have both John and Theresa Morrison
coming to taste as well as Dmitri Courbet. Both know their wines and their
portfolios inside and out. So I am sure will will have two tastings that include
some South African wine, some Moldovan wine, too : and then some West Coast
wines of California, Oregon and Washington State. We will get the details ironed
out shortly. Dmitri is from Moldova and two weeks ago his mother was visiting
and she has been making wines in Moldova for more than thirty years Dmitri tells
us. I included some recently at a fund-raiser that I did a wine-tasting and
included some wines from Moldova that were very-well received. Thanks Dmitri.
John Morrison is from South Africa and I just sent a message to the HILLCREST
Estate  Winery there in Durbanville where Curly is the winemaker. He's quite the
character.

WE MAY TASTE  Curly's Sauvignon Blanc this go-round as the last time we tasted
his dry red blend, the 2006 of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blended together (
$14.99, 14% alcohol by volume, cellardoor@hillcrestfarm.co.za ) that's got good
body, toasty beery flavors and spice and pepper, too. It's a really good food
wine. Come check it out.

BEERS FROM SANTOS : Beers for the debate?

I WALKED THE AISLES here earlier for both beer and liquor inspiration. I found
some exciting beers from Santos to mention here:

1) KARLOVACKO Pivo Beer Stoljetna Tradicija  Okrunjeno Kvalitetom ( On
Special for $3.99, 500ml , 1 Pt. 0.9Fl. Oz, 5% alcohol by volume ). Would one of
you please come and tell me something about this beer, it's fascinating the
label and the bottle and I could use some help! Cheers.

2) Ale On Lees  EPHEMERE ( $10.99 a 4-pack, 12 fluid ounces, from UNIBROUE,
Chambly, Canada, 5.5% alcohol by volume, ) : " bottle fermented/ flavored white
ale on lees ... ale brewed with apple juice. coriander, orange peel and with
natural flavors added ".

3) Sunshine Pils from the Independent TROEGS Craft Brewery ( On Special for
$9.99 a 6-pack of 12 Ounce bottle, 4.5% alcohol by volume, with all natural
ingredients and no preservatives, Harrisburg, PA. , www.troegs.com ) is a crisp,
hoppy Pilsner. Cheers.

4) " Dark Seas " Russian Imperial Stout from MISSION Brewery ( On Special
for $11.99 a 4-pack of 12 ounce bottles, 9.8% alcohol by volume , from San
Diego, California ) is also really new and exciting.

HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYED CLEVELAND PARK DAY this past Sunday. As you know we were
closed on Sunday so we celebrated it on Saturday the day before with a great
wine-tasting of both Argentina and Spanish wines; as well as with Lindsay Marsh
of the LEOPOLD BROS. Small Batch Distillers of Fine Spirits (
www.leopoldbros.com, 4950 Nome Street, Unite, Denver, CO. 80239 303--307-1515 ).
Lindsay ia a family member and this is perhaps her fourth tasting here so far?
She was on fire to help us celebrate Cleveland Park Day and she sampled perhaps
six of the 19 fine spirits that LEOPOLD Bros. makes? It was a great tasting.
Here I will mention two that were tasted , and thanks Lindsay :

1) Silver Tree American Small Batch Vodka ( LEOPOLD'S ) ( $35.99, Batch No.
1204, 40% alcohol by volume, ) is made from a unique blend of potatoes, malted
summer wheat, and malted barley. I learned from Lindsay that if the Slow Food
Movement was in liquid form that the LEOPOLD BROS. would be the first she
thinks.

2) LEOPOLD'S American Small Batch gin ( $35.99, Batch # 1214, 80 Proof,
made by Todd Leopold, Master Distiller, Denver, Colorado ) is made from "  the
finest botanicals including juniper, and orris root, as well as hand-zested
American pummelos and oranges. ... unique, yielding only fifty cases of an
exceptionally complex yet subtle spirit ... ". Check this out. All that Michel
and I sampled we liked, not all 19 but many! Cheers.

TWO Fine RUMS :

1) Ron ABUELO Anejo 7 Anos Reserva Superior from VARELA ( $23.99, 40%
alcohol by volume, desde 1908, product of Panama, kosher, too ) aged in small
oak barrels. Something special.

2) Horchata Con Ron " Rum Chata " ( $19.99 a 750ml bottle, 13.7% alcohol by
volume, Pewaukee, WI. 53072 ) is a Caribbean rum with real dairy cream, natural
and artificial flavors. Drink within the first 6 months that it is open, no
refrigeration needed. Cheers.

Greek Ouzo :

1) OUZO by Metaxa ( On Special for $18.99 a 750ml bottle, 40% alcohol by
volume, since 1888, from Kifissia, Greece ) is a specialty liqueur of anisette
that is often served with water or ice, great before a meal as an aperitif.
Cheers,

Pina Colada, Tropical Cocktail Mix :

1) BARTENDER'S Best Tropical PINA COLADA Cocktail Mix ( On Special for
$4.99 a bottle, 1 liter bottle, contains 15% fruit juice , Levecke Corporation,
Mira Loma, CA. 91752 ) : 4 parts Pina Colada Mix,  1 Part Rum, 2 Parts Ice ...
blend together all ingredients together in a blender for 15-20 seconds. Garnish
with a pineapple wedge. Enjoy.

MICHEL and TONY'S  " Wine Picks " For The Week : For Tonight's Debate ? :

WHITES :

1) Torrentes 201  Mendoza, Argentina dry, aromatic white from ZOLO (
$10.99, 13.8% alcohol by volume, www.vinodelsol.com ) is made from sustainably
farmed vines and a favorite of Michel's! Dry, made from 100% of the Torrontes
grape that came from Spain but which has been cloned to make a more fragrant,
aromatic dry white. Tropical flowers and fruit tones are prominent. So fresh and
bright : a winner! GREAT to watch TONIGHT'S DEBATE!

2) Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc 2010 , the COTE  soft dry , aromatic,
silky-smooth-bright-fills-fully-the-mouth-vegan DOMAINE Du TARIQUET Famille
Grassa ( On Special for $11.99, 11% alcohol by volume, Vin de Pays Des Cotes De
Gascogne, www.tariquet.com ) is made from 50% of each of the Chardonnay and the
Sauvignon Blanc. It was originally made by accident. It's a perfect-sipping
wine, perfect for tonight's debate once again between President Obama and Mitt
Romney. No bite, no edge, luscious ripeness/fullness / cream-dream on the
palate. Lovely.

3) Viognie 2011 dry white from the DOMAINE Des CANTARELLES ( $17.99, 14%
alcohol by volume, proprietaire-recoltant, by Jean-Francois Fayel, Vin de Pays
Du Gard ) is hearty and robust, thick and powerful and definitely a food wine.
It's big and need a flavorful meal to flesh it out. Cheers. Ronnie Miller of the
Bobby Kacher selections tasted it here this past weekend.

REDS :

1) Lancellotta 2008 dry red from Moldovan, made by ACOREX Vine in the Cahul
region ( On Special for $11.99, 13% by volume, ) reminds me of a nice Rhone red
blend - like some Grenache with a splash of Carignan and a splash of Cabernet
Franc. I like it, it's such a fun value. We will taste it with Dmitri this
weekend.

2) Bobal indigenous dry red from Spain's Utiel Requeno region, made by
TEMPERAMENTO, this 2009 ( $17.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, ) is 100% Bobal and
medium-bodied with spice and pepper and a medium-body and good grip and grit
mouth-feel with a sweet wood flavor - what a great character and balance. This
weekend everyone loved it. Cheers.

3) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 La Consulta , Mendoza Ano Cero from ALTOCEDRO (
$19.99 , 14% alcohol by volume, www.altocedro.com.ar ) was tasted to us with rep
Tom Clare and owner Karim Charbel that is also the winemaker. Michel and I
really liked these Argentinia wines and found them really sound and fruit-driven
wines from start to finish and I loved that. The vines are 47 years-old and aged
in new French oak barrels. What consistency.

4) Malbec 2011 ALTOCEDRO , again from Argentina's La Consulta region in
Mendoza, ( $20.99 a bottle, 13.9% alcohol by volume , www.altocedro.com.ar ),
again fruit-forward and never losing sight of the purity of the Malbec grape.
Blanced and fleshy and a real treat to sip and to also enjoy with food.

5) Malbec Reserva 2009 from ALTOCEDRO'S La Consulta vineyard in the Uco
Valley ( $36.99, 15.2% alcohol by volume, www.altocedro.com.ar ) again was
tasted to Miche and me by both the owner Karim and our local rep Tom Clare.
Again, Michel and I loved it. It's a special treat, really it is. Karim wrote in
our wine journal : " Dear Anthony and Michel ,  I really hope to receive you
some day at the winery in " La Consulta " ( Mendoza - ARgentina ) where we can
eat an entire cow and drink a full barrel of wine . Cheers " signed KMS 10/11/12
.
Later after I got off work I joined Tom and Karim briefly at Ardeo and they
were nice enough to taste me on the ALTOCEDRO Gran Reserva Malbec, and it was
smooth and full and bright and elegant as can be. I enjoyed it thoroughly as I
sipped it and sketched quick portrait sketches of Karim and finished them off
with splashes of his wine to bring the ink colors together even more. Fun for
me, my way of saying " thank you ", and it's a treat to have the wines here
today for you all just in time for tonight's debate!

OUR WEEKLY WEDNESDAY 3-Part Still Wine SALE ( No Sparkling Wines Included ) :
10/17th, 2012 :

1) ANY still wine over $20 a bottle , SAVE 20% OFF the marked price,
whether On Sale or not
2) ANY 6 or more bottles of still wine : SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker
price.
3) ANY 12 or more still ( non-sparkling ) wines : SAVE 20% OFF the marked
sticker prices. This includes all sakes, port, sherry, madeira, marsala.
If you can't come call us with your order. Pay tomorrow and we can either
deliver it to you here in the neighborhood or you can pick it up at your
convenience. Call : 202-363-4265.

WEEK'S TASTINGS :

Friday, October 19th, 2012 ( 5-8PM ) : John and Theresa Morrison will taste
a selection of their South African wines as a fresh shipment has just arrived
and they are excited about that. Cheers. Join us, never any charge. Bring family
and friends.

Saturday, October 20th, 2012 ( 2-6PM ) : Join us with Dmitri Courbet of
Nice Legs Imports and sample some of his excellent Moldovan wines as well as
perhaps a splurge from Oregon or Washington State? WE will decide that tomorrow
with Dmitri. Join us, never any charge, and everyone is always welcome.

I AM SURE I HAVE MISSED something, do give Nam Viet here on our block a chance
and when you order a bottle of their wine through October you pay 50% less of
the bottle price! Ricky the owner told me this several times already! They've
got the NAVARO CORREAS Cabernet Sauvignon there and that would be great with
their food! Give it a look next time you dine there in October.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR BUSINESS, we appreciate it all, really we do. It's because
of you that we can be here so we do understand this and do not take it lightly.

SANTOS JUST BROUGHT ME a new beer  from CHATOE ROGUE ( Grow the Revolution )
FIRST GROWTH 19 Original Colonies Mend - Brewed with Jasmine ... the ROGUE FARMS
Hopyard Honey ( $7.99 a 1 Pt. 6 Fl. Oz bottle, 650ml, Newport, Oregon , 13%
Plato ), no chemicals, additives or preservatives. Wow, with the debate tonight
this might be the ticket to drink while watching ... and maybe that can go from
the original thirteen colonies to all 50 states mend? Just an idea.

MICHEL JUST CALLED me and told me that there's a Bobby Kacher dinner with Ronnie
Miller ( mentioned above ) at Lavandou. I've got menus and will put them up
ASAP.  The dinner is on Thursday, Oct. 18th, 2012 at 7:30PM , 4 Courses, 5 Wines
at $45 a person. Come see what you can get and act upon this ASAP! This is a
great meal and a great price. WOW!!! You can also call Lavandou at :
202-966-3003. Go to : contact@lavandoudc.com before the debate tonight! Get a
seat while you still can. We will have all these wines at special prices to you,
too for the dinner.

THANKS AGAIN for everything and remember that the " no corkage " for Lavandou
has switched from Monday to Thursdays, and that on Mondays they are taking
twenty % off your bill. Call them if you want clarification before you go.
Michel just told me this on the phone. Cheers once again.

LOTS CHILLED and ready for you all for tonight's debate between President Obama
and Mitt Romney.    TONY


" Doing Thai " Eladio said to me. " Not going to be fancy, a friend of a friend ... " he continues. Eladio said : " Around twenty." Eladio answered when I asked him what he wanted to spend. I already knew that with " a friend of a friend " that it had to be more about tasty and flavorful to match the flavors of the Thai food. I sold Eladio a bottle of our 2007 Merlot from the CASA VALDUGA winery in the Valle Dos Vinhedos, $19.99 just south of the wine capitol of Bento Goncalves. I told him that it was flavorful and dry like a good bottle of French Bordeaux or even an Italian Friuli or Veneto dry red, as the ancestors of CASA VALDUGA are either from Trentino or Veneto, Italy. Eladio seemed pleased and he mentioned the World Soccer Cup  in Brazil. So, now all I have to do is wait to hear from Eladio. Cheers, Happy New Year Eladio. Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn  1/12/14