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spirits
SORRY THAT I AM WRITING THIS TODAY but our access to the internet got chopped
sometime yesterday morning with all the work being outside I am afraid. So I
will be scrambling nicely now to get this to you ASAP as time is already
running out and we have a great evening wine-tasting with wine-maker Eric
Glomski of Arizona's ARIZONA STRONGHOLD winery in Cochise County. I can't wait
as I am still reeling from the excellent dry white blend that he makes with 52%
Sauvignon Blanc ( $25.99 ). It's amazing and so full and rich and complex and
our customers raved about it the other day when Andrew Stover our wine rep
brought it by and left the bottle after tasting it out with some of our
customers. Eric is also the star in a wine documentary that we will play
tonight while he is here that talks about making wines in severe quick changes
of temperatures called " Blood To Wine " I believe. What fun! Join us!
I WILL TEACH YOU ALL how to taste and evaluate wine? I will conduct some
classes now that are a bit more structured from those that I began with over
the last six months. For the next six months I will cover the various grape
varieties and the regions that make some of the most fascinating wines to be
found today. I will let you know what they are as we go along.
I JUST TRIED SOME Piemonte wines from Arielle Monaco of Country Vintner and her
supplier Tamer Harpke ( SE Regional Sales ) of the LA SPINETTA and CIACCI
PICCOLOMINI and ROCCA Del PRINCIPE Italian wines. They were all balanced,
fresh, stylish, elegant and often combining the best of the old-world and the
new-world styles. I really appreciated the wines and the thinking behind them
and so I will include a wine-tasting on the Piemonte as I go along. However,
the first three will be on some of the more interest grape varieties like
Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. These will be my NEXT THREE
Wine-Classes here on Saturday mornings starting this Saturday, May 11th, 2011
from 11:30am-1PM. Six wines at $10 per person. Join me and learn about these
wines and how to evaluate them according to your own palate, needs, wants and
likes and preferences. I will also talk about how to serve them, at what
temperatures and with what foods as well as at what times of the day and
whether inside or outside. Call: 202-363-4265 and sign up so that you will be
sure an get one of our 8-12 seats that we have. I want to keep the classes
small as I want to be able to share my experiences and knowledge with you all
and not get side-stepped. These classes are all about you and teaching you to
better know your own palate and what it is capable of with more knowledge and
experience. I recommend that you all come to a minimum of three of these
classes as it is impossible to cover everything in one class.
I WILL USE THESE CLASSES this month and tie them into our " Big-Theme "
Bordeaux wine-tasting that we will do on Wednesday, May 25th, 2011 (
5:30-8:30PM - no charge ). This way you can come to the class and then go to
the Big-Theme Bordeaux tasting. Might as well start to combine these things
together so that you all get the maximum that we can offer you here at
Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits.
WINE-CLASS ONE :Saturday, May 14th, 2011 : Cabernet Sauvignon as a grape
variety and it's many uses and pleasures and styles and personalities from all
over the world.
WINE-CLASS TWO : Saturday, May 21st, 2011 : Cabernet Franc and all it's
personalities and guises and roles.
WINE-CLASS THREE : Saturday, May 28th, 2011 : Merlot and all that it has
to offer even after the movie " Sideways " nearly put it in it's grave.
WINE-CLASS FOUR : Saturday, May 28th, 2011 : Petit Verdot & Malbec
together : they only make up about five-ten percent of the Bordeaux blends.
AS I SAID, we will find wines from all around the world so that you get some
of the very best that is offered today and that we can get here in Washington
D.C. Cheers and join me.
ALSO : IF YOU WANT TO DO A PRIVATE CLASS let me know and we can work out
the details. We can tailor them around your wants and needs and desires for
again between 8-12 people.
THE OTHER DAY I was approached by some young ladies that had studied
French in France and want to get together and do a class here all in French. I
like that. Let me know if you are interested in this idea?
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY AGAIN and perfect to sit outside and enjoy some of
the next things that I will recommend here from Ravi, Santos and both Greg and
me.
Beer From SANTOS :
1) Ovila Dubbel from Sierra Nevada in collaboration with the Abbey of
New Clairvaux ( On Special for $11.99 , 1 pt. 9.4 fl. oz, alc. 7.5% by volume )
" features a complex and rich malty sweetness with hints of caramelized sugar.
The aroma is a healthy and layered mix of fruit and spice with hints of clove
and black pepper from the unique Belgian-style yeast".
2) Black Lightning ale from DU CLAW ( On Special for $9.49 a 6-pack of
12 ounce bottles , 6.4% alc. by volume ale, Abingdon, MD ) ... " this
medium-bodied American black ale is a stormy balance of thunderolls roasted
malt flavor and the aroma, bitterness, and electrifying finish of American
hops. "
3) Optimal Wit from the PORT CITY Brewing Company ( On Special for
$10.49 a 6-pack, 12 ounce bottles, - 3 types available currently here in the
store, 5% alc. by volume, Alexandria, Virginia ) is " a Belgian-style white ale
brewed with spices ".
PEAR CIDER from Santos :
1) Doc's Draft Pear Hard Apple Cider, ( $5.99, 5.5% alc. by volume,
22fl. oz , Warwick Valley Wine Company, New York 10990 , wvwinery.com ) is a
unique hand-crafted hard cider. Made from pressed NY state apples and pear
juice femented with champagne yeast, and malic acid to excite the action ". It
contains sulfites but is gluten-free. Fun!
LIQUOR From Ravinder Sharma :
1) Raspberry SVEDKA Vodka ( comes Orange, Citrus, Cherry , $12.99, 750ml
bottle, all natural, 37.5% alc. by volume, product of Sweden ) is distilled 5
times is also NEW & EXCITING!
2) Galcier Potato Vodka ( $29.99 , 750ml bottle , 40% alc. by volume,
Rigby, Idaho ) is both crystal and charcoal filtered.
3) PRICHARDS Double Barreled Bourbon Whiskey ( barrel-aged and
hand-bottled , $69.99, 750ml , 45% alc. by volume ) was brought to Greg and me
the other day by the owner Phillip Prichard himself. This was great - smooth as
can be - no bite at all - just melted like butter in my mouth making me want
more. Lovely stuff, really. As Phil himself readily admitted : " The second
best bourbon in the world ". When asked what the first one was his response was
that he would not tell us. Oh well, it's that good : he's right.
4) " Sweet Lucy " Bourbon-based Liqueur from Benjamin Prichard ( $29.99 )
is hand-crafted in small batches for a sweeter, smooth flavor. Also really
nice. We have it open along with the Double-Barrelled Bourbon. Come and ask for
a sample. You will be delighted.
5) BANK'S Rum Imported from 5 areas of production ( $31.99 , 43% alc. by
volume, 750ml bottle ) is pretty amazing - combining Trinidad, Guyana, Barbados
and more. Called the 5-Island rum,
WINES From Greg & Tony :
1) DOMAINE ANTUGNAC 2009 Chardonnay, $13.99 is quite dry and complex and
with all the natural flavors of the Chardonnay up-front and so much in evidence
to please many.
2) SUNDAY MOUNTAIN Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010 ( New Zealand ,
$12.99 ) pleased us both quite a bit. Nice balance and flavors and taste.
Really a very impressive young wine.
3) DAEDALUS CELLARS Pinot Noir 2007 Willamette Valley from wine-maker
Sara Shaw this past weekend here ( $31.99 ) is so subtle and elegant and
refined and when it opens gradually over an hour or so in the glass it is a
pure delight. I loved it with the crispy pork that the talented chef of Ripple
made for us the other evening last week at the Wine-Maker Dinner. Congrats to
all involved.
4) THE CREEK STATION South Australia pink Moscato NV ( $6.99 ) is a real
delight to enjoy in this heat and humidity. It has it's audience for those
wanting loads of fruit and ease as they sit back and relax and let all the
stress fall from their shoulders.
TWO FOR $4.99 : Highly Recommended!
These two from California are great everyday wines. A red and a white
made at LA VALLE,
1) LA VALLE Cabernet Franc ( $4.99, 13.5% alc. by volume ) is so soft and
forward and bright and refreshing.
2) LA VALLE Solicino White Blend California ( $4.99, 11.5% alc by volume )
is also incredibly fun and fresh and lively and pleasing. No bite, no burn, no
tartness - just silky smoothness. What a treat!
I ASKED OUR SALESPEOPLE IN THE WINE BUSINESS to try these two wines from
paper bags so that they could not see what they were and to evaluate the wines
for us and tell us what they thought and what a fair price would be? They said
: Good quality, balanced and $10-$15 would be good for these two wines. GREAT,
we are at $5 a bottle!
WEEK'S TASTINGS :
TONIGHT: Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 : We have wine-maker Eric Glomski from
Arizona's ARIZONA STRONGHOLD Winery here to taste tonight his current vintages
of dry whites, reds and rose and to also talk about his recent starring role in
the wine-documentary movie : " Blood To Wine " which we will show here during
the wine-tasting. Join us, never any charge. The wines are really quite
special. His partner Maynard is also in a group called Tool. You should come - this is special.
Friday, May 13th, 2011 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Jody Jackman coming to try some
of her Kermit Lynch wine selections which include some dry white Loire Valley
Cheverny, some Malbec from Cahors, France ( just written up in the Washington
Post newspaper this morning by Dave McIntyre - we did not get mentioned for
having it and yet we will have it and have sold it off-and-on now for the last
four or so years. That should count for something? And yet no one looked at the
history of the store to see this when mentioning who carried the wine? Not good
for business in my humble opinion and I let it be known that I was not happy
with this result. The wine is excellent and will speak for itself regardless.
Come and see what you think? Weigh-in on this debate. It was another excellent
review from Dave McIntyre and I like that he finally recognized in print the
region of Cahors, France for the Malbec grape. Thanks Dave, about time, too!
Just kidding, appreciate this mention very much. It's always important to give
credit where credit is due.
SAKES From Greg & Tony :
1) STARS Kizakura Pure Sparkling ( $9.99, 6.5% alc by volume, 300ml
bottle ) : This Japanese refined sake is made from rice, " Koji Mold " and
water. It's a sweet sparkling sake " that is lovely.
2) Carbonated Nigori Authentically-Brewed sake Kizakura , $9.99 300ml
bottle, 9.5% alc. by volume is made like the one above but with carbon dioxide
to carbonate it. Unfiltered ( cloudy white ) and lovely, too and both were a
big success when Marcie Weinstein our rep from Constantine poured it here the
other night when we did our Big-Theme Sake tasting. Thanks Marci.
3) Yuzu - Rice Wine with Yuzu Juice ( Natural Flavor ) added ( $14.99,
300ml, 10% alc. by volume, Homare Junmai Yuzu Shu, ) is made from rice, rice
malt, yuzu orange juice, sugar, high fructose corn syrup and our customers
loved it when you poured it for us Marci. Thanks again for that. All three sold
quite well. We are helping Japan in a small way when we taste and sell and
drink these sakes.
AFTER THE TASTING we were able to send a check to the Japanese Red Cross
to help some of the victims from the most recent series of natural events and
disasters. Thank you all for helping us do something even though it be small
for this relief effort.
Saturday, May 14th, 2011 ( 3-7PM ) : We have owner and wine-maker Paolina
of Agricola Savignola here to taste her Mozart-like Chianti Classico, Super
Tuscan , Reserva Chianti Classico and even her extra virgin olive oil called
Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva ( $32.99, 500ml bottle ). This will be fun. We will
get some bread from the Firehook Bakery and offer that with the wines and the
olive oil.
JOIN US : Never any charge. This will be great just like tonight with
wine-maker Eric Glomski.
I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING but it's 5 PM and time to send this
NOW. Thanks for all your help and assistance and faith in us. We appreciate all
that you do for us. Cheers, TONY
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