Beautiful day/Opaque cloudy gray skies/TOMORROW IS THE THIRD OFFICIAL DAY OF SPRING &
We clebrate w/ Furmint whites of grof degenfeld & somloi vandor, too, nicky stacy's right reverend v aussie reds!
already thinking to april for a HAPPY EASTER / PASSOVER / GOOD FRIDAY ...
WE HAVE another busy week here as usual, no room to slide, to glide, to rest on our past laurels, just not an option at all!
And the weather is warming and I hope we have got the rain we
needed for the region now. I planted two bags of grass seed in our front
yard yesterday and that made me smile as I dug or made many small holes
for the seed to take root! Then I watered, then we went off to a nice
Thai dinner in Old Towne Alexandria before heading to the Metro Stage
for a reading of the play : " The Men My Mother Loved " that was
fascinating and had all four of us talking! I mentioned that it had us
going like politics today with the simple difference that we knew it was
a play and not reality.
WE HAVE A GREAT DINNER scheduled for Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 at
Ristorante Piccolo , Six Courses, Five Wines with owner/ winemaker
Vittorio of his own TRE MONTI in Romagna, Italy :
Primi / First
Imported fresh creamy burrata cheese w/ sundried tomatoes, bell pepper & extra virgin olive oil ...
W/ Bianco dell'Emilio IGT " Bianco ' PALTRINIERI Emilia Romagna
spumante Lambrusco di Sorbara - lilting, lovely, made bt Alberto ... a
refreshing delight! $14/49 a bottle
Secondi / Second
Ravioli Ai Quattro Formaggio ( fresh housemade ravioli stuffed with
four Italian cheeses, drizzled with a special shitake mushroom cream
sauce
W/ Romagna Albana indigenous dry white grape variety DOCG , " Vigna
Rocca " TRE MONTI , Emilia Romagna, fuller, richer, riper and longer
lingering on palate, more body color, tones of apricot, honey migle with
alive wildflowers, a lovely almond finish and texture, too that
captivates ...
TERSO / Third
Merlozza Gremolata ( black cod pan-seared w/ lemon zest, Italian parsley, young garlic and capers
W/ Rubicone Bianco IGT . " Thea Monti ", Emilio-Romagna, UNIQUE,
one-of-a-kind in Italy the Petit Manseng from southern France ( that is
often blended with the Gros Manseng to make Pacherenc-de-Vic-Bihl whites
, and more, sweet wines, too ) - made from 100% Petit Manseng, this
wine is truely magical, special, bright, rich, showing like the perfect
dream and fantasy now, note the jasmine, the pit fruit, honey great
forward minerality that circles round your palate and embraces it till
you all but surrender! Yes, si si si si si!
Quattro / Fourth
Salsiccia Ai Paisano ( roasted housemade Italian pork saussage w/ sauteed bell pepper and polenta )
W/ Sangiovese DOC Superiore , " Petrignone ' TRE MONTI , Emilio
Romagna, Robert gave me a bottle to share at home with my family and we
did the night Ella visited us from Paris, France, and we all loved it,
and that was without a meal, imagine here now with this Italian pork
saussage, my mouth is already watering in blissful anticipation!
Medium-to-light-bodied, fruit-forward, showing really well already 2012,
the 6 months in small barrels was just enough to give it pop, zing, and
appropriate sass!
QUINTO / Fifth
Bistecca Ai Porcini ( NY strip steak rubbed w/ dried porcinin, grilled and served with grilled asparagus )
W/ Sangiovese Superiore DOC Riserva, " Thea Rosso " TRE MONTI,
Emilia-Romagna : the 9 months of bottle-age for this 2011 releases all
that extra aging and the various thicker, more viscous, more ' attaching
- saturating ' layers of flavor of taste permeate, linger, w/ longing
and persistence, insistence, purpose, pleasure and assured victory in
it's quest to conquer and make us all but whimper with grazies and
gratitude to have been allowed entrance to such a splendid Sangiovese
Superiore trasure as this is and will continue to be as it ages and
grows exponentially now!
Il Dolce / Sweet Everythings
Torta Di Mandorle ( a layered light almond sponge and mascarpone cream torte )
save some of your wine - do not let the waiters and waitresses take
them all away, try some of these wines already sampled and see how,
together, they assist one another in releasing hidden, undiscovered
flavors in both that you did not know were there!
Cheers, Join Us, what a great evening
SO : we are excited about this dinner as well as things this week :
TOMORROW : Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017 ( 5-8pm ) : We have a small Big-Theme tomorrow with a tasting of Aussie wines ( reds -
1) a 2014 Mount Barker Cabernet Sauvignon, $24.49, 14.5% alcohol by volume, ...
2) a Syrah 2014 Mount Barker, $24.49, 14,5% alcohol by volume, and
3) a Chardonnay 2015 Margaret River, 12.5% alcohol by volume, too, $24.49 .... ALSO : ...
4) " Voodoo Moon " 2014 Margaret River Malbec, $18.99 a bottle, 14% alcohol by volume,
AND : With Noel Brockett of the Georgian House of Greater
Washington LLC, and Mamuka Tsereteli ..., as well as Laszlo Ballint ,
President od FurmintUSA ... we present to you two fine Hungarian
winemakers tomorrow evening :
1) Tamas of SOMLOI VANDOR, and he will pour his dry mineral-laden,
volcanic-soil expression with Basalt dry white Furmint ... you will
taste and buy what you want and have delivery of the wines in a week or
so once they arrive from their voyage on the water, and ...
2) Tamas Kovacs the winemaker of ST. DONAT will pour his dry
Furmint wines made 40 miles away in the same volcanic soil, the 2015
Marga, $23.99 a bottle ... and his
3)2014 Birtok blend of Furmint, On Special for $20.99
3) Furmint 2013 Tokaj from GROF DEGENFELD, $19.99, with 12.5% alcohol by vloume, will be poured by Laszlo Ballint.
THURSDAY, March 23rd, 2017 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Wes come and pour
both his Lebanese spirits as well as the excellent CHATEAU ST. THOMAS '
Les Emirs ' , $15.49 a bottle, , with 14% alcohol by volume, a dry red
blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Grenache aged in oak. Cheers,
join us, you will love Wes!
FRIDAY, March 24th, 2017 ( 5-8PM ) : We have working on a Balkan
Project wine-tasting here with Thomas Siegel. More tofollow soon, maybe
some dry rose and dry Zilavka white from Serbia, maybe a dry Vranac,
too? All from STOBI Wines ...
SATURDAY, March 25tt, 2017, Narayan Campbell will be back and he
will continue to taste the fine Aussie wines of 3SISTERS&ABROTHER,
$20.99, and we will see what else.
JOIN US, .... you all are always welcome here, anytime.
ALWAYS SAVE BIG on wine here at CPWineSPIRITS - 3 ways, Up to 20% OFF on the marked bottle prices.
BEERS IN CANS :
1) Porkslap Pale Ale, ale brewed with ginger, from BUTTERNUTS Beer
Brewing, On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans! Yes! New York
State ...
2) All Day IPA Session Ale from FOUNDERS Brewing, , On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans!
AND Cider :
1) ' Pineapple Cider ' from Austin EASTCIDERS, On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans, from Texas!
LIQUOR & LIQUEUR From Jagir :
1) ' new ' Almande Almondmilk liqueur from BAILEYS, On Special for $28.99 a 750ml bottle, with 13% alcohol by volume,
2) Cristal from DON Q Rum from Puerto Rico, On Special for $12.99 a
bottle. In Puerto Rico it costs more than Bacardi rum, here it costs
less. In Puerto Rico it is considered the better rum, and I agree from
what I have sampled so far. Cheers!
3) LOT No. 40 Single Copper Pot Still Rye Whiskey, $48.99, using D.
Michael Booth's simple recipe developed by his forefather, Joshua
Booth, seven generations ago, Come check this out!
More to Follow, out of time, have more to recommend, may be in another email tomorrow. Cheers! TONY
Ristorante Piccolo is located at :
1068 31st Street NW / Wash. DC 20007 /
202-342-7414 ( call to reserve a seat as we are limited to 50 max I believe? Go to :
www.PiccoloDC.com for more info.
WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW is an old store email I wrote and posted on
March 21st, 2013, read and enjoy it and check to see what you think and
check for current vintages, availability and pricing? Cheers, thanks!
Andrew Stover of his own company VINO50 SELECTIONS here to taste
and to talk about Jancis Robinson, famous British wine-writer known the
whole world over by us in the wine business. She will be at the Baird
Auditorium on Thursday night, March 21st, 2013 at 7PM talking about her
books and the exciting wines of America. The book devoted eight pages to
the wines of Virginia I believe?!? That's a good start and you should
all google Paul Jameson and read his excellent review of this book in
the New York Times. Many good points and comparisons to past efforts to
address the ever-expanding and impressive efforts of those making wines
here in America that also includes Canada. All good : still room to
improve and grow but some excellent references for us all wishing to
spread the word about how fine the wines being made here in America are!
I WILL SUGGEST that more be written next time on the individual
states here in the U.S. that should include a minimum of four paragraphs
and should include a list of at least 5-10 wineries in each state. Let
us all make our own decisions whether the wines are good or not : but in
the meantime include some for us to look into or visit with
corresponding addresses and emails and web page info, too. That would be
wonderful. All in one book : so many possibilities to hold in our hands
and to look at, think about, reach out to, buy a wine of, visit a
vineyard.
THIS MORNING I got a call from someone wishing to send a bottle to
Potomac , Maryland by/ from Marlo Thomas. I gave her some numbers to
call as she had already tried fifteen places in Maryland and they all
told her that they could not deliver. Marlo wants to send a " Thank You "
to someone and I hope that her assistant is successful. Wish we could
have done it ourselves, but it is not legal to deliver for us into
Maryland. Cheers.
I HAVE BEEN HEARING lots about the LITTLE WASHINGTON Winery in
Virginia and so went to their Facebook page and left them a message to
contact us here and " shared " two of their pictures with you on our
Facebook page. I am excited to try their wines. They had " green wine "
for Saint Patty's Day and my question to them was : " Was the wine good
enough to go and ask for a second glass ? ... and What does it taste
like ? ". I have not heard back, but I trust the wine was good and that a
second glass was in order as well. Stay-Tuned for more info on this as
you know we actively support the Virginia and local wines here.
I AM ALSO MOST-interested in trying the new wines from the "
newly-planted vines " by horticulturalist Lucie Morton in Rob's
vineyard. Jean Gagliolo is our local rep and I will call him now to
remind us. to bring us samples ASAP! All this is food-for-thought and
will be interesting to share with Jancis on Thursday evening if given
the chance. Cheers. Just got off the phone with Jean and he will check
the current status of the BOORDY , Maryland wines.
BEER NEWS From Santos : Something for Spring perhaps :
1) " Swing " from Session Saison from VICTORY , Ale Brewed
with Apices ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12 ounce bottles,4.5%
alcohol by volume, Downingtown, PA. ,
www.victorybeer.com
) : sound like Spring, let's all get into the swing ... : " It's a
lively jazz rhythm , a vigorous sway, a change of view or even a roll in
the proverbial hay. Now, it also means the welcome jolt of joy ... ".
Try it.
2) " The Shed " Brewery Mountain Ale , a Rugged Brown Ale ( On
Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, unfiltered brewed in
Stowe, Vermont, since 1995, 7.4% alcohol by volume, ) : " Smooth ,
malty overtones with a pronounced hop finish ". Looks so warming, the
red label alone speaks of comfort and rugged taste to me ...
3) " Pere Jacques " Belgian-style Abbey Ale From GOOSE ISLAND(
On Special for $9.99 a 1 Pt. 9.87Fl. Oz bottle, Chicago, Illinois ,
www.gooseisland.com
, 8.7% alcohol by volume ) is " new and exciting " and a perfect treat
for this almost-spring weather of ours today as the sun peaks though the
clouds.
4) " Birthday Sun " Sour Brown Ale 20th CROOKED LINE from
UNITA Brewing ( $14.99 1 Pt. 9.78 Fl. Oz bottle, 7.4% alcohol by
volume.
www.unitabrewing.com
for more info, Salt Lake City, Utah ) : " Earth, Wind & Beer ...
brewed in celebration of Unita's 20th birthday, this American Sour Brown
Ale flaunts significantly acidity balanced by flavorful Abbey and
Chocolate malts and a modest amount of hops ".
UPDATE : News Flash : Just met winemaker Michele le D'Aronix that
came with 4 excellent dry red Bordeaux wines from the right bank of
Merlot, that are mostly Merlot blends, with one being made without any
wood aging ( the
1) Chateau Le Ringue , Bordeaux 2011, $16.99, fruit-forward, lovely color and balance and soft mouth-feel ;
2) Chateau Beausejour Montagne Saint-Emilion " Pentimento "
made by Michele and using only barrels already one year old, a bit
richer, more extraction and mouth-grip that I liked as I got accustomed
to it's distinct personality of balance and flesh and finesse ;
3) Chateau La Croix Lartigue Cotes Du Castillon " L'Expression
2010, bolder, needing more time and some food to help take a bit of the
edge and heartier mouth-grip - also really well-balanced and
fruit-forward ), and ;
4) Chateau La Bienfaisance Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, 2010 made
by one of the few female winemakers in Bordeaux, according to Michele. I
liked the charm and the expression of elegance and silky brightness to
this wine.
Here we have 4 people involved in the making of these wines
and I liked the balance and the definition here, and that none of the
wines ever lost sight of the fruit in the grapes with which they started
which was principally Merlot. Bravo.
Michele told me that she Rachel Martin of the BOXWOOD WINERY,
Middleburg, VA. each year in Bordeaux, France as they have the same
French self-taught enologist that she described I believe as like the "
Yoda " of wine-making. I like that. I like that a lot.
Everything that Michele said spoke to me in volumes and since
she is from New York I hope to get her here to taste these wines soon
and explain their hands-on, respect the land from which the wines come,
make the best expressions that they can and not be tied-up in too much
tradition that can inhibit them from achieving their goals.
To my palate they have succeeded in their mission and it will
be great to sell them. Lucinda Williams may bring them by tomorrow for
Michel Dumas to try. I hope so. These wines and their makers reflect
very much the philosophy of our store here.
COME check out the BOXWOOD ESTATE 2009 " Topiary " Saint-Emilion style red Bordeaux, $29.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume,
www.boxwoodwinery.com, Middleburg, Virginia ) that represents what Michele and the three others are doing there and that Rachel is doing here.
Bravo to all of these fine efforts! It will be great to have
Rachel taste them here again soon. Maybe we can get her and Michele to
do an in-store wine-tasting here soon together? That would be great. We
hope to have some of Michele's wines here by April.
I kept some of Michele's own Pentimento 2009 in my glass :
love the deep bright purple-garnet color, the nose pulls me from my
seated position and into the glass, and the taste on my lips, mouth and
tongue makes me glad I just enjoyed my pork chop for lunch and makes me
think that I would have been better served by the l'onglet cut of red
beef that I love to order from our very own Lavandou restaurant at the
end of the block : l'onglet et frites avec le sauce magique brune ...
vers le paradis, vraiment.
LIQUOR / LIQUEURS From Ravinder :
TWO RUMS :
1) Cuban Formula Rum Cask No. 21 : VIZCAYA VXOP ( $42.99 , 40%
alcohol by volume , from the Dominican Republic, ) looks beautiful :
like a fine bottle of French Cognac, a great deep reflective and
brilliant amber color that just draws the eye to it over and over again
and makes you want to hold the bottle, to cradle it in one hand and with
the other turn the golden cork top around to release some of this
Dominican Republic rum magic into a glass or two or even three or four.
How many will be joining us for this splendid treat?!? Better hurry, but
be gone before we know it.
2) The Original KOLOA Kauai , Hawaiian Kaua'I White Rum ( $36.99, 40% alcohol by volume,
www.koloarum.com ) , distilled and blended on the garden island of Kaua'i. Come try some : live largely for awhile. Cheers.
TWO BOURBONS :
1) LEXINGTON Finest Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey ( $28.99, 43%
alcohol by volume, Three Springs Bottling Company, Bowling Green,
Kentucky ) : Ravi just got this in stock this morning along with the
VISCAYA Rum and was pleased as punch to announce both to me. All good
news Ravi. Exciting times, exciting " new " products for us to taste,
sell and promote. Cheers.
2) Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from FOUR ROSES ( $42.99, 50% alcohol by volume, Barrel # 69-3T ,
www.fourroses.us
) : made my Jim Rutledge, Master Distiller : " Four Roses uses two
grain recipes and 5 exclusive yeast strains to distill 10 uniquely
different Bourbon recipes. ... smooth and mellow distinctive fruity
aromas with delicate notes of honey and maple syrup, as well as spicy
hints of cinnamon and nutmeg ... ". Quality through and through.
WINES From Michel & Tony :
KOSHER WINES For Passover :
1) TERRA VEGA , Valle Central, Chile comes in Three Reds : 1)
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2) Merlot, 3) Carmenere and TWO Whites : 1)
Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc : ALL selling for $8.99 a bottle, ALL
dry, all good food wines.
2) O'DWYERS Creek 2011 Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, $16.99 a bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume,
www.odwyerscreek.co.nz and :
www.koshercertification.co.nz. Refreshing, dry, bright.
3) CHATEAU DE BONFILS 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Entre-Deux-Mers
dry white Bordeaux, $11.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, Mevushal as well as
kosher for Passover. Also comes in a red Bordeaux that we carry.
4) CHATEAU BOIS-CARDON 2010 ( great vintage ) dry red Medoc,
Bordeaux ($27.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, ) that is new to us like the
red CHATEAU DE BONFILS.
5) SENORIO ALDAZ 1) 2009 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50%
Tempranillo ; and the 2) Tempranillo, BOTH $12.99 a bottle, BOTH from
Spain's Navarra region : both dry and excellent food wines,
medium-to-light-bodied, BOTH kosher for Passover and Mevushal.
6) Sangiovese Dry Italian Red from CANTINA GABRIELE, $11.99,
2011, 12.5% alcohol by volume, kosher for Passover and Mevushal, easy,
medium-to-light-bodied soft dry red. Easy-drinking with or without food.
7) A) Pinot Grigio 2011 from CATINA GABRIELE Dry Italian
white On Special for $11.99, ; and the B ) Chardonnay, On Special for
$9.99 a bottle. Both Mevushal as well as kosher for Passover.
8) VINO Sweet Lazio Red and VINO Lazio Sweet White, BOTH
Italian wines at $9.99, also both Mevushal and kosher for Passover, 6%
alcohol by volume.
WE HAVE MANY other kosher fpr Passover wines on our shelves as
well : including half bottles ( 375ml ) of the TERRA VEGA Chilean
wines, the Cabernet Sauvignon dry red and the dry white Sauvignon Blanc
for $5.99 : for convenience or variety. They are in our half-bottle
selection. Cheers.
UPDATES ON LAST WEEK'S TASTINGS :
OWNER James Henry from Cleveland Park and the inventor of
his own TEAVINE sparkling American Green Tea, White Sparkling Wines and
Honey Infusion, $13.99 , 6.5% alcohol by volume sold a lot and the
general comment was one of liking the TEAVINE and thinking it will be
even greater as it warms into spring and summer here! We agree. Come and
get some signed bottles for gifts. Cheers, Thanks James for tasting
here this past Friday evening. Go to :
www.teavinisdivine.com for more info.
FREDERICK CORRIHER of his own ROUTE DES VINS Import of
French wines did really well with all his wines, and I think his TROIS
Amis Chardonnay 2011 Vin de Pays d'Oc , $11.99, 13% alcohol by volume is
a perfect dry white with body, weight and character to enjoy now as the
weather teases us and thinks it may soon change to warm?!? Thanks
Frederick and Chris Bartha for your tasting here this past Saturday.
ALEX of the BALKAN Estate Wines of Serbia, Macedonia and
Croatia tasted a whole series of his wines this past Friday here. He had
many people come to taste here with us as well as our regular crowd and
it worked really well. I want to mention both the TRIADA ( means my
land, my family , my wine 2007 , $21.99, 12.8% alcohol by volume, 100%
Prokupa that makes for an excellent medium-bodied dry, spicy, white
peppery red : and the " Ines in White " of ROXANICH 2008 Orange-colored
white that is unique and unfiltered, unfined, a lovely cloudiness,
... WONDERFUL! $44.99 a bottle, one of the most unique wine experiences
ever! Cheers.
WEDNESDAY Still Wine SALE TOMORROW, March 20th, 2013 - our
First Official Day of Spring. 3-Part SALE of still, non-sparkling wines.
SAVE BIG here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits.
WEEKEND TASTINGS :
Friday, March 22nd, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Andrew Stover
here to taste some excellent wines from Virginia from PARADISE SPRINGS,
BOXWOOD and BREAUX Vineyards : two whites , one rose and one red Norton.
FUN.
Saturday, March 23rd, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Eric Platt of
SEIFRIED, FORREST New Zealand wines here tasting from Sauvignon Blanc
to dry Riesling, to Pinot Noir and perhaps another " goodie " or two?
Agnes Seifried was just here so we will toast her , of course. Cheers.
I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS but it's time to post
this store's weekly email NOW. Sorry if I forgot to mention any of you
as you are all important to us. Cheers and thanks for everything. TONY
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