so much to celebrate and be encouraged by and push forward with!
CRAIG
MAURO is coming to our rescue today! Our 3 for $33 on wine purchases in
the 750ml bottle size has been such a success that we are desperately
in need of his reinforcements. Now that is something we can all
celebrate and cheer loudly for! Either you like wine or not, but for
those of you that do this is important, and it will be happening here
soon - stacks of three of some really fine ' wine-values ', and all ON
SALE every day here for 3 for $33 and 6 for $60! Yes si oui yes!
new
ceiling lights have been installed above us here and we are currently
still working out the glitches! HOWEVER : the back beer cooler lights
are on and they look bright, softer, warmer, magnifiscent - so much
easier to see the beers there now! Yes si oui claro vraiment bien so
happy!
cheers to all on this glorious Tuesday! Love it, went to Firehook Bakery and loved the warmth all around and embracing, hugging me softly ...
looking always for ' new ' approaches as time is of the essence, it is here with us and lots to accomplish this 2018!
we can accomplish a lot together in 2018. we can. we will, we must.
so, to do so here is what we have to offer you right now :
in beer and cider from Santos Rivera -
temperatures in the seventies says the weather woman over the radio just now -
beer -
1) Singlecut QNS NYC , a ' heavy boots of lead' Imperial Stout, ale
/ one pint 9 Fl. oz with 11% alcohol by volume, 55 IBU's 100% brewed
and bottled on premises by SINGLECUT Beersmiths in Astoria , NY. $8.99,
try some.
2) MILLS HILLS Imperial Stout , outstanding craft beer, brewed abd
bottled by FYNE ALE, UNited KIngdom, with 9.5% alcohol, $8.99 a 11/2 Fl
oz bottle, from Scotland, yes yes yes, come try some. Brewing with
passion and integrity.
3) KOYT GRUITBIER Recipe 1407 , crafting divine beer JOPEN , $4.99, for
11.2Fl. Oz bottles with .5% alcohol by volume. product of the
Netherlands, ingredients are : water, barley, malt, wheat, malt, oats,
gruit ( herbal blend ), yeast, gluten-free ... come try some!
cider -
1) Original Garden Cider HandCrafted, On Special for $5.49 a bottle, a
500ml bottle, with 5% alcohol : " clean, fresh, crisp, and medium dry,
like all our ciders it is made from 100% freshly pressed garden apples
and naturally fermented ... " Read on, cheers, come get some, from
Washington DC, 20009! Cheers!!
2) Cidre RUWET Belgian Artisinal Cider, ano 1898 , $15.99 a 4-pack
of bottles, 11.2Fl. Oz bottles, with 4,5% alcohol by volume, Brut = Dry!
From Belgium. come try some!
Liqueur - liquor from Jagir -
FOUR Liqueurs -
TWO From KOVAL -
1) Ginger liqueur , $27.99, Organic, $27.99 a 375ml bottle, with 20%
alcohol by volume, add some ginger into your lives! Yes!! Made in
Chicago , Illinois. Also try their whiskey Four Grain $53.99 a bottle.
2) Chrysanthemum & Honey liqueur Organic, 20% alcohol by volume,
375ml bottle, throws sediment, all good, great golden honey colors,
mmmmmm, throw some of both into your lives, treat yourselves, splurge,
dive headfirst into this elixir! $26.99 a bottle.
TWO from PUR LIKOR, Germany, owner Kiki! -
1) Williams pear liqueur , $26.99 for a 375ml bottle, with 25% alcohol
by volume, yum, so lovely, lilting and beautiful! so pretty delightful
for this weather now in the mid seventies!
2) Spice blood orange liqueur, 375ml bottle, with 25% alcohol by
volume, On Special for $26.99, so much darker, mysterious, an
opaqueness your tongue wants to split ooohhhh open wide, yes! Love it,
love the tint, the hue, the reflrctivr warm qualities, the dance , the
passion, the spin the splash and dash and dare and
gosh-darn-goodness-within! Try some. Cheers Kiki, miss you, come back
soon!
THREE Eau de Vies from WILLM -
1) Poire William Pear Brandy, French from Alsace, the essence of the
pear scent and shadow of it's taste, On Special for $20.99 a bottle,,
375ml bottle, 45% alcohol by volume, yes! Actually the shadow awash in
the brightest sunshine flavors!
2) Framboise / Raspberry Brandy, On Special for $20.99 for a 375ml
bottle, here we have again the accent of raspberry and the flavors like
the shadow filtered and awash in the richest sunshine - yes si si oui
oui oui!
3) Kirsch d'Alsace, On Special for $20.99 a bottle, a 375ml size,
from Alsace, a Cherry brandy here, like the others - a touch of cherry
in the nose and in the taste the flavors are muted by the brightest
reflection off this clear white eaux-de-vie aflood in noon
sunshine! Oui oui oui monsieurs et madames, venez ici vous tous - come
all of you here for these! 375ml with 45% alcohol by volume.
THREE Others -
1) CIROC Pineapple made with French vodka, 5 times distilled, $38.99,
come get your pineapple ON! Cheers , sante a tous, cheers to one and to
all.
2) The IRISHMAN Small Batch Irish Whiskey, Founder's Reserve, with
40&% alcohol, this is normally $38.99 a 750ml bottle, now ON SPECIAL
for $34.99 - come try some and see what you think?!
3) COCCHI Vermouth di Torino, Piemonte, Italy, $20.99, since 1891 -
celebrating 126 years now, glad to have it on our shelves, with 16%
alcohol by volume.
WINE From Chris and Tony ( Me ) -
SAVE ON WINE -
SAVE ON WINE up to 20% OFF your purchases two ways! Every Wednesday.
SAVE ON WINE all week long -
1) 3 for $33
2) 6 for $60 . mix or match certain bottles of 750ml wine here in stock.
HERE Are Our WINE Suggestions for you this week -
THREE Whites , Includes ONE Spanish Cava-
1) Usoa de Bagordi Organic 2016, 50% Sauvignon Blanc and 50%
Garnacha from Spain's Rioja region, WOW, how unique is this! Come taste
it with me tonight
and let us see what Sauvignon Blanc in Rioja, Spain tastes like?!?
$9.99 a bottle. This is ' a first ' for us. With 12.5% alcohol by
volume, si si si , venga aqui!
2) Chardonnay 2014 Estate-Bottled from Mexico's the Vale de Guadalupe, Baja California, showed really well this Saturday
when Eric poured it here. Tasty, flavorful, some real presence and
flattering body, flesh, bone and muscle, si si si si si! On Special for
$10.99, regularly $14.49 a bottle. Come get some,
Medium-to-light-bodied. Cheers.
3) PAPET Del Mas Spanish Cava, On Special for $10.99, I will taste this here with you all tonight, come taste! It has 11.5% alcohol by volume, excellent, a treat, and a fine value, too!
FOUR Dry Reds -
1) Rioja red Organic 2015 from USOA De BAGORDI,
a
dry blend of 80% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, and 10% Graciano, come see
how this rich fruit-forward red sits on your tongue and palate?!?
2) Agiorgitiko 2015 dry red Greek wine ( the grape is also called the
Saint Georges grape ), from Greece's Peloponnese region, with 13%
alcohol by volume, from the KOTROTSOS Winery, named after the wife in a
husband and wife excellent effort here, $9.99 a bottle, always a winner
with food! Tasty, flavorful, with personality and value, too - best with
a meal big or small, or simply some finger foods!
3) L.A.CETTO Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Estate-Bottled from Mexico's Vale
de Guadalupe, Baja California is un-oaked and a joy to sip or taste with
a meal! What a treat any way you want to enjoy it!
4) Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Private Reserve from Chile's Aconcagua
Valley, from ALMA de Chile, On Special for $9.99 a bottle, with 14%
alcohol by volume is an old earthy - dirty - sharp and testy, angular,
chewy, chunks of chunky-liquid flaves, like it, enjoying some myself now
during the Winter Olympics, yes si si si senores e senoras!
WEEK'S TASTINGS -
TUESDAY - 5-8PM, me tonight tasting Spanish wines mentioned above.
WEDNESDAY, 5-8PM,
2/21 Sam tasting the three Lebanese wines of CHATEAU KEFRAYA red and
white, maybe the rose, or the rose dry from IXSIR, Join Us, never any
charge!
FRIDAY, Feb. 24th, 2018 ( 5-8PM
) : We have Tess of the MOET Strategic Group tasting the fine wines of
NEWTON Napa Valley, CA ( with two dry reds, one Chardonnay, too $19.99
), and a fine Margaret River , western Australia 2017 Sauvignon Blanc-
Semillon Blanc dry white from CAPE MENTELLE, and a surprise Malbec from
Argentina, a real value, tasty, come and be surprised!
SATURDAY, February 24th, 2018 ( 2-6PM
) : Come taste with Serghei from Moldova some outstanding wines of
KAYRA, made with the help over the last ten years of California
winemaker Daniel O'Donnal, a dry Narince white, a dry Karsai rose Blanc
de Noir, and two reds, a Bogazkere 100% Bogazkere red, and a Buzbag
Rzerv Okuzgozu-Bogazkere typical indigenous fry red blend - be prepared
to be blown away with finesse and subtlety!
NO CHARGE, Join Us! Cheers ...
life is beautiful on this gorgeous tuesday morning here in cleveland park following president's day monday
yesterday when the washington post headlines on the front page were of
the shooting of 17 in florida, our lawmakers saying to foreign diplomats
and their countries to disregard trumps tWeets, that they do not
reflect their opinions, and the woman that continues to tell her story
having been assaulted by trump in his own trump tower back in 2006 and
no one seeming to hear or care or do anything about it. and all of this
on president's day! i guess even presidents don't really get to have a
pass on their special day.
TALKING TO LEON TARRANT about his childhood, ... quoting him after selling him what he wanted as we wait for Santos River : "
"
I got through with my MBA and was looking for a job and went to San
Fransisco, Nobody wanted me, as I got ready to go home some friend of
mine I visited there that I went to school with, that his neighbor was
looking for people in international banking and since I had no job
opportunities I took the job, and , so here was this was RUBE ( a
country yocal ), from Bellingham, Washington, bedazzled by big city san
fransisco ( I am of course referring to myself, it is me ), what I am
saying a country hick, that is how I got into these basque restaurants
going around,
that
is my introduction to the basques, san fransisco is famous for all
it's EUROpEan, ethnic, I think multi ethnic, and before that I am from
Bellingham, went to high school, went to college, in those days you had a
draft, and of course the korean war was still going on,
i took an educational deferment and got to college, a red brick
university , what that means, in oxford ... and then when i graduated
with a B.A. I was to be drafted, rather than go into the army and go
into the trenches, I went into the air force for four years, of which
three of those years were spent in the united kingdom, ...
and
then I got out of the service in 1960, returned, returned to
bellingham, WA., went to graduate school and got an MBA in Business
Administration.
" Did you stay in contact with any of the friends of Mr McBride that owned Chateau St. Michele? "
"
No, they went on with their lives, we would go down there periodically,
as we grew up we went on our own ways. I have tried the wines, just for
the hell of it, they were pretty good wines, from eastern Washington
were they come from.
I
went subsequent years later to see the old house. ha ha. it was just as
i remembered it, especially this big fireplace. but it was so
interesting how people can do things, they come into fruition, eating
grapes at first that became wine grapes later, same latitude as Bordeaux
and Burgundy. They don't get the benefit of the ocean breezes like napa
and sonoma do.
Leon is 83 years old now. The new generation poast war kids kind of
began thinking that wine was something fancy. being in the military in
europe i have been to france, italy, austria, wine was a big thing
there,
it was just fun, i would go into paris, being the american rube, eating
a cafe filtre i did not know how to drink it , stands like this, two
pieces, you [pour the water intot he top, and it filters down into the
bottom, a spout on the bottom, lifted the top off and spilled it all
over the table. the waitress looking at me thinking this stupid
americain, but i was learning, but you learned about the wines,
they
served vin ordinaire in carafes, that was a new thing to me, ha ha.
people would come in, bring their dogs in, people would have their dogs
in bibs, ha ha, eating around the table, the Empire style,a man and
woman, he cooked, she was out front, got to be good friends, something
out of La belle france, all the wine glasses lined up, which was for
red, for white for sherry, ha ha, i was learning this rube form
bellingham, washington.
to
me it's boring. to me the big thing about wine , how it started, you
had ethic groups, italians, greeks, some of the french, most people did
not drink wine, some sweet wine perhaps, ha ha, raspberry wine at
christmas, the ' king alphonso ' creme de cacao and on top of it you put
whipping cream on top, then you drink it and the cream de cacao comes
through the cream, cloyingly sweet, after king alphonso of spain ... i
don't think they even know what they are these days, from the thirties,
king alphonso abdicated in 1931... thanks leon!
YOU ARE THE BEST LEON!
WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW is an old store email I wrote and posted several years ago. Enjoy reading it if you have time. Cheers, TONY 2/20/2018
COME MEET CHRIS LATER TODAY / MAKE HIM FEEL WELCOME
CHRIS BARKER LEAVES US TO JOIN HIS
FIANCEE as she pursues her medical career in another city as yet not
known , and he continues with his own. We wish them both well and we
want to take this opportunity to thanks Chris for all that he has
brought us here at the store as well as to our neighborhood over this
past year and two months. Come by and get some last bits of help and
advice from him before he leaves us. Thanks again Chris.
GREG COMES HERE FROM NEW YORK
STATE and he brings with him under his belt 17 years of experience both
in the restaurant and the bar business. I hope to get him to become
immediately or in-store mixologist expert. This is something that we
need sorely as ever since Krishna left Aroma and went up north to pursue
his academic interests I have felt the great void that he left here in
his wake. No, Krishna was never employed here but he considered us home
and was always willing to help one of our customers with their needs and
I would make the introductions and then step off to help other of our
customers with their wine needs. Though I did listen occasionally to
what he told them often enough I was unable to do this and so missed
hearing his words and gems of wisdom.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, GREG WILL BE
WORKING WITH THE WINES and I am sure that we will both teach each other
quite a bit as we have different experiences and I really hope that we
will complement one another.That's the idea and it's a great one. Greg
will be here this afternoon and I look forward to really working with
him for the first time later today once that I finish this email. I will
introduce him to you all as you get off work and stroll on over later. I
am sure that I will also have something open to toast this new and
exciting development here in Cleveland Park. I will probably open one of
the bottles of wine that I write about here in this email. Maybe I'll
ask him what he most wants to try as it is all pretty much new to him.
IT'S EXCITING TO ME IN MANY WAYS
to get someone " new " to work with that has no Washington D.C.
experience under his belt. Everything will be fresh and exciting and he
will bring some of New York to us and as result we will probably sell a
broader selection of New York State wines here. That's thrilling really
as they are excellent and we can always do more with them. There's a
market for them and when we open them here and taste them with you like
the KEUKA LAKE VINEYARDS " Vignoles " 2009 Finger Lakes " Gentle Dry " (
$16.99 ) white and the sparkling WOLFFER ESTATE Brut Blanc De Blanc
2006 sparkling wine ( $38.99 ) from Sagaponage, Long Island the response
is always quite positive. Oh, the KEUKA LAKE VINEYARDS Cabernet Franc
dry red Finger Lakes 2008 ( $18.49 ) is pretty smooth and velvety and
silky and subtle with an elegance that is deceiving and yet gripping as
the taste settles so completely on one's palate with time.
RAVI IS AWAY AT A 4-DAY WEDDING IN
INDIA and getting some much-deserved R&R and we are all thrilled
for him. It gives us a chance to step up ourselves to the plate and try
more of what he would normally see here himself as he is our spirits
buyer. Earlier today both Alexis Thompson and Brad Jarvis were here with
an assortment of perhaps five different scotches and whiskies and
wanted me to taste them. I asked them to come back later to taste with
me when Greg joins me as that might clearly be something that Greg
already knows more about than me. We will see. I already took pictures
of the various items just in case we are not able to connect here again
later today. The name of the products is : DOUGLAS and on Brad's
business card there are pictures of five of them - one being an XO and a
lion standing up on it like on an impressive coat-of-arms. That one
really attracts the eyes quickly. The colors are all gradations of gold
and one is so deep with garnet hues. More about all this soon. Go to : www.InternationalSpiritsAndWines.com
Alexis Thompson was here at our last Big-Theme Valentine's Day & Night Wine-Tasting ( alexis@iswusa.com
) tasting four Mexican Estate-Bottled Valle De Guadalupe, Baja
California L.A. CETTO wines : three reds ( Cabernet Sauvignon( $10.99 ),
Private Reserve Nebbiolo 2004 Barrel Aged and Private Reserve Barrel
Aged 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ( BOTH at $23.99 ) and one white dry,
crisp Chenin Blanc 2009 ( $10.99 ). The Cabernet Sauvignon blew me away
with all it's fresh blueberry and dark fruit flavors. I loved it, really
I did - so fresh and bright and lively. What a treat!
I JUST SPOKE TO ALEXIS on
the phone and he filled in the blanks of all of this. The scotches " are
independently bottled, single-cask single malts ". They come from
Speyside, the Hylands, , Islay and there is one that is a vatted malt of
Speyside as well.
THURSDAY there will be a dinner with the Mexican Ambassador that is already sold-out starting at 6:30PM
featuring the wines of L.A. CETTO that we sell here and that I just
mentioned. You can get any of them here and even if we do not have them
in stock we will be happy to order them for you.
BEERS From SANTOS :
1) " Dugana " IPA ( India
Pale Ale ) from the AVERY Brewing Co. ( On Special for $7.99, 1 Pt 6 Fl.
Oz, 8.59% Alc. By Volume , from Boulder, Colorado ) is " new and
exciting " here.
Uncle Cracker just sang on the radio : " You make me smile , Just
The Thought Of You Makes Me Wild ... You Make Me Dance Like A Fool, ...
Fall Out Of Bed , ... Spain Like A Record ... Forget How To Breathe ,
... Just The Thought Of You ... You Make Me Smile ... " My son went to
see him sing here a year or so ago. Great sentiments in the song. I feel
better already.
2) " Zaibo " YPAC STRIPRUS
ALUS EXTREME STRING BEER ( On Special for $2.99, 9.5% Alc. By Vol., 1
Pt. .9 Fl. Oz , Birzai, Lithuania ) ... wow, love the packaging here!
Dramatic, red www.aikoimports.com ). Come check this one out.
3) ZHIGULY Grande 9.5%
traditionally aged Lithuanian beer ( On Special for $2.99, 1Pt 0.9Fl Oz.
bottles ) is also very special and something for you all to look
forward to here.
RAVI HAS ADDED SOME NEW LIQUEUR and LIQUOR, Too :
1) Libertine Absinthe
Superieure brandy with natural flavor added ( $64.99, 58% Alc. By Volume
, product of France ) from the Distillerie Paul Devoille F-70220
Fougerolles ) just came in last week. Brand new ...
2) Alize imported from
France, Exotic Passion Fruit and Cranberries delicately blended with
premium French Vodka ( $21.99 ) ... Red Passion liqueur, 16% alc. By
Volume. Visit Alize.com for mimosas, martinis, margaritas and more
specialty cocktail recipes.
3) Campo De Encanto Fool's
Gold Terroir Brandy De Peru Pisco D.O.C. Valle De ICA ( $39.99 ) is
42.5% Alc. By Volume and brand new here as well.
WINES From Tony/ Chris & Greg :
WHITES :
1) " La Renaudie " 2009 dry
white French wine from Bergerac ( $14.99 ) comes from Oscar Losama od
Voila Imports and he tasted it here at our last Big-Theme Valentine;s
Day & Night Wine-Tasting. It's a beauty, beautifully balanced, fresh
and lively and really refreshingly dry and has always sold well here
over the last three or so years.
2) " M " De MONLUC dry
indigenous grape variety called Gros Manseng ( $15.99 ) and it's more
flavorful and robust and with much more weight. It's definitely more of a
food wine and it's a grape to be discovered. You see it in Jurancon and
here it is made not far away in the Vin De Pays Des Cotes Du Gascogne.
It also comes from Oscar Losama.
3) Chardonnay 2008,
California ( 12.5% alc. by volume - really low for California ! ) from
the BROWNSTONE Winery ( $9.99 ) is a delight and both Chris Barker and I
enjoyed it quite a bit. Very fine value, too.
4) 2009 Riesling ( medium
sweet ) Willamette Valley Oregon ( $13.99 )is back again as a number of
you really liked it over the last two three years of having it
off-and-on.
5) Narince De Tokat 2006
Selection Beyaz from KAVAKLIDERE, Turkey, this dry-mineral white is
quite refreshing and fun ( $16.99 ). People really liked it this past
weekend.
REDS :
1) 2008 Malbec from Mendoza,
Argentina , this " La Flor " Pulenta Wines ( $19.99 ) is exceptionally
refined and balanced and elegant and worth every penny.
2) 2007 Malbec from Mendoza,
Argentina , this " Decero " Remolinos Vineyard ( Agrelo " , $13.99 )
will be tasted here this Friday, February 25th, 2011 by Jeffrey of
Monument Imports from 5-8PM. Again I liked this Malbec for all it's spit and polish and finesse.
3) 2010 Pinotage from South
Africa's Swarthland region ( $8.99 ) made by RIEBEEK CELLARS is quite
balanced and focused as well and has all the components offering some
rich and satisfying flavors without being too bold or strong. We liked
it quite a bit - great value, too.
4) Ancyra Kalecik Karasi 2009
($19.99, Turkish slightly off-dry red with the emphasis on the bright
red cherry-berry flavors without the hard acids and drying tannins ) is a
great red from an indigenous grape to sit around sipping and enjoying
outside, especially when the weather turns warm which it will again...
5) Cabernet Franc from
PARADISE SPRINGS of Clifton, Virginia ($22.99 ) , this 2008 made by
Chris Pearmund is showing so well with such finesse and polish and
refinement. I really like it;s brightness of pure fruit Cabernet Franc
flavors. Really nice ...
6) Merlot 2005 Napa Valley (
$29.99 ) from the HALL winery is so smooth and so elegant and so pretty
that it really is quite the show-stopper as one stops to catch one's
breath and reflect and enjoy and smile with a smile that only gets
broader and more intense and more prolonged as the minutes pass-slip by
... really nice.
PORT-STYLE :
1) Cape Ruby from South
Africa's Swarthland region ( $13.99 ) from RIEBEEK CELLARS is again a
beauty and one to roll over one's tongue and let infiltrate and soak and
baste and refresh and bathe and work it's subtle flavors and work it's
magic, too. Really nice ...
WEEK'S TASTINGS :
FRIDAY, February 25th, 2011 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Jeffrey of Monuments Imports here to pour Argentina's Finest reds - the two listed above.
WE ALSO HAVE from Santos - A Dominion Beer tasting from 5-8PM.
SATURDAY, February 26th, 20110 ( 3-7 PM
) : We have Regis of Roanoke Imports here to pour an assortment of his
wines from Oregon and also from Italy and France. This will be really
exciting as Regis has such a wonderful selection of wines and everyone
will be thrilled . Trust me on this one. Your palates will be awakened
and pampered and cajoled and teased and pleased. The Pinot Noir from
Oregon alone will be an eye-opener!
I AM SURE that I have forgotten something and yet I am out of time
as Greg will join me shortly here and I want to be on the floor to work
with him and introduce him to you all.
ALSO : both Alexis and Brad mentioned above will soon be here with
the DOUGLAS Scotch whiskies and Lou Foppiano of the FOPPIANO Winery in
California will be here shortly with his wine rep Laura to taste us on
her current releases. He asked Laura to come here and see me as he
remembers how much fun we have had here together in the past. Can't wait
to see you again Lou!
THANKS TO YOU ALL for all your support and belief in us. Come meet
Greg, come say " goodbye " to Chris and get some last-minute
recommendations from him before he leaves the area with his fiancee.
CHEERS and thanks again, TONY
|
Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine
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