Happy Saint Patrick' Day & Happy Passover, Good Luck To Student Marchers On The Mall Soon, Go To Kennedy Center To Millenium Stage This March 15th 6-8PM To See Uptown Arts DC House Dance & Music Program W/ Jamal Gray, Maja, Maps, & MOre! Cheers!!!

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

IT'S HARD TO THINK OF EVERYTHING  that I want to mention at once. It's very much like an organic, fluid trail of ideas, notions, memories and " glad that I remembered this or that " kind of process that somehow, with patience and diligence all seems to come together.   I WROTE THAT paragraph and the following email below and sent it to you all on March 13th, 2012 - six years ago - how some things are still very much the same and others so changed!   THIS WILL BE A DIFFERENT FORMAT TUESDAY EMAIL that I write today - a ' feel good ' email that touches on many things to help me - us all cope, understand, appreciate, and take the control we need to beat depression and all that is invading our space and consuming us like never before - sometimes really harmful and insidious, and we need to see and take back our lives and feel the strength and warmth and happiness at being alive and fruitful and purposeful that is our innate right.   THE NITTY GRITTY WILL FOLLOW -   THE CHEER HAPPINESS GLEE GLAD is now and we must embrace this moment to realize that we are indeed being programmed in so many ways, stop letting it happen.   TURN OFF YOUR ELECTRONIC devices and resort to your own devices.   WE USED TO BE ABLE to make many of our own decisions, now we rely on the INTERNET to make many, and who - whom puts that information there anyway?!? To what ultimate good or goal does it serve the few that actually see to having it put there?!?   AND WHY is GOOGLE, FACEBOOK, AMAZON controlling so much of what we see or are exposed to for both services and news?!? NONE OF THIS IS GOOD, none of it.   AND SO I AM PROUD TO acknowledge our children that will soon be coming to our National Mall here to march in protest of the gun lobbying that is running our congress and rendering them spineless proponents of what ' we the people ' want, and afraid to act at all, to do barely anything in fear that they might not be reelected?!? What nonsense is this?!?   BUT HEY, this is more about taking back our lives and living them fully, and we individually are our own authors ( or were once ), and we can be once again.   WE HERE ARE AN OASIS in these changing times, and we are happy to be here to help in any way that we can.     IT IS WITH SADNESS and APPRECIATION that we say : " Au-revoir " to Hubert di Givenchy, 91 that passed away this weekend in Paris. He was a fashion and a trendsetter, too and driving to work I kept wondering what great wines and spirits he enjoyed and shared with others in his lifetime?   AS AN AMBASSADOR TO WINE as Hubert di Givency was to fashion I would recommend to him these nine choices from  the western hemisphere -        1) First Crush Red 2015 B BEDELL CELLARS, from North Fork of Long Island, New York State, $17.49, a dry easy-delightful red blend of 70% Merlot, and 30% Cabernet Franc, so pleasing, will ge great as the weather warms, he would love the vibrant artwork , too, the colors would speak to him - the black in them would ground them for him as well. Family-owned.        2) LIBERATED Sauvignon Blanc 2015 from California's Noth Coast in the northern regions, On Special for $13.99, with 14.2% alcohol by volume, something to wrap himself and his friends nicely up in with an extra layer of flavor and protection from the elements by the 14.2% alcohol, like a fine dry Bordeaux with extra warmth and dimension, this would be a novel experience for him, and the dancers on the label taking their esxcape on a sky ride up into the hills dressed in black would remind him of both Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers or Audrey Hepburn in his black dress and Gene Kelly?!! Cheers!        3) B Pinot Noir The Reserve Delfina's Estate 2013 from the BLAIR ESTATE in California's Arroyo Seco , the taste is sublime and silky, svelte yet fleshy-generous and so pure and pristine and really quite voluptuous. $96.49, Hubert would love this I believe, the bottle signed by Jeffrey Blair the owner, in gold, the B in gold, and dripped red-blood wax protecting the cork with a clear plastic ' chapeau ' protecting the wax, too! Yes si oui oui oui oui oui Hubert!        4) As If is possibility ( What can happen? What can we create, what can we achieve if we make a choice? )  : Serendipity Courage Persistence from Ali Shaper, with 13.7% alcohol, a dry white North Fork of Long Island blend, such infinite possibilities, brightness, refinement, a certain level of splash and containment, frivolity and frankness, freedom, too - LOVE IT, thank you Ali for tasting this here with me.        5) LOVE DRUNK as they would say it in French, AMOUR IVRE - when reality is better than your dreams! Black rose drawing by Garage d'or - gold garage , Oregogne Garage, 2017 Oregon Rose wine, bottled by Maison Noir Wines, MNW, with 13% alcohol by volume, Hubert di Givenchy you would love this becasue it would remind you of a Bandol dry Provence rose!        6) Historic ROTTA Black Honnnnnukka Dessert Wine, 19% alcohol by volume, 375ml bottle, $33.99 a bottle, from the ROTTA Winery in Templeton, California, a murky brown, unfiltered, unfined, so much possibility with all the extra grape and flavor left in and not filtered out, a treat, Hubert would have fun dressing this bottle up somehow and adding his own unique ' imprimeur '!        7) LAUTERBACH Cellars Syrah Dessert Wine 2008 from California's Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, with 18.8% alcohol by volume, $36.99 a 375ml bottle, made by Stew Lauterbach himself in his garage, a small family operation, humble, pure, flavorful, distinct, a blessing in liquid to one and to all, Hubert would love this I am sure, he might want to change the label and put a simple black outlive around the tree in the center in front of the garage , both that look like they have been there for a very very long temps-time vraiment Hubert!        8) Farmer Fizz sparkling Chardonnay wine in a can that is a half-bottle of wine in a bottle, 100% Maryland-grown grapes, from the OLD WESTMINSTER Winery, $10.99, Hubert would like this honest, sincere, pure playful quality and taste that appeals to many, especially those making or leaving their mark on things.        9) Asian Pear Dessert Wine from SUBARASHII KUDAMONO, with 20% alcohol by volume, $31.99 a 375ml bottle, using pears that are grown in Pennsylvania, a touch unfiltered, more taste left in the bottle, made in Baroda, MI., this is a lovely way to finish a meal with polish and finesse, refinement, statement, purity, classic, classy, beautiful pear taste! Cheers, Hubert would help me promote all these, he would have, too even at 91 years-of-age! A real treat.    SAVE HERE EVERY WEDNESDAY 2 ways up to 20% OFF on wine. Call and pay on Wednesdays here : 202-363-4265.Ask to speak to me ( Tony ) or to Chris, cheers, SAVE BIG here on expensive wines every Wednesday!   SAVE BIG HERE, too every day with our 3 for $33 and our 6 for $60!   ALWAYS FIND WAYS TO SAVE here at @CPWineSpirits ( our Twitter address ). 202-363-4265. Cheers!   WANT TO THANK for their efforts here recently showing and promoting-presenting to us : 1) Owner Paul J. Coughan of TACONIC Distillery, NY. 2) Eoghan Healy of TEELING Irish Whiskey, Ireland 3) Owner of BODEGAS ARRAYAN, Spain, 4) George Kanakis, export & marketing manager of CAVINO Winery and Distillery, Aigio, Greece 5) Louis Randazzo Southeastern Market Manager of HIRO Sake, Japan, 6) Ami Nahari CEO of The River Fine Kosher Wines Thank you all.   WEEK'S TASTINGS -   Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 ( 5-8PM ) : Eric of Tradewinds Specialty Imports here to taste a 1) Fuenteseca from BODEGAS SIERRA NORTE Organic, $32.99 , a great dry rose organic Spanish 3-liter box, some 2) BALMA Brut Nature Cava dry , $26.49, 3) ALEXANDRO Amonyillado Sherry, and more -   Friday, March 16th, 2018 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Serghei here of Moldova tasting some of his really fine Moldovan wines!   Saturday, March 17th, 2018 ( 2-6PM ) : We have owner Vittorio here from TRE MONTI in Romagna, Italy pouring an assortment of his fine wines, yes, si si si! We are working now on something to be poured, too from Ireland as it will be Saint Patrick's Day here, too! More info on that to follow soon.   AND NOW GET READY -     OKAY THEN - here are some thoughts and scenarios to ponder and go from there ...   Happy Saint Patrick's Day coming this Saturday March 17th, 2018 as we also welcome back Vittorio the owner of TRE MONTI Winery in Romagna, Italy with importer Robert Kennedy ( 2-6PM ) - join us. This will be a great weekend as we will have Italian wines to complement the corned beef and carrots and potatoes along with a full selection of  -   Irish Whiskies :  I will list here for you -   1) CLONTARF 1014 Irish Whiskey that is gently aged in Bourbon barrels, On Special for $19.99, regularly $24.99, I personally like and recommend this one - it overdelivers for the price, tasty, complex, hardy and will warm us all in these biting winds now, brrrr! Triple distilled - fiery!   2) GLENDALOUGH Double Barrel Irish Whiskey , hand-crafted in small batches, On Special for $40.99 a bottle, I like it a lot, a treat, smooth enough , some simmering fire that is a flame of Ireland, I like it, a treat with more polish than the CLONTARF!   3) The TYRCONNELL Single Malt Double Distilled , also matured in ex-Bourbon casks, : " giving this uniquely soft and elegant whiskey it's distinct flavours of citrus, honey and vanilla. " Yes! On Special now for $42.99 a bottle.    4) KNAPPOGUE CASTLE Single Malt Irish Whiskey 14-Year-Old in Twin Wood, $55.99, turns the heat up in a way that buffers us all from the incredible blasts of cold winds coming our way in such a divine fashion - yes!          TWO From Mitchell & Sons -   1) GREEN SPOT Single Pot Distilled Irish Whiskey, triple distilled Irish Whiskey, $73.99 - the green and the yellow marked the casks that these two come from, - distinct, flavorful - oure and powerful both!   2) YELLOW SPOT Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Aged 12 Years, three cask maturation, bourbon, sherry and malaga barrels - non-chill-filtered - the supremem, ultimate pure and distinct flavors possible here! Cheers, $122.99 a bottle. A real lovely Irish treat for you all.          AND - 4 GUINNESS and 1 HARP single bottle, cans and 4-packs and 6-packs - lots to choose from -   Irish Beers -   1)  GUINNESS Foreign Extra Stout 12-fl. oz bottles, : " rich, full-bodied, the stout that has traveled the world, rich with flavor. " On Special for $9.99 a 4-pack.   2) HARP Premium Imported Lager On Special $9.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, the softer, gentler tasting Irish brew that I like better than GUINNESS just for that! Cheers.   I DO LIKE GUINNESS, however, and was drinking it from a can when Barrack Obama was inaugurated for the first time and there was the grand celebration and concert at the Lincoln Memorial. What a grand moment that was, and I enjoyed my GUINNESS, too!   WE HAVE NEW SHELVES UP FRONT to accommodate our big selection of beers in both cans and bottles now - easier to see and to shop for them here.   WE ALSO HAVE New Lighting in the cooler in the back so that what is there is easier to see and evaluate. Cheers.   HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY all!   DON'T FORGET that Passover is coming up and that we have a whole new selection here of kosher wines, too.   WE ALSO HAVE a new display of kosher wines by the office at the end of our rack of wines for : 3 for $33 and 6 for $60. Come check it out - We have ten ( 10 ) new kosher wines for you all from Italy, California, Israel that also includes a fine new sparkling Lambrusco rose from CONTESSA ANNALISA , $14.49 a bottle, so much now to choose from, so much wonderful variety from dry and off-dry wines, some Bordeaux and Cotes Du Rhone red wines, too. More Italian wines to follow, but come see what we have included from California here. You will be pleased, really you will.        1) Chenin Blanc 2015 Tishbi family winemakers TISHBI, $16.49 a bottle, a really dry and refreshing distinct taste to enjoy with your meals. From Zichron Zichron, Israel, 12% alcohol by volume,  Mevushal and kosher for Passover.        2) GALLLLLLLGAL Pinot Noir 2016 from Galilee, Israel, $18.99 a bottle, with 12.5% alcohol by volume, from the GOLAN HEIGHTS Winery, kosher for Passover, Rabbi Avraham D. Oyerbach, a more refined , lighter, brighter taste, nice.        3) Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from TISHBI, 2016, $16.49 a bottle, with 12% alcohol by volume, both Mevushal and kosher for Passover. Easy to sip and enjoy with light food or a full meal, chill like the Pinot Noir above for 30 minutes as the wines on their own will warm to just the right temperature, and that is what you want - what will make these wines sing and whisper sweet lullabies in your ears,  for years!     CHEERS, thanks for everything, you all are the very best.  TONY 3/13/2018     ENJOY THE EMAIL below if you have time to read it and inquire for current availability and pricing, vintage changes, whatever with us here! Cheers, enjoy, thanks for everything.   TONY  3/13/2018   I WALKED INTO THE STORE after finally finding my way around a second accident on Route 50 ? Arlington Boulevard at Park Street. It took some doing but here I am safe and sound on an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous day and Ravi at our register immediately talking to me about last night's wine-tasting with owner/ wine-maker Jean-Marc of the DOMAINE ROUGE-BLEU.     JEAN-MARC TASTED his two reds ( the Dentelle  2009 dry red Rhone-style blend, $19.99, ; the dry 2010 rose On Special for $14.99 ( just a few bottles left if that as we switch to the 2011 at $18.99 a bottle ), and the " Mistral " 2010 dry red Cotes Du Rhone , $24.99 a bottle. I will have to let you all know what is available for sale after yesterday's wine-tasting and then wine-dinner at Ripple restaurant. Call Ean and me for more info at : 202-363-4265. AS I REACHED THE BACK of the store Ravi called out to : " Doctor Steve wants to talk to you". I walked back up to the front of the store to find out that Dr. Steve is our eye doctor across the street from us on Connecticut Avenue N.W. ( he's the owner of UPTOWN VISION ) and his store got a lot of damage from the water main pipe that broke and spewed water up above his roof as well as that of the Uptown Theater ( both had flooding and Dr. Steve had lots of damage done to his store ). He needs my pictures that I took when everyone alerted me to this last week. I will be happy to give them to you Steve. Steve is a customer and a friend as well as a business neighbor.   I JUST RECEIVED A CALL from Mike Potasnik that is the editor of the on-line wine review called i-winereview.com and this issue that he is working on currently is all about kosher wines : just in time for Passover on Saturday, April 7th, 2012. I told him that I would pass this information on to our customers as we like to share as much information with you as we possibly can. I also told Mike that we sell a whole lot of kosher wines here pretty much every day and not simply on the holidays. It has grown with time and many customers of ours know that they will find an assortment of at least twenty-to-thirty kosher wines at any time, some Mevushal and some for Passover : many at under $20 a bottle as well in all styles, colors and levels of sweetness. Most, in fact are dry. Mike and his group of tasters have taken on the job to review some of the very best kosher wines available to us these days. In fact he just returned from New York city where there was a large kosher wine-tasting event.   ANYWAY : come check out our kosher selection. We just bought more of the O'DWYERS CREEK 2010 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ( $16.99 ) that is kosher for Passover and also Mevushal. We will have to buy more quickly : it's good and selling quickly. We also have the CANTINA GABRIELE dry, unoaked Chardonnay ( 12% alcohol  by volume ) from Lazio, Italy and the dry Sangiovese from Circeo, Italy , also from CANTINA GABRIELE : BOTH On Special for $10.99 a bottle now.   BUT HEY, as I always say, this store email has to be about ALL those categories that interest you and not simply only about wine so I will switch over to Santos in the back that has been busy receiving many cases of beer just now. HERE ARE TWO, hot-off-the-presses beers from Santos that he just rolled up to put up front on our shelves.        1) Oatmeal Porter Series 924 from the WIDMER BROTHERS Brewing company in Portland, Oregon ( On Special for $4.99 a bottle, 22 Fl. Oz, 6% alcohol by volume, Widmer Brothers making beer since 1984 ) is richly toasted and sublimely smooth. For more info go to : www.WidmerBrothers.com. Cheers.      2) Gigi's Farmhouse Ale from our local brewery  OLD DOMINION ( Livin' the Dream ) Brewing Co. ) On Special for $5.99 a 22 Oz. bottle, in Dover, Delaware, bottled Feb. 12th, 2012, 7.2% alcohol by volume . " To the French, Gigi is a woman who farms, to our brewers, Gigi is a Belgian-influenced, bottle-conditioned saison ". Looks like something perfect for this warm weather outside with loads of sunshine and blue skies now.   BEFORE SANTOS ARRIVED I found up front THREE to tempt you all with. Here they are in all their glory :        1) KARLOVACKO Pivo beer Stoljetna tradicija Okrunjeno Kvalitetom ( $3.99 a 500ml bottle, 5% alcohol by volume, Croatia, www.karlovacko.hr ) is something new at least to me. Have any of you already tried it? Please respond to this email if you have and include any comments. All your comments are welcome.      2) ODYSSEY Ale Aged In Oak Barrels from ALLAGASH ( $18.99, 1 Pt. 9.4 Fl. Oz, 750ml bottle, 10.4% alcohol by volume, bottled in December 2011, 1160 cases made ; Allagash Brewing, Portland, Maine, 1-800-330-5385  ). For more information go to : www.allagash.com. Open cautiously, contents under pressure.      3) Real Aussie Stout ( No Additives, No Preservatives ) from COOPERS BREWERY ( $12.99 a 6-pack of 12.7 ounce bottles, bottle-fermented, family brewed,  Regency Park South Australia, kosher, pareve, since 1862 ) is good to have back with the other two flavors. Our Aussie owners and wine-makers love to stop and have a COOPERS after their wine-tastings and are always excited to see it here on our shelves. I'd rather have more wine : to each his or her own : that's what makes the world so exciting!     LAST WEEK ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS was making an interesting drink that in all my years no one has mentioned to me before and I would like to share it with you now. Kristin sez : " grapefruit juice and dry sparkling wine " make a good alternative to orange juice and dry sparkling wine as well as to creme de cassis and a dry sparkling wine.   THE DRY SPARKLING WINE  we sold Kristin for this is the SIMONET French blanc de blanc sparkling wine from the Caves de Wissembourg in Alsace. We sell it for $8.99 a bottle and it's dry and perfect for blending and perfect for drinking in this warm weather. This drink of Kristin's also sounds perfect for a day like today that is supposed to get into the 70's. It already feels like it's in the 70's now. HEY RAVI, what LIQUOR / LIQUEURS do you have for us ?             LIQUEUR :       1)  Organic Rose Hip liqueur from KOVAL ( $26.99 a 375ml bottle, 20% alcohol  by volume, Chicago, Illinois, certified organic by Midwest Organic Services Association, Inc ) : " Koval is Chicago's first boutique distillery, producing handcrafted spirits in small batches using traditional European techniques. Made with premium organic rose hips ", Batch #18, natural sediment may form which is perfectly okay.             LIQUOR :         1) The SINGLETON Single Malt Scotch Whisky of Glendullan aged 12 years ( $42.99, 40% alcohol by volume, Dufftown, Keith, Banffshire, www.SingletonGlendullan@consumer-care.net ) is  aged in sherry & bourbon casks : " perfectly balanced, naturally rich and smooth ".      2) Single Malt CLYNELISH Coastal Highland Scotch Whisky Aged 14 Years ( On Special for $52.99 a bottle, 46% Alcohol by volume, from Brora, Sutherland, Scotland ) :  " The unique maritime character of CLYNELISH owes much to its location ... fruity, slightly smoky, consistent quality ... "      3) New York Corn HUDSON WHISKEY ( $50.99 , 375ml half-bottle size, 46% alcohol by volume, Tuthilton Spirits, Gardiner, New York , www.tuthiltown.com ) " harkens back to an earlier time before Prohibition, when there were over 1,200 farm distilleries in the state. ... Our corn is among the first legally produced grain spirits to be made in New York over 70 years... whiskey is double-distilled... Enjoy it neat or in your favorite cocktail ".     FROM EAN BOND & TONY QUINN : Wines -             UNDER $10 A Bottle :        1) Grenache Noir 2010 from Maurice's DOMAINE De GOURNIER ( also available in the dry Viognier 2010 white - aromatic and focused and fleshed and great with many foods $9.99 ) , Vin De Pays des Cevennes is quite flavorful with good deep, rich red color and being medium-bodied I would chill it twenty minutes and enjoy outside when you grill.      2) Barbera 2010 del Piemonte, Italy from the TERRE D'ALERAMO ( $8.99 ) is lighter and softer and more bright red-colored and simply perfect even now with these temperatures in the 70's to enjoy slightly-chilled 20 minutes with or without a meal. It's a great deal from our friend Mauro. Grazie Mauro.      3) MERLOT South Eastern Australia ( also comes in a bolder, dry and nicely complex Chardonnay ) is drinking beautifully now. It's medium-to-light-bodied and also with a slight twenty minute chill will show really well all by itself or with a meal. BoTh the MERLOT and the CHARDONNAY sell for $9.99 a bottle.             WHITES :        1) New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from NEW HARBOR, this 2010 ( $10.99, 5, James Rochfort Place, Hastings NZ ) is clean and crisp and bright and light enough to be perfect for this warmer weather of the 70's that we will enjoy all week long I believe? It's back again by popular demand. Our customers know and love it. Cheers.      2) 2009 M'HUDI Sauvignon Blanc ( $15.99 , South Africa ) : " M'hudi, meaning " harvester ", inspired by a great African story. That of a bold and graceful woman who flees from her village to recreate life in a turbulent and unfamiliar environment. M'hudi Wines are in every way a celebration of this story of courage, possibility " Tseliso Rangaka. This is quite distinct, flavorful and great to enjoy now with or without a meal though you will be looking soon enough for a steaming bowl of Lavandou's mussels!      3) Flonheimer Adelberg 2010 Silvaner from Germany's Rheinhessen ( $10.99 a liter bottle, 10 % alcohol by volume ) is just off-dry enough, round and smooth enough to intrigue and delight many a palate. it's also a great value, too.      4) " Purato " Pura Sicilia 2010 dry white from Sicily is a blend of two grapes :  60%Catarratto and  40%Pinot Grigio ( $14.99, is made with organically grown grapes ) : " We are ECO friendly ,  1) sustainable ecosystem,  2) 100% Recycled Paper,  3)  85% Recycled Glass,    4) 100% Recycled Cardboard and   5) 100% Pure Vegetable Ink . " Using only natural methods for fertilization and pest control, we have extended our total commitment to the environment by using all eco-friendly products ... " . And on top of all of this the wine is great and delicious and, with true taste and character. It's a really fine wine to enjoy with a meal and with this warmer weather. It's only 12.5% alcohol by volume as well. What a real treat. Franceen our local rep for Vias imports brought it by for Ean and me to taste.             REDS :        1) Zinfandel 2008 from STERLING, their " Vintner's Collection " ( $14.99 ) is a delight to drink with or without a meal. It's medium-bodied, fleshy, good rich red color and touches of spice and herbs and tastes really bright. We have plenty for you in this warm weather. Come and check it out - lovely.      2)Merlot 2008 from Stellenbosch, South Africa ( $14.99 , nvdmwines@vodamail.co.za, www.34south.com ) is made by Nico Van Der Merwe. " Maturation in French oak barrels completes the harmony of this serious yet friendly wine. Ideal with red meat dishes and medium flavored cuisine ". I do not think I could say this any better. Made in a traditional style and always best with food. Cheers and enjoy.      3) Nero D'Avola 2010 from Sicily's CANTINE COLOSI, this 2010 ( $18.99 , www.viaswine.com, Giammoro ) : " Roby red in color, it has an intensive and fruity aroma with notes of cherry and blackberry. It's fresh flavor and well-balanced tannins make it an ideal accompaniment for red meats and game." Sound like a perfect wine for tonight?!? Come and get some. Great label, too, colorful, traditional and make me think of the earth from which the grapes came from. I like it a lot.      4) Chianti Classico 2008 from the CASTELLO DI MELETO ( Dal 1256 , black rooster , $23.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, www.castellomeleto.it ) is made from 90% Sangiovese grapes and 10% Merlot and aged for 12 months in 54 hl. Slavonian oak barrels. You better come and get some for your meal tonight. You can take it over to Dino ristorante tonight and not pay any corkage fee! Just remember to tip the waiter extra as they will not make any money otherwise off the bottle you take.      5) Shiraz 68% /  32% Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 dry red Aussie blend " Tantalus "  from ELDERTON ( $28.99, South Australia, www.eldertonwines.com.au, carbon neutral ) is made by the Ashmeade family and is : " wonderfully uncomplicated and delicious Shiraz blend ". I went to visit ELDERTON years ago with Chris Pigott and had a blast. This is a favorite of Ean's and is back on our shelves once again. One of the two brothers of the ASHMEADE family has also been here in our store. Family ... come smell the bouquet of plums and cherries and cassis berries...      6) Shiraz 2008 Barossa Valley from GROOM ( $32.99, 14.9% alcohol by volume 28 Langmeil Road, Tanunda, ) is drinking so smoothly and with such velvet and richness that it's almost impossible not to enjoy a glass or more and this 70 degree weather is perfect for that now.             SAKE :       1) STARS Kizakura " Pure " Sparkling ( $9.99, made from rice and Koji mold, 6.5% alcohol by volume , Japan ) is doing really well for us here in Cleveland Park. Tried and true and a success story. Nice to sip and relax and simply enjoy being ... By the way I am looking for some Nigori sake " Ozeki "? Anyone know where I can find some? Please respond to this store email if you do. Thanks.          WEEK'S TASTINGS :          Friday, March 16th, 2012 ( 5-8PM ) : Danielle will come to taste some of her excellent " new " biodynamic and vegan Greek reds and whites,  as well as her excellent French dry whites from the Southwest of France. Everything value : everything I believe $15 and under a bottle.        Saturday, March 17th, 2012 ( 3-6PM ) Roberta of Washington Wholesalers will be here to taste her Robert Kacher French wine selections like the DOMAINE De GOURNIER Grenache mentioned above, the Corbieres dry reds , the : new " biodynamic red and white and maybe more? WE will see. Join us, NEVER any charge. Bring family and friends : make this your event : we invite you to do so.          I KNOW THAT I HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING but it will have to wait this time. For more updates check us out at : www.clevelandparkwinnes.com, on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, on Twitter at : cpwinespirits, and on my wine blog at : chatwine.blogspot.com. Cheers and thanks for everything. We are nothing without you ... is that from Whitney Houston's famous song or am I paraphrasing? ANYWAY, we thank you for all your faith and belief in us. Cheers and hope to see you this evening when you get off work.  TONY     DO YOU LIKE JAZZ? Go hear the Michael Bowie Quartet organized through the JazzKnights & Blackberry Jazz  at Viino's March 19th, 2012  from 7-9:30PM : $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Located at : 959 Sligo Avenue , Silver Spring, Md. Go to : www.jazzknights.com for more info. I have heard Michael Bowie ( bass ) and Robert Redd ( piano ) play and with them are Keith Ailor ( vocals ) and Donato Soviero ( guitar ). This will be fun! Monday night jazz. For reservations call : 202-270-0107. Cheers... and thanks again,  TONY