My Tuesday Email I Write Weekly, This Week Celebrating Many Things Including DRAAI National Heritage Day in South Africa, Cheers, Read & Enjoy!

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A BUSY WEEK here last week that was immensely satisfying, I think we all benefited greatly from it, our mini Big Theme tasting was a big success as we started to celebrate Draai National Heritage Day that is actually this week ( we started early with Ian and Lysse Wolf of Red Wolf Wines ), a day that Desmond Tutu coined I believe where all of South Africa comes together as one to celebrate and be together celebrating what they have in common and share and not that which divides them.   HEARING ALL THE POLITICS on the news and radio here at work it is something of an inspiration for us all, for me especially.   I WAS THINKING ABOUT what can unify us all here in our country as I drove to work on this really soggy gray day that seems to sport a consistent drizzle all through day and night that will , it seems, continue into this day and night, tomorrow, too - and on! Yuck! I walk our dog in all weather, and am tired of this I will admit.   I ATTENDED a luncheon yesterday with Robert Kennedy of his own RWKimports and Letizia Patane of @ViniFranchetti that represents three estates in Italy : @TenutadiTrinoro and @Sancaba  in #Tuscany  , @Passopisciaro in #MtEtna in #Sicily that I loved at Osteria Morini DC, and I loved the whole hour-and-a-half time I spent there with them as well as with Kristin and Jesse that work with both of them, and Rob de Felici the Beverage Director, too. The service, the event, the wines and the food were all a wonderful treat, one that I will remember as really special. I will return to the restaurant sometime with my wife when it is just the two of us and not this business on my day-off that was quite pleasurable as one might imagine?!   I REMEMBERED what Letizia Patane said when talking about the Guardilo 2016 single vineyard #NerelloMascalese red that is on Mt. Etna and high in altitude, and divided by a road where the lower part is IGT and the upper part if Etna DOC, and so to make this wine they simply call it a IGT wine, they compromise and work as a team and move forward as one wine, and the results are spectacular! It was the 2016 that we tasted yesterday, I loved it as well as the others. And I loved this story, and it has inspired me to think how we may set aside our differences and focus on what we share as people in these hard, trying modern divisive times!?!   WE SELL two of these Mt. Etna wines of PASOPISCIARO, the 2014 Chardonnay #Passobianco and the 2014 #Passorosso. These are the older vintages, yesterday we tried the 2016 vintages, so these have had more time in the bottle to work their full charms and magic.   1) 2014 Passobianco Terre Siciliane 100% volcanic mountain soil of minerals galore produce, On Special at $39.99 a delightful, flavorful, dry, distinct, not heavy, not oaky ( neutral large barrels are used as well as cement vats to age and mature and produce this fine wine that I really like and highly recommend as another version that is equally fine and special as white Burgundy.   2) 2014 Passorosso Etna Rosso 100% NerelloMascalese that, as Letizia mentioned many times, embodies both aspects of some of our favorite grapes - the Pinot Noir and the Nebbiolo grapes.   THE lower single vineyards remind us more of the Pinot Noir taste, and the higher up Mt Etna the grapes go the more they remind us of the Nebbiolo grape.   I like the 2016 vintage, but I love more how this 2014 has developed in the bottle. It is $43.99 a bottle On Special ( was originally $53.99 a bottle ) - a great wine to treat yourselves to tomorrow when we take 20% OFF on these special prices and the wine costs only $35.19 a bottle, the Chardonnay drops from $39.99 a bottle to $31.99 a bottle.   THE HIGHER  single vineyards get an extra 45 minutes of sunshine to ripen, and that makes a huge difference in the grapes harvested!   THEY ARE also producing excellent small amounts of Bordeaux-blend grapes there in Mt Etna ( we tried two or three I believe, focusing on the Petit Verdot grape, the 2007 was insanely fine, only four bottles left according to Robert just now  - but I liked all three ).   WE ALSO sell from Tuscany ( also tasted at this luncheon yesterday )   3) Tenuta di Trinoro 2015 #Cupole #RossoToscana On Special for $39.99 , regularly $46.99 a bottle. It is quite bold and hearty and rough and gruff and youthful around in it's middle that needs lots of time to flower and blossom. Yesterday it tasted a bit more open than in the past. I liked it the best-ever yesterday as I have traditionally not been a fan of this wine ( recognizing it sells well and people like it , and that is good enough for me ).   IT IS a ' super Tuscan ' of the  mostly Cabernet Franc , soame Merlot, too, and much lesser amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon  Petit Verdot and  grapes, but it does not come from Maremma but from Sarteano ( I just spoke to Robert Kennedy on the phone and he tells me this is close to the Tuscan-Umbria border and not on the coast ), Letizia made a big point to say that this does not taste like any other Super Tuscan, and so should not be compared to them.   She says that look at it as a Vini Franchetti dry Tuscan red. I agree. It needs food, and it is what I will say another expression of the Pomerol Bordeaux red Cabernet Franc ( the grape cuttings for the Cabernet Franc came from Pomerol that they use to make their wines ) , a style that is unique to this high altitude dry red from Tuscany ( just like the high altitude Mt Etna red Nerello Mascalese wines ) , and this soil.   ALL THREE WINES are here now, and all three get another 20% OFF tomorrow so come on by and get at least one of these or perhaps all three?!?   ALL THE WINES are available. I believe that one of the original investors in these Super Tuscan wines lived here in Cleveland Park ( maybe still does, but according to Santos he has moved from Macomb Street ), and so Mike Martin was the one that procured this CUPOLE red blend for us more than ten years ago here! How things come around and resurface, and you never know quite when?! Thanks Mike, hope you are well in Rochester, New York. We worked here brilliantly together for many years as a team, and I thank you for that!   SO : What Else is ' new and exciting ' ?!?   IN BEER and CIDER we have some specials to share with you :   ALL THESE FOUR BEERS get 10% OFF their marked sticker prices :   1) Beatitude Raspberry Tart Saison from the COUNCIL BRewing Co in San Diego, CA. region, a 4.5% alcohol by volume, for a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl Oz bottle, On Special for $14.99 a beer ( NOW it will cost you $13.49 a bottle ).. 2) Beautitude Three Berry Tart Saison from COUNCIL Brewing CO. ( On Special for $14.99 a bottle, same size as above, will cost you $13.49 a bottle! 3) 25 Blonde De L'Enfer Brassin d'exception specialty brew from UNIBROUE, a Belgian-style golden ale bottle-fermented, with 10.5% alcohol by volume, for a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz bottle, On Special for $13.99 , with 10% OFF will cost you $12.59 a bottle! From Canada!!!! 4) 2015 TRIGNAC Kastel triple-aged in Cognac casks, XII, a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz bottle, , with 12% alcohol by volume, $31.99 regularly and NOW with 10% OFF it will cost you $28.79 a bottle. a Belgian ale from the CASTLE Brewery in Van Honnsebrouck. Cheers!   ALSO EXCITING in Beer from Santos -   1) Pumpkin Ale Brown Ale  from DOGFISH HEAD, $13.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles. We just got this yesterday! Come get some QUICK!!!   AND 3 from RIGHT PROPER Brewing Co. DC -   I liked all three for their distinct, individual personalities, styles, temperaments, all - they add something to the equation of beer - I liked their fine finesse and more subtle lulling, wistful, personal, special tastes and flavors - they " add to the equation already out there. We tasted all three here this past weekend, or maybe last weekend - and I say bravo!   1) White Bicycles , a Foeder-aged rustic witbier , ale brewed with black limes , a 500ml bottle, with 5.4% alcohol, $8.49 a bottle, ... 2) Astral Weeks , a dry-hopped Foeder beer, $8.49 a bottle, with 4.5% alcohol by volume, also a 500ml bottle - 3) Baron Corvo , a Foeder-aged rustic biere de garde alle ( a beer-ale to age ),$8.49  for the 500ml bottle, with 7% alcohol by volume ...   I liked all three, would enjoy them all over again.   CIDER from Santos - 3 from STOWE Cider-   1) Touch of Grape hard cider co-fermented with white wine pumace, from the Lincoln Peak vineyard,these are 375ml cans, 4 of them, with 7.5% alcohol by volume, On Special this 4-pack for $13.99.   2) ALSO available in  a red wine pomace from the same vineyard called " Marouette ", $13.99, and   3) AND VA. GINGA a VA. Hard Cider, gluten-free, a 4-pack for $10.99.   FIVE Liquuers - Liquors from Jagir -   1) DRUM SHANBO slow-distilled ' Gunpowder Irish gin ' oriental botanicals with gunpowder tea, from the curious mind of PJ RIGNEY, On Special for $39.99 a 750ml bottle, vapour-infused, great gift idea and packaging!   2) BAUCHANT since 1838, a liqueur , a blend of fine French cognac and orange essence, $26.99 a bottle, ' really special, new and exciting '. A ' must-try! ' With 40% alcohol by volume, another great gift idea!   3) TRES AGAVES Tequila , the Anejo from 100% de Agave , $41.99 a bottle, with 40% alcohol by volume, this was a great success this past Saturday here when we also tasted the Silver and the Reposado with Janelle pouring. Cheers, come try some.   4) Traditional Jamaican rum, pure pot-still plummer & wedderburn, from SMITH & CROSS, Lonbdon. A 750ml bottle, Navy-Strength, at 57% alcohol by volume, this will cure any maladies, any sickness, and bruised spirits etc with this vibrant brown-golden-amber-colored beauty! $31.99 a bottle, a real treat.   5) Dive in to Austin's original DEEP EDDY Cranberry , cranberry flavored vodka, from Texas, perfect as the cold starts to come more our way and fall seems more in the air than summer! On Special for $18.99 a 750ml bottle - love the deep transparent color that warms me just to see it.   IN WINE from Chris and me ( Tony ) :   TWO From the Basque country , Rioja -   1) ' Eder ' 2016 Rioja from the BODEGAS EDEN, $13.99, with 13.5% alcohol by volume, this bottle is signed as a gift by the owner last week that stopped by! Her picture is on our Facebook page, her American name is Judit Valdelana  I believe, lovely and what fine wines, too - so silky and bright and pleasing.   2) Crianza 2014 Rioja from the BARON LADRON de GUEVARA, $20.99, with 13.5% alcohol by volume, this has more depth, more guts, richer and more meat , more vegetables, more stuffing of Nature's bounty above and below ground - a marriage successful sooooo of both!   And together they create a taste and quality that is not in either but created by blending the two - very much like the great magic of combining food and wine together that can create a third and valuable and delectable component to be savored, treasured, admired, marveled over repeatedly with each sip and each bite. Ooohhhhhh Estebe, yes si si si si si! Gracias Judit!           AND NOW to continue celebrating Draai National Heritage Day in South Africa we propose 4 :   1) Chenin Blanc Single Vineyard Block V, sees some time in oak and so is bolder, richer, more body, $18.49 a bottle, a 2017, from Stellenbosch, with  12.5% alcohol by volume, from our friends John and Theresa Morrison, go to : 34south.com, demeye.co.za and wine@34south.com for more info.    I have met both the owner Philip MyBurgh - also winegrower, and the winemaker Marcus Milner. Philip has been here in the store. A gentleman, fine wines!   2) Villiera TRADITION Methode classique Brut , non-vintage, from Red Wolf Imports, $24.99 a bottle, with 12% alcohol by volume, this is a wonderful unique dry and bracing and distinct flavor, a treat, it adds to the equation and we are thrilled to have it here. Thanks Lyss and Ian!   3) Pinot Noir 2016from ERNST GOUWS & CO., $24.99 a bottle, an earthier, pithier, more accented and active Pinot than some, great with food! A treat!!   4) 2009 Vitruvian dry red blend from the BEAMONT Vineyard in South Africa, from Walker's Bay, On Special for $37.99 a bottle, this is a real treat, and we are the only ones in the country to have this having bought it from John and Theresa Morrison when it was their selection of Jayne and Sebastian Beaumont wines.   I spent a great 24 hours with them at their vineyard that I will never forget for their harvest festival back in 2009, thank you for being so nice and welcoming me then. Come get one of these bottles of 2009 - we are the only ones in the country that have them - a real wonderful amazing rarity! A powerful blend of Mourvedre, Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. I tried it I believe when I was at their vineyard! Cheers.   WEEK'S TASTINGS -   TONIGHT Tuesday, September 25th, 2018 ( 5-8PM ) : I will open the DE MEYE dry Chenin Blanc single vineyard Block V 2017 dry white to celebrate Draai National Heritage Day with you all!   FRIDAY, September 28th, 2018, ( 5-8PM ) : we have a wine-tasting with Sam Farran, and two spirits tastings, too : that is three, maybe four tastings in all : 1) wine - Sam Farran, Sam will taste four wines - a) BRADY Vineyard Zinfandel 2015, b) DANCING COYOTE Petit Sirah 2015 c) HIGHWAY 12 , Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, 2017 d) TOSCHI Pinot Noir2016 , too   COME TASTE!   2) ABSOLUT Vodka, Sweden 3) JAMESON Irish whiskey and 4) KEENAN       AND -   SATURDAY, September 29th, 2018 ( 2-8PM ) : we have TWO Tastings - 1) MIOLO Brazilian wine tasting, espumante sparkling and three still wines, too from Bento Goncalves, Val dos Vinedos Brasil, with Wagner and Julianna Alberti,   AND -   2) Emily comes from our local DC Republic Restoratives spirits distillery right here in Washington DC to pour the Civic vodka, the Burrough Bourbon whiskey, and the Rodham rye whiskey, too!   JOIN US, NEVER any charge, #everyonealwayswelcome!   JUST HAD a lovely talk with John and Theresa Morrison, and their California wines of the @ReynoldsFamilyWinery the rep Brian Prichard just dropped by to taste me on seven of their n  ' new ' releases! What fun!   CHEERS, THANKS for everything!