Tragedy in Pittsburgh w/ 11 innocent deaths, Halloween tomorrow, So many things to find hope and positive vibes in here, read on! " Let us accept our own responsibility for the future " John F. Kennedy, Get Out and VOTE Nov 6th, 2018!

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

OUR HEARTS, PRAYERS, THOUGHTS, WISHES FOR those that survive the brutal, senseless, reprehensible shooting of eleven people in the synagogue in Pittsburgh ... so sad ,       THREE FUNERALS today ... a tragedy -   and yet all that I have seen since of people coming together after this tragedy inspires me in a time where there is so little inspiration to be found as it is not sensational enough to be newsworthy - not sensational enough. Have we really sunk so low to this?!?   BUT THERE are lots of inspirations, and I write about them later here, so read on!   LOTS OF SPOOKS and GOBLINS, Caspers The Ghost, Count Draculas, Harry Potters, Princesses and Ariels and Power Rangers and Dynamite Bonapartes, Batmans, Spidermans, Cinderellas, Beauties and Beasts soon enough ...   WHAT COSTUME will you don?!? Have you picked one out already?!? My wife was busy this weekend sewing the Batty Bat onto a small white t-shirt for our dog that she slipped onto him minutes before our daughter arrived as we knew she would already have donned her two cats in Halloween magic somehow! BOO!   COME BY, I will open something appropriate today, have not decided what yet but will do so to celebrate a fun and special night of Halloween. I forgot to mention Linus and the pumpkin patch! How could I forget?!? And Nielson singing his selection of dark and spooky songs, too, and that song from the 60's that was always played! So much to remember about Halloween.   I would go out as a child in Aurora Hills , Arlington with my friends Katy, Kevin, Lisa, and be gone for hours until returning with two-three bags filled full with my night's loot! Oh those were the glorious days!   Then I would go out more recently with both our daughter and later or son as my wife stayed home to meet and greet the trick-or-treaters!   GREAT FUN always! This year besides candy we will have some hot chili to enjoy, maybe hot chocolate, too.   SO : Come get what you need from us to be ready for tomorrow, and come by and see what I have decided to open tonight to celebrate Halloween here early! I think we will celebrate tonight with a special Grand Reserva red 2010 : can you all guess which one?!?   IT is a beautiful day, 54 degrees out there, no rain, clear skies, in the sixties for Halloween, that is great. Get out and enjoy some of it if you can, even just ten minutes for a walk!   IN BEER from Santos Rivera we have :   1) Koyt Gruitbier , an ale brewed with spices, recipe 1407 JOPEN from the Crafting Divine Beer company, $4.99 a 11 fl. oz bottle with 8% alcohol by volume, product of the Netherlands - what a distinct flavor and taste!   2) Citra Hopped LIVE Pale Ale, a bright, refreshing and loud from SOUTHERN TIER Brewing Co. On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, with 5.5% alcohol by volume, this is something that will be nice this week, it will cut through many flavorful dishes.   CIDER, too from Santos Rivera -   1) General's Reserve Hard Cider    , handmade Bourbon Barrel aged cider made here locally by MT. DEFIANCE, in Charlottesville, Virginia, $14.99 a 750ml bottle, with 6.9% alcohol, this will be good this week, the Farmhouse Cider they make is much lighter. I had a glass of that last night at home. I look forward to trying again this General's Reserve soon! Cheers.   GINGER BEER - local, non-alcoholic - fine!   1) Ginger Brew , an all-natural small batch non-alcoholic locally-made fresh weekly brew from Andrew Shapiro that is also a bartender at Dino's Grotto in the Shaw neighborhood here in Washington DC. $2.50 a bottle, really some great mouth-feel, contact, grasp, grip, lingering pops of flavor, zing and zang of ginger, great to sip all by itself but also excellent in the Moscow Mule and other recipes that Andrew is more than happy to tell you about.   HE OFTEN uses the CHACKO aquardiente en Fuego, On Special for $29.99, also made by a local celebrity of ours ( like Andrew ! ) president Dan Ziegler. We sell both. And Andrew's Ginger Brew can be purchased in the 4-packs that are easy to carry and share with others.     IN LIQUOUR & LIQUEUR from Jagir -             THREE from DEKUYPER -   1) Cherry flavored brandy, $12.99 2) Tropical Papaya, $12.99 3) Pink Grapefruit schnapps, On Special for $10.99 ALL great for recipes and more!   1) Three Pins Alpine Herbal Liqueur from LEOPOLD BROS, $38.99 a 750ml bottle,   with 35% alcohol by volume, this will be great to sip and add to recipes to tweak them, to tweak our taste-buds, too!   2) Fire & Cane = camfire smokiness and toffee sweetness, $55.99 a 750ml bottle, from GLENDIDDICH, their #4 Experimental series in Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, with 43% alcohol by volume, come check out this tweak to our modern palates.   3) Bruto Americano from ST.GEORGE artisan distillers since 1982 ( just read an article about the man behind these following his own instincts and path, bravo! ), : " We pledge to craft quintessential spirits to delight hedonists and genius bartenders alike ". With 24% alcohol by volume, On Special for $20.99 - come and be the mixologist that you always have been and add this to your roster of spirits to mix!   4) BLUE ICE American vodka potato , distilled in Rigby, Idaho with Idaho  Russet potatoes, On Special for $19.99 a bottle, bottled by 21 Century Spirits, 100% neutral spirits distilled from potatoes -  the pristine water is the very essence of Blue Ice vodka! It tastes it, too -pure, bright, satin velvet liquid sun's shine soooo!      WINE from Chris and Tony -   1) Allegro 2016 from Faugeres, France and made by OLLIER TAILLEFER, $29.99 a bottle, a tasty multi-layered blend of 50% Roussanne and 50% Vermentino - so much extra grip and fullness and pleasing-ness of flavors, I love it! Perfect for this time of the year. This is a special treat!             THREE Fine Dry Rose Wines -   1) Del Viento dry 2017 rose from DEL VIENTO, from Chile's Colchagua Costa region, made with the Syrah grape, I love the extra flavor and mouth-feel here, the longer and fuller and smooth mid flavors and good finish, too. $16.49 a bottle, with 12% alcohol by volume.   2) Rose Feuersbrunn from Wagram / Osterreich Austria, made by Anton Bauer, this 2017, $14.99 with 34% Zweigelt , 33% Syrah, and 33% Merlot is a beauty to enjoy sipping all by itself!   3) Made with the Sangiovese superieure grape, this Villa Zappi from TENUTA CASALI, $18.99, has some real presence and power and essence of the Sangiovese grape that is soooo very appealing - everyone almost loves it, and we always have people returning for more of this silk rose-salmon-colored delicious sparkling spumante wine!             FOUR dry Reds -   1) Samur Champigny 2015 100% Cabernet Franc from the FAMILLE DUVEAU vineyard, $21.99 a bottle, with 13% alcohol by volume, from France's Loire valley, a Franck's Selection, : " savory - plum fruit - tobacco - generous " Franck says, and I will add chill 40 minutes and enjoy with your meals. This is a great food wine, distinct, pointed, flavorful, and to me so very tasty. I love Cabernet Franc from the Loire valley, makes me go ga ga soooooo!   2) " Palazzina " 2015 Sangiovese Superiore from TENUTA CASALI, $16.49, medium-to-light-bodied, I love this with my food. It would be great with the steak I usually prepare and cook on our grill on Monday. It also would have gone really well with the fried chicken my wife and I enjoyed yesterday before she went off to yoga. Really distinct, dry, got some weight and the flavors need the food to flesh them out as they gracefully age into their mature selves - this one is still aging beautifully but slowly!   3) Tinta Miuda is one of the many indigenous and not well-known grape varieties found in Portugal. This 2015 made by FIUZA ( that also makes fine sparkling wines ) is On Special now for $12.99 ( 3 for $33 and 6 for $60 ), a Tejo or Alentejano region is a food wine. The acidity levels are still pronounced, and the spice and rustic earth fruit dark flavors also need to be fleshed-out with a meal. Try grilling something, try with cheeses, try with TexMex, Mexican, Cajun, Indian, Asian, and even sloppy Joes, burgers and more! Tasty!   4) Gran Reserva 2004 Rioja from DON JACOBO, On Special for $33.99 tastes like it was just bottled yesterday it is so bright and fresh, pretty and pleasing and deliciously nice! The best you can buy with some bottle-age that tastes great now and will be perfect this week and tomorrow for Halloween, and also for Thanksgiving and our end-of-year many great holidays!     TASTINGS This Week -    TONIGHT -   Tuesday, October 30th, 2018 ( 5-8PM ) : We have tow wines that we will celebrate with tonight : 1) Chardonnay 2014 PGI Danube Plain from Chateau Burgozone, On Special for $12.99 ( regularly $20 - with a 3 for $33, and a 6 for $60 ), I just opened it and it is deliciously creamy, soft, a gentle lulling bright, mmmmmm smooth taste! Come taste it anytime! 2) IN SITU Gran Reserva Carmenere 2010 , $16.99 a bottle ( regularly $25 plus dollars ). Some of the very last of this fine 1010 vintage with great bottle-age, flavors, textures and timely topics, too.   Friday, November 2nd ( 5-8pm ) : we have Camille Edange back to taste some fine HELFRICH Alsace wine as well as some delightful Bordeaux red, too ( great gift package ), and maybe some sparkling wines, too from J.P. CHENET. All French wines with Camille, one of her last tastings as she heads back to France soon after. WE ALSO have Jon-Michael from Springfield Manor here for a second tasting of his fine gin, grappa, pear brandy and more! Made here locally, great patch of lavender to visit, and make an afternoon there celebrating!   Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 ( 2-6PM ) :  We have Eric Platt coming to taste some Italian, German and Kiwi wines of New Zealand, too - still to be determined. JOIN US, never any charge. It may be that Andy steps in for him at this tasting, we will see?   AND : we have daylights' savings time on Sunday 4th, do not forget!   AND : Mark Your Calendars -   Wednesday, November 14th, 2018 : we will celebrate Thanksgiving here with our mini Big-Theme Wine-Tasting here with Narayan Campbell, Nik Burgess that makes his own River Ledge Sonoma Chardonnay 2016 ( only three cases available so be sure and get here and taste and buy!. Nik and Julienne also have wines planted in Culpepper, Virginia and hope to make some wine perhaps this vintage?!? ), AND have reached out to Lucie Morton and Rachel Martin, Rob DeFord, and more - SO : working on this great evening now and will have more to report soon. JOIN US.   NOW :  for positive vibes -     GREAT GLIMMERS of true and amazing inspiration for me and for us all, some known-well, others barely known at all! STILL so very inspiring all! I am proud to mention them here to you all as there must be truth and transparency to surface and shine through the muck and lies and deceit and bullying and elitist groupings of all kinds that result and amount to abuse of both power , social standing, wealth, community, public service, church, sports, and all facets of life including home that still hides incest.   SO MUCH to sort through before you vote and cast your ballot for those things that matter to you now and will matter to you later.   I TAKE THIS MOMENT to encourage our young to vote, that will make a difference, vote for what means something to you like the violence in schools. Vote, be heard not herded as is what happens so often.   I HAVE READ many negative and many positive things before our midterm elections. I was inspired by the John F. Kennedy quote :   " Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer.Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future. "   MY FRIEND when I was 15 and went trick-or-treating then wrote an inspiring PLEA for people to get out, be heard, do something on top of voting and sending prayers and good wishes, just as simple as reaching out and helping neighbors, people in the community, and more. I loved it. Will write her words down here when I have the chance.   I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT HERE to THREE WOMEN that worked with Steven Spurrier back in 1976 to make the event with California and French wines a coming together and appreciation and celebration of life, family and all those things we value and hold special, that make us feel special, that give us the hope and the will to forge forward and enjoy and make best our lives and those around us, too. It was not a competition in Paris, France back in 1976. Three women helped Steven to make this celebration that later morphed into the Judgement of Paris and international phenomenon. The tree women were : 1) Patricia Gastaud-Gallagher, 2) Joanne DuPuy, and Dorothy Tchelistcheff. Without them none of this would have ever happened, and it was Partricia's idea and goal from the start. Thanks and merci vous trois! A 4th woman to thank is Ester Mobley that wrote this article that was published in the San Fransisco Chronicle on Oct. 24th, 2018.   TODAY on the Today Show I was blown away by listening again to gold-medal gymnist Aly Raisman talk about the immense challenges that the sport of gymnastics faces with physical, mental, verbal abuse of the young athletes there that may still persist today, and that need to be revealed, stopped and cleaned-up! I was blown away by hearing her express herself so well and with such control, passion and aim! Thank you for inspiring me so this morning!   LOVED and still love the album Volunteers by the Jefferson Airplane that I listen still to on record format at home. Love the lyrics that cry out for recognition, understanding, a hand reaching out to those young people at the time that would like to have things change - late sixties, early seventies :        " We can be together         Ah you and me        We should be together        We are all outlaws        In the eyes of America        In order to survive we        Steal cheat we forge fred        Hide and deal ... "   THE MESSAGE still rings true today, the piano is played by Nicky Hopkins, Paul Kantner wrote these lyrics.   I ALSO want to draw attention to mother and daughter the kosher kitchen Soup Girls. I know Sarah well and want to meet her mother. They were just on the show : " Shark Tank ". Check it out!   SO MUCH to share but I have more and yet have to bring this to a close and say thanks to all of you for being such great people and customers and part of our vibrant community of Cleveland Park. Cheers, thanks again,      COME TASTE with me now, time to celebrate early Halloween here! TONY 10/30/2018                                 WHAT FOLLOWS below is an old store email I wrote on the 28th of October, 2015, read and enjoy it if you have time! Cheers, TONY   TONIGHT, HOWEVER we have Gabriela that comes from Romania and she will be here with her ' liquid red and white blood-wine ' to taste with you all, made from indigenous blood-clones that have morphed over the centuries into fine wine clones and hybrids and unique grapes like the Feteasca Neagra and the Babesca Neagra that are bottled MONSER ( pronounced in Romanian as : " Mon chere ", as well as HEREDITAS.   AND SOMEHOW the Cabernet Sauvignon grape got through the Romanian security ( Count Drakula, you are slipping ! ) and found it's way into one of these HEREDITAS bottles and we will be tasting that as well as the indigenous white that I, for my life, for my blood, for my very existence, I cannot remember it's name now! HELP ME Gabriela, Michael, Katie : what's it called?!?   SO TONIGHT a much more reassuring vision and presence, personality and pleasure and person and wine-educator in the form of Gabriela will be here to lead us into the dungeons, the cellars, the haunted castles and vineyards of Romania that provide us with some of the greatest wines available to us, thanks to Gabriela and her husband ... and the prices are all really reasonable, all so affordable. I think that the Cabernet Sauvignon is the most expensive with the others all being under $12 a bottle to you? Come tonight and discover Romania through it's fine wines.       NEWS UPDATE : We have Jean Gagliolo of Prestige Beverage Group with Benjamin Melin-Jones of Clement Rhums of Martinique ( Benjamin's mother is French and his father is American ) , and Benjamin and Jean have here two ' new items ' to us that we do not yet carry : 1) CLEMENT Mahina Coco, ... and the 2) Limited Edition CLEMENT by JonONE ( the artist of this label ) VSOP Rhum. Here's Benjamin to tell you what he knows : " It is exciting to have Clement by JonONE introduced in DC. Only a few stores will be able to get this bottle because we have limited production. Clement Mahina Coco is a new expression to the US market. It is a very light and luscious coconut liqueur perfectly married with Rhum Agricole, which allows you to always have a good quality coconut ingredient for your cocktails and cuisine. Nothing else compares" By the way, we just had this past weekend here Nikolai here tasting the Premiere Canne, On Special for $32.99, as well as the CLEMENTE Select Barrel Rhum, $32.99, and both did really well. We did not taste the orange liqueur as it was out of stock at the time. Cheers, TONY   thanks Jean et Benjamin.   BENJAMIN JUST SIGNED his bottles of Rhum for any of you looking for fine rhum/rum to give as gifts to your family and friends! This was fun, this was serendipitous, this was totally unexpected for me and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Cheers, ...   BUT HEY, Let's talk now some ALE and BEER and SANTOS RIVERA :        1) Pumpkin Patch Ale from ROGUE FARMS " Grow The Revolution ", ale brewed with Rogue Farms Pumpkins , $15.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl.Oz Bottle , 6.1 % alcohol by volume bottle : orange in color, perfect for the season, perfect for Halloween that is this Friday. How many of you might be sitting out with Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus and Sally in the Pumpkin Patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin to make an appearance, drinking this ROGUE ?!? What fun.        2) " Nosferatu ", a Handcrafted Imperial Red Ale from the GREAT LAKES Brewing Company in Cleveland, Ohio, On Special for $11.99 a 4-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 8% alcohol by volume, again, perfect now for Halloween this Friday!        3) " Pecan ' Harvest Ale from ARBITA in Abita Springs, Louisiana, On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 5.2% alcohol by volume. I just had a customer raving about how good this was at the register this past weekend. I cannot wait to try it myself, I love pecans, love pecan pie, how about pecan ale : makes perfect sense!        4) " Blast ! " from the BROOKLYN Brewery : " A decidedly robust IPA " they say , for $12.99 a 4-pack pf 12-ounce bottles, with 8.4% alcohol by volume, almost out, try some while you still can. Cheers. LIQUEURS & LIQUORS From Jagir & Malkit :   NEWS UPDATE : Jagir's operation went well and he is recovering from it really well and will be back home tomorrow. Glad to hear this Jagir. I was thinking about you this weekend and so happy to hear this good news from Malkit this morning.        1) CRISTAL Sin Azucar/ Without Sugar Exportacion Imported Ind Licorera de Caldas, $18.99 a 750ml bottle, 30% alcohol by volume, is a cane neutral spirit with natural flavors, from Columbia. This is very new and exciting here! Glad to have it on our shelves.      2) Beach Plum Gin Liqueur from GREENHOOK GINSMITHS , $51.99 a 750ml bottle, 30% alcohol by volume, ... " crafted with a rare, finicky fruit with a prized, piquant flavor, ... " this is a really unique recipe. Cheers.       NEWS FLASH : Mike Miller from BIG C Wines in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Dwight Weidenhamer of Global Wines are both here now with two Chilean wines I tried that I liked : 1) Single Estate Centra Valley D.O. Cabernet Sauvignon, On Special for $9.99 from the CASAS DEL TOQUI and the ' Terroir Selection ' Carmenere Gran Reserva 2009, On Special for $19.99, also from the CASAS DEL TOQUI. Dwight also sells the AURORA CELLARS wines of Brazil, great news, too. Cheers. Here is Mike to say something about his wines : " Unique Chilean producer, these wines are not currently available elsewhere... come enjoy! " Thanks Mike! Here's Dwight with his ' two bits ' of info : "  Delicious wines from Chile that won't break the bank. " Thanks Mike.     LIQUORS / LIQUEURS  CONTINUED :          3) ' Wild Berry ' from ERISTOFF Black , On Special for $18.99 a liter bottle, is a premium vodka with natural flavor and certified colors, 20% alcohol by volume, , imported from France. Fun and new and totally exciting! Imagine all the possibilities, all the blends you can create with this and other things!      4) ' Aztec Chocolate Bitters ' from the FEE BROTHERS , On Special for ^.99 a 5Fl. Oz bottle, , made in Rochester, NY, ... wow, I just saw this and am thrilled to discover this chocolate bitters with an Aztec flavor : will have to do some tests on it here and get back to you with more suggestions of how to use it. Cacao beans, peppers and spices : what a great idea.        5)  Honey Flavored Vodka Alaska " Buzz "  is always so well-appreciated here and they have ' tweaked ' the label and it's so attractive. Come try some if you do not already know it.     SAVE BIG : SALE SUPER SALE, MORE SALES!     TUESDAY, TODAY : SAVE BIG ON BUBBLY here today, up to 15% OFF when you purchase and pay today. Call us if you cannot come : 202-363-4265. Cheers.     WEDNESDAY Weekly 3-Part Still/Non-Sparkling Wine Sale : Includes Sake, Port, Sherry, Marsala and Madeira : Mix them all up and SAVE BIG : 1) BUY ANY BOTTLE of Still Wine over $20 and SAVE 20% Off the marked sticker price. 2) BUT 6 or More Still Wines and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker price. 3) BUY 12 or More Still Wines and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices. You may assort/include the port, sherry, sake, madeira and marsala bottles ( any size ), and also the box wines, too. SAVE BIG here at Cleveland Park Wines each Wednesday on Still Wine Purchases. Call and ask for Michel or Tony to help you. We also deliver here in the neighborhood. Call : 202-363-4265. SAVE BIG! UPDATES From This Past Weekend :     1) The LALTRINIERE sparkling Lambrusco wines from Emilia did really well, from owners Alberto and his daughter Cecilia, the " Bianco " is $14.99, it's rare and exciting and soooooo much fun!   2) The " Palazzina " 2012 Sangiovese Superiore from Romagna, Italy was so silky smooth, so polished, so bright, so elegant, without any oak taste, aged in stainless steel to preserve the purity and the brightness of the grape, and this weekend with Silvia the owner pouring it everyone seemed to agree and like it. It was a huge success! Selling for $18.99, we have some here for you all still ...   3) 2010 Dry red Spanish Rioja from the MAZUELO de la QUINTA Cruz, On Special for $17.99 a bottle, usually $21.99 ... showing really well now, nice with a meal. I like it a lot. 4) " Perla Real " Merlot 2010 Monovarietal from Spain's Jumilla region, On Special for $14.99 a bottle : fuller, rounder, richer, thicker, a nice one to sip a glass or two of and then enjoy a bit more with your evening , guests, friends and meal!     WEEK'S TASTINGS :     TONIGHT, Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 ( 5-8PM ) : Gabriela, perhaps for tonight our Countesse Drakula because of Halloween this Friday ?!? Come and taste and discover the fine wines of Romania!   FRIDAY, October 31st, 2014 ( 5-8PM ) : Come meet and taste with Jonathan of Lanterna Imports the fine West Coast wines of DESERT WIND and also of DUCK POND. What a treat : great dry reds and dry whites, too. Cheers.... help us celebrate Halloween here with Jonathan. We will do a great job at both.   SATURDAY, November 1st, 2014 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Stephane Defot from Z Wine Gallery Imports pouring some FABulous wines from both France and from Spain.   JOIN US : NEVER any charge, everyone always welcome.   THANKS FOR EVERYTHING ... follow us on Twitter at : cpwinespirits and also LIKE us on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits.   COPPI'S Organic restaurant will be opening soon at the end of the block where Lavandou used to be. We welcome Coppi's back that used to be next to us and then it was a Ligurian restaurant, now it is an organic restaurant. What great news.   THANKS AGAIN for believing in us, we believe in you, too.  TONY                             LOTSCOOKING, BREWING, DISTILLING, FERMENTING as     IT'S HALLOWEEN this Friday, October 31st, 2014 and we will be ready for all of you as you go off to your parties all dressed-up, or as you pass through quickly with your kids while trick-or-treating with your fabulous young children       WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW is a store email I wrote and posted on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 ... enjoy reading it if you have time ....  TONY       WE HAVE enjoyed getting our valued government employees back at work starting last Thursday. That's a good and welcome sign. Welcome back everyone! You had forced stay-at-home time off - that was stressful : I took my stay-at-home-week-vacation before the holiday season gets into full swing - and it was refreshing and lacking any real stress!   I RECEIVED AN EMAIL : " DC Council : leave the Cleveland Park Service Lane On Connecticut Avenue as it is - Sign the Petition! " How do you all feel about this? Do you want it to stay the same, do you want it to change. We have or will have the petition here for you all to sign again so that your voices may be heard. This is an important change if it goes into effect and will take time to implement and it will disrupt business as usual we feel this holiday season. So be sure and make your voices heard, if not here then by contacting the DC City Council and letting them know directly through a phone call or an email.   MY STAY-AT-HOME-VACATION : what a : new perspective on life I got as I worked the whole week outside on maintenance and repairs to our home, deck, carport : lots of painting, lots of conquering old fears and beating them back once again and proving to myself that I could! A small leap indeed for mankind but a huge leap for Anthony Quinn!    IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE LIFE and to experience it from balancing precariously up high on ladders scraping shutters and then painting them, scraping wood trim high up over our carport, pulling up tired pressure-treated wood planks on our deck and creating new support and solidity once again for us to enjoy fully our deck. Easier said than done, especially when you do not do this very often and have to learn as you go.   THE VIEW from our roof yesterday was exhilarating as I scraped peeling paint from wood trim and green moss from our roof shingles themselves. Felt good, it really did balancing the quart of white paint in one hand and painting without spilling, laying on my belly at the edge of the roof. What a vision I must have been!   THE MOST SCARY THING was coming face-to-face with our resident shed shiny black snake that was lumpy up-and-down it's body length with mice! It happened twice, actually three times in all : and on the third time I got pictures to show it in all it's glory taking in the sunshine at our shed entrance.   TO BALANCE THAT was the small, flat gray-haired, tiny vole that I saw a couple of times as I pulled-yanked unwanted ivy from the side of our house that was doing it's very best to climb up our brick wall there! The vole sure was cute, glad that the black snake had not found it!       HALLOWEEN IS COMING! BOO!!!        We still have some Pumpkin beers. The category has exploded this year and so you still have plenty to choose from. Unfortunately they were released so early as seems to be the trend today. What are the breweries thinking? The same has been true with the Octoberfest beers. We recommend that like squirrels you come and purchase what want and the " squirrel " it away until you need it. Do as a squirrel!     YOU MAY WANT TO buy some now, however, to be sure you have some for Halloween. Here is one for you :        1) PUMPKIN ALE from ALEWERKS Brewing Company , Crafted in Williamsburg, VA. ( $12.99 a 6-pack , go to : www.AleWerks.com for more info ) : ale brewed with roasted pumpkin and spices. We have worked a lot with ALEWERKS Brewing Company but this may be the first time we have any of the Pumpkin Ale? Come get some now : GO LOCAL, Go Green, support what's close to home.        SANTOS HAS SOME OTHER " Beer " Treats :        1)  JOHN HENRY 135 Colonial Cream & Brown Ale ( $12.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz. ( 750ml bottle ), 9.3% Alcohol by volume, from COLD SPRING Brewing Co., Cold Spring, MN, USA ) : " Brandy Spiral Oak-Aged Ale,  ... blended 50% Cream Ale and 50% Brandy Oak Spirals. A double-fermented cream ale. " Enjoy!        2) 2010 Belgian Ale CUVEE du CHATEAU from KASTEEL, www.belgianfamilybrewers.be ( On Special for $11.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4 Fl. Oz bottle , 11% alcohol by volume , ) : from CASTEL Brewery, Van Honserbouck, Belgium, bottled 100527. Try some! Cheers.        3) ESTAMINET Premium Pils - A Belgian Original, since 1797 ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 5.2% alcohol by volume, Steenhuffel, Belgium, go to : www.palmbreweries.com for more info ) : new and exciting for us here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits in our Happenin' neighborhood!               LOCAL APPLE SPARKLING WINES :        1) Heyser Farms' SPENCERVILLE RED Hard Apple ( $18.99 a 750ml bottle, 8% alcohol by volume, may contain sediment, go to : www.spencervillered.com for more info , from the GREAT SHOALS Winery in Princesse Anne, Maryland, www.greatshoals.com ) : " Crisp & Refreshing Apple Wine. Made by hand in small batches, Spencerville Red Hard Apple is blended from freshly pressed premium apples grown and produced by Heyser Farms of Colesville, Maryland - a family farm in continuous operation since the 1700's. This potent drink evokes the hard ciders fermented in the days of colonial times. ...  Spencerville Red Hard Apple is uniquely dry and naturally sparkling with a refreshing taste of ripe, crisp fruit. Enjoy with lunchtime sandwiches, light fare suppers, or simply by itself. Serve chilled. "      2) G Great Shoals Apple Sparkling Wine Traditional Method ( $31.99, vinted and bottled by GREAT SHOALS WINERY, Princesse Anne, Maryland, www.greatshoals.com, 750ml bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume ) : " This off-dry wine is inspired by food lovers for food lovers - enjoy with seafood and light fare. Unfiltered. Serve chilled. "                 CIDER :        1)  America's Best Joker Hard Cider ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack, 6.9% alcohol by volume, produced by the CALIFORNIA CIDER COMPANY, Sonoma County, CA. www.acecider.com ) : " Our Master Cider Maker decided he would experiment and make a strong dry cider. The result is Ace Joker which is European in style and has distinct Champagne characteristics. ".     RAVI, What Have You In  LIQUEUR / LIQUOR ?            LIQUEUR :        1) Orchard PEAR Fruit Liqueur from ROTHMAN & WINTER ( $31.99 a 750ml bottle, 24% alcohol by volume, go to : www.a;penz.com for more info, product of Austria ) : " ... combines juice from the second harvest of Williams Pears with an eau-de-vie produced from the same fruit. Distillerie Purkhart carefully selects its fruit each season from family orchards in the Danube Valley and surrounding regions. " Special!               LIQUOR :        1) GLEN GARIOCH Highland 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ( On Special for $65.99 a bottle, www.auchentoshan.com, Oldmeldrum Aberdeenshire, Scotland ) : " Hand crafted since 1797, non-chill-filtered ... gains its distinctive Highland character from a classic marriage of Bourbon & Sherry casks . Fresh heather, poached pears and a hint of oak. " I like the sound of all of that, especially the poached pears! Love it. Cheers.        2) J. P. WISPER'S " Spiced Whisky " Vanilla No. 5 Canadian Whisky ( On Special for $22.99, 43% alcohol  by volume , with natural flavor and caramel color : ALSO available is the " De Luxe " Imported Blended Canadian Whisky, On Special for $20.99, 40% alcohol by volume, : since 1857, go to : www.wisers.ca for more info ) : new and exciting for us! From Canada's Best-Selling Whisky! Try both.        3) 100% Agave Olmeca ALTOS Plata Tequila, Hecho en Mexico (  On Special for $29.99, 750ml bottle, # 15207, 40% alcohol by volume, stone-crushed, go to : www.olmecaaltos.com, on twitter at : #altos ) : " Herbal notes of 100% blue agave, the rich, sweet, fruity taste of the pinas with a hint of citrus ...  Olmeca Altos is produced using the 500-year-old Tahona method, a volcanic millstone used to crush the cooked pinas to draw out the sweet, rich juice from the agave. "        4) Single Malt Irish Whiskey Since 1762 of The TYRCONNELL 10 Year-Old & Finished In Port Casks ( $81.99, from Riverstown, County Louth, Ireland ,  go to : www.tyrconnellwhiskey.com for more info ) : " A truly original single malt . TYRCONNELL'S unique soft and elegant flavour has been crafted and refined for over three centuries. The PORT CASK : initially matured in American oak and finished in port casks to impart further depth and flavour creating an inviting single malt with a deep antique cooper colouring. The extra aging and port cask finish produce a silky sweet taste of rich fruits, honey and spice with a beautiful lingering oak finish. "        5) Premium Gin from DELAWARE Distilling Company Distilled Eight ( 8 ) Times for an ultra smooth finish ( $30.99, 40% alcohol by volume ,On Facebook an Twitter : @Dedestill, www.delewaredistillingcompany.com, also go and dine with us at : Restaurant & Bar in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware ) : made from 100% made from grain ) : " with blood orange and a secret botanical blend. "           WINES By MICHEL Et TONY :             WHITES :        1)  JEAN SABLENAY Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2012 Loire Valley, France ( $10.99 a bottle, 12% alcohol by volume, from around the town of Tour ) : this bottle is dry, bright, fruit-forward and so refreshing, a real treat!        2)  MATUA 2012 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand ( $11.99 a bottle, 13% alcohol by volume ) : refreshing and bright, and reminded Michel and me of the French Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs. Like the above J. SABLENAY this offer a freshness and a brightness, a little softer than the above Touraine. Nice.      3) RAPIDO Dry Italian Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, 2012, ( $9.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, ) : it's lovely like the 2 Sauvignon Blancs above : great to sip, sit back and relax and feel good about the rest of the day that you still have to enjoy. Cheers. Franceen came and poured some wines here this weekend, this may have been one of them?        4) HILLCREST Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Durbanville, South Africa ( $19.99 , 13.5% alcohol by volume ) was just tasted here this past Saturday by John and Theresa Morrison. It's bright, fresh, lively, with a clarity and a focus that's pure delight - liquid sunshine filtered through Sauvignon Blanc, what else could anyone want? Cheers.        5) Moschofilero 2011 from ANTONOPOULOS ( $15.99 a bottle, 13% alcohol by volume, wine of Patras, Greece ) : a lovely dry white , protected geographical region " Arkadia ". We had Sotiris Bafitis here this past weekend pouring the wine for everyone to enjoy. Distinct, aromatic, a touch of floral, very appealing, quite special taste!         6) CM CASTELLUCCIMIANO 2012 Catarrato indigenous dry white Sicilian grape variety ( $17.99, 13% alcohol by volume, ) is grown high up, way above sea level. The owner was here with David Enright and his wines blew Michel and me away and we have some of most of them. This is a medium-bodied, elegant dry white that has subtle tones of mineral and citrus and a velvet-bright taste that lilts and rocks your palate, like being pushed ever so smoothly while in a swing ... nice. This wine is special, really. Enjoy with or without a meal.        7)  Pinot Blanc from BARTH RENE , Vignoble de Bennwihr, Alscae, France, 2009 ( $16.99, 12% alcohol by volume ) : with the bottle age this wine has blossomed fully into a delightful, fruit-forward, bright and fresh-round-no-edges- taste that is a pleasure to sip with or without a meal. What a treat! I liked it immediately when I tasted it again about a week and a half ago! Cheers.        8) Adoli Ghis 2011 dry white Greek wine from ANTONOPOULOS ( $21.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume , from Patras ) : amazingly distinct, fresh, clean, crisp, mineral-laden flavors and tastes that make an immediate impression that strengthens quickly and reveals even more character and personality that you want to continue enjoying with a meal. This is seriously impressive wine for you all to enjoy now. Close your eyes, it's got the body and the flavor of a good red. Cheers.               REDS :        1) Anne De Joyeuse MALBEC 2012 " Original " depuis 1868 from Limoux, France ( $14.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, Certified Protect Planet by Bureau Veritas International BVQD ) " this is where Malbec first was planted, even before Cahors in the Lot region to the north and just south of Bordeaux! Wow! It's so bright and red-fruit toasty-berry flavors that that are easier to enjoy and certainly less harsh and tannic : and great value, too! Oscar may have just tasted this here over the weekend?      2) 2008/ 2011 Chianti Colli Senesi from Italy's Tuscan region and from TENUTA VALDIPIATTA ( $17.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume , in Montepulciano, Tuscany where they filmed some of the TWILIGHT movie- Movie Two I believe ? ) : the last few bottles of the 2008 are fully-developed and flavorful, more extraction. The 2011 is softer and lighter and brighter red toasty berry flavors. Both are recommended. I prefer the 2008. My son will be there this coming weekend seeing and tasting with owners, father and daughter : Guido and Miriam! What fun. We have all their wines here for you all! Come check them all out and enjoy these Colli Senesi Chianti wines in this cooler weather now.      3) 2011 McLaren Vale Shiraz from Thomas GOSS, this Aussie red ( $19.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume, go to : www.thomasgoss.com.au for more info ) has got some real weight, good mouth-feel and grip, and a splash of extra alcohol to warm you even if you enjoy a glass outside in these cooler nights! New and exciting for us here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits.        4) 2006 Private Collection Dry Red Patras Greek red from ANTONOPOULOS ( $21.99, 14% alcohol by volume ) : Sotiris Bafitis was here again this past weekend to taste these fabulous Greek wines with you all. This wine makes a real statement : the best of both the modern and the classic worlds. It's a good medium-bodied dry red to enjoy with a meal. Have a glass all on it's own and then settle into the meal and the benefits of combining both together. Cheers.        5) Notarpanaro dry 2006 Salento Rosso Red from TAURINO ( $24.99, 14,5% alcohol by volume , 100% Negroamaro indigenous grapes ) : Sotiris Bafitis also tasted this here this past weekend while I was on my stay-at-home-vacation. This is a classic, old-world style of barnyard, kitchen sink, herbs and spices and olive, tar, leather and tobacco flavors that cry for food to flesh out these more lean and muscular and less-polished yet highly personable and wonderful flavors and tastes. Medium-bodied : a real class-act: everyone should experience this wine more than once in their lifetimes!        6) CAPE ELEMENTS 2009 dry red South African Blend of Shiraz, Cinsault and Grenache from Nico Van Der Merwe ( $18.99, 14% alcohol, Stellenbosch, South Africa, www.wilhelmshof@xsinet.co.za ) is a medium-bodied Rhone style red with some real polish, brightness and elegance. We tasted the 2009 on Saturday with John and Theresa Morrison and it was a huge hit. Here we have the previous vintage as well for less money and more bottle age. Perhaps buy a bottle of each and compare and enjoy? Cheers.             ALSO : From an old email I copied this here as it's an important story to keep telling : Go Virginia!        VA. WINERIES Recommended By Steven Spurrier : Steven Spurrier had his Caves De La Madeleine and his Academie Du Vin in Paris, France off the Place De La Concorde in the early 1970's and in 1976 he conducted a blind wine-tasting with both French and American judges of both California and French wines and the French picked the American wines as better!        What a scandal ensued! He was just invited back by Virginia's Governor to do a similar wine-tasting with both Virginia and other well-known/high quality wines. The Virginia wines fared really well. Steven had some favorite wineries and wines.        Dave McIntyre of the Washington Post wrote up the results this past Wednesday. Here are some of the wines we have and recommend from Steven's favorite wineries :               BOXWOOD ESTATE, Middleburg, VA.        1)  " Topiary "  2008 ( $28.99, 13% alcohol by volume, www.boxwoodwinery.com ) is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec grapes from the ENTAV clones grown and processed in the traditional Bordeaux style :        low yields are harvested and sorted by hand ...        Made like the Right-Bank wines of Bordeaux. This 2008 should really be beginning to open and reveal some of it's many charms. No need to rush. Buy it in the half bottles that we still have some for $17.99 Boxwood and enjoy those while you wait patiently for these full bottles to develop and mature.      They will reward the patient. Steven Spurrier tried the 2010 vintage and wrote about those.        2) " Boxwood " 2009 ( $29.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, www.boxwoodwinery.com ) is made like a classic Left Bank French Bordeaux wine with a blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes from the ENTAV clones ...        It's heartier, bolder, thicker and usually more tannic and in need of a meal than the " Topiary ".      We have enjoyed them since the 2007 vintage and with family member Rachel Martin's earlier visits here. She even helped me conduct one of my Saturday wine classes. That was quite the fun and educational experience. The 2009 are brighter and more fruit-forward than the 2008 vintage wines.       But they are made to age slowly and gracefully and again the patient of you are all well-rewarded.      Read above again about what I wrote of the two wines enjoyed this weekend from the 1983 vintage to get some distance and perspective.      No need to rush. Buy some and put them away for later.      We have a few bottles left for you all and will move on to newer vintages as soon as Rachel or Andrew taste us on them.       When I visited the BOXWOOD Winery recently and saw my old friend Lucie Morton there, as well as owner Rachel Martin I was very impressed with both the 2011 and the 2012 vintages, the 2011 being quite difficult, and the 2012 being a gift of Nature! What a treat.               WEDNESDAY Weekly 3-Part Still/Non-Sparkling Wine Sale : Includes Sake, Port, Sherry, Marsala and Madeira : Mix them all up and SAVE BIG :        1) BUY ANY BOTTLE of Still Wine over $20 and SAVE 20% Off the marked sticker price.        2) BUT 6 or More Still Wines and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker price.        3) BUY 12 or More Still Wines and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.        You may assort/include the port, sherry, sake, madeira and marsala bottles ( any size ), and also the box wines, too.        SAVE BIG here at Cleveland Park Wines each Wednesday on Still Wine Purchases. Call and ask for Michel or Tony to help you. We also deliver here in the neighborhood. Call : 202-363-4265. SAVE BIG!        NOTE : There's been a horrible accident here at the Cleveland Park metro center on the Red Line. Only heard briefly about it but am sorry to say that it sounds quite sad and tragic. Check before you get or try to get on the Red Line today to come home.   WEEKEND TASTINGS :        Friday, October 25th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Jim Reeves here to taste some of jis amazing French Burgundy Rhones ( GUYOT - dry reds, one dry rose ), as well as the MATILDE Chablis and Saint-Brie Sauvignon Blanc dry whites - and more! Always a great surprise and great value, too when Jim tastes with us all!        Saturday, October 26th, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Fernando from Argentina here that works with Tradewinds Specialty Imports here to try some of the finest Argentina and Spanish wines : perhaps some sherry, too as it sure is getting colder, some of the fine sherries from the house of ALEXANDRO, I LOVE the Pedro Ximenez, for example, $32.99. Perfect for Halloween! Decadently thick brown colors that OOZE and leave the greatest legs on the side of any wine glass imaginable! What a treat : a little bit goes a long , long way to making this cold weather seems less cold and intimidating!        JOIN US : NEVER any charge, all our tastings are free. Come and relax and learn and enjoy, meet others, share stories and have a great moment together with us. Memorable. And never stuffy ...         AND TO ALL OUR SUPPLIERS :   We want to thank some of you that came to see us recently with some excellent products that we are considering buying and selling here :        You always have something fun and exciting and worth sharing with you all. Michel and I have been tasting some great wines thanks to them and the many others. Cheers.     I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN many things but it's time to post this so that you all may stop by on this beautiful day after work and see us. We have lots to share with you, really we do. We also want to thanks you for all your support. Check us out      on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, follow us        on Twitter at : cpwinespirits, and also at : wineenabler.        WE DELIVER No-Charge here locally in Washington D.C. with an order of $30 or more. Call us at : 202-363-4265 and we will come and see you. Cheers!        Thanks again for everything, you all are the best! Great to have all you government workers back on the job!  TON

Play Mega Million & PowerBall Lotteries This Week,Taste Great Wines W/ Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellars, Loudoun County, VA, Mamuka Tserteli of Georgia,Noel Brockett of Hungary, Jeff Palmer of Spain & Adriene Morgan of Europe on Wed 10/24 5:30-8:30PM, #freewinetasting 20 wines! Sat Taste w/ Silvia Casali of Tenuta Casali Emilia, Italy W/ importer Robert Kennedy! Cheers, & VOTE!

Taste W/ Doug Fabbioli, Mamuka Tsereteli, Noel Brockett, Adriene Morgan,JeffPalmer & Silvia Casali!

 

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

LIKE A ROLLER COASTER these days for all of us. We have so much going on and the world keeps knocking and bombarding us with information, news, opinions, and more and so we carry more stress and worry with us. The fall foliage is spectacular with all the incredible colors of reds, oranges, yellows, shades of browns and greens. Impressive.        LIFE IS GLORIOUS this morning as I drove into work! Loved it, my spirits were lifted immediately as I drove from Virginia and crossed over the Teddy Roosevelt bridge and got on the George Washington Parkway and wound my way past our National Zoo and here to work in our very vibrant Cleveland Park neighborhood.        CHEERS TO YOU ALL! I will start this email by mentioning some people that have passed through our doors or that we have been in contact with recently -   NANCY emailed me about some 2016 Chorey-Les-Beaune red burgundy and wanted to know if I recommended it? I said : " yes, " a fine French Pinot Noir to celebrate with. We currently have the 2015 Santenay ' Les Chainey ' from the Domaine Saint-Marc, at $41.49, ( the Chorey-Les-Beaune 2016 was at $45 a bottle ), and this is a very fine vintage indeed, and also in the Challonaise region of burgundy, a Frederick Corriher selection, highly recommended! Will see about getting more Chorey! Cheers Nancy, thanks for asking our opinion and actually buying it from a retail store and not online!   PAULINE emailed and wanted to call, asked for a good time to do so, just wanted to hear our voices and catch up on things as she is now in Paris, France. Thanks Pauline, merci, et a bientot j'espere!   MARCELLO SALVATORI from Cantine Elda in Foggia, Italy was here thanks to customers Nik and Juliene, they met Marcello at a tasting and brought him and his samples here that we tasted and shared with customers, and will see about availability of them as they were impressive, and the collaboration of the wine democracy bottle with his daughter Alessandra was so fruit-forward that many customers will love it and supporting all the great causes that it supports! Grazie Marcello!   ET MERCI JEROME CHOBLET et Frank Agostini , the three Loire valley wines are superb, all three of which we have had here, all three which we will have arrive here the first week of November. Bon continuation.   THANKS TY Taylor  for the Ferrari Carano Vineyards and Winery  Sonoma ( I saw their two spectacular gardens back in the mid nineties - it was closed when we went by, but the gardens were magical ) tastes,  I loved the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay this go-round, but they were all fruit-forward, bright, fruit-centered, and elegant and lighter and they did not pretend more than they are, I like that, I like that a whole lot! Cheers and bravo, will see about getting them here in November.   NOW for our mini- BIG THEME October wine-tasting here tomorrow -   WEDNESDAY, October 23rd, 2018 ( 5:30-8:30PM ) : We have 20 wines for you taste from around the world with five great people pouring. I wrote about this last week and was able to write about the first three tables with 1)  Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellars, Loudoun county, VA., ... 2) Mamuka Tsereteli of Georgia, ... 3) Noel Brockett of Hungary ...   NOW -   TABLE # 4 - Ariene Morgan of Five Grapes selections pouring some fine European wines -   1) Pinot Grigio ' Fidora ' from TENUTA CIVANETTA , from Venezia, Italy,  2016, $13.49 a bottle, and organic ( we are thrilled to bring you as many organic, biodynamic, vegan wines as we can ), :  richer, more mouth-feel, more texture on the tongue and palate, nice as the weather changes and more cold comes in. A glass before sitting down to a meal, ... see what you think?!?   2) Weissburgunder + Pinot Blanc from Germany's Nahe region, 2016, made by WENHAUS MICHEL, $16.49 a bottle, another real treat in white wine to enjoy with your fall meals. This will warm and comfort you as temperatures drop. It is great to taste dry German wines to dispel the myth that they are all sweet and syrupy and impossible to drink. With Thanksgiving right around the corner this makes total sense to us to have you try it. What do you think? Will it cut through the Brussel sprouts' flavors, will it work well with the yams. how about the fresh crannbery sauce made from scratch with bits of orange  and orange peel in it?!? I like it.   3) Sparkling Spanish cava from FINCA HISPANIA, it is made from 100% Trepat indigenous grapes, is a dry rose and charming, refreshing, a perfect wine to sit around and sip and enjoy all by itself. It would have been magnificent, too with our smoked salmon that I enjoyed with my wife last night at home! Instead we had the smoked salmon with the Etienne Dupont Normandy hard cider, and I was shocked at how well the two worked. I JUST SPOKE to Santos and we will order more of this cider so that you may all enjoy , too with family and friends. I forgot how good it is, a 2016 showing like a dream come true!   4) Villa Botanica Pays D'Oc French dry red blend of  70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30%  Syrah. - sounds organic with this name but it does not say so on the bottle. I will check this and let everyone know tomorrow. The taste has some good weight and mouth-feel and presence, and it also will be a great wine to enjoy now as the cold sets in, with 13% alcohol by volume and at $12.49 this is a very fine wine and deal all in one! CHEERS!   TABLE # FIVE with Jeff Palmer of The Vintage Wines specializing in fine classic, traditionally-made wines.   1)  ' Ambar ' Spanish Rias Baixas dry Albarino from SEGREL, $15.49 a bottle, a 2017 vintage, and the label announces : " A pentagram of golden notes, fused in harmony . " I have to taste it again. I like these offerings from SEGREL ( we have two ), and I notice that each time it is like trying on a new bowler hat or a bow-tie - it takes time, adjustment, patience to get to know one another, to find our own harmony and move forward as one, as a team! I like it, nice balance always, and some intriguing flavors that may be slow to conquer my palate, but they always do. Cheers. $15.99 a bottle.   2) Rose de Saignee ( the weight of the grapes above slowly and lovingly make the grapes cry tears of joy and slowly release their garnet nectar from their protective orbs ) Grenache noir, 2017 , from the DOMAINE DE UNX, $12.99, from the northern Navarra region in Spain. With 13.5% alcohol by volume Jeff gave me a bottle to enjoy and I did one weekend not too long ago with my wife and daughter sitting outside on our deck at home. They both sang this wine's praises, and that made me smile. Another job well done by the pound puppies. If any of you remember those children's stories you will be smiling right along with me! Cheers.   3) Gran Reserva 2004 Spanish Rioja red mostly  Tempranillo grapes, ( the top-line, the very best made ) from Victor the woner that visits us and his family's DON JACOBO winery. It is On Special for $32.99 a bottle, less than two cases available at this price, the wine is drinking beautifully and would make a great gift this holiday season, and it will complement many of the foods we eat during the holidays, too. Very special, get some while you still can at this great price with 20% OFF the bottle you only pay $26.39 tonight! What a steal! Cheers. There have been many sports games such as the Redskins, the Nationals, our soccer team ... with both wins and losses and thus highs and lows. The debate with President Obama and Mitt Romney last night, the scandal with Lance Armstrong and the rest of his team ... and many personal events, too : too many to count or even know about. I have four amazing wine success stories to share with you as well.     AND in ' Other ' Great  Categories -   BEER and CIDER -   1) IPA Chameleon ' Ceneter of the Universe ', from Ashland, Virginia ( this is where Randolph-Macon College is, and I went there, graduated from there with a BA in English literature ), and so Ashland has a soft spot in my heart. Try this Center of the Universe that was my center of the universe for four years, $14.99 for a 4-pack of 16 Fl. Oz cans with 6.8% alcohol by volume.   2) TWO JUICY New England IPA, $15.99 a 4-pack of 16 ounce cans, with 8.2% alcohol by volume, made by TWO ROADS, from Stratford, Connecticut! Love the packaging, it speaks tropical volumes to me!   3) Pale Pilsner beer from SAN MIGUEL, imported  , $11.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, come try this pilsner on for size, fit and feel on your tongue and palate once again! Cheers!   CIDER - hard Basque cider from Europe -   1) GAZTRANAGA ( it throws sediment from the apples not filtered out - so extra taste, feel, character, and all - Sagardoa Sidre ( same word for cider. $10.99, an apple cider for a meal, with 6% alcohol by volume - this is true dry soar cider that needs to be fleshed-out with the food you pair it with!   LIQUOR - LIQUEUR -   1) Lamponi di POLI , a refined, stylish, character-FULL raspberry brandy from Italy, $72.99, with 40% alcohol by volume, try some of this tonight and tomorrow as the Mega Million lottery happens , and you can all strategize what and how you will manage the money you win! Cheers.It comes in a beautiful hand-blown clear bottles, too with the cutest sealer - red, white and silver!   2) Aguardiente en Fuego, Jalapeno-infused CHACHO , a cane neutral spirit with natural flavors, and we love having it here to offer you all. We had the founder that is local, Dan Ziegler come and taste it here many times years ago to get it launched. AND recently Andrew Shapiro of his own local D.C. non-alcoholic ginger brew - beer, ( $2.50 a bottle )  mix it together with his own. Come buy some of both and make your own Moscow Mule and more. On Special for $29.99 a bottle, with 35% alcohol by volume. I JUST POSTED a picture of both on our Facebook page, check it out.   3) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 92 Proof, $27.99 a bottle, a very special small batch, an outstanding taste and value for the money! We have a bottle here that we can taste you on, ask one of us, Cheers!   4) Hamilton 151 Ministry of Rum Collection, Overproof, distilled and aged on the banks of the Demerara river, a rum from Guyana, $30.99 a bottle, a treat when you need the extra kick for special recipes!   5) Gin from DEATH'S DOOR, from Washington Island, made with hard red winter wheat from Washington Island, WI., simple, coriander fennel seeds - so distinctly dry, fresh, alive and flavor-FULL! Owner Brian Elison was here himself offering his services to pour it if we would like?!? Well yes Brian, we are thrilled you are here. He poured and it started a beautiful relationship here for us all, we all had a great time, and many people discovered DEATH'S DOOR! Cheers.     IN WINE -from Chris and me ( Tony ) -        SIX ' new ' dry Chardonnay wines -   1) La Escondida 2017 Argentina Chardonnay, $8.99 a bottle,   2) Marc Cellars Chardonnay 2015, California, On Special for $12.99, 3 for $33 program. 3) Siete Fincas 2017 Chardonnay selected vineyards , Mendoza, Argentina, On Special for $12.99, 3 for $33 program. 4) 2017 FRAGOU Greek Peleponese Chardonnay, On Special for $12.99, 3 for $33 program 5) Chateau BURGOZONE PGI Danube Plain Bulgarian Chardonnay - burgundy-style, On Special for $12.99, 3 for $33 - great value, regularly $19.99 a bottle! 2014. 6) 2016 Bourgogne ' Les Chazots ' Chardonnay from the Domaine Moissenet Bonnard, $27.49, , a softer, more lulling and lilting and lullaby taste, texture and fabric infused into your lives!   WEEK'S TASTINGS -   Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 ( 5:30-8:30PM ) - our mini- Big Theme Wine-Tasting with 20 great wines from around the world to taste! JOIN US!   Friday, October 2018, : have Tina Epstein due to come and taste fine Aussie wines of McWilliams, but that might not happen so I have a call out to Craig now. Stay-tuned for more info on this tasting!   Saturday, October 27th, 2018 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Silvia Casali here to taste her fine Italian Emilia wines of Tenuta Casali. We have some exciting Trebbiano and Sangiovese superieure wines to taste, as well as her dry spumante rose Villa Zappi. Join us here with Silvia and importer Robert Kennedy.   PLAY THE MEGA Million lottery here today, wine BIG here tonight! Then spend a lot of it here tomorrow at our tasting!   THANKS for everything, you all are the very best, the cream of the crop, the top of the top of the top! Cheers, TONY 10/23/2018

Anthony Quinn's Weekly Email About Midterm Elections, Community, Catharsis On The Mall 2018, Silvia Casseli's Italian Emilia Tasting 10/29 , Owner-Winemaker Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellars, Loudoun Count, VA Wine-Tasting, Mamuka nd Noel Of Georgian House Selections, & More!

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

THE STORE IS FILLED now with so many perfect beers, liquors, liqueurs and wines to enjoy as the weather changes - we love having the tremendous variety for you all. You deserve it, you deserve choices and the right to decide for yourselves which is right for you. We are here to offer that variety, and let you decide for yourselves. What works best for you is what is best for us. Cheers.         THE WEATHER is nicer now, cooler, easier for many people with less humidity , easier on our joints and all. Come see what we have in store for you this week and for the rest of the year.         YES WE ARE ALREADY organizing the rest of the year.         BEST TO BE PROACTIVE and not reactive.         THE Midterm elections are weighing heavily on all of us, as are the devastating results of the damage that Hurricane Michael did on parts of Florida, and our hearts go out to those that are still struggling just to get the drinking water that they need as well as electricity and other basics.           HOPE THAT this process of recovery will not be a repeat of what happened in Puerto Rico. I read this weekend on Sunday the story told in the Outlook section of the Washington Post by several people there - an uber driver, a baker, a doctor and more - and I was moved by their stories that spoke to all the people that were there pitching in and doing all that they could themselves to make things better once again, to provide the essential services needed by anyone. It inspired me, I was happy to read it, made my day to see such perseverance in the wake of a natural tragedy like this.         THINKING OF PUERTO RICO I want to mention here the two great values we have of the DON Q Cristal clear and the Gold , too, fine rum, both at $14.99 a bottle, both recommended ( over Bacardi by me anyway ), and so far we have had many happy customers discovering the DON Q and in a small way helping Puerto Rico to recover - all essential, all very important. GREAT VALUES, too.   BUY YOUR Lottery tickets : 1) Power Ball and the 2) Mega tonight! So much money at stake. Check with Beau Finley, he mentioned this recently and proposed a great " imagine if - imagine what could be done ?!? " for the greater good of more people. I liked that a whole lot. I guess he and I both have some hippie blood in us, I know I have!   COME SEE MY sketch pad I did while in New York city three years ago in August, many abstract and more real, too portraits - studies of peops, moods, manners, the times, the weather, - all how it impacted ' the moments ' - pure, unaltered, immediate, stark, real, the original spark of each moment. Cheers.   CATHARSIS ON THE MALL is gearing up to take place in early November about the same time as midterm elections - lots to see, work through, evaluate, understand, vote on, be a part of - all making a difference today and soon and clearly in our futures as they unfold in today's world.   WE ARE HERE to be of any service we can to you - providing many diverse spirits as well as a sense of real honest compassionate, caring, including and welcoming community.   SO : here are some things to get your attention :   BEER -   1) Unfiltered IPA " Honeyspot Road " from TWO ROADS, a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles , $10.99 , with 6% alcohol by volume, : " Take a direct route to HOPPY-ness ! " from Stratford, Connecticut, come try!   2) 300 years of Belgian Brewing , $20.99 for an 8-pack of four different kinds of beer-ale : a) Peche Mel , b) Saison Dupont  c) Cuvee des Trolls and  , d) Foret - 8 12 ounce bottles to enjoy - a winner all around, and a fine value, too! #GoBelgianbeers!   LAST NIGHT after dinner that I grilled outside I was watching the news on Channel 4 and I saw Adam Eidinger, one of the organizers for @CatharsisOnTheMall 2018 being interviewed, they showed two clips or ' sound-bites ' of him talking about our Ist Amendment rights, and I appreciated this as I know him, many of you, too might know him because he is across the street in the old 4 P's Irish bar location, and with the group of others, is working on this year's installment of Catharsis on the mall. If you are interested stop by, knock on the door, and ask to be shown around as they are working hard and diligently to be ready. It is inspiring to me, hopefully to you, too. Anyway getting an early glimpse here might encourage you to go down to the Mall and see the whole display of exhibits. Last year my 40-foot ' acrylic work on paper Arches ' was on display for part of the Sunday activities. It was thrilling for me. I really enjoyed the rally there on women's rights, and hearing their new anthem sung live for the first time. It was a real let-down for me to see only one t.v. camera recording the event, where were all the other t.v. channels?!? Hopefully they will be more present this year at this turning-point-tumultuous-stage-of-our-lives?   In CIDER from Santos we have - TWO from MT. DEFIANCE Cidery , VA. -   1) Farmhouse Style cider , small batch, $11.99, a 750ml bottle, with 7.2% alcohol by volume, I like this unique flavor profile that intrigues me and makes me ask what am I tasting exactly!   2) General's Reserve Hard Cider, $14.99 for a 750ml bottle, with 6% alcohol by volume - another superlative definition of hard cider made here locally and that complements many meals at this time of the especially well!           IN LIQUOR we have from Jagir -   1) From John E. Fitzgerald the Larceny Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey, established in 1870, a ' very small batch ', I just tried this with our local rep Demi of @BacardiUSA , $27.99 a bottle, really distinct, focused flame of life and energy, warmth, mirth and mire all in one = I like it. We have an open bottle here for you all to taste, come by and see what you think. This represents a very fine value indeed! Cheers.   THREE From Springfield Manor Distilling, MD :   1) Pear Brandy, On Special for $29.99 a 375ml bottle, with 40% alcohol by volume - quite elegant, polished, delicately bright and very smooth.   2) Grappa , On Special for $28.99 a 375ml bottle, with 40% alcohol by volume, so smooth and velvety, something that many palates can fully appreciate and enjoy - a treat - and local, too! Go visit the lavender fields they have. I did for Father's Day three years ago and had a marvelous time!   3) White Corn Whiskey, On Special for $40.99, in a great bottle with a great label, a 750ml bottle, handcrafted in small batches, this is a great whiskey to get to know and appreciate better. I would enjoy it more with my food - something with high acidity, a salad, a corn salad? This will awaken your palate and test your limits and tastes, you will grow to like it more once your nose becomes better acquainted with the bouquet, and your taste-buds settle down after the initial attack they perceive real or imagined?!? All good, adding to the equation - everyone should try this at least once and offer when there is a celebration with many foods and spirits.         WEEK'S TASTINGS -   Friday, October 19th ( 5-8pm ) : We have TWO tastings for you so far :   1) Local Spirits with ONE EIGHT Distilling coming to pour their Bourbon and Rye wjiskies, as well as their vodka for you. JOIN US!   2) Serghei Gulceac of Old Town Cellars will be here to pour some fine Glug German mulled wine that is perfect for the season now, as well as both some IND-VIDO Moldovan wine as well as some VINKARA Turkish wine, some Narince dry indigenous white, - maybe even more?!?   Thinking possibly some Okuzgozu indigenous red also. Both our national rep and the owner have been here numerous times, we have sold the wines well before, and will be re-introducing them here now as Serghei is currently representing them!         SATURDAY, October 20th, 2018 , we have Will Murck with a backup from Sam Pulda here tasting a series of Bordeaux wines inspired by Chateau Haut Brion, Graves, called CLARENDELLE , a dry 2013 red, a dry white, 2017, $24.99 for both - and a 2014 Medoc, and a 2014 Saint-Emilion, too - so three reds and one white. They all are very expressive, balanced, with finesse and a certain terroir charm and complete authenticity, too - and the prices are very affordable. I like that a whole lot!   AND NOW for our mini- BIG THEME Wine-Tasting of 20 various wines - five passionate individuals in love with wine and it's integrity, charm, character, personality, idiosyncrasies all all the rest will be on-hand to pour for you!   IT IS ALSO Virginia Wine Month and so we will welcome back owner, winemaker Doug Fabbioli to taste four of his real gems with you all. Doug will be our featured guest followed by   -Mamuka Tsereteli the President of the Georgian House of Greater Washington LLC pouring dry Georgian reds...   - , and then Noel Brockett, Director of Operations for the Georgian House of Greater Washington LLC pouring Hungarian dry whites,   - and Adriene Morgan sales representative for FIVE GRAPES pouring a fine selection of wines - a German Pinot Blanc, an Italian Pinot Grigio, an organic Southwest French Pays D'Oc red, a sparkling Spanish Cava, and a California Paso Robles dry red blend, too!   - and Jeff Palmer Of Vintage fine Spanish wine selections will be here to pour the UNX red and white, the SEGREL Albarino white, and the DON JACOPO 2004 Gran Reserva Rioja!   TABLE # ONE ( with owner and winemaker Doug Fabbioli here to pour a selection of fine Loudoun County, VA wines : 1) Petit Manseng French grape variety from the southwest of France ( often blended with the Gros Manseng also from France's southwest ) - a dry complex layered white, 2) Chamboucin, a dry red French hybrid from a long time ago created to withstand our really cold winters and still survive and produce healthy grape bunches, something Virginia has made for years that fell out of fashion but that Doug has helped to bring back to our attention. Not heavy, medium-t0-lighter-bodied, a treat for Thanksgiving and many of these winter holidays - it is one of my favorites. 3) Cabernet Franc , a dry red made from an international grape that came to take the place of many Chambercins and Merechal Foch red wines, and it is considered of all the grapes by many to speak the most to our Virginia terroir. I see this, but I also see that the Petit Verdot could ultimately surpass the Cabernet Franc. That would be a good conversation to have with Doug and other Virginia winemakers. 4) Raspberry Merlot , a 375ml bottle that will appeal to many of our sweeter palates, this is a beauty, too - and something to finish-off many a meal with your dessert, or to blend and make your own Virginia definition of a Kir Royale with sparkling wine. ALL TREATS, and Doug may also have others to share with you all. I told him to bring whatever he wants and we will take pre-orders  for what we do not have.     TABLE # TWO with Mamuka Tsereteli , President of the Georgian House will pour three fine dry reds from Georgia :   1) DILA-0 dry red Saperavi indigenous grape of Georgia , $16.49 : made in the traditional ancient clay vessels buried in the ground called Qvevri This blows me away for all the flavor, the complexity, the focus, the firmness, and yet the richness and the amazing approachable flavors, too with just some coaxing! This is a value and a treat, so happy to have it here for you all to discover." Fresh as the morning sun " the labels announces!   2) ORGO 2017 dry red Saperavi ( also made in the Qvevri cermamic clay vessels buried in the ground, this is even more polished and elegant, refined, gentle, kind and considerate of your palate. As well as it should be as it costs $26.49, and this one sings me sweeter lullabies and rocks my cradle, and massages my temples, too - ooohhhhh yes. It is a favorite of Marina and her daughter, as well as it should be.   3) Gvantsa's Wine dry red made from 100%  Otskhanuri Sapere 2017, $30.99, Imreti, this sapere grown in the Village of Obcha, is more angular and hearty, robust, less polished, needs more time in the bottle, slower to awaken and show it's charms - but with tremendous promise. Made by one of two sisters that work together, she was just here visiting briefly in DC, and I did not get a chance to meet her, hopefully next time. In the meantime I like her wine very much , and recommend aging it or enjoying it now with a flavorful meal. " Quite high acidity. Wine is full bodied with a long fruity finish. " says the label. I think the fuit surfaces later after being open more than one hour.   TABLE # THREE : With Noel Brockett the Director of Operations for the Georgian House -   1) Serpens Tokaj dry 2016, a blend of 65% Furmint indigenous grapes with 25% Harslevelu indigenous grapes ( these two grapes are blended together to make the famous sweet wine Tokaji ), and 10% Sargamuskotaily indigenous grapes ) : of the tree Noel pours this is the one to enjoy with your early fall meals - blending pear, summer apple and white peach , and some say elderberry, too? There is a melon taste, too, a melon I do not know yet but that clearly exists in this liquid form! I want to enjoy a glass by itself and then another with my meal! $16.49 a bottle with 12% alcohol by volume. I Just spoke to Noel and he added : " Touch of sweetness, passion fruit. " 2) Somloi Vandor, Nagy-Somloi, a Furmint 2015, $25.49 , a white  that has some salinity that is a touch jarring, a touch welcoming after the first initial two sips. Your palate adjusts to it, and Noel just added : " Minerality and full bodied. "    3) Kvaszinger estate Tokaji 2013, the Furmint with the most bottle age, $23.99, also it sees time in oak as it is barrel-aged, and Noel just added : " High acidity :, grown on the edge or banks of the Bodrog river, using traditional methods, with 14% alcohol to warm us all just a wee little bit more, like another sweater on ... pretty amazingly wonderful and distinct.   AND Noel added again : " All three are from 3 different terroirs and represent well what is possible with the Furmint grape in Hungary, and all three are perfect for Thanksgiving. " I agree wholeheartedly here with Noel. This was a collaborative effort, thanks Noel!   WILL FINISH with Tables FOUR and FIVE in next week's store Tuesday email, so stay-tuned. This should whet your curiosities enough for this week.   THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. You all are the very best, come by and see what we have up our upper sleeves for you as the lower ones are at home and not being utilized much yet! Thanks again, TONY 10/16/2018     WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW is an old store email that I wrote and posted way back on October 18th, 2011, read and enjoy it and check for current prices, availability, etcetera - and enjoy! Cheers, TONY 10/16/2018   THE STORE IS FILLED now with so many perfect beers, liquors, liqueurs, and ciders and wines as the weather changes ever so slightly like a slow-motion yo-yo sometimes and outta-control yo-yo others. How can anyone know or plan? We have lots for you to buy and hold in reserve for just the right moment and time. We can help you all be proactive and totally prepared.   WE ARE SO PLEASED with all that has been made available to us as times have difficult for most and downright trying for many. In all categories we have many sales running now here in the store : too many to mention here in one email. I will try and select a few to focus on and give you all more information.   IT'S PUMPKIN BEER/ ALE SEASON TIME and everything that Santos has bought over the last two months as sold quickly and with many of you very sad to see the end of certain ones as you return and inquire and hear our unwelcome answer that we are indeed out of that one till next season. Ouch : it hurts. Buy another six-pack/4-pack/large bottle next time to ensure you can stretch out your enjoyment just a wee bit further.   SANTOS HAS SOME WOODCHUCK HARD CIDER Pumpkin Private Reserve ( Gluten Free ) to add to the expanding variety and category. It sells for $11.49 for a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles with 6.9% alcohol. The back label reads : " Woodchuck Private Reserve Pumpkin is limited to only two and a half hours on our production line, fresh and crisp with pumpkin at the finish ... pairs perfectly with roasted duck, turkey, squash ravioli as well as creme brulee and fresh cheesecake ". Sounds perfect to me. You'd better get a couple of 6-packs : sounds like a real delight for this cooler, crisper weather and for the holidays.   RAVI BOUGHT THE BLACK GROUSE Blended Scotch Whisky ( $24.99 ) that I got to try the other day with our rep. Her picture holding the bottle is on our Facebook page at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits. You should check it out. She served it to us at the end of her flight of " goodies " to sample and I must say that I liked it's bolder/ heartier/ fuller flavors that will immediately warm one to one's core and take both the chill and the edge and leave one comfortable and relaxed and make it easier to simply " be " and " enjoy " one's present environment. Nice and very reasonably priced and in a nice gift box and bottle to make the presentation and the offer of a gift to yourselves or to a friend complete.   WE HAD PETER LOGAN of his own LOGAN Vineyard wines in Orange, Australia here three months ago was it? I think so, He came with our LVDH rep Sam Gessner and they together presented us the full lineup of current releases available - everything except the sparkling wine I believe? I would have loved to have tried the sparkling wine. It's quite expensive but I bet it was also quite distinct and worth the price. I will know next time when Peter brings it with him for us to taste. WE HAVE a whole selection of Peter Logan's wines which include those from his less-expensive label called WEEMALA. I will mention two here :      1) WEEMALA 2009 Pinot Gris ( $13.99 ) that our old rep for LVDH John Peters when he would come and taste with you all. It was and still is a perfect wine to enjoy during these holiday months as it has more weight and complexity and yet is quite fresh , crisp and bright. The extra body gives it the muscle it needs to cut through many a spice, strong flavor or sauce.      2)  LOGAN 2009 " Hanna " dry rose ( $16.99 , www.loganwines.com ) : " I made the first Rose vintage especially for my wife Hannah to drink on our wedding day. ... The 2009 Rose marries spicy strawberry aromas with passion fruit, red apple and sour cherry flavors ". Comments by Peter Logan. Sounds perfect for these cooler evenings as the sun goes down and we still want to be outside around a grill and a fire pit enjoying family and friends and our meal. Cheers.   DINNER TONIGHT W/ Wine-Maker Eric Anesi of GAUCHEZCO Argentina wines ( 3 Malbecs, one dry rose and a refreshing dry white Torrontes ), $69 per person plus tax and gratuity, call Elli Benchimol ( Beverage Director ) at CHEF GEOFF'S DOWNTOWN ( 415-370-5224, www.chefgeoff.com. Call ASAP if you would like to come tonight. There should still be room. This will be really special. I included the menu in last week's emails so look at that for more information. Argentina is on fire now : really in the spotlight. Come and be a part of all this well-deserved " buzz ". Cheers. ALL GAUCHEZCO wines will be On Special from Bottle #1 tonight at the dinner with more discounts offered the more that you buy. Contact Ian and me ( Tony ) here to collect your orders by this weekend.   ACACIA California 2009 Chardonnay ( Super Deal ! ) and 2009 Pinot Noir :      1) ACACIA California Chardonnay 2009 ( On Special for $10.99 / regularly anywhere between $13-$15 a bottle ) is a class-act : really showing well now. Great focus and bright balance. Refreshing and a complete wine with everything in very fine tune : just the right amount of butter and slight accents of both acidity and oak.    A " Must Buy " !      2) ACACIA 2009 California Pinot Noir ( $22.99 ) is a really nice food wine because it turns up the heat with just a splash more of acidity and oak to hold the fruit inside perfectly. This would be fabulous at Thanksgiving. Perhaps you can all be really be proactive and buy some now and keep it for then? You won't be sorry if you do.   BEERS From Santos :       1) SWEET ACTION from SIXPOINT Craft Ales ( $9.99 On Special 4-pack, 5.2% alcohol by volume , 16 fluid ounce cans , est. 2004 ) : " Ah love is bitter and sweet, ... Sweet Action is an idea : a concept ... what makes beer great - the marriage of barley and hops, in a harmonious balance of sweet and bitter ". You will simply have to try this one on for size, fit and feel. it's a real tease all this : what does it actually taste like? How will you respond to this particular taste? Cheers.      2) " Hoptober " Golden Ale New Belgian Brewing, Fort Collins, CO. USA ( $3.99 a 22fl. oz bottle, 6% alcohol by volume ) is : " Five hops and four malts make HOPTOBER Golden Ale a veritable cornucopia of the earth. Pale and wheat malt are mashed with rye and oats to create a medium bodied ale with a creamy mouth feel ... ".      3) STAR HILL Founded In Charlottesville, VA. , these Northern Lights India Pale Ale ( On Special for $8.99 a 6-pack of 12 fluid ounces, 6.5% alcohol by volume ) is brand new and very exciting as we support our local breweries as well as wineries. Come check this IPA out.     ALCOHOL / LIQUEURS From Ravinder Sharma :      1) DEATH'S DOOR White Whisky ( $33.99 ) from Washington Island in Wisconsin was established in 2005. It's 40% alcohol by volume , bottled and distilled by Death's Door Distillery in Madison, Wi. It's brand spanking new and part of a really new and exciting category.      2) FIDENCIO Mezcal ( $49.99, Oaxaca, Mexico ) is a young / joven version of Mescal - Sin Humo. Four generation of experience, made from 100% estate-grown agave espadin. They use a neutral-heat oven, then they roast the agave " sin humo " or " without smoke ". Distilled twice in a custom alambic still. The resulting taste is both delicate and flavorful and ideal for sipping or blended in a cocktail.        A RECAP Of Aussie Big-Theme Event :  Lots Of Aussie Wines : Big-Theme Australian Wine-Tasting Last Wed. Oct. 12th, 2011 BIG SUCCESS - even with all the rain!             WHITES :      1) From ALICE WHITE , this Riesling 2010 from South Eastern Australia ( $5.99 ) is an incredible off-dry deal for any of you looking for a nice sipping wine with no edge or bite from acids, tannins or spices. Great label, too. Ernie would like the back label as well and mention to me in conversation : " ... free-spirited flavors of Australia " :  " what does that mean ? " he would ask me. Ernie, you will have a field day with this back label that goes on to say : " ... It's a tempting treat alone, or sipped alongside your favorite Asian dishes ... ".          2) HUGH HAMILTON'S McLaren Vale " The Loose Cannon " 2009 Viognier was tasted here twice recently : once with owner Hugh Hamilton himself and the the week afterward with rep Arielle Monaco at last week's Big-Theme Australian Wine-Tasting last Wednesday ( Oct. 12th, 2011 from 5:30-8:30PM ). It showed beautifully both times. Great balance and finesse and everything in place, for $18.99 this is a nice treat just about anytime : with or without a meal, inside or outside. It's pretty much got it all. Great job Hugh.        3) HAY SHED HILL Margaret River, western Australia 2009 Chardonnay from wine-maker Michael ( $24.99 , 12% alcohol by volume ) has lots of butter, oak and weight. It's a great food wine when you need a wine to refresh and cut through lots of heat and spices. It showed really well. Congrats to you Michael Kerrigan!            REDS :             1) WEST CAPE HOWE Great Southern " Bookends " 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon from western Australia's tip called Denmark. Made by wine-makers Gavin Berry and David this Cabernet Sauvignon ( $19.99 ) is the epitome of elegance , refinement, spit and polish and finesse. It showed beautifully and we sold a lot as we always have. A class-act! Cheers Gavin and David.           2) PICARDY'S 2005 Merlimont , Pemberton, western Australia dry red blend of 53% Merlot,   24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Cabernet Franc (  On Special for $20.99, regularly $29.99 , 14% alcohol by volume ) is that old-world style of wine-making that is great when matched with food. Pithy, earthy, spicy and that lovely dusty-dry quality that begs for a meal. Great for this coming cold weather. Enjoy with something marinated for awhile and then cooked or smoked and definitely meats off the grill! Great job Dan, you really nailed it with this one.          3) GIBSON'S Barossa Vale dry red BLEND 2004 called " Isabelle " : a 53% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petite Verdot ( On Special for $29.99, 14.4% alcohol by volume ) is another classic, traditional-style dusty dry red Bordeaux blend to enjoy with a meal. It's named after owner and wine-maker Rob Gibson's mother. It showed beautifully this past Wednesday evening here when Arielle poured it for you all.      4) GROOM 2008 Barossa Valley Shiraz ( $32.99, 14.9% alcohol by volume ) from Daryl Groom sure is drinking beautifully now. It's so smooth and soft, elegant and forward and very appealing now with or without a meal. I was very impressed with it, I really was. I was thinking it would have been chewier, chunkier and more hearty and it had weight and presence coupled with very nice suppleness on the palate. Great appeal. Daryl, let's sit down to a meal and enjoy a bottle. You are due for another visit here aren't you?     SUPPORT SOUTH AFRICA / SUPPORT BREAST CANCER RESEARCH : Come and buy some of the wines that John and Theresa Morrison sell us here. ALSO : buy a copy of Theresa Morrison's book called : CAPE WINELANDS ( A Touring Guide To Wineries Of Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschoek & Paarl ( cost is $20 a copy and all the money goes to Thersa Morrison's local chapter here for breast cancer research ). Neither John and Theresa or we make any money on this at all. It's all for a great cause and the book is fabulous! John and Theresa, if you are reading this you need to come by and bring me some signed copies for this special event.  Come try some of Theresa and John's last of the fabulous BLAAUWKLIPPEN 2005 Stellenbosch Zinfandel On Special for $24.99 ( regularly $30-$35 a bottle. It's drinking like a grand technicolor dream on a great Hollywood set come completely true and more! It's pretty amazing : spicy, earthy, pithy, packed and muscular and hearty, vocal, operatic, like explorers of underwater and grottoes, caves, just like the roots of the vines from which the grapes and thus this wine came. FIVE DRY REDS to further tempt you with : Just a short list, more about them shortly :      1) BEAUMONT'S  " Raoul's Old Basket Press " 2009 dry red blend from Walker's Bay. It costs $16.99 a bottle and is worth every penny : nicely fleshed, toned and balanced. Medium-bodied and quite the treat. Very versatile in all it's food-pairings. This also comes from John and Theresa Morrison.      2) STEAK HOUSE Cabernet Sauvignon ( $13.99 ) 2009 from Columbia Valley is back once again by popular demand, from Washington State's Walla Walla region.      3) L.A. CETTO Petite Sirah 2008 Estate Bottled from Baja, California ( $12.99 ) is really earthy, and pithy with great acidity that charges madly ahead over the palate. It's a great food wine from Mexico, medium-to-lighter-bodied.      4) CASS Estate Grown Paso Robles 2005 Syrah ( 98% Syrah, 2% Petite Sirah , $39.99 ) is a perfect Rhone-style-roaming ranger California dry red that gives the Cote du Rhone wines a run for their money?!? What do you think?      5) RUST EN VREDE 2010 Stellenbosch Merlot ( owner Jean Engelbrecht that I met here years ago ), South Africa On Special for $17.99 is showing really well now. Our rep Sal brought it by and it had some really upward mobility, fluid power and grace and that extra " gift-for-gab " quality that impressed me quite a bit. It's a food wine, come and check it out. It's not from John & Theresa but also good.   WEEK'S TASTINGS :        Friday, Oct. 21st, 2011 ( 5-8PM ) : Come meet the owner/wine-maker of CHESTER GAP winery up in Front Royal, Virginia when he tastes some of his current releases. What a treat this will be. It will be his second visit. The first time he came was with his son and that a very special tasting indeed. They both might be here again? Come and see. There's lots of great and positive talk about the CHESTER GAP wines with the Viogniers, Chards, red blends of Merlot and Cabernet and more ... join us, NEVER any charge.      Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Bordeaux owner Philippe Riveria here from Graves, Bordeaux to taste some of his excellent red and white dry Bordeaux wines. Join us, never any charge. We have half bottles of the 2005 CHATEAU De CALLAC Graves dry red Bordeaux ( $12.99 ) that are drinking beautifully now. Come check out the excitement.     I KNOW THAT I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS but it's time to send this anyway. Thanks for all your business and support. Check us out at : Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, on Twitter at : cpwinespirits and also at : chatwine.blogspot.com and chatpoetry.blogspot.com. Cheers,  TONY