Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine

Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits

20 Claimed by caLifornIa fires still raging with one only 30% contained so far, so much devastation!

WE DEDICATE tomorrow's tasting of wines for the holidays including Thanksgiving wines to this tragic series of fires in both the north and deep south of California. We will have a bucket to accept any donations you all would like to make tomorrow and on Thursday, too as we have so much to organize and be ready for with Thursday being the first day we may sell the Beaujolais Nouveau. Christina Caswell will be here to pour her MANOIR DU CARRA and her DOMAINE DESCROIX beaujolais Nouveau and Beaujolais Villages Nouveau wines.

PLEASE GIVE whatever you can and we will get the money there asap through Nik Burgess that will be pouring his wine here tomorrow, the RIVER LEDGE Chardonnay Russian River Valley small-batch, limited-release On-Special for $32.99. Nik and Julienne have a home in Sonoma so they will serve as our conduit to get the money to a local rotary club to buy clothes or other essentials for those displaced and in need.

WANT TO THANK all our vets for all that they have done for our country. We cannot repay the debt and yet we must both acknowledge it and pay our respects and voice our gratitude for keeping our country safe and also the world safer, too. Many lost their lives doing this, many survived. It is amazing to think that it was 100 years ago for Armistice Day that we now call Veteran's Day here when World War I ended with so much loss to much of Europe and to those here and in other countries that fought to end the war.

SO HERE ARE SOME THINGS we have here for you all to help make life nicer and more enjoyable.

BEER and CIDER From Santos -

1) Hazy Alpha Domina Mellis from DC BRAU Brewing, Washington DC, an Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with honey, a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans, $15.999 - refreshing and bright!

2) Happy Hour A Crushable Pilsner, from OEAK Organic Brewing, On Special for $9.99 for a 6-pack of 16 ounce cans, what a great deal, something new and exciting from Maine! Yes!

In CIDER -

1) " Lost Tropic " Hop Mimosa Cider, citrus & juicy, GRAFT, wild yeast fermented sour cider, a 4-pack of 12-ounce cans, $11.99 - lovely tartness and tang!

LIQUEUR and LIQUOR from Jagir -

1) American Honey from WILD TURKEY, $23.99, the original and the best for my palate, great when you have a sore throat and need something mellow and smooth to relax and enjoy by.

2) Lees-distilled Apple Brandy made in a dual oak and then rested, picked and pressed in Adams county, Pennsylvania, $53.99 a bottle, made by Republic Restoratives here in Washington DC and really lovely bright mellow and smooth! Mmmmmm good, from the 2017 vintage and harvest of PA apples!

3) Rye Whisky from COPPER FOX, date bottled May 15 2017, $43.99, made here locally in Sperryville, Virginia by our friends Rick Wasmond and Sean, this is simply getting better and better each and every year since 2007! We started with Rick and Sean back then that year, and have loved the spirits ever since.

4) Nocino Walnut liqueur, discover the Amalfi coast, from DON CICCIO & FIGLI, $35.99 a bottle - this is tried-and-true and great for this colder holiday weather, and made here locally in Washington DC!

5) Lavender GIN distilled here locally in Maryland, you can go and lie down between the lavender rows and feel like a million dollars. I have on my Father's Day, loved the experience. $44.99 a bottle, so far everyone loves this - a real smooth lovely lavender-scented gin to enjoy. Cheers! Great gift for the holidays, too.

Mini Big-Theme Thanksgiving Wine-Tasting -

TABLE # ONE - with Mark Congdon of Bacchus Imports pouring New York State Finger Lakes of HERMAN WEIMER and ELEMENT Winery -

1) ELEMENT Chardonnay , $45.49 - I was impressed with the binding and sing-song qualities evident slowly in unfolding waves over the whole of my tongue of this intriguing and fun and delicious Finger Lakes Chardonnay - loved it, and my love grew as the wine revealed more and more of it's charms!

2) ELEMENT Pinot Noir, $47.49 - I was struck by the cohesive divide here of spice and acid and the contrast in the unifying Pinot Noir fruit that laid down it's life to bring this really special union of delicates and solids as if in a wash on one's tongue with the victors being tongue and all our senses and the resulting harmony with our turkey meal or goose sitting around the table soon with our loved ones. A treat.

3) HERMAM WEIMER Dry Riesling, $23.49 - always a 'lass-act ', something that is synonymous with New York State and one of the very first names uttered when referring to these fine wines. Suited ideally to the climate there, it does not get much better, much more tasty, friendly, and with time that loved or hated petrol essence will develop and let you know : " ahhhhhh, have arrived, classic Riesling - and fine with the bird or other flavors like freshwater fish such as trout grilled - rainbow trout, a treat.

4) HERMAN WEIMER Cabernet Franc, $29.49 a bottle, : the softer, more mellow and velvet and more delicate textures and flavors that one can find in the vast array of Cabernet Franc flavors. Not as intense , deep or dark or stormy or brooding as in the Loire Valley, choosing more to lay in the middle range of Cabernet Flavors and not go nearly as high or as low as they could. Lovely for our turkey - a medium-to-light-bodied red that many will welcome with an open mouth!

TABLE # TWO - Jessica Chivers-Wilson tastes the fine Middleburg, Virginia wines of the BOXWOOD ESTATE Winery - four : Celebrating their 10th year anniversary now -

1) ' Topiary ' 2016 , a dry red blend of 71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot - Lucie Morton planted the vines, all estate-grown wines here, and Stephane Derenooncourt does the winemakeing ( he visits several times a year from Bordeaux, France. Jessica will want to know why i picked to start with this one?!

I pick Topiary to set the mood of these finer, more elegant, more stylish and refined wines - three reds and one dry rose, the dry rose being the palate cleanser after the Trellis dry red blend, followed by the 2015 10th Anniversary dry red.

I loved how sublimely silky and fine and fruit-forward creamy, fruit-centered dreamy this medium-to-light-bodied red is! Just a touch of foxiness and game here around the edges of the wine, more in the bouquet perhaps - but a verifiable ' love boat ' red. mmmmm yes si oui! $34.49 a bottle.

2) Trellis 2016 , a earthy, pithy, leaner dry blend of 57% Cabernet Franc, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and 10% Merlot - this, unlike the Topiary, is definitely a food red Bordeaux-style, to be enjoyed with something as simple as a cheese platter during the holidays, or some red meat, or a totally vegetarian flavorful meal! Yum! $26.49 a bottle.

3) Dry rose 2017 , $22.99 a bottle, - a great palate-cleanser after the first two reds! A dry blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 11% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. This is lovely to sip with or without a meal, will complement both wild and farm-raised salmon, and many holiday dishes indeed from across the range of flavors. Nice!

4) Reserve 10th Anniversary 2015 dry red blend, $49.99 a bottle - of 48% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This is a youthful young wine still that will drink even better in my opinion the second day than on the first. Best to have it with a robust meal with a kaleidoscope of cascading,colliding flavors and tastes as on the first day the wine maintains a solid round core of flavors that do not open as they are still tightly-knit. This is a wine to hide away or have with Roquefort cheese or some New Orleans Cajun food, something spicy and even hot. In this way the wine will be a great balm to throat, mouth, tongue, and body!

SOME REALLY FINE efforts here from Boxwood!

AND from California and made by Rachel Martin and friend -

1) OCEANO 2016 Chardonnay from the Central Coast from the Spanish Springs Vineyard, $43.99 a bottle : " A rich nose of grapefruit, white peach, lemon, verbena, and hints of Geraniummmm. A zesty orange attack leads to a juicy mouth of pear, green mango, tangerine, and guava. The lemon/lime finish is long and clean. "

TABLE # THREE - Sam Pulda of Breakthru Beverages representing BOORDY Vineyards, Hydes, Maryland. I have known owner Rob DeFord since the mid eighties when we bought his wines and sold them at the Mayflower Wine and Spirits!

1) 2015 72% Seyval, 14% Chardonnay, 14% Vidal Blanc, this is a delight to sip the first glass and then dip one's tongue and saturate one's senses with a meal of appetizers would be glorious! $17.99 a bottle.

2) 2017 Chardonnay No. 8 Eastern Oyster, a fuller, more body more dense and has more stuffing. It is a real treat to enjoy! Lovely! Tried it for Thanksgiving three years ago and loved it! Thanks Jim Stutsman! $17.99 a bottle!

3) 2016 Maryland Albarino from the South Mountain Vineyard, this $22.99 gets you a lot for your money as the Albarino grape is quite well suited to both Maryland and Virginia. Good mouth-feel, a rich and lovely comforting taste.

4) 2016 Vidal Blanc that is medium sweet, a No. 3 Great Blue Heron white, $17.99 a bottle, this is your sit-and-converse-in-converse-sneakers white that is mellow, mild, meliferous, and musings-mad-mmmmmm!

5) No. 6 Baltimore Oriole 2015 American Riesling ( a marriage of East and West Coast - per-purr-fect for Thanksgiving as the grapes come from Washington State and the wine is made in Maryland! $17.99, a lovely semi-sweet white to sip and sip and sip along and sip and chat and cheer and celebrate some more!

TABLE # FOUR - With Craig Mauro ( Oregon ), four wines -, AND with Nik Burgess ( Sonoma, CA. ) - three wines -

With Craig-

1) RED HAWK Pinot Gris, $18.99 - the ' new ' vintage I have not tried! This will be a treat as we do so much with the Pinot Noir reds, and the white Pinot Gris has just been included! Willamette, Oregon -

2) Red Hawk Pinot Noir 2014 Willamette Valley - classic elegant, polished medium-to-lighter-bodied dry red that is perfect with turkey - lovely really!

3) Red Hawk Grateful Red Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley - thicker, deeper, darker, more guts and heft here, definitely more of a food Pinot that will taste fine even with a flanks steak medium-rare!

4) Red Hawk Reserve - ' new ' again here, I do not even have a price, and yet we will taste this tomorrow here with Craig. Can't wait!

Nik Burgess tastes -

1) 2016 Chardonnay Lot Two from Petaluma Gap, Sonoma, 15% alcohol, $35.99 ( only two cases - 24 bottles available here! So much love and comfort, bright sunny kind welcoming California sunshine, breeze, great cheer, fine balance, open and full flavors that envelop and rock and roll you ever so nicely as you sip and fully relax!

2) DICHOTOMY 2014 Sonoma County Vintner's Reserve " Green Acres Vineyard ( did it belong to Eddie Albert and Zaza Gabor ?!?! ), ' The Union ", Nike will tell us all about this!

3) ' The Holy Grail ' from DICHOTOMY, a 2014 dry red Sonoma County wine! Nik again will tell us about this as we celebrate the holidays early here and do what we can for California now with the raging fires there

PLEASE DONATE what you can in our bin by the Table # ONE!

TABLE # FIVE - with Tom Croteaux and Nathan Nair - Tom starts the tasting, and Nathan finishes it!Five wines! Maybe six?!?

1) Riesling ' Les Princes Abbes ' dry Riesling 2013 from Alsace, France, from the DOMAINES SCHLUMBERGER - classic, fine, fresh, wonderful and welcoming dry Riesling! On Special for $12.99, with 3 fro $33 and six for $60 - regularly $20 a bottle - a steal!

2) 2017 Lake County Cabernet Franc dry rose from the son of Jed Steele, On Special for $12.99, 3 for $33, 6 for $60, I have not tried this recently but have really enjoyed it in the past. Nice to enjoy now for the holidays, and a great price, too.

3) 2016 Chenin Avec Chenin - a wooded Chenin Blanc that has an extra sleeve or an extra layer and blanket for warmth, tenderness, mellowness and mmmmmmm yum more s'more smirk, smart, smile! On Special for $17.99, regularly $35 a bottle! Another steal like on The Voice!

4) Cabernet Franc from Lake County, CA. the " Writer's Block " On Special for $12.99, 3 for $33, 6 for $60 is amazingly smooth and bright and so pleasant and perfect to sip all by itself and chat to your heart's content, and then follow through with almost any meal at all! Nice!

5) Magums ( 1.5ml bottle - two 750ml bottles inside this ) of SUBSTANCE Washington State 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley, On Special now for $19.99 - another steal! This is a great food wine when you tire of turkey and goose and ham and want a steak or a strong cheese or a spicy, flavorful vegetarian meal! Impressive.

COME TASTE, JOIN US!

Week's Tastings -

TOMORROW, Wednesday, Nov. 14th, 2018 5:30-8:30pm, come taste 20+ wines for the holidays!

Friday, November 16th, 2018 ( 5-8pm, we have Eric Garcia of Tradewinds Specialty Imports here to try some great Argentina and Spanish wines to enjoy as temperatures drop and we must keep our spirits up high!

ALSO Kevin is here to pour Black Leaf organic vodka made in Cognac, France, $24.99 a bottle!

Saturday, November 17th, 2018 ( 2-6pm ) : We have Mickey here to pour some fine wines from Uruguay and also Italy - 12-4pm, come join us!

ALSO tasting the Republic Restoratives spirits that are local and wonderful and made in Washington DC!

JAGIR just gave me a bottle of " HIGHLAND PARK Valknut Single Malt Whisky On Special for $65.99, regularly $86.99, in partnership with Jim Lyngvild - come unravel and expose the mystery that this is!?!?!

VOTER RECOUNT, other fears of hatred and white supremacy and fraud and lies and fake news and so much more. I was heartened to read on Facebook from our ANC rep Beau Finley that he and Laura started to work their efforts here locally in the District and in northern Virginia. I related to that wholeheartedly as I often think that is where we each can make something count, as the fate and future for us and our children, our country, the world matters so to each and everyone of us.

AMAZON comes to Crystal City and the big question I consider is how many more local businesses here in the Washington DC metropolitan area will bite the dust because of this?!?

WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE, we count, we matter, we are special - all of us : and together we can make the difference that results in more of our needs and desires being met and not simply given lip-service to, or hitting walls of uncaring, disdain, contempt, hatred, fear and whatever more is so negative and serves no one any good at all.

LIFE IS MORE THAN MONEY, we know that, we need to swallow our greed and share our efforts and means where we can.

BUT YOU KNOW ALL of this, I am preaching to the choir, so let's all sing and huddle together as we carol outside and inside and raise our spirits that bit more. The Grinch in us all needs to grow a larger heart - we can do it!