Talking Wine Stories & Community, No Politics Today, Had Enough To Last A Lifetime! Cheers!!!

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

LET'S RELAX and have fun with this email !    HERE ARE SOME things I see to mention to you -       ALE, BEER and CIDER from Santos Rivera -   1) Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer from CRABBIE'S - imported from England, a " new ' 4-pack in cans , On Special for $8.99, with 4.8% alcohol by volume - come try some and enjoy it with the rain and snow coming later!   2) Hop Water & Hop LOver's Wet Dream, a 4-pack of 16Fl. Oz cans from Black Hog Brewing Company, $18.99, ...  Great label, outrageous message, and taste to back it all up. Cheers.   3) OR XATA a blonde ale brewed with rice and lactose, with natural cinnamon and vanilla flavors added. $15.99 for a 4-pack of cans from The BRUERY, with 7.2% alcohol by volume - a fine pint    to sip and relax and enjoy these distinct flavors here.            LIQUEUR and LIQUOR from Jagir Singh -   1) Ginger flavored Brandy from BOLS, with 35% alcohol by volume, a liter in volume for the ridiculous price of $5.99 ! Wow, great color, come and get it and use in whatever mixed drinks you like the flavor of ginger.. Limited quantities.   2) Port Antonio " Pineapple Cicha " a rum with natural flavors added, from Rockville, MD, made by TWIN VALLEY, with 15% alcohol by volume, $26.99 a 750ml bottle, Dave poured this here this past Saturday and it with the others was a great success!   3) Old Scout American Whiskey from West Virginia's SMOOTH AMBLER, with 45% alcohol by volume, since 2009, On Special for $32.99 a bottle ( regularly $36.99 a bottle ), this is a great one to use to make mixed cocktails. Just had a customer come get one all excited about the mixed drinks he would be making because of the unique taste of the Old Scout. Come check it out and see what you all think?!   4) Blanco tequila with natural flavors from ANZA, with 40% alcohol, a full liter bottle On Special for $14.99 ( regularly $18.99 ) is another really fine deal for a tequila, great for mixing as this arctic cold hits us with rain and snow tonight!   5) Exclusive edition " First Fill " Single Malt Scotch Whisky aged 12 Years from THE GLENLIVET, On Special for $84.99 a bottle ( down from $94.99 a bottle ). I have not tried this yet but I like the sound of it - should be even brighter, silkier and even a tad or a touch smoother, too!   JIMMY Stivers @JimStivers - just came by and tells us that Friday is his last day with Breakthru Beverages ( @BreakthruBeveragesDC ) . He has been doing a great job here helping us not only with his portfolio but with that of the rest of the company. He has always been here for us, for me, too and as a result we have done both sound and strong spirits and wine business. We will miss you Jimmy, thanks for all that you have done for us. Good luck in your next venture, may it be fruitful and fulfilling and may you thrive!   Will always remember our conversations about BV, Moet & Chandon, Domaine Chandon, NEWTON, CAPE MENTELLE and more, and in SPIRITS about BULLEIT, GLENMORANGIE, MYERS Rum, Gordon's vodka and Gordon's Gin - and more! @NewtonWines @MoetandChandon, @VeuveClicquot @GordonsGin @Glenmorangie - merci, thanks!            IN WINE from me - Tony :   TWO Off-Dry Wines -   1) Thracian Delight White from BULGARIANA, an off-dry blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Viognier, I quite liked this when we had it open, It is a really nice white to sip and chill and totally relax, with or without food, $9.99 a bottle - smooth-bright!   2) Thracian Delight off-dry red from BULGARIANA, on the fruitier more ripe and delicious style, so very bright and for many of you too much fruit, but for some of you just right!   A Half-Bottle of Pinot Noir -   1) 2014 Pinot Noir from SIDURI, from California's Santa Lucia Highlands, this is On Special for $14.99 a 375ml bottle, and delicious it is! Dan and I had it open the other day and it was showing really well - swell indeed. I recommend this a lot!             ONE Chilean Carmenere with great bottle age -   1) Carmenere Private Reserve 2011 from Chile's Aconcagua Valley from ALMA de CHILE, $9.99 : this wine is medium-to-lighter-bodied, and all the kinks and the wrinkles and whatever else needed to be worked out is all done now and you get a smooth, silkier bright and flavorful, distinct, tasty, best-with-food-eventually dry red treat! Si si si - venga aqui gente!   ONE FINE ' Organic ' TORO from Spain-   1) 4 Mil Cepas Toro, 2015 , 100% Tinta de Toro, 8 meses en barrica = eight months in oak, On Special for $14.99 a bottle down from $21.99. Eric Garcia had it open this past Saturday here : medium-to-lighter-bodied, bright fruit, silky and maturing so well, very approachable now. It sold really well as it will provide a whole lot of pleasure tonight as this rain and snow start to blanket us all starting at 4pm I believe? Cheers.         THREE Dry Sauvignon Blanc whites to enjoy :   1) 2017 Sauvignon Blanc  ' SilverMYn ' by Zorgvliet in South Africa, On Special for $11.49 : ' Integrity and sustainability '. there is both smooth brightness and a really nice sipping here that pleases but where the acidity is there but not overpowering in any way. A delight to enjoy a glass or two before your meal hits the table!   2) Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, 2017, from OKIWA BAY, $15.49 a bottle, good lively bright acidity, refreshing and pleasing and will draw you closer and relax you, too from a day's hard work, especially with the cold arctic air coming our way with rain , sleet and snow! Cheers!   3) " Cuvee Vieilles Vignes " 2017 100% Sauvignon Blanc Sancerre from the Domaine de la Rossignole, $27.49 a bottle - with that wonderful minerality yet charm and warmth that this soil in the Loire Valley imbues the wine with - another success story for Sancerre! Sante, viens acheter une ou deux bouteilles pour le mauvaise temps que viens descendre sur nous ici a Washington DC ce soir.         ONE GREAT Japanese sake in the 1.8ml bottle-   1) Junmai JOTO : " every sake rice grain has a center, the " Shinpaku " or " white heart " where all of the starches are concentrated - This Junmai is rich and solid with hints of fruit and a light acidity in the finish. Serve chilled, room temperature, or warmed with grilled meats, nutty cheese, barbecue or hearty Japanese food. " Go down after you buy a bottle and get either or some of both from Spices or Fate Pete's Barbecue restaurants - and have a feast tonight as the temperatures dip down low!         WEEK'S TASTINGS -   TONIGHT : Come taste with me 5-8pm the BROUILLY 100% Gamay H. Brac de la Perriere 2013 Cru Beaujolais from the village of Brouilly On Special for $19.99 a bottle, regularly $23.99 a bottle! It should be rocking, come and taste and enjoy a mature flavor and taste, cheers!   FRIDAY, February 1st, 2019 - ( 5-8pm ) : Narayan Campbell of his own Global Wines MD will be here to taste an array of his fine wines like the two Sauvignon Blancs listed above, and we will pick some reds, too. Cheers!   SPRINGFIELD MANOR Distillery with Jon here to pour an assortment.   SATURDAY, February 2nd, 2019 , 2-6PM, we will taste the ALBEMARLE hard apple cider as well as with -   HOPEFULLY Craig Mauro will be on hand to taste his fine wines from Comete Wines. Cheers. More and that soon.   AVALON we will taste the Catoctin Creek Virginia, spirits made in Purcellville. Our window display is of Catoctin Creek, thanks to Avalon!               I JUST CAME from an inspiring walking of our dog and an equally inspiring drive, too. It got me charged to face this week and to enjoy it and focus on the positive things in life and not simply politics and differences.   WALKING OUR DOG always makes me smile as we meet others walking theirs and stop to chat. Or as Elizabeth here stops to get whatever she needs and we chat and are a welcome inspiration to each other.   STEPHEN DADDARIO used to come by years ago and provide the same inspiration for me. He was looking after his aging father and could not be gone for long and we would talk about art, life, music, wine, the physical beauty of Washington DC, and more. We were there for one another each week for rich and rewarding yet brief visits. Stephen passed away and I still miss you Stephen, as you are remembered by your son Will and niece Susan, and your relative a successful actress named Alexandra is it? Never met her but have seen many pictures of her.   STEPHEN USED to come by with his mother and she was always a joy to talk with, too. They would often go to the library across the street. Imagine what they would think of the new library across the street now.     KATE SEZ making a " French 75 " cocktail this cold weather with some Simonet sparkling French wine made in Alsace, $9.99, with  some gin, some simple syrup and more " try it sometime ". I just might, being a francophile as I am! Thanks Kate.   WE HAVE SO MANY invaluable customers, friends and locals here that always have something to share and usually a big smile, too.   LIKE CHRIS HOENIG that is about to publish his book that I am currently reading and that he wants my feed-back on before he publishes it soon. The Seed is an inspiration to me , I am reading it slowly and it is helping me with some of my projects I am currently working on. It will be an inspiration to all. Thanks Chris.     BLAINE JUST CAME BY and while he was furloughed he was able to hunt squirrel, duck and fish, and was successful doing so. He looks fine, did not go stir-worry-crazy it looks like, that is good news. Cheers Blaine!     CHRISTINA CAME BY and it was fun to catch up.   CRAIG came by and was talking ' value wines ' , and as you all know, that is music to my ears! The better a value we can offer you is the best thing we may offer to you!   ONE OF OUR regulars, a musician came by and picked up two bottles of wine and said how happy he was to work from home with the problems that snow can make on the hillside of Porter Street where he lives. He was telling about the fiasco when two buses tried to get up their hill and got stuck in the snow and blocked the way for everyone. Fortunately he did not have to go anywhere and was able to observe this scene unfold and not be panicked that they were blocking his path!     STAY WARM and SAFE, the snow is really coming down fast now, so come see us now! Cheers, we have lots to offer! TONY

Cheers all!

Reminiscing and loving it!

32nd Day of Governement Furlough, #2 Ways We Can Help, 32 Ways To Stay Focused, Strong, Patient & Resiliant & Persevere Through this ! Picking up the baton from Martin Luther King, Jr. And Continuing in his fottsteps!

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

IT'S GREAT WITH SO MUCH YOUNG TALENT TODAY Happy martin luther king, jr post day - as we pick up the baton he carried and each and everyone of us carry it and do what we individually can before passing it on to another and before we come together as a group and combine our efforts to right so many wrongs I LOVE IT : IT ALL IS VERY INSPIRATIONAL for me here in Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and I never seem to lose my enthusiasm as I get younger with age and feed off of all of this young and great talent as well as often physical beauty and idealism, purpose, dedication, devotion, fortitude, resilience, and so much more -         NOW with the MILLENNIAL generation that seem to see through so many of the wrongs and social injustices that seem to be our norm today with so many of us turning our backs on so much of it.         AS JOE BIDEN said yesterday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. : he said many wonderful things but :         SILENCE IS COMPLICITY resonates so very crashingly loud and clear like lightning and thunder! We must all be seen, heard, acknowledged, welcomed, included, respected,and so much more.         SO HERE ARE 32 ways we can help immediately with affordable spirits for you to enjoy - all really inexpensive and offering very good value that will help you all stretch your remaining dollars after you pay your bills -   1) KENTUCKY GENTLEMAN - a Kentucky Bourbon whiskey - a blend of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and spirits from the finest grains, On Special for $14.99 for a 1.75ml plastic bottle size - easy to carry, will not break, such an affordable value.   2) Imported Blended Canadian Whiskey WINDSOR CANADIAN, blended and distilled under strict supervision of the Canadian government, $14.99 for a 1/75ml plastic bottle - again a great value and easy to carry.   3) 100% grain neutral spirits GILBEY'S VODKA, 40% alcohol by volume, On Special for $14.99 for another plastic bottle 1.75ml size, - another great value, too!   4) Extra Dry Gin SEAGRAM'S , distillers since 1857, a " knotty-head " glass 1.75ml bottle, On Special for $22.99. In many blind tastings this SEAGRAMS does very well indeed, value and taste all the way!   5) Imported Tequila Gold from SAUZA, a 750ml bottle On Special for $17.99 - great to enjoy in many ways.   6) Vodka Push-Play 40% alcohol by volume by MEDEA - rich, smooth and refined - a 750ml bottle On Special for $16.99, regularly $23.99 - watch it light-up and entertain both visually and on your palate, too!   7) Irish Cream liqueur from BRADY'S, On Special for $12.99 : dare we say better than BAILEY'S ?!? You decide, my family likes it.   8) Tawny and Ruby port ( oporto ) from BORGES - $11.99 - also available in the white port at $11.99.   9) Carmenere 2015 Central Valley, Chile, a magnum On Special for $12.99 ( regularly $16.99 ) - come taste it here tonight with me. Cheers! 5-8pm tasting.   10) First Press KIRIN ICHIBAN, a 100% malt , brewed in Williamsburg, VA: On Special for $7.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles.   11) BLUE POINT Brewing Company  " Beach Plum Gose " : " tart ale brewed with beach plums, cumin, coriander, seaweed, and sea salt " A 6-pack of 12-ounce cans , from Long Island   12) BLUE POINT Brewing Company , Long Island 6-pack of 12-ounce cans - : " an IPA brewed with fresh blood oranges, orange blossom honey, and hand-zested orange peel. "  On Special for $7.99 for a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans "what a great deal - and so refreshing in a well-heated apartment chillin' and watching games and playing board games!   13) Rosso sweet red vermouth from CINZANO, On Special for $8.99 and really fine quality, too!   14) Amaro CIO CIARO , typical and original liqueur from PAOLUCCI LIQUORI - Sora, with 30% alcohol by volume, On Special for $19.99 - you should try it, over-delivers for the price.   15) Blue Raspberry berry-flavored Swedish vodka from SVEDKA, On Special while bottles last at $11.99 for a 750ml bottle.   16) All Natural Vanilla flavored vodka from Sweden from SVEDKA, a 750ml bottle On Special for $11.99 - once again while  limited supplies last.   17) 10X distilled Texas Vodka from WESTERN SON, a 1.75ml glass bottle On Special for $19.99, : " skillfully column distilled & bottled in Pilot Point, Texas - smooth and bright as liquid-distilled corn-vodka can be.   18) Amsterdam Chocolate liqueur from VAN GOGH, imported from Holland, from the Heart of Amsterdam, On Special for $10.99 a 750ml bottle with 15% alcohol by volume. A treat.   19) Triple Sec liqueur from DE KUYPER, a liter bottle , On Special for $9.99            20) Pinot Noir from Chile's Vale Central, $9.99, a lighter, cleaner, brighter - refreshing and pleasing and true Pinot Noir taste! A fine deal, a delight.   21) Junmai sake SHICHI HON YARI, bottled by the Tomita Brewery, On Special for $19.99 - the softest, brightest, most warming, pleasing, lovely smooth sake without bite or burn or anything to detract from the supreme pleasure it provides me!   22) Carmenere Private Reserve 2011 Acuncagua Valley Chilean dry red from ALMA de Chile, $9.99 - what a lovely, mature, developed, completely satisfying - characterFULL bottle of wine - love it, and the 2011 Syrah, too that I might prefer just a smidge when I totally relax and chill!   23) 2016 Muller-Thurgau Halbtroken from Germany's KOSTER-WOLF, $16.49 a liter bottle, - off-dry and perfect to sit around sipping and enjoying - a treat all by itself.   24) Merlot from Italy's Lazio region just outside of Rome, this " Victor ' Caves & Domaines, kosher, mevushal, dry, hearty, robust-tasting , $10.49 way over-delivers for this price - great food wine, and will warm you in this cold.   25) " Classic " 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from Brazil's Vale dos Vinhedos southern Brazil region inland from Porto Allegre, $11.49 is an unoaked beaitiful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Vinicola SALTON ( an Italian immigrant family that came from  Veneto, Italy and knows how to make fine wine ) - great price, too.          26) Gamza ( an indigenous grape variety from Bulgaria ) from the Danube Plain, BULGARIANA, $11.99 a bottle, - a fine food treat - lots to offer, something different and special - great label, too!   27) KAGOR ( taste it , love it ) BOSTAAAVVVVVAN, $14.49, product of Moldova, this is a sweet red that will take away all your worries and fears and soothe you sooooo   28) Brouilly 100% Gamay cru Beaujolais 2013 from H. BRAC de la PERRIERE, On Special for $19.99 a bottle ( was $24 ) - is fully-mature and a fine food wine to complement many a flavorful dish - chill 4o minutes and enjoy with a meal to help flesh it out and give it a bit of youth, too! So many layers of flavors here.............. serious dry medium-to-light-bodied red.   29) 100%  Albana ( indigenous Italian grape variety ) secco - a dry white Vigna Rocca 2015, from TRE MONTI, On Special for $14.49 a bottle ( used to be $16.49 ) - is layered and lush, carpeted like Persian carpets with so much splash and dazzle and life, color, vibrant and alive and soothing - warming - such a treat in this cold and wind these days!   30) Gran Reserva 2010 Carmenere IN SITU Chilean estate-bottled dry red On Special for $16.99 - it has so much to bring to the table and it will impress from the very first sip! This is a really fine serious red to enjoy now, almost fully-mature - it dazzles it delights - great with a meal of your choice,   31) Ruttenstock Gruner Veltliner Roschitz - Osterreich, a liter bottle of Austrian dry white wine, 2017, $11.99 - bright and refreshing and a pleasure to sip all by itself!           ONE SPLURGE     32) Nemea 2015 Agiorgitiko indigenous red Greek red from DRIOPI, $29.99 - a delightful elegant expression of this grape that is so very amazingly pleasing and engaging! It will help any event special indeed.     THIS WILL BE another very painful yet joyful store email to write today. So much is at stake, so much needs to be addressed and dealt with, not shoved under the carpet, not dismissed, not saying : " don't look at me !!!! ".   THE BUCK HAS TO STOP with each and everyone of us as we are all in this together.           SO NOW -   32 - ouch! Is that right?!? The 32nd day of our government shutdown on the 22nd of January.   32 Reasons to continue to believe and to be strong -   1) we will write about all super-value and affordable spirits here to lift yours high above the malaise and silence, fear, and inaction   2) we are always here as a shelter to all that is transpiring all around us and making it all that much more difficult to lead our lives productively, happily, justly -   3) the current situation is untenable and will have to change, probably with the most pain felt, undeservedly and sadly by the 800 hundred thousand government dedicated and loyal public servants that do their jobs well and without pay as so many bills come due!   4) there is light even in darkness, and this swamp that was promised to be cleaned has been dirtied so unbelievably more in the last year or so   5) people are working silently, carefully, with patience and purpose and intent to correct much of the government ills and situations that simply " should not be! "   6) our millennials will be a force to deal with and their votes will help to change much of " what is now ", to " what definitely should become "!   7) plenty of us have been awakened to the pervasive corruption and shining light on it, one instance, one example, one obit and piece at a time - an making it harder for those perpetrators to get away with their despicable actions   8) everything is finally being shook up and less is permissible   9) More people than ever before are being held accountable for their actions as there are more ways to track all of this and to share it, too   10 ) the world is in a big swing and change and we are here witnessing this and things will get better as a result of us being more attuned, aware, concerned, and motivated more today than ever to act , to be heard, seen, acknowledged and included.         AND ON MORE PERSONAL LEVELS -   11) our families need us to be strong   12) we need to clean up our neighborhoods, blocks, cities, streets   13) we need to continue to weed out all the injustices at home, in the church, at work, everywhere   14) we need to ask ourselves why we are afraid of so many things?   15) why do other religions, other faiths, other beliefs scare us so?   16) why do we turn our backs on so much these days?   17) what can we each do ourselves to make our world a better place to live and bring more life into it?   18 ) if we encourage bringing more life into our world are we equipped, ready, willing to take care of it?   19) we have to be strong as so many important and vital questions are being raised now, and we must decide what to do ourselves           20) if the government does not reopen, as it may not, as our president clearly tells us it may be months and years before it does, we must decide what we must do to stay alive. warm, protected, to provide for our families?!   21) we cannot afford to ask ourselves : " why is any of this happening to us, to me ?! " if we are not strong enough to carry on as we certainly must   22) we must be strong to take our next step individually and collectively     23) we must dispel for others the fear and the terror, the anxiety, the depression, the stress, the suicidal tendencies, and more   24) we need to be strong to start to hold our government, politicians, elected to serve in Congress and the White House accountable for their actions           25) we must not lose sight that now the very fabric of our democracy is in the balance   26) lots depends on us being stronger now than ever   27) we have to continue to explore and realize our dreams   28) we must carry the baton to finally vanquish hatred, fear, bullying, sexual or mental abuse   29 ) we must encourage and grow a positive culture that includes us all in a fashion that works and not that destroys       30) we are alive so we must be strong as we can get through tough times and enjoy the good ones   31)  we must be strong and not falter as we are all worth it, all our lives have value and we find each of us our own purposes and ways to navigate it   32) we must live to celebrate birthdays, marriages, promotions, graduations, awards, deaths, reunions, - all that heals and supports and gives us the beliefs, the courage, the desire to carry on - smiling, believing, hoping, working, alive, vital, meaningful!           BE STRONG ALL WAYS and ALWAYS!     WEEK'S TASTINGS -   TONIGHT - I taste the Anakena magnum of Chilean Carmenere 2015, On Special for $12.99, regularly $16.99 a bottle, come check out this magnum with me later today!     FRIDAY, January 25th, 2019 ( 5-8pm ) : we have Mark Congdon here to taste four fine wines from Bacchus Imports : 1) Avalon California Pinot Noir, 2) Tablas Creek Vineyard 2017 Patelin de Tablas Blanc, 3) Christo dry red blend from Marietta, and 4) WARRE'S fine white port - all tremendous treats for this wind and cold and that will be the 35th day the government is closed if it not opened earlier, and hopefully paychecks will have been issued on this day, too! We will see what happens?    SATURDAY, January 26th, 2019 ( 2-6pm ) : We have Eric Garcia here of Tradewinds Specialty Imports to do a fun Argentina and Spanish wine-tasting.   JOIN US for both. Never any charge. Everyone always welcome.      I REALLY ENJOYED this weekend reading an article in the Washington Post Magazine about a young governor positioning himself for the next presidential race, believing he represents the millennials and can add some ' new and refreshing ' perspectives, dialogue and more that is much needed as we face our problems and challenges head-on and not just give them lip-service and put band-aids on them and hope they hold till be can get back to them in time?!? I was encouraged. Check it out, some really fine writing : " What if a Millennial Became President?Meet Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., who wants to be the first ... inspiring, some really great thoughts, too in this article.   SAW THE BLOOD MOON from start to finish and was chilled to the bone and yet warmed to the marrow, too - loved it!   THANKS FOR EVERYTHING and please do all you can to stay strong, focused, patient, resilient as we plod through this fiasco of two men's doing largely  with one woman holding firm and showing us all at least one shred, one glimmer of hope, goodness, professionalism and willingness to not bend when it clearly is most decidedly not in the best interest of our country. Thank you Nancy. Thank you Ruth, Thank you Martin, Reverend Shapiro , Joe - and many more!   BUT ENOUGH POLITICS for now, come see us as we enjoy being alive and a part of something much greater than ourselves - cheers,  TONY