Anthony Quinn @ Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits Tasting Earlier This Wednesday Afternoon, December 11th, 2013 With Local , Excellent Rep Nolan Hale Of International Cellars The Three Dry Natalie TENDRIL Et LOMBARDIE French Champagnes & Liking ALL THREE Very Much! Cheers, Sante!

That's TENDRIL Et LOMBARDIE French Champagne I am talking about :

 
Michel Dumas and Anthony Quinn ( me ) just tried the Natalie Tendril French Champagne : three styles : 1) a Blanc de Blanc,$62.99 - a delicate cream and a delightful ease and please taste that had no bite, just nice to sip all by itself ... ; a  2) Brut half-bottle, 375ml size, $27.99 - heartier, firmer, more solid and more edge and still bright and fresh and lovely really defies gravity -  AND  3) the Blanc de Noir that had more gravitas, more density, packed things in - more taste closer together so that you had to get to know the taste and flavors - no escaping - and we both liked it very much, really we did, $62.99 a bottle. Our local rep fro International Cellars Nolan Hale brought these to our attention today, ...  and we can use the half bottles as we are low on this category. We will see what customers say. ALL THREE are excellent in their own styles, what a treat. Thanks Nolan, merci Nolan, merci Natalie, quel bon travail vous deux a faites pour nous aujourd'hui : quel plaisir de essayer les trois cette apres-midi! Encore merci et a la prochaine. Vous-etes toujours bienvenues ici ... bons fetes 2013! Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn  12/11/13

I Think It's About Time More Wine Retailers Are Included In Wine Articles & Wine & Food Events As Wine Retailers Help More People Than Anyone Else In My Opinion

In my blog I wrote in response to an article on Virginia wines I saw recently in the Weekend Magazine of the Washington Post newspaper. This is a selection from my blog at : chatwine.blogspot.com. Cheers, TONY


 My point is that I read so many stories and articles, look at so many publications and I see hardly any mention of any wine store retailers that, in fact help more people with their beer, cider, liquor, liqueur and wine selections and food-pairings than any other group. They should be included , as well as consulted much more often than they seem to be.

     Did Dana Milbank contact any wine retailers in writing this story? It would have been nice if she had, and to have mentioned that and them in her lovely article on the 20 wineries in Virginia making fine wines out of the more than 200 wineries now in Virginia. I see that she included a column : Tasting Notes on Top Virginia Wines " by Jennifer Knowles, wine director at the Inn at Little Washington, VA. Why was there not a similar list provided by a fine retailer like Mark Wessels, Wine Manager of MacArthur Beverages, or Doug Rosen of Arrow Wines & Spirits, brothers Rick and John Genderson Of Scheider's of Capital Hill, Cecile of the old Cecile's, Buddy Weitzman of Chevy Chase Wines & Spirits, me at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, and many others?12/11/13....  

This comes from my 2-Part Blog that I posted @ chatwine.blogspot.com recently. Check both out. Cheers, TONY  Happy Wednesday, December 11th, 2013

Dave McIntyre Aside from you and Doug Rosen, the retailers you mention probably couldn't even name a handful of local wineries, much less recommend them. (Millbank is male, btw)

My response to Dave McIntyre's recent response to my last posting here on my Facebook page of an article written by Dana. He make some good points. Cheers,   Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn  12/11/13 ....

Thanks for the head's up on Dana, Dave. I did not know. Sorry Dana, I apologize for assuming you were a female, my mistake. I will correct that. My point still stands though Dave, we should have been consulted and included in an article of this scope. It's a real omission in my humble opinion. I have not talked to Doug or any of the other retailers I mentioned. I know that there are many working in Virginia that might have been consulted besides Doug or Cecile, that could have added to this article in a positive and meaningful way. It's a real shame not to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience that many wine retailers have here and across the country that are the backbone and the real fabric of the wine business and industry that we have known and still know today. What a wasted opportunity and within hand's reach in many instances. But I do appreciate your commenting here. Thanks for that. Cheers,  TONY 12/11/13

Part Two Of Today's Anthony Quinn Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits' Store Email Of Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 : WE are Open, Come By , Lovely White Snow Outside! Cheers, Happy Holidays!!

TODAY WHAT'S LIKE MATEUS ROSE ?

1) DE MEYE Stellenbosch Shiraz 2011, On Special for $9.99 a bottle, that softer, more vibrant floral and dry style that pleases immediately!

2) " Sincerity " 2012 Pinot Noir French Loire rose from a  - dry, good flavor, good focus - lovely! AND a GREAT VALUE, too!

3) 2012 DOMAINE De La SOLITUDE Cotes Du Rhone, $18.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, we had this open this past weekend here with Oscar and it's showing really well now with the extra time in the bottle. What a great holiday wine, all these are great holiday wines!

WHAT'S LIKE MOUTON CADET ?

1) 2010- great Bordeaux vintage, the CHATEAU CROIX Des GENTILS, $10.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume is a small property that makes this smaller-production of dry red Bordeaux, a typical blend of Merlot and Cabernet grapes that " over-delivers for the money! LOVE it, more coming tomorrow! Cheers!!

2) CHATEAU L'INSOUMISE " Caresse du Terroir " 2010 Bordeaux rouge dry red blend, $14.99, also packs a whole lot of punch for the dollar and is another wine that today is a real step-up from the MOUTON CADET. Cheers.

3) 2008 CHATEAU D'AIGUILHE QUERRE Grand Vin De Bordeaux from Castillon, Bordeaux, $27.99, 13% alcohol by volume, has more finesse, more polish, more elegance at this point : it's really impressive now and a great holiday wine to enjoy ahora, agora, maintenant, presto, now, NOW NOW NOW! Cheers.

SO MUCH WONDERFUL Nostalgia, gotta love it, I do, do you?!?


LIQUOR - LIQUEUR From Malkit and Jagir :

1) 1757 Distiller's Reserve Virginia Brandy from CATOCTIN CREEK ( $46.99 a bottle, 40% alcohol by volume from Loudoun County , VA. ) is hand-crafted,small-batch local brandy that sure does please and soothe and is perfect for this cold weather today as many of you are off!

2) Irish Cream Finest Quality from CAROLANS ( On Special for $13.99, from Ireland, 17% alcohol by volume, ) is made with fresh cream and honey. PERFECT for this cold, so soothing and so pleasurable.


BEER From Santos :

1) 2013 Hugh Malone Ale from ALLAGASH , a Belgian Style IPA ( $18.99, a 750ml bottle, 7.3% alcohol by volume , Portland, Maine ) : this should do it in this cold! Tasty, fiery?!? Warm, yes ... warming, too ...

2) The BRUERY Unfiltered Bottle-Conditioned " Tart Of Darkness " Sour Stout Aged in Oak Barrels ( $21.99, a 750ml bottle, 7% alcohol by volume, from Orange County, CA. ) : again, this will do the trick as you look out on all the white snow everywhere, and sigh a relief that you are off , home and snug and sound!

From Michel Et Tony :

1) Raspberry Merlot Red Off-Dry Table wine from FABBIOLI CELLARS, $25.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, 375ml bottle,  in Loudoun County, Virginia. Come and get some and some inexpensive sparkling wine and make a " Fabbioli Cellars Kir Royale " and celebrate this holiday season! Oh what fun you will have! Cheers.


THREE DAY WEEKLY SALES continue as usual through the holidays. Call Michel Dumas or Tony Quinn for any updates and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE still some more on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits. 202-363-4265.
YOU MAY ALSO respond to this email with any questions that you may have, Cheers.

WEEK'S TASTINGS :

Friday, December 13th, 2013, ( 5-8PM ) : we have Jody Jackman pouring an assortment of her fine Winebow products here from 5-8PM. Join us, never any charge. Call for more info tomorrow when we talk with Jody and decide what we will be pouring. Something for the holidays we are sure, something to warm and cheer and please and tease us all some!

Saturday, December 14th, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : WE have Theresa Morrison here this weekend with husband John Morrison to taste some of her " new shipment " of South African wines that have just docked and that will be perfect for this time to celebrate the inspiration and the life of Nelson Mandela that we are so ad has recently passed away. We will offer the wines of DE MEYE, BEAUMONT, ROBERT ALEXANDER, TRIZANNE and more! Oh what fun, what a great moment, what a great man, what fine South African wines of such character, personality and so much more ...





I am posting this now and hope that it goes out as it should. I have had nothing but problems typing it here and I hope as I said that it sends as I have typed it. Please accept any apologies if something goes wrong. Cheers, TONY Come and shop now! Thanks for everything.

I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN SO MANY THINGS but I have no time left : sorry,
got to send this NOW. COME BY WE HAVE LOTS FOR YOU, really we do. Thanks for all
your support over this year and all the others, We appreciate it very much.

Thanks again,  TONY

If this does screw up please go to our Facebook page at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits. I have nmanaged to post it there in a Part One and a Part Two. Cheers, follow us on Twitter at : cpwinespirits and also at : wineenabler. Thanks again for everything!   TONY

Anthony Quinn's Store Email From Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 From Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits To Our Store Customers : Today, 12/10/13 Tuesday It's Snowing! Cheers!!

Cleveland Park Wine Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine
Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and
spirits
IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP because every other second the phone is ringing, someone's
asking for help, a salesperson has got a great deal for us, something to taste,
something to find, always movement here as we scramble to keep up with this
lively, festive and cheerful holiday season as the holiday spirits picks us UP
and carries us along. It's already 2:53PM and I am just starting this store
email as I listen to : " it's the most wonderful time of the year ... " :

I DO LOVE IT ( Don't we all - this time of the year - and it's so sunny and
deliciously bright right now outside? ), really I do. Between answering emails
as well and making people happy that we have things that they have had real
trouble finding. I think even more than that, having a sympathetic ear to hang
their almost desperate words on. Then they break forth in a HUGE smile and feel
such a sense of relief as we are clearly answering some part of their prayers.
Oh yeah, gotta love that.

AND THEN THERE ARE THE FIRES to put out : people worried that their wines have
not yet arrived and their party starts shortly. That has all on pins and
needles. But usually everything works out and falls into place and karma is
restored and everything goes along with great aplomb and satisfaction with
people all agreeing that things could not have happened much better than they
did : and smiles break out all over once again and spread through whatever room
or space they/ we all are occupying. Bravo, sigh of tremendous relief...
TODAY WE RECEIVED MORE of the fabulous 2007 California Merlot from JUNIPER
CANYON that someone close to the store confided in me was a bottling made by
STERLING Vineyards awhile back. This 2007 is a great year and as you all know
STERLING was one of the very first to make a Merlot in California. I believe
that the first was LOUIS MARTINI and then followed by both RUTHERFORD HILL and
STERLING Vineyards back in the late 1970' was it? Memory fades. ANYWYAY : this
all makes great sense because this 2007 Merlot from JUNIPER CANYON is really
tasty and it's NOW On Special for $6.99 a bottle. WHAT A Great Deal!!!!! We
have bought as much of it as possible because it's a great holiday wine. That's
84 dollars a case which includes the tax to you. If you went and bough the case
of the STERLING Merlot it would cost you $180 a case with the tax included :
that almost a $100 difference. We have both and are happy to have them booth
here ( as well as the STERLING Meritage blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37%
Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. NOW : here we have a
TRUE MERITAGE : just like in the Left Bank of Bordeaux : a dead-ringer I would
call it, really a great match up but this one made in California's Central
Coast region. We will open a bottle this weekend and let everyone try it.

TOMORROW : We finally receive our  order of TWO SUPER Wine DEALS :
1) ROBERT OAKLEY 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Western Australia that's
regularly $21.99 a bottle and NOW On Special for $11.99. It is so full and rich
and flavorful and yet silky and liquid , bright sunshine that wafts and swings
and rocks ever so gently all over the palate and tongue, gently seeping into
our consciousness and ingratiating itself so perfectly ...
2) " Horse Heaven Hills " Washington State Single-Vineyard 2008
Chardonnay is On Special for $10.99. It's buttery and bright with splashes and
dashes of oak that are charming, warming and delightful any way that you cut
it! What a great deal for these colder days when you want something to cheer
you as the bite of the cold outside tries to penetrate into our inner sanctums.
A beauty - bravo COLUMBIA CREST : your best is some of the best and WHAT A
DEAL, too...
ALSO : Great Bubbly!

1) Champagne NICOLAS FEUILLATE Millesime Brut 2000 from Chouilly,
champagne, France is On Special for $49.99 ( regularly $84.99 ) and drinking
now like a wonderful kaleidoscope dream : so creamy and full and rich and
bright still, no signs of too much age, just " right ". It's a clear winner and
so I bought the rest of what was available for the rest of the year here in
Washington D.C. There are five six-packs left, they come in a beautiful package
and make a great gift to enjoy now with family and friends. What a great way to
celebrate!

5) Blanquette De Limoux N.V. Brut from southern France was the French
bubbly that Thomas Jefferson drank! He had six cases in his cellar at the time
of his death. This DOMAINE B. & B. BOUCHE is On Special for $14.99 ( regularly
$23.99 a bottle ) and we have just 5 cases now after our Big-Theme Sparkling
Wine Tasting! It's again the last of what is available in the store so come and
get some now!

THE WHOLE STORE is like this in all the categories from wines, beers,
spirits, liqueurs : come get some of all these great deals while you still can.
Don;t be late and be sorry afterward.

SANTOS for BEER has a GREAT DEAL with BIG SWELL IPA ( six cans, 12 ounce,
On Special for $14.49 ) from Mauii, Hawaii! Wow, what a great deal, what a
special beer for someone that is always looking for something " new and
exciting ". Come before we are all sold out! There are four more flavors/
styles and WE HAVE A TASTING on this Thursday from 5-7PM of all the different
Mauii beers : all in easy-to-carry and wrap 6-packs!

RAVI HAS TWO " New " Liqueurs from France :

1) FRUITS Rouges from COMBIER ( $25.99 )  and
2) PECHE De Vigne from COMBIER also at $25.99). BOTH are from Saumur in
the Loire Valley and both are 20% alcohol by volume. Cheers and happy blending.

RAVI HAS MANY Great Gift Sets for liquor and liqueurs : too many to list
here so come check them out. You will be pleased with his broad selection from
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey,  Glenlivet, Knob Creek, Kahlua, Patron tequila,
Milagro tequila, Don Q, Appleton Estate Rum. Campo Azul Tequila, Courvoisier
cognac, Wasmunds VA. Barrel Kits ( make your own single malt VA. whisky ! ),
Beefeater and MANY more! Come see for yourselves. Cheers!!!!!!

WEEK'S TASTINGS :

Thursday  , Dec. 15th, 2011 ( 5-7PM ) Mauii beer.
Friday, Dec. 16th, 2011 ( 5-8PM ) : Jody Jackman comes and tastes TILIA
Argentinian wines : 4 types, 2 reds and 2 whites and a special treat that we
will decide tomorrow.
Saturday, December 17th, 2011 ( 2-6PM ) : Theresa Morrison will be here
tasting both U.S. and also South African wines to please us all : still to be
decided.

I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN SO MANY THINGS but I have no time left : sorry,
got to send this NOW. COME BY WE HAVE LOTS FOR YOU, really we do. Thanks for
all your support over this year and all the others, We appreciate it very much.

Thanks again,  TONY

Please visit our website below for more information, events and specials, and
our calender of wine tastings!

[1]www.clevelandparkwine.com

If you have any orders, suggestions or questions, you may e-mail us at
[2]sales@clevelandparkwine.com or call (202) 363-4265.
iphoto

References

1. http://www.clevelandparkwine.com/
2. mailto:sales@clevelandparkwine.com

Listening For The Last Two Nights To Jim Stutsman's " Winter Sampler " C.D. Of Music He Assembles Annually - Twice A Year : Summer & Winter/ Enjoying SALTON Brazilian Brut Espumante, Dry White 2008 DOMAINE DU VIEUX LAZARET Chateauneuf-Du-Pape & Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 From FOURNIER / Enjoying, Too Brie De Meaux & Crotin Chevre! Great Combos All!

On this past Saturday afternoon I was carrying up a case of wine for a customer and passed one of our favorite customers, Jim Stutsman and he said : " Is that mine? " and I quickly : " No, I'm helping another customer", smiled and walked on. I had earlier seen Jim come in with his own wine-tasting glass in hand ready to taste what we were offering up. It happened to be owner and winemaker Doug Fabbioli and his FABBIOLI CELLARS , Leesburg, Virginia wines. I said to Jim : 

" Have you met Doug Fabbioli? " Jim responded, : " No , I haven't had the pleasure yet. " I introduced them and went on helping my customer. I saw Jim again minutes later at our register and he said : " I have something for you " and he handed me his collection of songs that he copies onto a c.d. and puts out in the summer and again in the winter.

This is his " winter c.d. " of some eighteen song selections from his massive collection of old albums and c.d.'s and cassettes with special and rare musical, jazz, folk, blues and classical songs and recordings, many no longer in print or available to the public. Jim's mission is simple : he wants to share these rare recordings with the public today so that they will never die. It is sort of like the same mission we have at Cleveland Park Wines and Spirits : we and all the rare and indigenous grape varieties and unknown regions of the world that produce them to live on and not die to the public today.

 It is a daunting task, with great rewards, where victories are hard and take patience and where it's 
always done " one at a time". 

Thank you Jim. For the last two nights my wife and I have loved listening to you new " Winter " collection enjoying the SALTON Brazilian Brut sparkling, $14.99, the Fournier Sauvignon Blanc Loire Valley dry white 2009 On Special for $13.99 - 12% alcohol by volume - great acidity and so much rich mineral flavors that cries out for the Crotin goats' cheese we enjoyed with it, the white blend of Chateauneuf-Du-Pape 2008 DOMAINE Du VIEUX LAZARET, On Special for $29.99, regularly $44.99 a bottle, 14% alcohol - so creamy-souffle nutty-like now, that tasted great with the Brie de Meaux ( both cheeses brought back from Paris, France for us a week ago - nice ). Special. Thanks Jim, wonderful. Happy Holidays Jim, thanks for sharing these twice a year! We treasure them. It was great that we could tell you, too last night when I called you on your phone at home on Sunday, 
December 8th, 2013 and both my wife and I got a chance to thank you on the spot, so to speak.

 We know that you have been with the Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center since it started many moons ago, that you have an amazing collection of music, taste, too : and that for forever as well you have been what I call " The Godfather " of our country's lesser-known states and their wines championing them at your home when you invite people like us to come and taste them with you : all treasures that you collected on your motorcycle when you would go and taste and buy them. 

Thanks for that, too. That will have to wait for another time. Cheers,  TONY

Selling A Bottle Of 2010 OBSIDIAN RIDGE Vineyard's Cabernet Sauvignon ( From The MOLNAR Family Wines, California ) To 3 Well-Sharp-Dressed Customers This Past Saturday December 7th, 2013 @ Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits In Northwest, Washington D.C., 20008

What fun! The quartz obsidian rock I showed these three young customers was the rock and soil that the Cabernet Sauvignon vines grow in! Wow, what an idea, what a taste, no wonder the roots have to dig deep for their survival and sustenance! Cheers, Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn    We are getting low : better get Chuck I believe it is to sell us some more? Happy holidays 2013 everyone!  ... 12/9/13 It was a great idea to leave us this quartz rock crystal to share with our customers. Really brings it all into focus, so tactile, so personal - one-on-one experience!  TONY


Three young sharp-dressed customers were shopping the other evening in the store : two men and a woman. Sometimes they were together, sometimes walking around alone. I heard them talking, one of the young men saying that : " ... a Cabernet, something big and bold ". I had asked them if they needed help, so had Michel, and they said " no " that they were happy browsing. They did, too for almost half an hour, or so it seemed. Finally I saw them pass by me headed to the register with a bottle of the OBSIDIAN RIDGE Vineyard Red Hills, Lake County, Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 , $36.99, 13.6% alcohol by volume bottle in their hand. I told them that it was a good choice for this Saturday, December 7th, 2013 and the current weather. I also said : " Come back with me, I want to show you something. " I went back to find the piece of shiny quartz crystal black-hued light-coffee brown piece that the OBSIDIAN RIDGE Vineyards National sales rep had left when we ordered a case. They each held it. I found out that their names were Adam and Mora. The other gentleman's name I forgot. Sorry! I recommended that they could make it all so simple by going to shop the back wall of Brookville Supermarket two door's down from us to buy some cheeses and pate. I also suggested that they could walk to the end of the block to Vace to buy one of their pepperoni and sausage pizzas with green peppers, onions and whatever else to enjoy with this hearty, robust, flavorful, best-with-food,balanced California cabs! Cheers and I hope you enjoyed it. Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn 12/9/13

Tasting Tonight With My Wife @ Home In Northern Virginia after a lovely white snow feel the SALTON Brut Non-Vintage Espumante, $14.99 : Lovely With The French Brie De Meaux Our Daughter Bought In Paris & Brought Home Last Week : Cheers, Happy Holidays Everyone!

Brought a bottle of the SALTON Brut espumante sparkling wine home last night, Saturday Deecember 7th, 2013 to enjoy here in northern Virginia with my family. Turns out we enjoyed it just my wife and I here on a snowy white late afternoon, early evening while listening to the c.d. by Jim Stutsman called his : " Winter Sampler " of old, classic songs that he puts together to share seasonally. he was the drummer since the beginning of the Washington Opera that performs at the Kennedy Center here in Washington D.C., Northwest. We love the music he assembles and shares with his friends. Tonight was no exception. We enjoyed the SALTON Brut, $14.99 ( the price at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008, Tel : 202-363-4265  anthony.quinn@clevelandparkwines.com ) - we tasted it to grand success this past Wednesday at our Big-Theme Sparkling Wine-Tasting of 35 different bubblies . Tonight it showed really well all by itself before I brought out the cheeses : a creamy American herbed goat's cheese, a " Crotin de Chevre " and a " Brie De Meaux " that my daughter purchased and brought back last week from the Charles de Gaulle airport outside of Paris, France. The Brie de Meaux was fabulous with the SALTON, it worked beautifully, even with an older brie like this. That was a nice thing to notice. It was a delight, and we enjoyed it thoroughly, finishing the bottle over two-three hours just the two of us. Obregado SALTON Brut espumante!  Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn 12/8/13