Sadly Nam Viet Pho Restaurant Decides To Close In Cleveland Park Northwest, Washington DC, 20008 After Serving Our Neighborhood Admirably For Twenty Years : A Great Loss, We Will Miss You Ricky, Family, Servers & Cooks - You Have Added Immeasurably To Our Neighborhood & Cannot Be Replaced! Thank You!!!!

My black and white watercolor I did years ago, we toast you all and wish you all well at Nam Viet wherever you go, you have served our community magnificently these last 20 years!   Anthony TONY Quinn 6/19/2017

Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits

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We all have enjoyed Nam Viet for many years now. I am the wine manager of CPWineSpirits and have had a great relationship with Nam Viet starting with Rick's father Mr. Toi that I came to know fairly well, always smiling and warmed by his smile, his keen alert and positive personality that engaged me often at the store as we worked at ways to increase both our businesses through wine dinners with the fine wines of Germany ( we did two or three dinners ), and with the wines of Australia, and of France as well, We would provide wines from the distributors like @WinesellersInc and the @CountryVintner and @TheGermanWineSociety , with @RobertWhaleSelections for the wines of Australia, with @LaurentGivry with the wines of @EliteWineImports, ... and people like @AdamSager and Valerie, RobertWhale and so many more individuals. I remember when Renee Schetler ( spelling ? ) of the Washington Post Food section wrote up the #51 Vietnamese noodles ( now the #61 ) , I called it : " comfort food ", brought it home for my family fifty or more times as they all love it still! What will we do?!? Go to the Clarendon northern Virginia restaurant I think ), I took many wine owners and wine makers there, too, also owners of their own import companies like Candi of World Shippers Imports in Pennsylvania, Alfredo Bartholomaus of Billington Imports, John Peters of Billington, Arielle Monaco of the Country Vintners was often there before or after her visits to us or to Ripple, the winemaker of Catena Vigil was there at lunch with Alfredo and me, and so many others. Mike Martin that worked with me loved their food, too, as did and does Santos Rivera, Ved Goyal and his entire family, too. Our good customers Don and Jae always went there, and Jae would always bring me the #51- with just the seafood, no chicken or pork ) when she would come to buy with us and dine there. Eric Platt is a huge fan, too : what will we all do?!? Life does go on, but I never thought it would have to go on without Nam Viet there! A sad loss, tragic really, Ricky and I spoke much on this, we are both greatly saddened by this turn of events. @AnthonyQuinn 6/19/2017

Beau Finley ANC 3C04
20 hrs ·
Today, Nam-Viet Pho 79 announced that it is closing its Cleveland Park location. Announcement below:
Dear Cleveland Park,
After 20 years, we have made the very difficult decision to close our Cleveland Park location later this month. We will remain open through dinner service on June 25th and we hope that you can stop by to enjoy one last lunch or dinner with us until then.
As we complete our 20th year in Cleveland Park, we want to take a moment to thank you for your patronage and support these last two decades. Over the past twenty years, we have served countless meals, taken numerous take-out orders, and catered many special events from private small personal gatherings to weddings out of this very location. We have been fortunate to be in a community that has blessed us with lasting friendships with residents in and around the neighborhood.
We would especially like to thank our supportive landlord, the Abbo family. We are grateful to Marcia Abbo, widow of the late Robert "Bobby" Abbo, for her kindness and grace in taking over Bobby’s responsibilities.
To our dearest friends, we will not forget your loyal patronage and friendship all these years. Special thank you to:
Whit & Mitch, The Paige's, Aunt Shirley and Michelle, The Crowley’s, The Stopfer’s, Tanc & Tiernan, Robin & Quin, Ed & Amy, The Petruzzello's, The Lesser's, The Kennedy's, The Reffe's, The Muldoon's, and The Lopez families for your patronage of Nam-Viet and most importantly for your friendship. Your visits, along with the visits of other patrons that extend this entire neighborhood, have been a gift to Nam-Viet every day we have been open.
Lastly, our neighboring storefront businesses over these past 20 years - from Byblos Deli to Fat Pete’s BBQ to Ripple - thank you for being the best neighbors. We greatly enjoyed our relationships of generous reciprocity through the years. We have grown together in this neighborhood, and to every one of these businesses, we thank you for your steadfast support and friendship.
In recent years as the District of Columbia has grown, we have seen new neighborhoods sprout almost monthly, and commerce move from one end of the city to the other.
Competition to remain significant and relevant in this fast-paced DC restaurant market has presented a challenge to Cleveland Park businesses the past few years.
We thank you again, and hope that the community welcomes the next business that takes over the storefront that we have called home for the last 20 years with the same open arms, faith, patronage, and support that you gave to us.
Farewell,
Nam-Viet Restaurant

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Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits Go to : @NamVietRestaurant #NamVietRestaurantClevelandParkNWWashingtonDC20008 for more info. Thanks you Nam Viet for so many splendid meals, times and moments and so much more over these last twenty years. Thank you Beau Finley for sharing this, glad to share it here, too, and good luck tonight as you all discuss once again the future of our service lane in front of our stores and restaurants.

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Beau Finley ANC 3C04 Thanks Tony.

Times are difficult in our neighborhood. We are seeing increased competition from Cathedral Heights and Van Ness and east of the Park. At the same time, the growth of Internet shopping for everything from toilet paper to wine has hurt ret...See More

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Happy Father's Day, Come Celebrate Here All Week With 5 Tastings To Help You Decide What To Buy For Your Father? Cheers, Enjoy Your Special Time With Your Dads!

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

I'M IN A CLEVELAND PARK STATE OF MIND having driven to work earlier from Virginia Listening to Billy Joel Sing his iconic song : " New York State Of Mind ", that put me then into a Virginia State Of Mind and got me all pumped up  just the musical introduction before Billy even got to singing. WOW! The juices were flowing for me, sunny and bright and clear and drying up nicely from yesterday's deluge. Thus the reference to Bob Dylan's 1970 classic : " Blood On The Tracks " song called : " Buckets Of Rain " : we've had our rain! I WROTE the above on Tuesday June 11th, 2017 and posted it for you all then. It still rings true years later. It will be again in the nineties today and so drink lots of water, stay hydrated, enjoy and see you soon! I AM ALWAYS All Ways in A Cleveland Park State-Of-Mind, more now than ever as we need to continue growing, working together to fill the vacancies in the store fronts here. We need to have a better environment that welcomes people and business here and does not put so many restrictions on those businesses wanting to come here, that when combined with the ridiculously high rents discourages people to come here and start their businesses. IT IS FATHER'S DAY weekend here  in a few days and we have four great tastings ( actually more as those are only the wine before we add the beer and the spirits, too ) to help you decide and purchase what you might like to offer your father's this Sunday. HERE ARE SOME SELECTIONS to offer before writing about the tastings :      BEER & CIDER From Santos :           CIDER -        1)  Browns Lane Classic English Dry Hard Cider , from CRISPIN , made with English bittersweet cider apples, a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans with 5.8% alcohol by volume, On Special for $9.99, flavorful, distinct, some real character here, chill and enjoy now : alleviate the heat! From California's Colfax region.        2) Tips Up Semi-Dry hard cider from Vermont from STOWE CIDER ( we also have the Super Dry Hard Cider, foor 16 ounce cans On Special for $11.99, with 6.5% alcohol by volume, naturally gluten-free, : " Peter meets Paul with a peck, Bob meets Betty with a bushel they give the apples to Adam. How many apples are in this can? Think it over while drinking this cider, for the best results, enjoy this cider in the spirit of Vermont - cold and in good company. " Cheers!           BEER -      1) Radler Grapefruit from Salzburger STIEGL, from Austria, in a 4-pack of 16.9 -ounce cans, On Special for $8.99 , so refreshing and pleasing - great to sit outside sipping with all the family in the heat as there will be lots with possible showers, too as you grill or swim at the pool, or so many other possibilities?! This will be refreshing, a crowd-pleaser.      2) Maiden The Shade Seasonal Release IPA from NINKASI Brewing Company, made in Eugene, Oregon, a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles On Special for $12.99.      " Bold and drinkable, this Summer IPA captures an impressively balanced hop complexity. An adventurous hop bouquet of eight select varieties is complemented by the use of flaked barley to create a beer that is as robust as it is easy to sip. " Yes!      LIQUEUR - LIQUOR From Jagir :        1) Premium Pisco Double-Distilled , Triple filtered from CAPEL in Chile, $16.99,  using the Moscatel grapes, with 70 years already behind them, at the foot of the Andes mountains, with the Pacific ocean, there in the desert, this Pisco is a great value and from Chile, not Peru. Have you tasted it yet? Come by, get some, a great value. Cheers. Made a delightful Pisco Sour for your father!        2) The Arak of KSARA - KSARAK, made from distilled grapes and aniseed, with 53% alcohol by volume, $22.99 a bottle, this has tremendous distinct taste and character. Wes our salesperson tasted it here recently to the surprise and the delight of many of you! Come get some for Father's Day!!        3) JZE Maryland Cask-Strength Bourbon Whiskey, distilled in Rockville, with 56.7 % alcohol by volume, with only 30 or so bottles made and sold a month ( mostly only sold and available at the distillery says master distiller to me the other day as I inquired about it ), On Special for 58.99, this will be tasted here soon with you all. Something rare, new and exciting, yes!        4) Speyside Glenlivet 10 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, from TOMINTOUL, the gentl dram, On Special for $43.99, made by master distiller Robert Flannery ( ? ). I agree, it is the gentle dram, that is why I personally like it, less tear and bite and gruff and grip and tossle, it is milder, easier to sip, and also a great value. Something I have not seen here in years, where has it been these last few years here? Thrilled to have it here at this great value and price. Come try it, should appeal to many of you, fathers, mothers, friends, family, community : to many.        5) Cranberry , Real Cranberry from DEEP EDDY , a Cranberr-flavored vodka, from Austin, Texas, On Special for $18.99 a 750ml bottle, with 35%  alcohol by volume, this is perfect for Father's Day. Come get some as well as their others. I like the Lemon the best, that would also be great with this extra heat now.      6) ' Cristal ' Puerto Rican rum, from DON Q, On Special for $12.99 a 750ml bottle, : what a value, what a steal. It sure does deliver a whole lot of taste for such an inexpensive price. It has power and also smoothness, a bit of both, great to mix but even straight on ice it is really quite tasty, not harsh, not jarring. From a recent talk with someone from Puerto Rico she told me that it is considered superior to Bacardo there, and sells for more money there than Bacardi. Here Bacardo sells for more money and I have tasted both and can recommend DON Q where I cannot recommend BACARDI Superior as it bites way too much, no finesse at all for my palate.      WINE From Chris & Tony -        1) Tamaioasa Romaneasca , a Romanian varietal IG Dealurile Moldovei- Husi, from MONSER , On Special for $6.99, down from $10.99 a bottle, from Romania, from our Romanian friends Gabriella and , this a delightful off-dry white with taste, character, personality, 2013, and a ridiculous price, with 12.5% alcohol by volume, this is a perfect wine to sip outside in the heat, enjoy with food, and to add some of the dry Sarba white On Special, too for $6.99 : then you have two whites to suit many tastes and palates - both available here now for the week and weekend.      2) Terre Lunari Benaco Bresciando IGT dry red Lake Garda, Italian blend of  73% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc : we just had owner-winemaker Giovanna here pouring it this past Saturday with importer Robert Kennedy and it sure was showing really well now - a 2009 vintage, slow to age and mature but well-worth the wait,...  On Special now for $21.49, buy some tomorrow - Wednesday, and get 20% OFF the Special price and pay only $17.19, a great Father's Day present, will be great when you grill and enjoy being outside with family and friends in this heat. Great with cheeses, great with well-marinated foods , anything flavorful, a real treat of elegance and finesse and polish - love it!        3) A dry Merlot blend of Merlot 55%, and Cabernet Sauvignon, 45%, called INDIVIDO, a 2014, produced and bottled by the Chateau Vartely in Orhei the Republic of Moldova, $15.49 a bottle, , a sec rosu, Roada 2014, with 14.5% alcohol by volume, this blew me away when I tasted it importer Serghei Gulceac, and then again with his wife Stacy McArthur when she poured it all for you this past Wednesday. It is balanced, flavorful, fruit-forward, fruit-centered, a complete delight and a really great price.         THIS, TOO would be great for Father's Day when you grill outside and have lots of cheeses and meats and flavorful dishes - it will cut through them and refresh and please your tastebuds and palate. Yes.        4) ' Jazz ' a dry Sicilian Frappato and Nero D'Avola blend, a light red from owner- winemaker Paolo Cali , $15.99, that will be here tasting it with you all this Saturday from 6:30-8:30PM, with 13% alcohol by volume, I like chilling this an hour before serving - have it nice and cool and kool and refreshing where everything POPS and ZINGS and pleases us, refreshes us all, cuts through the flavors of our foods, and is a great foil to all this heat and possible humidity with possible showers occuring this weekend. It is a geam, along with Paolo's other wines - all to be tasted here Saturday. JOIN US along with Andrew Stover earlier when we taste his selections for Father's Day from 2-6PM. Free wine-tastings, never any charge.           FOUR Fine Dry Rose Wines -        1) 2016 Rose of Sangiovese from BERNARD GRIFFIN , $13.49 a bottle, with 12.9% alcohol by volume, this is a wine that Chris tried and really liked so here it is. I still need to try it. I really like the Merlot and the Fume Blanc - they are really fine wines at really great prices.        2) A dry Bobal and Cabernet Sauvignon fro FUENTESECA / Bodega Sierra Norte, a 2016, a tasty, well-balanced, dry and fine wine to enjoy with your food. $13.99, I enjoyed this very much!        3) A dry rosado from Spain's Mentrida , On Special $14.99, a lovely robust, flavorful, and complex dry red to enjoy con comida senores e senoras, si , claro que si! I liked this when I tasted it with Andrea Shank. Great for Father's Day, a real treat!        4)  " Questo non e un vino tranquillo ' OSA Frappato rosato, made from the indigenous grape of Sicily called Frappato, from Paolo Calli that will be here tasting it with you all this Saturday, June 17th, 2-6PM, ... it has a uniqueness in dry rose wine that is almost undescribably-delicious, intriguing, all it's own, in it's own league, great to enjoy with your meals, refreshing, questioning, posing and fun. $21.99, with 13.5% alcohol by volume. REMEMBER : Wednesday's is the DAY TO SAVE on your wine purchases : TWO WAYS to save up to 20% OFF the marked sticker prices, ONE way to save up to 15% OFF on the sticker prices. Call and ask to speak to me or to Chris for clarification. PAY TOMORROW, SAVE TOMORROW ! 202-363-4265.      WEEK'S TASTINGS - All For Father's Day :      WEDNESDAY, June 14th, 5-8PM, come and taste with Narayan Campbell as we taste some delicious close-outs , or inventory-reductions from him, as well as another really fine Pinot Noir -      1) 2014 Pinot Gris, from Oregon's Willamette Valley, On Special now for $12.99, this is amazingly rich, dry, multi-layered and flvaorful with fruit-forward, fruit-centered taste : great value, too!      2) 2015 Cotes Du Rhone dry white with a good amount of Viognier in the blend, from the DOMAINE MARTIN, with 13.5% alcohol by volume, this has so much extra fruit , so much lusher and more ripe, opulent fruit : you will not believe it when you taste it - delicious, amazing lushness, great to sip all by itself!      AND - In Red -        1) 2013 Pinot Noir from Oregon's Willamette Valley from the BRYN MAWR Vineyards, On Special for $24.99 a bottle, I tried this with Narayan and loved the focus, the authenticity, typicity and character, value, too of Jon Lauer's wines made by Rachel Rose. I know Jon as he visits and tastes here frequently, and I look forward to meeting Rachel someday and tasting with her, too. COME and taste all three here tomorrow, from 5-8PM with Narayan : all three would be nice to enjoy this weekend, all are great prices , too for this high level of distinct taste, character and more.      FRIDAY, June 16th, 2017 ( 5-8PM ) : We have me, Tony pouring some of my picks with you all, still to be decided, will let you know. You will be amazed, you will be pleased and surprised. I will pick wines that other fathers would like as I am a proud father of two children myself!      SATURDAY, June 17th, 2017 :      TWO Tastings :      Andrew Stover will be here from 2-6PM tasting you all on both French ' new arrivals ' of his, as well as two wines from Charlottesville in Virginia -        FOUR From France - Domaine BASSAC, Cotes du Thongue - Jean-Philippe Leca and Francois Delhon, all made with organic grapes      1) ' Le Manpot ' the moustache, from organic grapes, $17.99 a bottle, with 14% alcohol by volume, really intense, complex, multi-layered, a great wine to chill and enjoy with your food as it will cut through the sauces and seasonings and better define and express the flavors of your meal. Tasty to the max.      2) 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 , On Special for $9.99 a bottle, with 13.5% alcohol by volume, a fruit-forward, fruit-centered , medium-to-light-bodied red to chill an hour before enjoying, great by itself and then later with your meal.      3) 100% Merlot 2015 On Special for $9.99 a bottle : also quite generous, lots of charm, a bit firmer, a bit more grip and development in the flavors as it has been in the bottle a whole year more, with 13.5% alcohol by volume, Chill that hour and serve when the food is served.      4) 100% Cabernet Franc 2016 with 14% alcohol by volume, medium-bodied : more layers of flavor and taste, more complex as a result, great to chill again and to serve with your meal. For all you dads out there that want more in your glass to challenge you a bit more, intrigue you more, a real treat, and at $9.99 On Special it offers great value.      ALL these are ' new ' on the market. Come taste and decide which you want to drink this weekend?      ALSO : From Virginia we welcome two fine wines from Gabriele Rausse that he and his son now make together in Charlottesville, VA. Gabriele is the grandfather of Virginia wines and mas released a small amount of Virginia wine he made with the Zonin family back in 1979! He uses very little oak, and when he does the oak is older barrels that impart less strong flavors and allow the grapes to speak for theirselves naturally. I have always liked this, less powerful but infinitely more appealing, fruit-forward, fruit-centered expresssions of these grapes grown from grapes grown in Virginia, so you get their terroir and character, the typicity of place and time, lovely.      1) Charlotte County Viognier, $21.49 a bottle, with 13% alcohol by volume, this wine is bright lively, round, supple, vibrant on the tongue, senses and palate, perfect for this intense heat with a lower alcohol content, too. Nice to sip as well as enjoy with a meal of crab cakes, lobster, Tilapia, river fresh water trout, and more.      2) Virginia Cabernet Sauvignon , $19.99 a bottle with 13% alcohol by volume, this is a stainless-steel Cabernet and is rounded, rich, flaral, fresh, lively, a joy to sip, medium-to-light-bodied, a treat to chill an hour as it can always warm to the exactl temperature you want it on it's own. Also great now as the heat starts to hit with a vengeance. Perfect by itself as wil many a meal.      NOTE : These wines are made from 100% grapes grown in Virginia. Many of the wineries that you visit and taste now in Virginia are using grapes that they purchase from as far away as Chile and Argentina, Washington State, California, New York State, and more. They are labelled ' American ' on the label, that means that they are blending grapes grown outside of Virginia into their wines.      SO : If you want to drink a true Virginia wine using Virginia grapes look closely at the label and if you are not sure ask the staff at the winery, or ask your RETailer to help you there.      THEN ON Saturday from 6:30-8:30PM :      We have owner / winemaker Paolo Calli of his own PAOLO CALLI winery in Sicily here with importer Robert Kennedy to try Paolo's selection of wines which include, dry reds, rose, and white wines : all that may be enjoyed this Father's Day. Get bottles signed by Paolo to give your fathers, they might really like that personal touch. If they are here on Saturday night bring them here and have them taste with you and pick the bottles that they want?!? ALL OUR WINETASINGS are free and everyone is always welcome here. JOIN US : meet , enjoy, relax, feel a sense of community and welcome, share an experience here that is fruitful and where you grow, we all grow stronger together. ALSO : Take advantage in the morning of our weekly Saturday Farmer's Market from 8:30AM-12:30PM. ALWAYS drink lots of water to stay fully hydrated as this heat is serious and nothing to play around with. IN FURTHER News & developments : GO BY soon and say your ' bye-byes ' to Ripple resutaurant that together with part-owner Roger has done so much to shine a positive vibe and light here in Cleveland Park with fine dining, with fresh produce, with organic foods ( like those at Coppi's Organic down the street, love them , too ), Ripple has been a destination for many and brought and focused positive vibes and attention here for years now for many. THANK YOU ROGER and changing chef, server, bar and sommelier teams. My wife and I celebrated one of our wedding anniversaries there and a waitress was the very best, engaging and helpful, smiling, knew her menu and helped to make it very special. I remember it fondly. RIPPLE LEAVES before the end of June so do not delay. They plan to open somewhere else in Washington DC I believe? We will continue to hear more from Ripple. That makes me smile for them as I feel a certain sadness for us here in Cleveland Park. WE WORK always as a team. That has to be our state-of-mind as we move forward. We need to push always for a better Cleveland Park that is allowed to prosper and shine in these difficult, trying times of disbelief and uncertainty. LIFE IS FUNNY : we had both customers Dan abd Sarah here on Saturday afternoon when Giovanna of her own family's Perla Del Garda winery was here tasting her Lake Garda wines with importer Robert Kennedy. Dan needed a coin to toss. I dug into my wallet and proffered a penny to Sarah. The toss decided whether it would be Marco's Deli or Vace for dinner, Marco's won the penny-toss. I like that. Will have to ask them more about their meal later. ALSO : we hear that the water problem here is going to finally be addressed fully in 2018 and it will hopefully avert at at least two or more points the excessive amount of water that falls from our skies and all congregates and meets here in our Red Line metro station of Cleveland Park! That is good news as it will fix and solve this most serious problem that we face as we grow and move forward and show the whole world just how marvelous and special we really are here. Love that. I AM STILL most-assuredly in a Cleveland Park Northwest Washington DC 20008 STATE-OF-Of-GLORIOUS-MIND! Are you?!? THANK YOU ALL, Gracias, Merci , Grazie for everything. Cheers, TONY 6/13, 2017 ALSO Thanks to many of our suppliers that come by and visit, taste, introduce us to so many special spirits, wines, ciders, waters, and more :  1)  Farnck Agostini President of Franck's Signature Wines brought us some great French cognac Vognobles de Saint-Herie JOAN BRISSON, ier Cru, Grande Champagne   with Jeff of Lanterna Imports. 2) Alexia Roberts and Tony Parkinson  of PENNY'S HILL in Australia came with importer Michael Stelling of WINE TREES with our local Constantine Imports rep Macy Weinstein showing us the fine wines of GOSS and CHOOK Vineyards in Australia , tasty , love the sparkling Shiraz, and the GOSS Chardonnay is lovely, too ... 3) Owner and family member Santiago Gouuenheim of the GOUGUENHEIM Vineyard in the Valle Escondido in Argentina was here this past week, too : quite impressive, really liked the simple Cabernet Sauvignon and the Torrontes dry white, too!  BY THE WAY, I am proud, I got up and voted today in Virginia and then came here to work, so , if you come today you will see my sticker : " I voted. " Cheers, thanks again for everything. TONY WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW is an old store email I wrote and posted on June 11th, 2013 : read and enjoy it if you have time and inquire about current prices and availability and current vintages, too. Cheers, thanks as always. TONY 6/13/2017 I'M IN AN ART STATE OF MIND that translates into I'm also in a WINE STATE OF MIND, a How-To-Draw-Attention-To-Washington D.C.-Cleveland Park Neighborhood STATE OF MIND?!? I was driving, listening to Billy's Joel and his band and feeling very positive indeed as I remembered... RACHEL BERRY'S ( spelling? ) , too of : " New York State-Of-Mind " that she sung on the ever-popular show GLEE not too long ago. Boy did that bring the world down around my shoulders when I heard her sing it : I could barely move I was so stunned by her voice and stage presence! SO : you can see that it was a struggle of sorts as I tried valiantly to organize my thoughts and this week while driving to work!?! THEN RAVI HITS ME WITH David's recent passing, being informed of this last night by Alexander, and how David had lost his fight with cancer. Devastating, such a loss, he will be missed by us all, especially his family that survives him. DAVID USED TO COME IN to our Saturday wine-tastings to try the wines that we had to taste. He was usually with his dear friend Zia and David, with a twinkle in his eyes would always ask me with lots of gusto : " So Tony what are you flogging today?!? " I would always respond immediately : " David, we are not flogging anything! But we are tasting ... " , and from there the conversations and the introductions to our tasters and other customers gathered would follow. Sad to lose you David, we/ I will miss you sorely. Who will ask me now what I am flogging? Who uses or even remembers this expression anymore? DAVID & ZIA are probably watching us now from up above , smiling, toasting with a glass of the current CLOUDY BAY Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc or a glass of red California Pinot Noir with David saying to Zia : " what do you think Tony is  flogging now?!? "  I can live with that. SO, IT IS NOW WITH a very heavy heart that I continue today's TUESDAY STORE email. It should be good I hope : I bring a lot to the keyboard Apple pad as I type-peck away in my own artistic fashion. THE STORE IS FILLED WITH MARVELOUS stacks of " new & old-favorite " wines and this is THRILLING! I LOVE the red and white Italian wines with a red Vespa on the red wine and a yellow Vespa on the white Italian wine : both dry and tasty and inexpensive for everyday wine.      1) " Rapido Red " Dry Red Sangiovese from Puglia, Italy, 2011 ( $9.99 a bottle, 13% alcohol by volume, ) : Franceen tasted Michel and me ( TONY ) on this and we were both very pleased and impressed when we heard our price. Such taste, presence and character for so little money, wow!      2) " Rapido White "  2012 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie ( $10.99 a bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume ) : tasty, balanced, with character and perfect for this heat and humidity now. And the labels are wonderful with a yellow Vespa and two riding it, the same couple on each! YOU NEED to check these two wines out : they are perfect for this weather, perfect in price, perfect for Father's Day, too! I'M IN A FATHER'S DAY STATE-OF-MIND ... and Estebe Salgado is just about to have a baby an minute NOW : so he might, in fact join OUR ranks as a " new " father just-in-time to CELEBRATE Father's Day with us all! At any rate, he will be a PROUD PAPPA no matter what! SO : as you can see : I'm now also definitely in a Father's Day STATE-OF-MIND! CHEERS Estebe, here's one to your new addition coming any moment now. We're all also happy for you. You'll have to sell lots of Argentina and Spanish wines now to pay for this all! JUST KIDDING!!!!! Nice to toast you and your family with the exciting " new " GANETA dry rose Getariako Txakolina That's also " rare and exciting"! I've never seen or ever tasted one before and it sells for $21.99 a bottle. We will have it here soon for you all. IT'S THE  " perfect " SVELTE bottle of tasty and dry rose that everyone needs to have and taste and experience for themselves, as there is NOTHING better for this heat and humidity! Take it the ocean, take it to the beaches, take it home and celebrate Father's Day as well as newborn babies and pretty much just being in a Great STATE-OF-MIND! Here by the weekend in time for Father's Day! Cheers. SANTOS is putting me now in a BEER STATE-OF-MIND :      1) L a Divine from St. LANDELIN Bier D'Oree/ Beer ( $13.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz, 8% alcohol by volume, imported from France, Moine Fondateur de L'Abbaye de Crespin, Douai, France , ) : brewed by Les Brasseurs de Gayant. It's TOP-FLIGHT : a perfect gift for this weekend. Some of France's very best.      2)  2013 " Hoptimum " Whole-Cone Imperial IPA from SIERRA NEVADA ( On Special for $10.99 a 4-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 10.4% alcohol by volume, Chico, California, www.sierranevada.com ) : " ... whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped AND torpedoed." Perfect for Father's Day. ONE of the oldest and finest breweries that the United States has ever tasted! Some of the older fathers will know and remember this : it will put a smile to their faces and an intense taste into their mouths!! Cheers.      3) " Mad Hatter " India Pale Ale from NEW HOLLAND Brewing ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, from Holland, Michigan,  www.NewHollandBrewing.com ) : " Dry-hopped for a distinctive, floral hop aroma; subtly balanced with delicious malt notes. Pairings : spicy dishes, greens and aged cheese." Enjoy!      4) DC BRAU'S " Penn Quarter " Limited-Release Robust Porter ( On Special for $11.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans, 5.5% alcohol by volume, brewed and canned in Washington D.C. bt BRAU Brewing , LLC,  www.dcbrau.com,  ) : " Penn Quarter is most famous for Ford's Theatre, where President Lincoln was assassinated, and his coat and hat can still be seen to this day." Wow, now that's exciting, have some Porter to contemplate the MAGNITUDE of all of this and watch the movie : " Lincoln ". too. ENJOY.    SANTOS & HIS CIDERS : now I'm in a CIDER STATE-OF-MIND! I like this : my state-of-mind is pretty good just about now:      1) " Thirsty Cross Cider " Whisky Cask Premium Scottish Cider ( On Special for $6.49 a 16/9Fl. Oz bottle, 6.9% alcohol , made in Dunbar, Scotland ) : " A flavorsome cider, made potent in the wood! Matured in ex-Glenglassaugh casks for six months to nurture the natural characteristics of the cider ... " RAVI JUST CALLED OUT MY NAME as I finish my lunch and realize that now I also have to get into a LIQUOR/LIQUEUR STATE-OF-MIND! Today it's all about one's state-of-mind. I'm so happy for Estebe about to have a baby, I'm so happy for all the fathers that will have their day this weekend. Nice ...  SO: Here's what Ravi has for all you Fathers :      1) Aperitivo COCCHI Americano Americano Rossa Aperitif Wine - Red in color, Ricetta Originale Dal 1891 ( $18.99, 16.5% alcohol by volume , Cocconato D'Asti , Italy www.cocchi.com   , and also  www.alpenz.com ) : Make the " Don Bosco ", as well as the " Acquiescence " - recipes on the web pages -  and settle back and relax and enjoy and feel like the million dollars that you most definitely are.      CHEERS TO ALL  you glorious, wonderful, magnificent dads!      2)  Jumbie Mango SPLASH Premium Caribbean Rum with Natural Mango Flavors ( On Special for $13.99 a bottle, imported, product of Panama, 24% alcohol by volume, www.rumjumbie.com , British West Indies ) : " ... unleash the Caribbean spirit ." Do it here in your own back yard or apartment or by a lake or at the beach and ENJOY!      3) Aviation the American Gin , " Batch-distilled from an adventurous blend of spices from around the world " ( $32.99 a bottle, 42% alcohol by volume, House Spirits, Portland, Oregon ) : Great bottle-shape, love the rippled glass back of the bottle! FUN!!      4 ) 43 Quarenta Y Tres Liqueur, DZ LICORES S.L., Spain - Diego Zamora ( $ 24.99  750ml bottle, www.LICOR43.com ) : MAKE THE  43 Mini Beer drink with 1.5Oz of Licor 43 and chill it, and add some whipped cream on top to make a Float! It's delicious!! I JUST TRIED some that our local rep Christopher Regan of Washington Wholesalers made for Ravi and was kind enough to make for me , knowing that I was writing the store email and am always looking for ideas to promote. Christopher sez : " A great way to enjoy a spirits that any father would love ". Thanks, gracias Christopher : just in time : timely I would say! We are setting up a tasting as soon as we can, maybe not in time for Father's Day, but perhaps for July 3rd, 2013? We think so. Cheers. IT'S A Beautiful GOLDEN HUE this LICOR 43, and with the topping- a float of white on top : very pretty and attractive. I think mothers will adore this and many fathers will like it, so give some to your fathers so that you may enjoy some, too : as long as you are old enough, of course! No bite, no burn : creamy-dreamy-wonderful. IN A WINE State-Of-Mind W/ Michel & Tony :           WHITES :      1) 2011 Dry White Cortese from Italy's Piemonte region from CASTELVERO ( $10.99, 11.5% alcohol by volume, Boglione, ) : flavorful, distinct, dry and better suited to meals, and a GREAT VALUE for what this is and what you get fathers! Cheers.      2) 2012 Dry White Bordeaux from the Entre-Deux-Mers and made by CHATEAU LES ARROMANS ( $11.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, from Joel Duffau our good friend and father , Moulon 33420 Branne, France, ) : always reliable, always a fine food wine to be enjoyed anytime, but specially now that it's so warm outside! Cheers.      3) " Shadow Chaser " White Wine 2012 Chardonnay from McLaren Vale, South Australia ( $16.99 a bottle, 13% alcohol by volume, ) : Michel and I loved this : so bright, so fresh, so NOT HEAVY, a wonder, a delight, defies gravity and that's something we are thrilled about!  "  ... on the wing / of the beach blue seas /  above a purple sky / scattered sea shells / shelter us of life below the sun ... " I like that, LOVE this white!           ROSE :      1) Santons 2012  Coteaux D'Aix-En-Provence . Rose de Provence ( $10.99 , 12.5% alcohol by volume ) : Both Michel and I liked the finesse and the subtle dry character of this delicately-colored salmon rose. I also LOVE the name as I have an incredible collection of santons at home that has been collected lovingly over the years, first by my mother, then by my wife and me, as well as by others bearing " gifts " of santons for us. Cheers. Look up the word " santons " and marvel at these beautiful terra cotta- clay hand-painted figures of people and animals. Cheers. Drink the wine while you enjoy looking at these wonderful santons.           REDS :      1) 2010 " TROIS Amis  French Vin De Pays d'Oc Syrah ( On Special for $9.99 a bottle, 13.5% alcohol by volume from Route Des Vins ) : this is spectacular, so flavorful, so tasty - JUMPS from the glass, pepper and spice - LOVE the balance, the price! Great when you grill this weekend.       2) " Zeepaard " 2010 Shiraz from WEST CAPE HOWE from Denmark, Western Australia ( $11.99, 14% alcohol by volume, ) : From Gavin Berry and David, this is a really fine wine to enjoy, chill slightly, and enjoy when you grill and are outside.      3)  Classic Pinot Noir 2011 from LEYDA ( $13.99, D.O. Leyda Valley, Chile, 14.5% alcohol by volume ) : smells like Pinot Noir, tastes like Pinot Noir, this is EXCEPTIONAL Pinot Noir for the money! Really fine, enjoy and BE AMAZED! Cheers.      4) Saumur Champigny " Clos des Boutifolles " 2010 ( $16.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, Loire Valley, France ) : A fuller, rounder, softer, richer Cabernet Franc taste. Good THICK middle-range, a real treat to sip, not so sharp or angular or as peppery and spicy and earthy as many classic Loire Valley dry red 100% Cabernet Francs. I like it to be chilled like the others for thirty minutes. I do not like this style as much as the classic style. I like more " highs and lows " in my wines, but I do think this Saumur-Champigny will please a whole lot of our customers.      5) 2011 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from KLEE ( On Special for $19.99, Carlton, Oregon, 13% alcohol by volume ) : the brightness, the toasty-roasted berry-cherry quality of this fruit-forward medium-to-light-bodied Pinot Noir is GREAT! We've sold so much of it : it's a divine treat , like being in a great state-of-mind! Cheers : highly recommended, great price, too for Oregon.      6) YAKKA 2009 Shiraz from LONGVIEW Vineyards in Australia's Adelaide Hills ( $22.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume, this " single vineyard Shiraz is a flavorful dry, earthy, tasty dry red that needs a meal to help " flesh it out ". This would be a great treat for Father's Day, for those of you that want the wine to chew on you as you chew on it. Cheers. WEDNESDAY WEEKLY Non-Sparkling / Still-Wine 3-PART SALE :      1) BUY ANY $20 or MORE bottle of non-sparkling wine and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price.      2) BUY ANY 6 Or MORE non-sparkling wines and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker prices.      3) BUY ANY 12 or MORE non-sparkling wines and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.      This includes port, sherry, marsala, madeira and sake.      Call if you cannot come 202-363-4265 : BUY some Father's Day presents this was and SAVE!      SAVE & SAVE MORE & SAVE STILL MORE!!!!  WEEKEND TASTINGS :      Friday, June 14th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Enrico here of his own specialty Italian import company pouring a selection of his hand-crafted wines. We are looking at the Casa Roma Pinot Grigio, Sandro De Bruno dry white 100% Garganega, a dry red Chianto from LA CIPRESSAIA, and also  the Cabernet from FIRMINO MIOTTO? Anyway, it will all be decided tomorrow. Call if you would like to know the final wines : 202-363-4265.      Saturday, June 15th, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Estebe Salgado here this Saturday to pour his wines if his wife has not had their newborn baby yet? He will pour the excellent dry rose mentioned above from Spain along with some other " great " wine selections of his from both Argentina and Spain. I think that this time we will definitely taste the ROSSINYOL Spanish N.V. Brut Cava, $16.99 : and the Baron LADRON de GUEVARA Cosecha 2011 dry red Rioja, $14.99? WE will decide all of this for sure this Thursday. Cheers, ... and come taste with us all. I KNOW I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS but it's time to send this to you all. Cheers and thanks for everything, and thanks for helping me get into the right state-of-mind to be here and do the best that I can to help you all with all that is going on all around us as we valiantly try our best to be in the best state-of-mind ...  a CLEVELAND PAR state-of-mind now, feels good, feels right ...   TONY

Send Well-Wishes To Santos Rivera That Hurt Himself At Home Sunday, Fell Off A Ladder, ALSO : Get Ready Early For Father's Day : Taste French Wines Of Frederick Corriher, Taste Moldovan Wines Of Serghei, Taste Fine Greek Wines Of Sotiris Bafitis FRi. 10th, Taste W/ Owner Winemaker Giovanna Her Perla Del Garda Italian Wines, Sat 2-6PM W/ Robert Kennedy : All Free Wine-Tastings, Join Us, Get Bottles Signed For Gifts!

I Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits   WITH WEATHER LIKE THIS We All Have To Be Really Smart About taking advantage of any time that you possibly can and either be outside or at least ready when you can chill. It's all about keeping a healthy balance on things and seeing the larger picture as often as possible. We can help you when you can sneak a few minutes here and there or even those longer stretches of time when possible. You know that feeling when you come to the end of your two days' off and begin to feel really comfortable , relaxed and at ease?!? It pretty much happens to me each weekend and I get that knot in my stomach and sometimes I swallow quickly, too as I have a real gut reaction to the realization that I will soon be back at work.   TUESDAY : June 6th, 2017 : Amazing I am definitely enthralled, amazed, pleased, smiling from ear-to-ear and pleased as punch! Oh yeah, my drive to work today was a grand pleasure, one of those moments that you feel like pinching yourself to be sure it is all really true!   THE FIRST PARAGRAPH I wrote and sent back on June 5th, 2012 : and it reads like today, pretty great.   UPSETTING NEWS : Santos Rivera was working on a ldder at his home on Sunday, working on a window, and he fell, hurt himself, was at the hospital, back home now, in pain, hurting. Santos we are all thinking of you and sending our best wishes, our care, our concern, our love and positive thoughts toward you for a speedy- fast recovery! Get better friend!   BREAKING NEWS : We have Mathew here our local rep for RNDC Distributore  setting up our @RobertMondaviWoodbridge display selling two bottles of the Woodbridge 750ml bottles for $9.99 : what a deal! This is good as everyone knows Woodbridge, and this is great pricing indeed, come and get two bottles, check them both out, and then try two more till you have tried them all. We can thank @NationalRepublicDistributingCompany as well as @ConstellationBrands and @JikiDeanAdedeji - it takes team work, it takes us all working together, and that is what I just told Jiki that I am meeting here today on this glorious Tuesday for the very first time! I ALSO Included the bottle of @Manischevitz #blackberry in my hand as they represent that as well, as well as the @SvedkaVodka from #Sweeden, @Ruffino, @ClosDuBois @Simi and @Corona #beer just to mention a very few.  Cheers!       WE HAVE THE WORLD on our tongues and palates this week as we get ready to celebrate Father's Day on Sunday, June 18th, 2017! This week alone we have many ways that you may come and taste here and get bottles signed as gifts for your fathers, personalized, where you meet the owners-winemakers and talk with them and hear their stories and dreams that they are putting out for all of us to enjoy.   TOMORROW : Wednesday, June 7th, 2017 we have two great tastings with two fine ' new ' importers here, owners of their small , carefully-chosen, hand-picked by them personally ( their futures are tied up completely in these selections - they sink or swim with them, live or die ) : and so they are completely invested in their projects. You will see, feel and taste this excitement and be swept into the wonder and flavors - distinct, pure, true and unique flavors in these wines from both France and from Moldova with Frederick and also with Serghei!   TWO-Wine-TASTINGS-In-ONE : 5-8PM - Join Us          GET Bottled Signed as gifts for Father's Day -             TABLE ONE :  Moldovan Wines -        -  Serghei Gulceac of his and wife Stacy's OLD TOWNE CELLARS brings us tomorrow three fine wines of Moldova that I tasted recently with Serghei. I was really impressed, the quality of these wines is really high, distinct, flavorful, balanced, a treat to sell here now.          1) A dry white blend of Traminer 85% and Sauvignon Blanc 15% , with 13% alcohol by volume,  Sec Alb Roada 2015 from INDIVIDO, $14.49, great body, mouth-feel, taste to cut through some more flavorful meals, a realy treat that is bright, distinct, all it's own! From PGI ValUl Lui Trajan : a tongue-twister!        2) A dry red blend of 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, $15.49,  14.5% alcohol by volume, : I was really super-impressed with this, loved it, absolute : focus, flesh, fruit, firmness, svelt and supple, bright and charming - a clear winner!          3) A dry red blend of 70% Feteasca Neagra and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon,  13% alcohol by volume: et cetera SERENDIPITY 2013, meatier, more grip, girth, mouth-feel, more guts that is strong at first and then softens and relents just a bit as it rounds-out and shows more pleasing fullness, richness and appeal! Really nice, $19.99, thrilled to see so much of this indigenous grape to Moldova here of the Feteasca Neagra!           TABLE TWO : W/ Frederick Corriher - French Wines -           1) ' Le Rose ' made with 100% Cinsault  from France's Corbieres region in the Southwest,  $14.49 from the DOMAINE Du GRAND PLANAL, $14.49 a bottle, 2016, made by Stephan Roger the vigneron- eleveur, lovely, flavorful, tasty, not heavy, a breath of refreshing air now as things get warmer, stickier and more of a challenge - a treat. MY wife and daughter and I loved it with our dinner this weekend.        2) Dry French rose  IGP Cotes Catalanes 2016, from the DOMAINE Des SCHISTES, $14.49 , an Illico dry rose, made by father and son with more richness, fullness, rip-ripe-redolent-ness, nice. We also enjoyed this with our pork filets that I grilled on Sunday night, a treat as well - perfect for this weather right now. Frederick can tell you more!        3) Champagne LELARGE-PUGEOT ( a RM = Recoltant Manipulant : the highest control on everything except the weather, ) , a Premier Cru also which means a much higher selection of some of the finer grapes grown in the champagne region if France, $41.99, a Brut- dry Tradition, this has got it asll : taste, class, appeal, fine bubble, pizzaz, appeal, price, everything, a real treat that tomorrow when we give 20% off the sticker here the price becomes $33.59 - great GREAT VALUE!!!!        4) 2015 Ventoux from France's southern Rhone region of Ventoux, an Appelation Ventoux Controlee, from the DOMAINE DURIEU, On Special for $14.99, we all liked this, balanced, flavorful, honest and correct and when chilled 30-40 minutes this is a real treat with anything you grill or serve as hors douevres, crudites, apetizers, tapas, you name it! A blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, with 15% alcohol by volume,        5) IGP Cotes Catalanes dry French red Rhone grapes blend, a bit softer, a bit milder, brighter as I recall. I tasted these two reds perhaps three-four weeks ago outside on our deck with neighbors and family and we enjoyed both thoroughly. One of these two was more fruit-forward, one was earthier, more pith and spit, tar and leather , spice and tobacco. It is On Special for $14.49 a bottle, a treat with a meal as well, some tasty cheeses three-four-days-old?!? Yes, oui, si , vraiment bien.          FRIDAY, June 9th, 2017, 5-8PM, Sotiris Bafitis will be hear tasting fine Greek wines once again, those that we could not fit into the last great tasting we did of them! I just saw Sotiris and we discussed pouring the following : 1) Kokkinos Naaoussa 2011 dry red, ... ( maybe the ARGATIA dry red Naoussa Naoyea ), ... 2) Moschofilero FTERI 2014 from the TROUPIS Winery ... 3) 2013 Malagouzia from ANTONOPOULOS Vineyards in Patras, 4) DIO FILI 2016 dry rose, too ... maybe more? We have to work out the details! SOTIRIS is selling me four cases of one of the whites that I can sell for $13.99 or less On Special, that will be great, as it will hold it's own to many food flavors, a treat! I believe it is the FTERI 2014? That will be great, we need some really great quality white for Saturday as it will be in the high eighties, and Sunday it is supposed to be 92degrees outside : ouch!!!   IF IT ALL WORKS , once again we will have Alexander Tsapos and Vivi come and take more photos and make another video or two ( the last batch from May 19th, 2017 with Brian here were a huge success! They are posted on our Facebook page, check them out. ) SO : If you like to be part of this come and be seen and heard possibly all on our Cleveland Park spirits feauturing the Greek wines of Oenos Wine - yes, some of the greatest, best, wonderful expressions in liquid form to complement many foods anytime, but certainly now in this heat!   SATURDAY, June 10th, 2017( 2-6PM ) : We have owner, winemaker Giovanna coming of her own Italian winery PERLA DEL GARDA to taste her three grand magnums of bubbly ( that is two bottles of 750ml in each magnum, ...   1) a dry Chardonnay , $59.99 , 2008 - the most like a doughy-yeasty French champagne, - amazing value and aged and perfect now ...   3) a dry Lugana  / Trebbiano di Lugana 100%, and a dry milder blend, more floral and lilting of 50% Trebbiano di Lugana, and 50% Chardonnay, On Special for $46.99 a bottle, ....  AND non-sparkling wines, too in 750ml bottles :          THREE Whites -   1) Perla Lugana DOC, On Special for $18.99 : the best Giovanna has made recetly coming form the FABulous 2015 vintage, a real treat! Perfect for this warmer weather, easy-bright-delightful-sipping in a beautiful unique bottle shape - just like the magnums - they all look special and will make great Father's Day gifts! This Lugana100% Trebbiano di Lugana is done in stainless steel and sees no contact with oak-wood at all so it is bristling, flowering, flowing, lovely.   2) Madre Perla 2010 has more age and was left in contact with the lees- the sediment-the grape must and so is richer, more complex, more layers of flavor, and will work really well with certain dishes that Giovanna will tell you all about. It is On Special for $25.99 now and this is the end of it, so, if you like it get some!Made from 100% Trebbiano di Lugana.   3) Madonna della Scoperta , On Special for $25.99, a Lugana Superiore, 2010, made again from 100% Trebbiano di Lugana sees even more skin contact with the grapes, may see some oak age? I cannot remember? It is the most complex, rich, multi-layered of the three, and again is another great food wine.   IT WILL BE GREAT for you all to try all three with Giovanna and get her observations on all three. What fun.        ONE FABulous Red -   1) Terre Lunari Benaco Bresciando IGT dry red blend of 73% Merlot, 20% Cabernet and 7% Cabernet Franc, 100% Italiano, ...  good flesh, good fruit-forward brightness, a real treat! Medium-bodied, and a delight to sip before a meal as well with it.   OTHER Great Wine Deals :        1) Merlot 2006 Bennet Valley, from TAYLOR PEAK, On Special for $129.99 , and we loved this, we really did. We had Johline Barnhardt here from TANGLED TREE South Africa, and she knew the wine, had spent time out in California, she loved it, too. Mature, complex, layerd, fruit-delicious, round, supple, filling and pleasing and amazing comfort and layered textures that pretty much blew Chris, Johline and me away that Saturday night when we tried it. WELL : we immediately ordered it all from Jade and are thrilled to have it. Come buy an get some tomorrow when we take 20% off that $19.99 a bottle and it gets down to $16 a bottle! Amazing for that price, and very limited qualtities, so come by asap.        2) Syrah 2013 Tepesquet Vineyard from CAMBRIA Estate Vineyards winery, On Special for $14.99, a treaure, too , and even fewer bottles available. just over a case so come by and get this as soon as you can : ASAYC! It is certified sustainable, and it is a pet project of owners Julia and Katie. Cheers.        3) Bricco S. Bernardo Dogliani Piemonte dry red from BRICCO Del CUCO, DOCG, 2007, a single vineyard, from San Bernardo south-east facing slope, made from 40 year-old vines, aged for 18 months in oak casks, macerated on the skins before for 10 days, with 14% alcohol by vlume, this is an aged, tasty, complex, dirty-clean multi-layered, hard and gritty, grippy, pithy, lots of dried grape's tears from their toil to be seen , heard, tasted, on our palate's scene, no screen, no shading, just the unvarnished true flavor and taste, the pride of this vineyard for a measly $12.99, come get this, too!        4) Merlot 2011 from CANTINEBuosco in Caorle dal 1972, from the Veneto, made with 100% Merlot grapes, I loved this wine, too. It is my style of wine, all the strengths and flaws visible, everything shoiwing, no facelifts, tummytucks, nothing, the pure honest expression of terroir and these grapes and their struggle to grow and expand and be turned into wine later. I love this, love the price even more, only $12.99. Great food wine, not for casual sipping, an old traditional classic tasste that will blossom under the accompaniment and tutelage of good solid food combinations. Cheers, Limited quantities with this one as well. Do not delay.        5) Pinot Noir Delle Venezia 2015, from CESARI, $9.99 a bottle, just plain enjoyable for this heat and maybe soon more humidity. Chill 40 minutes and let it rip!   THANKS For everything, I must post this now, sorry I did not have more time to write : lots going on and wil Santos out of the store even more to do. Cheers. Thanks and send your good wishes-feel-better-vibes out to Santos for a speedy recovery from his fall this past Sunday.   Come see us this week and get started with some Father's Day gifts, signed bottles, pics, stories, memories, shared moments and all, great sense of community.   I HEARD that the Beer Hop was a success this past Saturday!   ALSO SAW & HEARD that our first Farmer's Market this past Saturday was a big success.   JOIN US AGAIN this Saturday here from 8:30AM-12:30PM for the Second Farmer's Market here. YES yes si si Oui oui YES!   TONY  6/6/2017                   WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW is an old store email that I wrote and posted on June 5th, 2012 - five years ago. Read and enjoy it if you have time, and if interested in anything check for current prices and vintages and availability? Cheers, TONY   WE HAVE MORE AND MORE to make you all aware of as the world of liquid choices expands and becomes almost too much to absorb even if you chip away at it daily!?! It's a real challenge and we face it just as you do when our various sales people come to show yet another " new " vodka, gin, single malt, white whiskey, rye whiskey, etcetera. Think about it : SKINNY GIRL alone has three " new " flavored vodkas that we have just added here and this past weekend being an artist myself I was admiring the slick packaging and marketing of these many new SKINNY GIRL products. It's a good thing we have them, too as we all seem to be riding the wave a very popular SKINNY GIRL surge in popularity. The Margarita that they started with is still really popular and we still have many requests for it. The recent " crisis " with SKINNY GIRL is their Pina Colada " Ready-To-Drink " that Ravi tells me the company is still out of. That's really bad news, especially on the weekends when we have many people coming in search of it, specially considering the wonderful and refreshing weather that we have had. We will keep you up to date on this most recent situation.   AND I HAVE ONLY JUST COVERED some of the liquors : just think about the explosion of " new " and various beers that are becoming available to us here in Washington D.C. and our surrounding neighborhoods. I will start, however with some of Ravi Sharma's various liqueurs and liquors as I spend so much time on wine here in these emails that I have been writing now for ten or more years. FUNNY, there was a time when the emails were almost all about wine. Remember those days when the liquor business was almost dead? It was not so very long ago. Everyone was scared that when the older generation died off that the liquor business would die with them?! That was a real reality check- a scary wake-up call that many were dreading.   MARKETING SAVED THE DAY in many ways. Marketing and an expansion , relabeling, and a broadening of almost all brands that already existed as well as those that were being created and conceived in many offices and boardrooms around the world. How can a " new " brand be brought to the market and advertised and promoted? What bottle shape, what label, what size, what demographics would be targeted?!? So many questions to consider, so many " new " possibilities to tap into the modern psyche and thirst for something " new " to share with others. So many want to discover something original and new and bring it to the attention of their friends. To do this in our age of immediacy and everything being available and posted, blogged, tweeted and twittered in nano seconds now the ability to introduce things before someone else did it before you somewhere in the world depended and depends still on more things being created by the old and the established as well as by the " new this week " people.   HERE ARE SOME OF THE great liquors from Ravi that I will mention now.        1) BRANCA MENTA Fratelli Branca Distillerie, The Mint Liqueur ( $30.99, 30% alcohol by volume, 750ml bottle, Casa Fondata Nel 1845, Milano, Italy ) from FERNET BRANCA has always stood in the shadows. I don't think as many of you know about it as you do of the FERNET BRANCA. Anyway, as they write on their back label : " Excellence knows no oceans, no frontiers " we think you should all try some. Google it and see what fun cocktails they suggest for you all. Add a splash of it in one of your favorite cocktails where you think mint might add that something special? Yeah, rub your brains together and invent yourselves the " next new cocktail " using the BRANCA MENTA as an integral ingredient. Cheers and good luck and share what you achieve with us soon.        2) Elderflower made by CHASE ( $23.99, 750ml bottle, 20% alcohol by volume,, www.chasedistillery.co.uk  from the Chase distillery Ltd, Rosemaund Farm, Hereford, HR1 3PG ) : " Achieved by using our own award winning, luxurious Chase potato vodka freshly infused with pressed Elderflowers of Herefordshire, to create this delicate and fresh liqueur ". The price is great : what a great value! You should all check this out. This CHASE & Elderflower may become the next rage and " must-have " liqueur available. get some while you still can.      3) " La Diablada " PISCO ( $39.99, 40% alcohol by volume, product of Peru, MACCHU PISCO, Calle La Huaca 118 Pueblo Libre ) is made for our friend Melanie Trindade-Asher and her sister. We have sold it here for years and many times Melanie came by herself or with her Aunt Rosa to make us her diving Pisco Sours. Once her sister came and joined her here and that also was a treat for all of us. They have for you to try :  ANDEAN ROUSER recipe :  Mix 2 cups of the La Diablada Pisco with 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of fresh lime juice and a shot of eggwhite. Add 10 ice cubes and blend. This will serve 8 drinks. Add a drop of Angostura bitter on the top. Hopefully Melanie will return soon to taste the two MACCHU Piscos that she sells, this being the highest quality of the two. We carry both here and both are available usually on a regular basis here.        4) Gold Bermuda rum of GOSLING'S ( $19.99, 750ml bottle, 40% alcohol by volume, est, in 1806,go to : www.goslingsgold.com, Hamilton, Bermuda ) has a really nice golden color and will add something for those of you wanting to support GOSLING'S but not use their dark rum as you are enjoying something else than a " Dark & Stormy ". We are pleased to have it here to add to the dark rum that is already so popular with many of you.      5) VYA Vermouth Aperitif ( comes in both Sweet and Extra Dry, in 375ml bottles as well as 750ml bottles - we have both, the 375ml bottles are both $14.99 a bottle,, 17% alcohol by volume, made by Andrew Quady in Madera, California Go to www.vya.com 800-733-8068 for more info ). Andrew writes of the Extra Dry : " Imagine a forest after the rain. This is the idea behind Vya extra dry ... " Andrew writes of the Sweet : " Imagine a warm tingling sensation and a spicy aroma. This is the idea behind Vya sweet vermouth ". You will have to come and read the rest of the back labels to see where Andrew is going with both of these. I have met Andrew, he has been here. These are both really superb and lovely to sip all by themselves as well as to add to many cocktails and drinks. Cheers.     BEER From SANTOS RIVERA : So Many Wonderful Choices :        1) Damn INEDIT from ESTRELLA ( $10.99 , product of Spain, Barcelona, 750ml bottle ) is a malt beer brewed with spices. Love the packaging and the bottle and the producer. Fun for this beautiful weather.        2) Mogul Madness Ale by ROGUE ( On Special for $5.99 a 1 Pt. 6 Fl. Oz, 650ml bottle, from Newport, Oregon 97365 ) is " a lively seasonal ale, assertively hopped, dark in color and festive in taste ". No chemicals, preservatives or additives. Another fabulous ROGUE beer/ ale to enjoy! Cheers.        3) Whole-Cone Imperial IPA " Hoptimum " 2012 from SIERRA NEVADA ( On Special for $10.99 a 4-pack , Chico, California, 12 Fl Oz bottle, 10.4% alcohol by volume ) is : " the ultimate whole-cone imperial IPA experience ". Anyone care to add to this? It would be great to hear your thoughts. The hops that make up the head in the illustration reminds me of a artichoke and I wonder if there are any of those flavors in this IPA? Any possibility of that?        4) " Hyve " Honey Ale USDA Organic from UINTA Brewing Co. ( On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles , from Salt Lake City, Utah. go to : uintabrewing.com for more info, ALSO KOSHER ) contains water, organic barley, malt hops, yeast and organic honey. It's also new and a real treat for us. Cheers. WINES From Eric, Michel and Tony :             WHITES :        1) Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from ESSAY, South Africa ( $9.99 , www.essaywines.co.za, 13 % alcohol by volume, Western Cape of South Africa ) is bone-dry, clean, crisp, steely, tart, tangy and a perfect wine to enjoy with a goat's cheese, a salad and vinaigrette, and many warm-weather meals. Tasted to Eric and me ( Tony ) recently by our rep Sal of Bacchus and Danny Haas of the Vineyard Brands import company. Excellent.        2) Chardonnay Vin de Pays du Val de Loire dry Chardonnay 2010 from the DOMAINE De BERNIER ( $10.99, 12% alcohol by volume, proprietaire-recoltants of la Regrippierre44330 , www.freres-couillaud.com ) is made from 100% Chardonnay by the Couilaud family that makes great Muscadet ( Domaine de la Ragotiere ). Serve this  " crisp, fruity Chardonnay with fish or chicken or as an aperitif ". It really over-delivers for this price. You get a whole lot of really flavorful and focused wine for only $11 a bottle! Cheers. This also comes from Danny Haas of the Vineyard Brands portfolio.             REDS :        1) 2010 Barbera Piemonte dry Italian red from the BRICCO DEL TATI ( $8.99, www.briccodeitati.com ) : " From our little vineyard on the edge of the village of Treiso in Piemonte, we proudly make this delightfully fresh Barbera. We make it for ourselves, friends, and family. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do! " Mary Beth and Manu. Michel that works here cannot say enough great things about it. He loves and believes in it. Cheers.        2) Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from ESSAY in South Africa ( $9.99, 14% alcohol by volume, www.essaywines.co.za ) is bright. lively , lighter-bodied and a delight to sip with or without a meal. I really enjoyed it a couple of weekends' ago and would gladly drink some more anytime. Great to take on a picnic or when you visit friends enjoying a barbecue or grill outside. Even with the humidity you can chill this and enjoy it thoroughly. It has a stelvan closure and so needs no corkscrew.        3) 100% Cabernet Franc from France's Loire Valley in the town of Chinon, this CHINON 2008 from the DOMAINE GOURON ( On Special for $16.99, regularly $22.99, 13% alcohol by volume, www.promexwines.com ) is made from 20-35 year-old vines. It has really good color and is forward and flavorful and really quite refreshing. Chill 30 minutes or so and enjoy inside or outside with grilled and well-seasoned meals. This wine will cleanse your palate as well as refresh you as you enjoy your meal in the heat and the humidity that Washington D.C. has off-and-on. It's a pure joy and many of you loved it last weekend when John and Theresa Morrison poured it this past weekend here. Cheers.        4) Barbera dry red from Italy's Piemonte region, called QUATTRO MANI ( $16.99,  13.5% alcohol by volume, Serralunga D'Alba, www.domaineselect.com ) : " Quattro Mani, or " four hands " , showcases Italian wine-making and the expression of the character and strength of Italy's indigenous grape varieties. The winemakers were selected for their skill in allowing vineyards to speak through the wine... ". We concur : this is classic, flavorful and balanced Barbera that will marry really well with a meal. Go to : www.4mani.com for any further questions. This will make a great addition to any party for those of you that love Italian dry, and flavorful and that are always best when paired with food. Cheers.        5) Malbec 2010 from Argentina's Mendoza region, this Ernesto Catena Malbec from TAHUAN winery ( $17.99, 13.7% alcohol by volume, www.siestawines.com.ar ) is a really well-balanced, focused dry red Malbec that does not lose sight of the Malbec fruit from which it started. Bravo : it tastes like classic wines made in Europe and will make a great wine-food pairing on many a table whether inside or outside. It will hold it's own against many a food seasoning, flavor or spice. Ernesto came here perhaps a couple of years ago with Alfredo Bartholomaus and we were then all enthralled with his sparkling wines.        6) Nero D'Avola 2009 dry red from Sicily's ( $17.99. 13.5% alcohol by volume ) : this indigenous dry red made from the Nero D'Avola grape variety is really flavorful and tasty and pretty amazing. I remember really liking it and thinking how classic it was in style. It's another winner for us and the price is very reasonable for all the taste and character-attitude that you get here.        7) Cote de Nuits Villages 2007 from SHAPS & ROUCHER-SARRAZIN ( On Special for $19.99, regularly $29.99 ) is subtle and velvety and so marvelously silky. I love the flavor, there's some charm and a touch of sunshine absorbed by the grapes and held firmly in place to be released finally as the bottle opens and the wine touches your palate. You will taste the spice and the minerals of the land from which these Pinot Noir grapes were sprung and you will fall in love all over again.        8) Pinot Noir 2001  from New Zealand's Marlborough region ( On Special for $19.99, regularly $44.99 , Fromm winery, Godfrey Road, Blenheim, 14% alcohol by volume, www.frommwineries.com ) is from a great year and all the flavors are fully-developed and this dry red is showing all it's magnificent colors and flavors now and at more than half off the original price! What a steal!!        9) Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso Grave, Friuli Vigneti Sant'Helena 2006 dry red from VIGNETI FANTINEL ($22.99, dal 1969, 13% alcohol by volume, ) is classic, dry, spicy, earthy and balanced, classic Italian wine country flavors. This is another great Italian food red. Medium-bodied and really makes a strong statement that is best balanced against the backdrop of a well-seasoned, marinated meal. Cheers.             SPARKLING WINES :        1) Sparkling off-dry light red  Saperavi, Chinebuli and Tsitska grapes, this BAGRATIONI from Georgia ( $16.99, 12 % alcohol by volume, www.bagrationi.ge , Tbilisi, Georgia ) is so pleasing and fresh and bright and easy-sipping : an absolute delight with or without a meal. Try some soon before we sell out!        2) Brachetto d'Acqui  2010 BRICCO RIOGLIO from RINALDI ( $20.99, 6% alcohol by volume ) is marked sweet on the label. This light red from Italy's Piemonte region is a delight and had little acidity and little tannin and focuses most of it's attention on the nuances of slight sparkling fruit flavors that are toasty, roasted and with touches of spices and warmth, earth and mineral, too : a real slice of Italian Piemontese life as filtered through these vines and now wine. Fun to just relax with a glass of Brachetto - an experience everyone needs to experience.     WEEK'S TASTINGS :        FRIDAY, June 8th, 2012 ( 5-8PM ) : An evening with Jody Jackman of Winebow Imports. We will select something really exciting to taste with Jody, perhaps some really exciting Portuguese wines? YES : just spoke to Jody and we are working on a series of wines from both the LOIOS and the PASSA DOURO wineries in Portugal which will include both reds and whites for you all to luxuriate in.        SATURDAY, June 9th, 2012 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Nolan Hale of Mondo Vino wine selections coming to taste perhaps some new Italian wines? Perhaps some excellent Chilean wines/ Perhaps some French wines? We will get our signals aligned tomorrow when Nolan returns from vacation and so you may always call and ask either Michel or me what we will be tasting at : 202-363-4265. JOIN US : EVERYONE always welcome and there is never any charge.        I KNOW I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS but it is time to proof and send this email early to you all so that we may give you reason to pause and reflect and decide that you simply must come and see us ASAP! That's the idea anyway. Thanks for everything, we appreciate all that you do for us and your belief and trust in us. It humbles us. Thanks again and see you really soon. Cheers,  TONY   If you have any orders, suggestions or questions, you may e-mail us at : anthony.quinn@clevelandparkwines.com or call us at : 202-363-4265. Check us out at : www.clevelandparkwines.com and on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and on Twitter at : cpwinespirits. Cheers,  Eric, Michel,Nelson, Ravi, Santos , Ved and me, Tony