APRIL 2009 NEWSLETTER

OUR APRIL TASTING:

"April Madness"

Please join us as we open some outstanding older wines from our cellar:
1998 Leroy Bourgogne Blanc (Burgundy)
2000 Viader Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
2000 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
2002 D’Arenberg “Dead Arm” Shiraz (Australia)
2001 Bocquenet Echezeaux Grand Cru (Burgundy)
Thursday, April 16th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at our Store on Grove Ave.
A list of wines will be available in the store and special pricing will be available for purchases made during the tasting. As always, there is no charge for the tasting and it’s open to the public.

QUILCEDA CREEK – 2004, 2005, 2006 Vertical

“Quilceda Creek’s Cabernet Sauvignon remains the benchmark for what can be achieved in Washington and the United States.” – Jay Miller, Wine Advocate
We are pleased to offer a 3 year vertical of Quilceda Creek with a very attractive discount. Arguably the best Washington state cabernet sauvignon producer these wines routinely get 100 or 99 points from Robert Parker. The individual bottle price (listed below with the reviews) would be a total of $709.95. We are offering this vertical at $529.95, a savings of over 25%. There are 4 three packs available.
2004 Quilceda Creek – “Opaque purple-colored, it delivers a remarkable array of aromas including pain grille, violets, pencil lead, truffle, Asian spices, black currant, and blueberry. This leads to a lustrous, layered, velvet-textured wine with gobs of spicy, ripe black fruits and beautifully integrated oak, tannin, and acidity. The long, pure finish goes on for well over a minute. 99pts” (WA #172)  $229.95
2005 Quilceda Creek – “it has a splendid perfume of violets, wood smoke, truffle, Asian spices, black cherry, and black currant preserves. Opulent and mouth-coating, the layers of complex flavors nearly hide enough tannin to support 8-10 years of additional cellaring. The oak, tannin, and acidity are beautifully integrated and the lengthy finish lasts for well over a minute. 100pts.”  (WA #177) $249.95
2006 Quilceda Creek– Just released and recieved and there are no reviews but indications are that the the wine will be, as always, spectacular. $229.95

NEW ARRIVALS

2004 Xtant Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – “The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Xtant exhibits a sexy bouquet of chocolate, smoked herbs, black currants, and blackberries, full body, nicely integrated tannin, acidity, wood, and alcohol, and a seductive, long finish. It, too should drink beautifully for 10 or more years. 93pts.” (WA 180) $74.95
2007 Domaine Raymond Dupont-Fahn Bourgogne –  From the improrter: “His most unique cuvee is the Bourgogne Chaumes des Perrieres, from a vineyard adjoining Meursault Premier Cru Les Perrieres, but only classified as appellation Bourgogne.  40 year-old vines, low yields and barrel fermentation, in the hands of Raymond, yield perhaps the greatest “Bourgogne” blanc in the world.” This wine has all the pedigree of Mersault but costs 30% less.  $29.95
2005 Dominus – “The 2005 Dominus continues to strut its stuff, tasting like a Napa hybrid blend of a St.-Emilion and Pomerol. Its dark ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by notions of cedarwood, spice box, roasted herbs, sweet black cherry and cassis fruit, licorice, and truffles. Full-bodied with excellent fruit intensity, complex aromatics, supple tannins, and a long finish, this 7,000-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot should drink well for two decades or more. 95+pts.” (WA 180) $142.95

COOPER VINEYARDS Viognier

The perfect wine for Spring!

Some customers think we don’t like Virginia wines but we are very supportive of local wineries and winemakers; we just like to make sure that the wines are good values and well made; not an easy combination. But Viognier is a grape that grows well in Virginia and the 2008 Cooper Vineyards Viognier is, in our opinion, among the very best. Here are the notes from the winery: “initial notes of passion fruit, kiwi and grapefruit on the nose, this excellent vintage greets the palate with flavors of honeydew melon and honeysuckle, then lingers on the tongue and in the mind with a long coconut finish. Fermented and aged for 5 months in select Cadus French oak. 280 cases produced”  $19.95

VALUE WINES

2007 Strambella Vernaccia di San Gimignano -  The 2006 vintage was on the shelf for $11.95 and was a great wine at that price. We were offered a few cases of the 2007 vintage (a result of the recession?) for a price that would allow us to put it on the shelf at $6.95 which makes this the best value in the store. Unfortunately we did not get much.
2008 “Collection J. Mourat” Rosé, Fiefs Vendeens-Mareuil -  The first cases of this Loire valley rose blend of Pinot Noir, Negrettte and Cabernet Franc were mislabeled as 2007. Salmon colored with hints of strawberry and watermelon and round acidity, the usual price for this delicious rose is $13.95 but, for a short time we will be offering it at $8.95
2004 Domaine Sainte Croix “Le Fournas” Corbieres France - Red fruits,leather and garrigue aromas. Cherry and plum flavours in the mouth; named after the remnants of a 19th Century lime furnace was discovered in the vineyards. A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre that delivers taste way above the price. $11.95

MONTHLY SPECIALS