JUNE 2009 NEWSLETTER

OUR JUNE TASTING

Please join us as we taste A Selection of Rosé Wines from Around the Globe

Wednesday June 24th (Saint Jean Baptiste Day) from 5:30 pm to 7:30 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.

FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS

THE ULTIMATE GIFT -  6 vintage vertical of Domaine de la Mordoree Chateauneuf-du-Pape “Reine Des Bois” - A 6 bottle vertical (2001-2006) from one of the greatest Chateauneuf-du-Pape producers in the world. If you care about points: they all get a minimum 94 pts. from Robert Parker (’02 was not rated) with the 2001 garnering a perfect 100. If you care about taste, these are full bodied complex, brooding Rhone wines that will develop for years in the bottle. This 6 bottle vertical will come in a Mordoree wood case for presentation. If purchased by the bottle these would be $870.70 but we will offer this 6 bottle vertical for father’s day at: $649.95.
2001 Begali Amarone “Monte Ca’ Bianca 1.5 Liter – This magnum comes in a beautiful cedar box. “Aromas of prune, raisin and lightly polished oak follow through to a full-bodied palate, with firm tannins and lots of flavor. Long, long finish. Best after 2007. 450 cases made. 91 pts.” (WS 8/31/06)  $149.95
2003 Cantina Del Pino Barbaresco “Ovello” 1.5 liter – (comes in a presentation box) “opens with a captivating nose followed by rich sensations of toasted oak, minerals, menthol, licorice and ripe red fruit on a medium-bodied frame with great balance as well as freshness for the vintage. In my blind tastings of the 2003 Barbarescos this wine more than held its own alongside many of the top single-vineyard bottlings and it is undoubtedly one of the vintage’s overachievers. 90pts.” (Wine Advocate #167) $119.95
2007 Mollydooker Velvet Glove Shiraz -  “It presents a brooding bouquet of violet/lavender, garrigue notes, espresso, blueberry, blackberry liqueur, and chocolate. Voluptuous and sexy on the palate, this totally hedonistic effort has plenty of structure and a 60+ second finish. It will be difficult to keep one’s hands off this beauty but it will drink well through 2027 for those who can withstand the seduction. 98pts.” (Wine Advocate #181) Packaged in a velvet bag. $217.95
2004 Felix Callejo Family Reserve (Ribera Del Duero, Spain) –“The opaque purple-colored 2004 Felix Callejo Family Reserve has a remarkable, nearly exotic, bouquet of wood smoke, toast, tar, leather, violets, wild blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. This leads to a full-bodied, opulent, wine with just beginning complexity, gobs of ripe fruit, silky tannin, and exceptional length. It will improve for at least 5-7 years in the bottle and drink well through 2030. 95pts.” (Wine Advocate #178) $89.95

NEW ARRIVALS

2006 Shafer Cabernet Sauvgnon “One Point Five” Napa Valley Stags Leap District – “Expressive, rather wild nose melds cassis, black cherry, tobacco, iron, mocha, leather and brown spices. A bit less plump than the 2005 version, but suave and vinous, with good cut and life to the varietally typical flavors of currant, leather, mocha and tobacco leaf. This slightly restrained, soil-driven wine still needs time to unwind and will merit a higher score if time brings more pliancy. Finishes with firm, building tannins and sneaky length. 91(+?) points” (IWC May/June ’09) $84.95
2005 Dom. Remi Jobard Meursault 1er Cru “Les Genevrieres”- “the ripe fruit aromas are spicy, seductive and pure with textured, sweet and sappy flavors supported by a subtle minerality and a core of firm acidity on the finely detailed finish. Comments: Sweetspot, 92pts” (Bourghound issue 27) The suggested retail price is $89.95 but is now $44.95
2004 Dom J.A. Ferret Pouilly-Fuisse “Les Vernays” – We recently tasted this wine and were impressed with the quality. This cuvee gets extensive contact with the lees and spends about 50% spends 15 months in oak. Full bodied with plenty of flavor but it retains minerality with a firm finish. $29.95

EVERYDAY VALUE WINES

Wines we love that are often but not always the least expensive but offer a great cost to taste ratio.
2007 Beauvignac Sauvignon Blanc – From the same co-operative that vints “Picpoul”, this southern French Sauvignon Blanc is crisp with herbal notes. $7.95
2007 Villa d’ Rosso Toscano – All Sangiovese, easy to drink with the acidity for pizza and pasta with sauce. $7.95

THE PRISONER REDUX

An allocation not taken and thus, for a limited time, Orin Swift’s homage to hedonism is back. $34.95

MARKET WATCH – THE ECONOMY AND WINE

People always ask us how we are doing in this economy and we’re doing fine – thanks to our wonderful and loyal customers. However, the slowdown in spending has impacted wine retailers and restaurants and thus distributors, importers and wine makers as well. This can mean good news to wine drinkers because there will be bargains as new vintages arrive and importers and distributors will want to reduce inventories. This results in “closeouts” where careful selection on our part can result in real bargains for the consumer. We have already seen this in some French wines and one of our recent “closeout” purchases is in the new arrivals section. However, there will not be general price reductions and not all regions will be affected.  For example, popular regions like Chile, Argentina and Spain, in some cases, are actually raising prices.

MONTHLY SPECIALS