JULY 2010 NEWSLETTER

OUR JULY WINE TASTINGS

25th Anniversary Wine Tasting & a Bastille Day Tasting

Join us for our 25th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, July 24th from 5 to 7pm for sliders and brats and very special wine to celebrate 25 years of providing a real alternative to supermarket sets and factory wine. Also, we’re hosting a Bastille Day Tasting on Wednesday, July 14th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, featuring some of our favorite French wines.

USE YOUR 6 BOTTLE WINE BAGS FROM OTHER STORES AND SAVE 10% (on six bottles)

We keep forgetting to remind our customers to use those over-produced and environmentally un-friendly
reusable wine bags that other stores continue to push on you. Remember they are made from oil and you must use each of those bags 9 times before it equals one paper bag (18 times for plastic).

KLEIN aux VIEUX Remparts

Two Alsatian Gems from the Cellar

In June we wrote about the Cremant D’Alsace from this small winery located in the middle of Alsace, in the village of St. Hippolyte. Now we have had a chance to taste and bring into the store two more outstanding mature wines: 1988 KLEIN aux VIEUX Remparts “Rouge de St-Hippolyte” Pinot Noir – Tasted, topped off and re-corked before shipping this is a gorgeous garnet colored medium bodied wine, expressive on the nose and full of mature pinot flavors all integrated in a very smooth wine that is not the least bit tired or old. $44.95
1991 KLEIN aux VIEUX Remparts Muscat – Mint, overwhelming peppermint and ripe stone fruit, dry and beautiful. $36.95.
Older wines, well kept and properly matured, are a joy to taste and drink and worth the extra few dollars.

DRINK THESE NOW

Matt is a great editor and does a good job of protecting me from my pompous wine ass tendencies; and so I
removed my original opening paragraph where I implied you would have to be an idiot not to buy these wines.
2006 Domaine De Montille, Corton Charlemagne (Grand Cru) . I opened a bottle a few nights ago with
some soft ripened cheese. It was a gollywhomper. Expressive ripe peach and crème brûlée aromas with a thick
rich French butter on the palette and then, a racy acidity that just kept going. It was displaying remarkable
balance for what might be considered a young wine. It is chardonnay the way God intended. $122.95
2007 Varner Chardonnay, Amphitheater Block Spring Ridge Vineyard – Full bodied and textured this was
an absolute standout because of it’s great combination of buttery lemon oil and crisp acidity. Again this
displayed remarkable balance and integration. $44.95

NEW ARRIVALS: Puig-Parahy, Bold Reds, German Riesling

Two uncommon desert wines will make the perfect end to an uncommon meal.
1975 Domaine Puig-Parahy Rancio (Languedoc Roussillon, France) - “smells and tastes of purple plum, fig,
toasted nuts, and bitter-sweet chocolate, with a more robust and youthful personality than the 1981. The
oxidation here manifests itself more in deep, smoky, toasted characteristics that fold especially beautifully into
the chocolaty, nutty richness, and caramelization, as well as in the wine’s combination of silkiness of texture
and underlying firmness. And yet, there is a certain snap and brightness – almost like a whip’s lash – in the
finish. This could serve as a memorable accompaniment to many a dessert.” (Wine Advocate # 183) $124.95
1993 Domaine Puig-Parahy Rancio (Languedoc Roussillon, France) – “creamier and more soothing than the
1998, but brighter and more penetrating as well – a function of further oxidation in cask (although it started life
in tank.) It is also far more alluring and complex. Cherry preserves, roasted chestnuts, grapefruit marmalade,
and wood smoke are among the elements whose interchange command one’s attention. This finishes with great
lift and refreshment, its sweetness and its near-16% alcohol scarcely in evidence.” WA # 183 $47.95

2007 Rubus “Old Vine” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – This is Stags’ Leap AVA wine from a Stag’s
Leap winery whose name can not be mentioned. A tremendous value, born from the overabundance of great
California cabernet. Aromas of cinnamon, dark fruit, spice and vanilla; thick and extracted with black cherry
flavors. Plenty of structure with refined tannins and long classic California cabernet finish. $20.95
2008 Torbreck “Woodcutter’s Shiraz”, Barossa Valley – “The purple-colored 2008 Woodcutter’s Shiraz
offers up a fragrant bouquet of violets, Asian spices, plum, and blueberry. Round, smooth-textured, and
forward, this flavorful, easy-going effort can be enjoyed over the next 4-5 years.” (WA #186) $24.95

Someday, I hope, complex, aromatic, inviting German Rieslings will get the respect they deserve. Someday
people will tire of oak and butter and cookie cutter factory produced plonk and will turn to the noble Riesling
grape from a wine region so steeped in arcane rules that, if mastered, would allow you to impress even Nobel
laureates and Swedish bikini models. Start learning with these new additions to our extensive German section:
2008 WILLI SCHAEFER Riesling QbA Mosel – Schaefer has a bit of a cult following and this is his basic
classic Mosel Riesling, round and plump with apple and peach notes and lip smacking acidity. Cook some
Bratwurst on the grill with onions or sauerkraut, pour a glass of cold Willi Schaefer and life is good. $23.95
2009 Gysler Estate Riesling Trocken QbA Rheinhessen 1L – Buy this wine for anyone that thinks Riesling is
“sweet”. It is a one liter bottle of dryness that will makes Sauvignon Blanc look like a dessert wine. Fresh and
lean, with stone fruit overtones and plenty of bracing, crisp acidity $17.95

JULY “SHORT SIPS” CLASS

A FREE one hour educational program, limited to eight people and held in our fine wine room (we are making changes to accommodate). Friday, July 30th, 5:30pm to 6:30pm– Comparing Pinot Noir –We’ll taste inexpensive Pinot Noir from the California, Oregon and the south of France and compare with Pinot Noir from Burgundy. Availability is on a first come first serve basis but you can call and reserve spaces at anytime. (A great idea for your group as a prelude to dinner.) If you are a newsletter e-mail subscriber you’ll get more information delivered to your electronic mailbox.

MONTHLY SPECIALS