December 2013 Newsletter

Look for our Holiday Newsletter on Dec. 6th in the Spotlight section!

Special Gift Ideas, older vintages, etc.

December Tasting Events

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER, 18th -  5:30 to 7:30pm
OUR ANNUAL
Champagne and Sparkling Wine Tasting
Enjoy an eclectic selection and make purchases at a discount.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6th
A TUTORIAL in PORT,
styles and types
Conducted By Certified Wine Educator Carol Colby
4 sessions 5:30 to 6:00 / 6:00 to 6:30pm, 6:30 to 7:00pm and 7:00 to 7:30pm
MORE DETAILS ON PAGE 2 of the newsletter
ALL FREE
This promises to be an outstanding educational event.
We have been pleased to notice a growing interest in Port wines, but differences between port types and styles can be a bit confusing. Certified wine educator, Carol Colby will join us on Friday Dec. 6th from 5:30 to 7:30pm for a tasting and explanation of different port styles and types. Because there is sequence to this tasting, we are planning on 4, 30 minute sessions - 5:30-6:00, 6:00-6:30pm, 6:30-7:00pm and 7:00-7:30pm. This is a free tasting and you can come at anytime but it would be best to arrive at the start of a session

WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY   2:00pm-7:00pm
Whatever we feel like opening”

SPARKLING WINES AND CHAMPAGNE

NV Cedric Bouchard Inflorescence Blanc de Noirs Val Vilaine -  (Vintage 2011 Disgorgred 4/13) - Cedric Bouchard remains at the forefront of innovation in Champagne. Yields are minuscule, fermented with indigenous yeasts and are bottled unfined and unfiltered with no dosage. Bouchard’s approach focuses on single-vintage, single-variety and single parcel wines. The Inflorescence Blanc de Noirs comes from a south-facing, 1.49-hectare vineyard in the village of Polisy called Val Vilaine, which is owned by Bouchard’s father but worked by Cédric himself. These wines have a Pinot Noir richness with crushed rock, green apple, strawberry notes. Great young they only get better with a few years of bottle age. $69.95
  “These remain some of the most spectacular wines being made anywhere in the world, and are well worth the effort of finding them. Frankly, I can’t think of too many wines I would rather drink.” – Antonio Galloni WA
NV Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition Grand Cru – “one of the reference-point growers in Champagne, with a deep selection of wines that offer remarkable transparency to site, vintage and variety. The small, bare-bones winery is located in Ambonnay, one of Champagne’s 17 Grand Cru villages, best-known for yielding broad-shouldered, exuberant Pinot Noir-based wines. The house style is defined by first-class fruit, extended lees aging and no fining and/or filtration. These are among the most pure, unmanipulated Champagnes readers will come across, and the estate’s new releases are all highly recommended.” (WA) $84.95
NV Ruinart Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne -  Ruinart is Champagne’s oldest house, with a history that dates back to 1729 and the non vntage Blanc de Blancs in the distinctive clear glass, mallet shaped bottle is a great introduction to the Ruinart style. It is medium bodied elegant champagne with ripe flowers and pears and a beautifully smooth finish.  $87.95
2005 Klein aux Vieux Remparts Crémant D’Alsace -Located in the middle of Alsace, in the village of St Hippolyte, this very small production winery produces a variety of wines but the vintage Crémant has always captured our attention. Made from organically grown 100% Chardonnay this sparkling wine has a fine rich mousse and wonderful floral and honeyed fruit aromas. It’s rich and supple in the mouth and the finish is lip smacking good and not piercingly acidic. With thought we had moved on to ‘07 but were happy to discover a few 05’s. Because of the time this spends on the lees, this Crémant drinks like vintage Champagne. $26.95
2012 Cuvee del Fondatore Graziano Merotto “ Rive di Col San Martino”Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG – (100% Glera) Here is one of the finest Prosceccos you can buy and it is still quite affordable. A 3 time Gambero Rosso’s Tre Bicchieri winner from a single vineyard site; it has fresh floral notes with a tangy finish.  Treat yourself to the best. $28.95

NEW ARRIVALS

2010 Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair Moulin a Vent Vieilles Vignes, Fr. -“The 2010 Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes, from 60 to 80 year-old vines, possesses lovely depth and fleshiness in its dark red fruit. Attractive spiced notes wrap around the radiant finish. This is a terrific showing. Drink 2014-2025.” (WA #199) $31.95

New Arrivals - It’s RHONE TIME
2012 Yves Cuilleron “Les Vignes d’à Cote” Syrah, Fr.– We often think that Guigal’s “La-La” Cote Rotes could be the definition of Syrah, however at $400 plus it’s not on everyones must buy list. But Yves Cuilleron, a northern Rhone wine maker famous for his on point wines from Condireu and Cote Rote, has a Syrah that shows all the best Syrah chacteristics dark fruit bluberries aromas , meat jusice and tea, with real Syrah spice on the finish all for only $19.95
And speaking of great Syrah here’s one from the US:
2012 Arnot-Roberts Syrah, North Coast , Ca.– Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts are making very small production wines that reflect the personality of cooler climate sites in Northern California. They are best known for their stunning Syrah’s which, up until now, have been available only through subscription to their web site.  Using whole clusters and native yeasts the wines are bottled with out filtering or fining. True to the variety, these wines are all about spice and plums and dark cherries. $36.95
2011 Domaine du Clos du Caillou Cotes du Rhone Bouquet des Garrigues, Fr – “A blend of 85% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre and Syrah, it is a ripe, rich, full-bodied effort that is as good, possibly better than some producers’ Chateauneuf du Papes. The wine is loaded with scents of Provence, including roasted herbs, smoked meats, kirsch and spice box. Drink now-2019.’ (WA #209)  $23.95
2011 Charles Thomas Cotes du Rhone Rhone, France - “A delicious, consumer-friendly Cotes du Rhone made from a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre from the Gard department in the southern Rhone, this 2011 boasts sexy, ripe, black cherry and berry fruit notes, a juicy constitution, elegance, purity and an attractive, fleshy mouthfeel. It clearly over-delivers for its humble price point”. (WA #208) $10.95

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

We want to remind our customers to use 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.

MONTHLY SPECIALS