July 2015 Newsletter

JULY TASTING EVENTS

IT'S OUR ANNIVERSARY!

                          Join us on SUNDAY, JULY 26th from 1:30 to 4:30pm
                            For a special tasting event to celebrate
                                          J. Emerson, Inc.
                                        30th Anniversary!!
“Since we started, the wine world has grown and changed considerably, but our commitment to offering a well-considered and in-depth selection of wines to our customers has remained constant.”

And, of course: WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY “Whatever we feel like opening” 2:00pm-7:00pm

JULY “SHORT SIPS” CLASS

WINES OF SOUTHERN ITALY– Campania and Puglia

The warmth of the south produces the most interesting wines in Italy surpassed only by Tuscany and the Piedmont.  A one hour educational program, limited to eight people and held in our fine wine room. Offered twice on FRIDAY or SATURDAY, July 17th and 18th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. There is a $5 class fee and availability is on a first come first serve basis. Call 285-8011 to reserve space.

An incredible offer on 2012 Ca’Marcanda from Angelo Gaja

An icon in the Piedmont, Angelo Gaja purchased the Bolgheri estate of Ca’ Marcanda in 1996 as part of a quest to bring his expertise and experience in the production of world-class wines to Tuscany.  It is rare to see a sale on a wine from Angelo Gaja and our offer on the Promis (pronounced proh-MEESS, a proprietary name created by the Gaja family) is a gobsmacker.
2012 Ca’Marcanda Promis IGT Tuscany, Italy – “The 2012 Promis IGT (Merlot, Syrah and a smaller component of Sangiovese) does indeed deliver on its promise of Gaja-inspired winemaking excellence. The wine opens to a dark garnet color with nicely balanced aromas of blackberry, red cherry and kirsch. Soft oak contours of tobacco and dark chocolate widen the wine’s aromatic footprint. This is a contemplative and well-executed effort.” Drink: 2015 – 2025e (RobertParker.com #215)
.  Regular price is $46.95   During June the price will be: $37.95/ btl.  No further discounts.        

SUMMER OF RIESLING- RECENT ARRIVALS

“By drinking good, REAL Riesling, you’ll become a better person”

2013 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Schmitt, Mosel Saar Ruwer, Germany -“The 2013 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Schmitt, which was picked November 7, and contains almost 100 grams of residual sugar and 10 grams of acidity, starts shy on the nose, although the concentration and noble honey flavors already indicate a fine Auslese style here. The wine is noble sweet and very piquant on the palate, a lovely amalgam of sensual fruit intensity, racy acidity and stimulating salinity. Very precise and long; you’d better keep it for your children.” (eRobertParker.com #217) $59.95
2013 Spreitzer Winkeler Jesuitengarten Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken, Rheingau, Germany – “Bottled with 13.8 grams per liter of residual sugar, the bright, citrus colored 2013 Riesling Kabinett Winkler Jesuitengarten halbtrocken offers a lovely, delicate aroma of ripe Riesling fruits intermixed with subtle mineral aromas from the sandy soils enriched with shale limestone. This is a full-flavored wine with an intense yet refined taste of ripe Riesling and slightly salty, lingering and stimulating minerals. The wine combines its fruity richness with a lingering minerality at an alcohol weight of just 10.5% of alcohol. An excellent, very delicious Kabinett.” (eRobertParker.com #216) $23.95
And a monumental Austrian Gruner to buy and hold…
2013 Leo Alzinger Gruner Veltliner Smaragd LoibenbergAustria, Wachau, Niederosterreich, Austria
“Green and yellow apple and lemon aromas open the 2013 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibenberg, which is a very rich and powerful (needless to say, full-bodied), well-concentrated and elegant wine. I find it quite narcotic and monumental, but it doesn’t sing. However, this might change with a couple of years of bottle age.” (eRobertParker.com #218) $67.95

New Arrivals - MATTHIASSON

Steve Matthiasson, San Francisco Chronicle 2014 Wine maker of the Year, is an evangelist for a reversal of the past two decades’ trend in California toward overly ripe flavors and high alcohols. He picks at ripe, but reasonable, sugar levels and his wines have a freshness and lift that make perfect complements for food. While not the first, and certainly not the only, to advocate for reasonable ripeness and alcohol levels, his delicious wines are much admired and highly allocated.
2014 Matthiasson Napa Valley Chardonnay Linda Vista Vineyard- This wine is 100% Chardonnay from the Linda Vista Vineyard. Showing green and yellow apples, peaches, melon, and honey on the nose and through to the palate, the high acidity is balanced by pleasant fleshiness, finishing very clean with a hint of minerality. $28.95
2012 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll district - The 2012 vintage was long and mild, and created soft wines with abundant fruit—very different than the cooler and edgier 2011 vintage.  Rich floral, red fruit and blueberry aromas and with hints of spice, vanilla and mocha. A restrained, medium bodied wine with food friendly acidity and silky tannins. $64.95

NEW ARRIVALS – Misc.

A et P. DE VILLAINE– Aubert De Villaine, Co-Director of Domaine de la Romanee Conti, has his own estate in the Cote Chalonnaise. The 2013’s are released and they reflect the same attention to place and minimal intervention used at Romanee Conti at 1/100 of the price. We offer the Bourgogne Rouge “Les Clous” at $39.95, the “Les Clous Aime” Blanc at $39.95 and the crispy Bourgogne Blanc Bouzeron Aligote at $35.95. The Bouzeron, a particular favorite, is a delicious summer wine with oysters or shrimp.
2011 Domaine Leccia Patrimonio Corsica, France - “Niellucciu with a bit of Grenache – exhibits a formidable sense of sheer sap, it’s ripe, tart-edged plum tinged with cardamom, candied orange rind, and resinous herbs as well as a saliva-inducing lick of salt. Silken-textured and generously juicy, its finishing interchange of fruit, spice and herb with a stony undertone is positively vibratory.” (eRobertParker.com #208) $24.95
2013 Dard and Ribo. AOC Crozes-Hermitages, France – For me, the definition of northern Rhone Syrah. They believe in fresh, elegant and spicy not bold and tannic. Hard to find, these wines are meant to be enjoyed young, but if you can discipline yourself waiting a year or two wouldn’t hurt. $44.95

MONTHLY SPECIALS