December and Holiday Newsletter 2015

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas to all of our Customers & Friends.

Please note that we will be open on Sundays from 12 noon to 6 pm to accommodate your Holiday shopping needs.
This year we have combined our December Newsletter with our Holiday gift guide. We start with our tasting schedule and our specials followed by the gift guide. Our Monthly specials, including a Bordeaux offered in a wood box, come at the end. We hope you will find some wonderful suggestions for Holidays wine gifts as well as wines perfect for the Christmas dinner table. Emerson’s is always 63° and wines are stored on their side with indirect incandescent lighting so you can purchase with confidence. Please remember that we offer gift wrapping with a wide variety of bags and boxes for one to six bottles as well as local delivery to selected Richmond zip codes.  There is a lot to digest in this newsletter as it is filled with unique wine gifts. Thank you for shopping with us! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!  J. Emerson, Inc.
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DECEMBER Tasting Events
Wednesday, DECEMBER 16th – 5:30 to 7:30pm
Mark your calendars for our 8th ANNUAL,
CHAMPAGNE AND SPARKLING WINE TASTING
Enjoy an eclectic selection and make purchases at a discount.
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PLUS…
WE TASTE EVERY SATURDAY FROM 2 - 7:00pm
“Whatever We Feel Like Opening”
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New Arrival and a deal on our Favorite Champagne

          DOMAINE RUINART
          Champagne Blanc de Blanc
The oldest established Champagne house, exclusively producing champagne since 1729. Founded by Nicolas Ruinart in the Champagne region in the city of Reims; this is my personal favorite.  The house style, rich, generous and elegant, is easy on the palate and I love the tradition mallet styled bottle thought to be evocative of the first Champagne bottles.
From the 10/15/15 issue of Wine spectator: “Bright and harmonious, with a streak of smoky minerality underscoring the poached apple, pastry, spun honey and lemon pith notes, all riding the finely detailed bead. Offers a clean, saline-tinged finish. Drink now through 2020. 4,360 cases imported.”
            Here’s the deal: Regular price of a 750ml full bottle of Ruinart is $96.95 on sale for $84.95
                              Regular price of a 375ml half bottle of Ruinart is $59.95 on sale for $44.95

2010 is one of THE best vintage in recent memory for Brunello di Montelcino. You should snap up all you can get your hands on a so we are thrilled to be able to offer a wonderful Brunello at a deep discount2010 PININO Brunello di Montelcino
From Antonio Galloni at Vinous - “Pinino’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino offers plenty of up-front appeal. The flavors are bright, lifted and juicy as this pliant, expressive Brunello shows off its bold personality. Cherry pit, dried flowers, mint, tobacco, herbs and licorice flesh out on the supple, inviting finish. Although quite delicious today, the 2010 has more than enough acidity to drink well for a number of years. This is a very strong showing from Pinino.” (Feb.15)
$54.95/btl.

Give a gift of the BEST - The top wines from Wine Spectator 2015

While we sometimes cringe at rating wines numerically, we are still smitten with the idea of a top wine or a top ten wine.  Here are two offerings of gift sets with wines from this years Wine Spectator top 100 list. In the correct vintage of course. Either would make a great gift for the wine lover and they are both extremely rare!
2015 Wine Spectator #1 and #2 gift pack
2012 Peter Michael Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville “Au Paradis”- Deliciously pure and supple, with explosive dark berry and red berry flavors and a silky, polished texture. The tannins become more evident midway through, with a gravelly crushed rock profile that adds a dimension of dust and mineral. Drink now through 2030. 1,785 cases made. Top 100: 2015, Rank: 1” (WS 10/15/15) $299.95
2012 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, WA-“Polished, focused and generous, with red plum and cherry flavors in an elegant package, framed with fine tannins. A savory, meaty note runs through this at a subterranean level. Lingers beautifully. Drink now through 2028. 4,125 cases made. Top 100: 2015, Rank: 2” (WS 11/30) $243.95
If purchased separately the price of 1 bottle of each wine with gift box: $543.85
Purchase the gift pack (1 bottle of each wine and gift box) for $449.95                                               (While supplies last)           
2015 Wine Spectator #4 and #5 gift pack
2010 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino, Italy- Rich, with excellent density, ripe cherry and plum fruit, and a well-integrated structure. Licorice, earth and tobacco notes add depth while this cruises to a long, tobacco- and mineral-tinged finish. Shows balance and grip. Best from 2018 through 2033. 18,000 cases made. Top 100: 2015, Rank: 4” (WS 6/30/15) $89.95
2012 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains CA-“Spicy, toasty, aromatic oak offers an enticing start, with a fresh, vibrant core of lemon-lime, lemon curd, white peach and stone fruit that is very tight, dense, focused and persistent. Ends with a juicy Key lime aftertaste. Drink now through 2029. 1,986 cases made. Top 100: 2015, Rank: 5” WS 11/15/15 $64.95
If purchased separately the price of 1 bottle of each wine with gift box: $158.85
Purchase the gift pack (1 bottle of each wine and gift box) for $139.95
  (While supplies last)             
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INTERESTING 6 BOTTLE SETS - READY TO WRAP

2012 Quinta do Crasto Douro Superior, Portugal – “Well-crafted and suave, with refined flavors of raspberry tart, red plum and cherry pastry, matched to cardamom and savory spice notes. Silky tannins and a plush, creamy finish offer chocolate mousse accents. Drink now through 2022. 15,166 cases made. Top 100: 2015, Rank: 25” (WS 7/31/15)  $26.95/btl. or 6 bottles packed in cardboard presentation case: $145.95
2012 Joseph Phelps Vineyards “Insignia”, Napa, CA- “The 2012 Insignia is one of the most intense, powerful wines of year. Dark red and black fruit, smoke, mocha, French oak, spices and leather burst from the glass in an explosive red built on texture and structure. Readers will find very little of the early appeal of 2012 here.” (AG Vinous 12/14) 
$259.95/btl or 6 bottles packed in wood presentation case: $1,395.95
2012 Opus One, Napa, Ca – “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is supple and radiant throughout, with gorgeous suppleness and purity to the flavors. Sweet red cherry, hard candy, raspberry wild flowers and cinnamon are some of the notes that grace the palate. Racy and forward, yet classically mid-weight in structure, the 2012 is likely to drink well pretty much upon release. Once quite rich, the 2012 is developing into a wine of finesse and open-knit sensuality.” (AG Vinous 10/15)
$249.95/btl or 6 bottles packed in wood presentation case: $1,299.95

Large Formats and Older Vintages

Large Format
Large format bottles increase the “WOW” factor as a gift or at a Holiday meal. Here are just a few ideas. Many come in beautiful wood presentation boxes. Stop by to see our entire selection.
From Left to right:
2010 Ken Wright Freedom Hill Vineyard Wilamette Vally Pinot Noir - $249.95 3L
2012 Solena Grand Cuvee Willamette Valley Pinot Noir - $59.95 1.5L (#38 WS top 100)
2000 Warre’s Vintage Port - $139.95 1.5L
2006 Ch. Chorey Les Beaune “Tante Berthe” 1er - $199.95 1.5L
2010 Ch. Larose-Trintaudon Haut Medoc - $276.95 6L
NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose - $449.95 3L
2004 Cantino Del Pino Ovello Barbaresco $264.95 3L
2000 Clos Erasmus Priorat $449.95 1.5L (Are you kidding? This should have been scooped up long ago!)
2004 Dom de la Mordoree Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Cuvee La Reine des Bois” Rhone, France. - $249.95 1.5L
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OLDER VINTAGES
We have an extensive collection of wines from France, Italy, California and Spain including some older vintages. These wines make unique gifts that can be tied to birth dates and anniversaries.
Here are a few all pre-2000 vintage to consider:
1995 Clos du Marquis Red Bordeaux Blend St. Julien, France – $107.95
1983 Chateau Margaux, Bordeaux France - $699.95
1968 Lopez de Heredia “Viña Tondonia” Gran Reserva Rioja -  $648.95
1975 Chateau Musar Gaston Hochar White, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon - $475.95
1994 Chateau Musar Gaston Hochar Red, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon – 4178.95
1996 Scarpa Rouchet Vino Rosso Da Tavola, Italy - $37.95
1982 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy - $246.95
1978 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva DOCG,Italy - $213.95
1985 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva DOCG,Italy - $199.95
1989 Chateau Gilette Creme de Tete, Sauternes, France - $149.95
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PORT, CHAMPAGNE and DESSERT Wines

PORT
Ports make wonderful wine gifts.
Here are two suggestions but you may wish to talk with us about other ports including vintage wines.
Taylor Fladgate - A Century of Port
Aged in larger oak casks
these blended tawny ports
are rich and mellow,
4 - 1/2 bottles (375ml) each of 10/20/30
and 40 year tawny in a wood presentation case.
What a wonderful gift . $285.95

BROADBENT VINTAGE 1997 PORT
Due to an exceptional Vintage year and low crop yields in Portugal’s Douro Valley, production of the Broadbent 1997 Vintage Port is only 1,000 cases, approximately one-third of the 1994 Vintage. The resulting wine is one of fleshy concentration with ripe and generous fruit.
This wine has both an immediate appeal and the strength and complexity to age for decades. $67.95

CHAMPAGNE
We carry over 60 different Champagnes and sparkling wines. Please visit to find the right one for your gift or Holiday Celebration. Here are a few suggestions:
NV Billecart-Salmon Rose Champagne 375ml w/ 2 branded Billecart-Salmon Champagne Flutes
Year in and year out the Rose releases from Billecart define the house and this is a perfect gift offering in a presentation box.
$79.95
...and a few truly unique champagnes:
NV Champagne Lilbert-Rils Blanc de Blanc Cramant Grand Cru-  $61.95
NV Champagne A Margaine Brut Rose - $55.95
2007 champagne Gaston Chiquet Special Club - $73.95
(Ask us about Club Champagnes, they represent the best of the best.)
Champagne Geoffroy Rose de Saignee Brut 1er 375ml - $39.95
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...and Don’t Forget Dessert!
We carry an excellent selection of wines to finish the meal as a pairing to pies, cakes, and dark chocolates!
The best dessert wines take years to mature. Here are some rare, outstanding examples:

2000 Kracher No 7, Chardonnay Trockenbeeren Auslese, Austria -  $84.95
NV Chambers Rutherglen Rare Muscat -
from a release in the 90’s - Australia - $199.95
1996 Chateau Tirecul La Graviere, Monbazillac, France - $39.95

MONTHLY SPECIALS