Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, December 29, 2007

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264, 327-7701

Party holidays like New Years require good tasting wines that can be bought in volume at reasonable prices. Among the new arrivals to our store are a few that deserve our attention. The quality level is up and the pricing level is down…and there will be funds left over in the budget to buy food.

We will be closed only on New Year’s Day and will revert to our usual schedule in January, closing each Sunday and holidays. During the period in January that Zola and I are on vacation, Richard Duran will attend to your needs. The Saturday wine events will continue with a different wine industry representative performing the duties as host, each week.

If you cannot make it in this Saturday, let me wish you here a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

n.v. Grandial Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine,
$7.99

We have established relationships with some small importers that search out good wines of exceptional value. Sparklers like this are a good case in point. It comes from Landiras, a commune south of the Gironde (which contains Bordeaux) and just south of Bergerac. A wonderful little sparkling wine is produced here from 100% Ugni Blanc that is surprisingly clean, refreshing and totally dry.

n.v. Taltarni Brut Taché Sparkling Wine, Australia
$14.95

Clos du Val Winery of Napa Valley imports this sparkling rosé that is a blend of Chardonnay (52%), Pinot Noir (41%) and Pinot Meunier (7%). “Taché” is the French word for stained and refers to the red wine that is added to the dosage after disgorgement, thereby staining the resulting sparkler a light pink. This is a traditional “Méthode Champenoise” wine fermented in the bottle and matured for a minimum of 18 months. It shows refinement and personality in its lovely color, abundant fruit and mouth filling flavor.

2006 Four Vines Naked Chardonnay, Santa Barbara
$9.99

This wine was entirely fermented in stainless steel and has not seen any oak. This is crisp, concentrated Chardonnay with all its natural acid, for it was not allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation. The resulting wine exhibits flavors of apple, white peach, and pear, finishing long with hints of citrus and minerals.

2005 Epiphany Grenache Rosé, Santa Barbara
$10.95

The grapes for this rosé come from Fess Parker Estates in Santa Ynez Valley. 30% of the wine was produced in stainless steel tanks and the other 70% was barrel fermented. The beautiful aromatics segue to crisp fruit flavors of strawberry, cherry and watermelon.

2005 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma
$9.99

Grapes from several Sonoma County vineyards contributed to the final blend of this well balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t let the low price fool you into thinking of this as low quality Cabernet. It is a fine bargain, projecting fresh ripe flavors of cassis, black cherry and oaky spice.

2005 Klinker Brick Zinfandel, Old Vine, Lodi
$17.95

As vineyards age, they tend to have fewer clusters of grapes which are of smaller berry size, yielding more intense sugars, color and concentration of flavors, and producing wines that are generally better balanced with more body and structure. The grapes came from eleven different vineyard blocks, ranging in age from 35 to 110 years old, the latter yielding less than one ton per acre. The resulting wine explodes with full, juicy flavors of cherries and plums coupled with the perfect balance of oak and spice. There is a nuance of mint and clove on the nose and a lingering, elegant finish.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264, 327-7701

When the needs of party provision or gift giving begin to outstrip the budget, it becomes imperative to find well-priced premium wines in attractive bottles and labels.  Here are a few suggestions from the many new arrivals at our store.

We will be closed only on Christmas day and on New Year’s Day and will revert to our usual schedule in January, closing each Sunday and holidays.  If you are unable to attend this wine party or next Saturday’s (and shame on you if you miss) then please accept our heartfelt thanks for your support of all we are trying to do here.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

n.v. Bellussi Prosecco di Valdobbiadene
$9.99               

It is getting increasingly difficult to find good Prosecco for 10.00 and under, given the free-fall of the dollar against the Euro.  We did, however, manage to force the price downward on this one after agreeing to a sizeable purchase.  Prosecco is a late-ripening, delicate white wine grape grown extensively in the region north of Venice.  This frizzante style wine (slightly sparkling) is light and dry, with a hint of pear in the taste.  It is quite delicious.

n.v. South Coast Winery Ruby Cuvée
$9.99

Are you ready for a sparkling Syrah?  This Temecula winery does a nice job with this bottling.  The “ruby” refers to the color of the wine.  The bouquet is fruit oriented showing red berries with a chocolate edge.  Likewise in the mouth the wine is fruity and lush and exhibits a lively acidity.

2003 Santino Zinfandel, Sierra Foothills, Amador
$9.99               

This Zin is sturdy and full of rich raspberries and blackberries, plums, and spice aromas.  The mouth is flush with berry fruit that connects with almonds, cinnamon and pepper.  The finish shows a slight tartness but seems to come together nicely.  It is a good wine for the price and it matches well with spicy and hearty foods.

2005 Jessie’s Grove Winery Zinfandel “EARTH, ZIN & FIRE”
$10.99

This winery sources fruit from the Lodi area and produced this bottling from vines 64 years old.  The wine has a rich bouquet with forward fruit, primarily strawberry and blackberry.  There is a dense jammy quality to the berry flavors that round out with exotic spice, soft tannins and a smooth finish.

2006 Puerto Viejo Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
$8.99

Argentina does an amazing thing with Malbec and this effort produced from 50 year old vines is no exception.  What’s amazing is the value.  This delicious wine is done in the plumy style and has a richness which belies its price.  The minerals and spice in the finish add a harmonious quality that impresses.

2005 Pascual Toso Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
$9.99

I am severely challenged to find wines of California that can match this one for value.  There are intense notes of blueberries and plums reinforced by vanilla and a touch of white chocolate contributed by French oak.  This is a very well-structured wine full of sweet tannins with good concentration and a long finish.  You can pair it with red meat, pasta dishes and fine or fermented cheese, such as blue cheese.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1,
Palm Springs, 92264, 327-7701

Saturday’s tasting event will be hosted by Madeleine de Jean representing an east coast importer of wines from Greece. She will be discussing the technological advances in winemaking that have occurred in the last couple of decades as well as the wines themselves. There are many new wineries and newly trained winemakers in Greece that are changing the perception of wines from that country. Most are using the indigenous grapes as well as the international varietals such as Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot and Chardonnay. They remain proud of their heritage and insist on making the best possible bottle of wine each varietal will yield. The proof is in the tasting and the opportunity awaits you this Saturday.

2005 Haggipavlu Moschofilero, Mantinía, Peloponnesus
$15.85
This is perhaps the most popular of the white wines from Greece. Citrus remains the center of the flavor profile and some exotic fruits come into play, as well. It functions well as a food wine to accompany Greek spiced meat dishes as well as those of fish and poultry.

2005 Megapanos Savatiano, Sparta, Attica
$15.95
This is a dry wine of low vineyard yield, with good bouquet and soft viscous flavors and some stoniness; an excellent accompaniment to the fresh ingredient cuisine of Greece. The wine is fermented in stainless steel with no carbonic maceration, nor malolactic fermentation. It sees no barrel aging and enjoys a fresh fruitiness with less than 12% alcohol. The winemaker is well-known as a leader in the advancement of Greek viticulture and oenology.

2006 Vatistas Asproudi/Assyrtiko, Lakonia, Peloponnesus
$19.95
Both of these white wine grapes are ancient varietals and are quite popular in Greece. The blend is 60% Asproudi and 40% Assyrtiko and produces a lovely crisp, softly perfumed food wine. This vineyard lies in the same region where the grape, Malvasia, originated.

2005 Pavlou Xinomavro “Klima”, Macedonia
$19.99
Pavlou farms his grapes organically which we are seeing more of in Greece. Klima is a single vineyard designation and the grape Xinomavro is more closely related to the Pinot Noir grape. It sees six months of oak aging and emerges smooth and velvety.

2003 Vatistas Aghiorgitiko, Neméa, Lakonia, Peloponnesus
$29.95
This is one of the most important red wine producing regions of Greece and the star varietal is Aghiorgitiko, which probably explains why it is referred to by its Anglicized meaning: St. George. The grape is indigenous to this area with a recorded history extending back to 2000 BC. The wine is deep and complex with lovely elements of red fruits, and spices including vanilla, probably the result of spending a year in French oak.

nv Etko Commandaria St. Nicholas, Limassol, Cyprus
$19.95
Commandaria is made exclusively from two types of indigenous Cyprus grapes: Xynisteri and Mavro. The grapes are left to overripe on the vine and when sugar content reaches acceptable levels they are harvested. The grapes are then laid out in the sun to further increase the sugar density through evaporation. Fermentation takes place in vats and will arrest naturally due to the high levels of alcohol achieved at around 15%. The process has to take place within the confines of 14 designated villages that lie in the Commandaria Region, and, by law, the wine must be aged for at least four years in Oak Barrels. The flavors begin with black cherry on the palate, showing honeyed elements, and proceed to a strong yet pleasant raisin finish that lingers on and on. The Commandaria Centurion from Etko is a world class wine that sells in the $100.00 range.

Generally, the purchase of an “everyday” wine for an “everyday” meal is a straightforward affair. You uncork or unscrew, pour and enjoy the elixir of the grape. Whether consumed by itself or with a meal presents no big decision making process.

That changes when you step up to an oaky Chardonnay or a fine red wine that is still in its youth. These wines have rough edges that often benefit from aeration. Opening the bottle well in advance of using, say an hour, will serve to smooth out some of its youthful roughness by allowing oxygen to speed up the aging process. This can be done, as well, by pouring the wine into a decanter about half an hour before serving. There are gadgets, by way of technology, that attempt to shortcut the decanting process such as the BevWizard wine smoother and the new “breathable glasses” made my Eisch of Germany. The BevWizard works well on young, tannic wines when passed through a high-intensity magnetic field in the pouring spout. The structure of the tannins is rapidly altered, yielding a softer, silkier mouthfeel. Eisch’s technology involves an oxygenizing treatment of the glass which assists in the aeration of the wine; yielding a more open and generous aroma and palate impression. You would swear there was voodoo at work here.

For red wines that have reached their maturity, decanting becomes a must, especially if the wine was neither fined nor filtered. This bottle will surely be throwing sediment; a layer of fine particles that originally were in suspension and that have now settled to form a carpet at the bottom. Disturbing this layer of muck is not something you want to do, by pouring glass after glass. For this ritual, a decanter, a candle and a match are a must.
First, allow the bottle to rest standing up for several hours before uncorking. The older the bottle, the more fragile the cork, so caution must be exercised while meticulously extracting the cork. Pour slowly and carefully over the lighted candle into the decanter while looking for the sediment to begin its movement towards the neck. If you have performed your act of surgery correctly, you will have trapped all of the sediment in the last ounce of wine in the shoulder of the bottle. Avoid this last ounce. Mixing in any of the sediment will embitter the wine.

Aged wines are not for everyone, but for the true aficionado aging is the final act in the wine maker’s drama. For here is where all of the disparate elements have resolved themselves to become an eloquent work of winemaking art.
To the fortunate consumers of these wines: Enjoy!

COSTA NICHOLS 7/30/2007

Saturday, December 8, 2007

4 to 6 pm

$10.00 per person

The first 36 guests will receive a souvenir champagne glass

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 327-7701

The holiday season looms before us and what better way to beckon the season than to pop open a few bottles of Champagne. Lisa Wherry will join us on Saturday to discuss and to pour the fine sparklers from her portfolio. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Arrive late for this event and you will be sorry; miss this one and you will be even sorrier.

2004 Domaine Carneros Brut, Napa
$18.99

This winery blends Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at a two to one ratio and tosses in a splash of Pinot Blanc for good measure. Typical of each vintage are lovely flavors of lemon blossom, honeydew melon, ripe peaches and pears. Toasted nuts, caramel and hints of baking spice add to the complexity. The creamy mousse is very special.

2003 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, Napa
$27.75

Inviting toasty lemon-lime and tropical aromas combine with hints of vanilla spice. On the palate, it has zesty citrus and baked pineapple flavors that lead to a long, seamless finish. It is crisp and refreshing, showcasing sparkling Chardonnay at it best. Blanc de Blancs was the first wine they produced in 1965 and was America’s first commercially produced Chardonnay-based sparkling wine. Good stuff!

2004 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs, Napa
$29.95

The Blanc de Noirs bursts with a lively bright mixture of peach, strawberry, and candied orange aromas. Honeyed and caramelized characters have developed over the course of bottle-aging in their mountain caves. The palate shows off vibrant stone fruit flavors with a silky mix of vanilla crème and zesty acidity.

2002 Iron Horse Russian Cuvée, Green Valley, Sonoma
$25.00

The same base wine as Classic Vintage Brut, but with a richer dosage, which makes it more opulent, slightly sweeter and heightens the fruit . Originally designed for the historic Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings ending the Cold War.

2003 Iron Horse Brut Rose, Green Valley, Sonoma
$44.00

The wildest of the Iron Horse sparkling wines and surprisingly the driest. Bold and vibrant in both color and taste, it is pure exuberance. The color and richness come from cold soaking the Pinot Noir on the skins. Brut Rosés are the most versatile of food wines, functioning perfectly as an apéritif or with a very wide variety of foods. This one is fantastic!

Delamotte Brut Champagne
$29.95

The Delamotte brut is 50 percent chardonnay, 30 percent Pinot Noir and 20 percent Pinot Meunier. The focus is on a very fresh style, and the result is a crisp, toasty, white peach-pear nose that opens, upon sipping, to a toasty creamy texture, with fine bubbles.

Taittinger Brut Champagne, La Francaise
$15.50/375ml

The color is a brilliant, golden straw yellow and the bubbles are fine. The mousse is both discreet and persistent. The nose, very expressive and open, is both fruity and bread-like, exuding aromas of peach, flowers, and vanilla. On the palate, this lively fresh wine is harmonious and delicate with flavors of fresh fruit and honey.

Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne
$25.99; $14.50/375ml; $9.95/187ml

The majority of the blend is Pinot Noir with small amounts of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier balancing out the blend. Selected reserve wines from preceding years are incorporated into the blend to insure consistency of style from year to year. The blend is aged on the lees for a minimum of two years before release. Always excellent and a great buy!

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne
$29.75

From the bread-like, floral and citrus notes in the bouquet to the apricot, melon and rum pastry flavors, this well balanced wine performs well as an apéritif as well as a versatile accompaniment to food.

Mumm Brut Cordon Rouge Champagne
$29.95

Cordon Rouge has always been a distinctly fresh, full bodied Champagne with impeccable consistency of taste. Its richness and elegance have been symbolically represented by the diagonal red ribbon across the label since 1876.