Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, November 1, 2008
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

       Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Owner David Reynolds of Leona Valley Winery has requested we try some of his newly released wines in an attempt to familerize wine lovers in our valley with his wines.  The Leona Valley is located about 30 miles NNE of Los Angeles in the Sierra Pelona Mountains which are often considered to be part of the San Gabriel Mountains, but are just to the north.  In fact, the Tejon Pass, near Gorman and Lebec, separates the Sierra Pelonas, the San Emigdios, and the Tehachapis.  Winemaking in the Leona Valley goes far back but was interupted by Prohibition.  Leona Valley Winery enjoys its own Viticultural Area now with the establishment of the 13.4-square mile “Leona Valley” American viticultural area becoming effective on November 28, 2008.  It should be interesting to see what this winery situated at 3200 feet of elevation can do.

2005 La Sablette Muscadet, Loire, France
5.99
We will start off with a light wine from the Loire Valley near the city of Nantes that is actually aged a short while on its lies (sur Lie) to give it extra body and flavor interest.  The Muscadet grape is also known as Melon de Bourgogne (often referred to simply as Melon) and produces a wine showing good citrusy fruit character with mineral elements.  More Muscadet is produced than any other Loire wine.  This is an excellent price for this wine normally priced at $9.99.

2006 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County
8.99
Another exceptional value, this Sauvignon Blanc is made in the French Sancerre style, dry and crisp, with grapefruit citrus fruit; totally free of oak contact.  Dave Stare, owner and winemaker, has been making this wine since 1972 and, by now, seems to have approached perfection. 

2006 Leona Valley Winery Chardonnay
45.00
I haven’t the foggiest idea what is in this bottle, so join me to find out.

2002 Domaine de Nizas Coteaux du Languedoc, France
9.99
The Languedoc in southern France produces some lovely blends not unlike the blends of the Rhone Valley.  This cuvée of Syrah (60%), Mourvedre (35%) and Grenache (5%) displays a rich blackberry fruit along with peppery/herbaceous notes.  Besides Nizas, John Goelet owns Clos Du Val in the Napa Valley; Taltarni Vineyards in Victoria, Australia; Clover Hill and Lalla Gully in Tasmania.

2006 Leona Valley Winery Pinot Noir
45.00
The label looks great!

2005 Leona Valley Winery Cabernet Franc
45.00
This should be interesting

2006 Leona Valley Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
45.00
If interested, give us your order for any of Leona Valley’s wines and we will guarantee this (believe it or not) discounted price.  I am offering no comment until opening and trying what looks like an interesting line of wines.

Saturday, October 25, 2008
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
       Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Last month we visited several of the California wineries owned by the Gallo family.  This Saturday Paul Chatterton, of Wine Warehouse Distibutors will be  sampling us on wines from Australia, Italy, Spain and New Zealand that are owned or distributed by the Gallos.  It is an impressive portfolio that could keep us in a course of exploration for more time than we have.  The Gallo brothers created a vast distribution network many decades ago shipping railroad tanker cars filled with bulk wine across the country.  Having succeeded in spreading the availability of their products, they realized that their pipeline could handle the flow of many more products and the imports were a logical extention of that strategy.

2007 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
15.99
The grapes were machine harvested at night, destemmed and lightly pressed with minimal skin contact.  The clear juice was fermented at very low temperature with selected yeast strains to preserve the desired fruit flavors.  A very small amount of residual sugar was retained to balance the crisp natural acidity inherent in the region’s Sauvignon Blanc.  The wine shows fresh passion fruit and gooseberry aromas, some pungent capsicum nuances, and a hint of ripe grapefruit.  On the palate it is a full flavored medium bodied wine, with an abundance of currant, passion fruit and gooseberry flavors, and a clean, lingering finish

2007 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio, Trentino, Italy
16.99
The Trentino area and, as well, the Alto Adige has a cool, Mediterranean microclimate, providing the perfect terroir for growing Pinot Grigio grapes.  The grapes for this wine came from hillside vineyards that seem to produce the best wine grapes.  The wine has a brilliant golden color with aromas of tropical fruit and apricot.  This Pinot Grigio is well-balanced and fleshier than most with ripe flavors of apple and pear, leading into a clean crisp finish.

2006 Martín Códax Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain
12.95
Martín Códax was a Galician Troubadour who lived some 7 centuries ago; his writings were rediscovered in the last century by an antiquarian bookseller in Madrid.  The name was given to the winery what produces this Albariño by the same name.  I came across this Federico Garcia Lorca comment: “In Spain, the dead are more alive than the dead of any other country in the world.”  I’m not entirely certain why I should use it now, but I like it very much.  Bodegas Martín Códax also produces Burgans Albariño, at a lesser price, as well as herb and coffee liqueurs.  This stylish wine is, round, fruity and refreshingly dry.  It appears pale straw with a greenish tint.  The aromas remind one of Mandarin orange, lime, pear and flower blossoms.  It is medium-bodied, juicy and tart on the tongue.  The pear and citrus medley flavors play out over a lengthy dry finish.

2005 Da Vinci Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
9.99
The Cantine Leonardo da Vinci is located between Florence, Siena and Pisa near (where else?) the town of Vinci.  Hillside vineyards are the source of the grapes that produce all three Chiantis for this winery.  This straight forward Chianti is a delightful quaffer and pasta accompaniment.  The flavors of strawberries and plums carry through to a bright finish.

2006 Martín Códax Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain
12.95
Tempranillo from Rioja is considered to be of the highest quality.  This is a modern-style Rioja, exhibiting dark, robust, plush fruit and smooth tannins.  This wine has lots of body and structure, as well as multiple layers of berry, plum & spice.

2004 Clarendon Hills Grenache, Old Vines, Blewitt Springs Vineyard, Australia
49.95
This “New World Winery of the Year” produced its first vintage in 1990.  Within four years, it had become not only the country’s highest rated winery, but also one of the highest rated in the world.  Owner, Roman Bratasiuk, produces 16 wines, focusing on Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  All are ripe, concentrated and powerful.

Saturday, October 18, 2008
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

       Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Next Saturday, the 18th, Katie Finn will join us representing Argentine producer, Fincas Patagonicas, the producer of the Zolo line of wines.  The Ortiz family, which owns the winery, selects grapes from estate vineyards throughout the different key regions of Mendoza.  The purpose of the winery’s Zolo classic line is to create a family of fruit-forward, great value wines, which can be enjoyed with a wide range of food or by themselves.  Located at various altitudes, each of these terroirs provides a different expression of fruit and varietal concentration.  The week after, on the 25th, Paul Chatterton will return to complete the excursion through the Gallo properties but this time focusing on wineries the company owns out of the US.  Other wineries, importers and distributors are lining up for future events and for your pleasure.

2007 Zolo Torrontés
9.99
Torrontés is the most distinctive of all Argentine wines, because Argentina is the only country to produce it.  Torrontés has enticing aromas that are strikingly similar to Viognier, with hints of peach pit, flowers, and orange citrus fruit.  On the
palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with enticing fruit flavors.  It is well-balanced and has a long finish.

2008 Melipal Malbec Rosé, Mendoza
9.99
This great rosé just arrived along with the Zolos and you simply must try a sample.  The wine’s watermelon and straw-berry vibrancy carries right through the nose and palate with an explosive range of assorted, freshly crushed red fruits.

2006 Zolo Bonarda
9.99
Bonarda is Mendoza’s most planted varietal and a fun grape to discover.  This wine has a very deep purple color with typical Bonarda aromas of raspberries and fruit jam.  In the mouth it has sweet tannins with toasty barrel notes from its 6 months in oak.

2005 Zolo Cabernet Sauvignon
9.99
The Cabernet grapes for this wine are carefully selected from estate vineyards located at 3,000 feet above sea level.  This wine achieves an ideal level of maturity and high concentration of flavors.  It has a deep red color and displays aromas of red fruits, strawberry jam, spice, and vanilla.  It was aged for 8 months in oak.

2006 Zolo Malbec
9.99
The grapes were selected from Zolo’s estate vineyards located in the best wine-growing regions of Mendoza.  Located at various altitudes, each of these terroirs provides a wonderful expression of fruit and varietal concentration.  The wine has a deep purple color, with a high intensity of black fruits, raspberries, and violets.  It was aged for 6 months in oak.

2005 Zolo Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
16.99
The Zolo Reserves display ultra-high concentration and aromatic complexity  They are made from Zolo’s single estate vineyard, San Pablo, in Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, at 4,300 feet above sea level.  This wine has concentrated black fruit, chocolate and toast aromas.  It is full bodied with remarkable elegance, harmony, and a long finish.  It received 12 months of aging in new French and American oak barrels.

2005 Zolo Malbec, Reserve
16.99
This fabulous Malbec shows concentrated plum, raspberry, and meaty aromas.  It is soft and sweet in the mouth with ripe and velvety tannins, the result of 10 months of aging in new French and American oak barrels.

Saturday, October 11, 2008
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

       Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Over the summer we have concentrated on lowering our inventory in preparation for the fall release taking place at this time.  Many new wines are on order and have begun to flow into the store, replacing the fine values you have enjoyed on our close-out list.  Next week Katie Finn will join us representing Argentine producer, Zolo Winery.  The week after, Paul Chatterton will return to complete the excursion through the Gallo properties but this time focusing on wineries the company owns out of the US.  Other wineries, importers and distributors are lining up for future events and for your pleasure.

2005 Arnold Palmer Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County
Our usual price: 11.50 Saturday only: 9.99
Arnold Palmer collaborates with Luna Winery, in which he is a partner, to product his Cabernets and Chardonnays.  The 2005 bottling has a nose that is zesty, with rich mineral, quince and grapefruit notes.  On the palate, the flavors are a lively mix of ripe pear, apple, citrus and honeydew.  Mouthwatering acidity brings a refreshing finish.

2006 Edna Valley Vineyard Chardonnay, San Luis Obispo Co.
Our usual price: 10.95 Saturday only: 9.99
Edna Valley pushes their Chardonnay all the way using techniques like barrel fermentation, malolactic fermentation, lees stirring and aging in new oak barrels.  It is an exceptional value.  This wine offers smoky aromas of vanillin oak and sweet spice balanced by white peach, pineapple and citrus notes.  On the palate, full, round flavors of white peach and citrus are accompanied by a subtle minerality on the long finish.  It pairs well with creamy pastas, baked sea bass, seared scallops and roast chicken with lemon and herbs.

2005 Georges Duboeuf Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays D’Oc
Our usual price: 6.99 Saturday only: 5.99
It’s interesting to see this French label forsake its traditional rectangular label for an almost pop art bottle, an approach that is bound to alter its shelf appeal.  The nose is rather earthy with light floral fruit.  On the palate, this Pinot Noir is well balanced, with cherry and raspberry notes leading into a spicy finish.  The tannins are a bit prominent, but after a bit of breathing it smoothes out a bit.

2006 DeCanal Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy
Our usual price: 7.50 Saturday only: 5.99
This is a very good buy for we are offering it Saturday at half of its release price.  This wine should not be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a Tuscan wine made from Sangiovese and other grapes, but not the Montepulciano variety.  Montepulciano is most widely planted in the Abruzzi, and in the Marches, where it is a principal ingredient in such reds as Rosso Conero and Rosso Piceno.  The wine is a lovely medium-bodied blend of cherries and spice in tandem with smooth tannins.

2003 Santa Ema Syrah, Barrel Select, Chile
Our usual price: 8.99 Saturday only: 7.50
This Chilean estate was established by an Italian, Pedro Pavone Voglino, in 1917.  The wine is a deep red mahogany in color.  On the nose, it has smoky, round Syrah characteristics, not unlike Australian Syrah in character, although more restrained.  The palate is pleasant; full, round, light oak, light tannin, with a modest finish.  The bottle is an elegant package for a modest Chilean wine.

2001 Tenuta Sant’ Antonio Cabernet Sauvignon, Veneto, Italy
Our usual price: 12.95 Saturday only: 9.99
This Cab is soft and fruity, with lovely blackberry, currants and raspberry aromas and flavors.  It is medium bodied with fine tannins and a smooth finish.  Today’s price is less than half of the release price, making this a very fine value.

Saturday, October 4, 2008
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

       Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

We have taken delivery on some interesting imports from Mediterranean countries and on Saturday will be pairing a red and a white from each of Italy, Spain and Greece.  Join us for our poor-man’s tour of the Mediterranean as we sample wines of each country that make us wish we were there.

2006 Teruzzi & Puthod Vernaccia, “Rondolino”, Tuscany
11.50
The Vernaccia grape yields a wine that is a brilliant straw yellow in color, and the nose is delicately floral and fruity with notes of citrus.  In the mouth it is light and crisp with bright lemon/lime flavors. A slight flintiness accompanies notes of green apple.  It is harmonious, pleasantly complex in flavor and pleases with a soft mouthfeel.  It is best served lightly chilled, and is delicious with all types of seafood, white meats and carpaccio.

2007 Boutari Moschofilero, Mantinía, Greece
14.95
Boutari Moschofilero (mo-sko-FEEL-ero) is a premium white wine made from 100% Moschofilero grapes grown in high elevation vineyards in the AOC region of Mantinía in the Peloponnese.  For years, Moschofilero has been an important selling white wine in Greece and, until recently, a virtual unknown in the United States.  This is a fresh white wine with intense floral (white rose) and fruity (melon and citrus trees) aromas and flavors.  It serves well as an aperitif.

2007 Burgans Albariño, Rias Baixas Spain
12.50
This wine scored 90 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “Burgans is a custom cuvee made for importer Eric Solomon and in terms of bang for the buck, it has no challenger.  The 2007 is light gold-colored with a sprightly nose of mineral, spring flowers, and lemon peel.  Ripe, balanced, and concentrated, this is an ideal match for flaky fish courses.”  Also: look for the flavor of white peaches balancing nicely off of the wet stone character.  Excellent with oysters, lightly fried white fish or even roast chicken.

2006 Valcantara Garnacha, Cariñena, Aragón, Spain
8.99
The Valcantara is made of Grenache from vineyards of more than 40 years old.  Flavors of berries, cherries and leather carry from the nose to the palate. The wine is medium bodied, lush, full, spicy and fruity, with rounded tannins.  It is ideal with any roasted or highly flavored meat dish, as well as a variety of tapas.

2005 Pavlou-Kagas “Klima” Xinomavro, Macedonia, Greece
19.99
The vineyard yielding this wine is 160 kilometers to the west of Thessaloniki in the region of Macedonia in Greece.  The estate is owned by two Greeks, George Pavlou and Vasilios Kagas as well as by an Italian-Canadian Alex Pulcini, who is responsible for distribution in North America.  The Xinomavro (ksee-no-mah-vro) vines were selected from an organically-run vineyard, and are between 15 and 75 years old.  Xinomavro is a wine lover’s wine, rather than an easy drinking crowd pleaser.  With a low color and flavors of earth and sun-dried tomatoes, the grape is often compared with Nebbiolo in its youth, largely due to the high tannin and acidity.

2001 Castello di Monastero Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany
22.25
The winery is located in the area near Sienna in Tuscany where Sangiovese is “king”.  Vinification here is done in the traditional method, with contact on the lees for 14-15 days.  The wine is aged for 16 months in French wood barriques, then undergoes considerable bottle age on premises at a controlled temperature.  The color is dark with light orange hints and the bouquet: is earthy with hints of cherries slightly spiced.  The taste is dry, harmonious and complex with medium tannins.