Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, March 28, 2009

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per personHome of: ExecutiveGiftService.com611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

About a year ago, John Arnold who is a parter in the ownership of J. Lohr Winery joined us for a tasting and discussion of his fine wines. While chatting with him recently over some open bottles of J. Lohr wines, John asked whether he could come once again to revisit us and for us to revisit his wines. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. The former event was the best attended of the year and most talked about for some time. John is most knowledgable regarding wine and especially on the subject of his winery. So if you want the inside scoop on Jerry Lohr and the amazing success of this enterprise, do make it a point to be here Saturday. I should add, the wines are excellent!

2006 J. Lohr Chardonnay, Riverstone, Arroyo Seco

10.95

The 2006 vintage marked the twentieth year of production of Riverstone Chardonnay from the vineyards in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey County. The aromas are of nectarine, peach pie and apple–combined with the perfumed vanilla and toasted oak bouquet from barrel and malolactic fermentation and sur lie aging. The flavors are very clean, with peach, nectarine and citrus with subtle butter and vanilla toastiness, producing layers of complexity with an excellent balance of fresh fruit acidity and palate weight. This wine is ideal for pairing with oven-roasted chicken, Dungeness crab or cream-sauced pasta dishes.

2005 J. Lohr Chardonnay, October Night V., Arroyo Seco

23.50

The Burgundian winemaking techniques, including alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barrel with lees stirring and extended aging, contribute a complex bouquet of white flowers, tangerine, lemon curd and butterscotch, and amplify an already intensely viscous wine. This is an enticingly delicious Chardonnay with complex aromas and flavors balanced by palate cleansing acidity, perfect for pairing with roasted chicken, pork or cream-sauced pasta dishes.

2006 J. Lohr Pinot Noir, Fog’s Reach V., Arroyo Seco

27.00

2006 marks the inaugural vintage of the Fog’s Reach Vineyard Pinot Noir. Grown on cobbly, sandy loam soils of the cool, windy Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey, Pinot seems to thrive, producing tiny, deeply colored and flavorful clusters. Comprised of Dijon and Pommard clones, it has enticing aromas of strawberry, cherry and rhubarb with a bouquet of toasted oak, vanilla and roasted meat. The flavors are reminiscent of strawberry, raspberry and cherry with some fruit and oak spiciness with weight, structure and a long, lingering finish. Try it with grilled lamb or duck.

2007 J. Lohr Zinfandel, Old Vines, Paso Robles

13.50

Picked from the Gravity Hills and Giubbini Vineyards of Paso Robles, this blend is comprised of 75.6% Zinfandel, 14.5% Grenache Noir, 7.6% Valdiguié and 2.3% Syrah. The aroma is characterized by Zinfandel’s spicy and jammy red fruits. The raspberry and blackberry are complemented with licorice and black tea spice. The palate has a substantial, plump texture with mid-palate weight and fruitiness making a food friendly wine, but is particularly suited to casual fare such as grilled sausage with red peppers, zesty red-sauced pasta dishes, or even pizza.

2006 J. Lohr Petite Sirah, Tower Road V., Paso Robles

18.95

2006 also marks the inaugural vintage of the Tower Road Vineyard Petite Sirah. In many ways it is not “Petite” at all. In fact, it is the largest-berried and largest-clustered variety grown in Paso Robles, and amazingly, it is also the variety with the greatest phenolic content, with gobs of color and tannin. This wine has dark, brooding aromas of blackberry, black currant and rhubarb pie with a bouquet of dark chocolate, black licorice and brown spices. The flavors are reminiscent of the aromas, with dark chocolate taking the fore, with a huge, plump mouthfeel and long, savory finish. It will stand up to roasted venison, elk or beef with a berry reduction sauce.

2005 J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon, Carol’s V., Napa Valley

32.00

Carol’s Vineyard lies in northern St. Helena, and is comprised of 16.4 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 4.3 acres of Petit Verdot. The wine has elegant aromas of red and black currants and cherries, with a complex bouquet of vanilla, allspice and toasty oak. It delivers a dense, yet incredibly supple structure reminiscent of Bordeaux clarets. A minimum of five years of cellaring would be nice before enjoying with a pan-seared filet mignon in a Cab-peppercorn reduction sauce.

Saturday, March 21, 2009
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

Bargains abound and we are here to pour them for your consideration.  Join us Saturday for a sampling of recent discounted pricing of some fine California wines.  My favorites among these, and among all California wines in general, are the reds from Limerick Lane of Sonoma County.  A couple of value wines from Esser Vineyards of Napa will be offered as will a Syrah from Halstead Vineyards of Morgon Hill and a rosé from Waterstone Vintners of Napa.

2005 Esser Vineyards Chardonnay, California
Regular price 8.95; Our price 6.99
After 30 years in the international wine business, Manfred Esser introduced his own wine label in 2002.  The final blend offers soft inviting aromas of sweet citrus, tropical fruit, and crème brulee oak. The palate is round and accessible, with apple and pear notes.  Wine Enthusiast gave this wine an 85-point rating: “Manfred Esser ran Cuvaison, so he knows Chardonnay.  This wine is mainly from Clarksburg, and shows good ripeness, but is balanced by firm acidity.  Barrel fermented and aged sur lie, it’s crisp and fruity, with freshly picked apple, pineapple, peach, mango and vanilla flavors that finish dry and spicy.  The acidity really is racy.”

2005 Waterstone Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
Regular price 13.50; Our price 9.99
Waterstone Vintners is a collaboration between veteran winemaker Philip Zorn and longtime wine executive Brent Shortridge.  It was formed in 2000 and its primary focus has been deep, full flavored reds.  This wine was “Very Highly Recommended” by California Grapevine, December 2008/January 2009: “Medium to medium-dark ruby; attractive, cedary, plumy, cassis and black cherry fruit aroma with a hint of cocoa; full body; forward, rich, textured, layered, slightly herbaceous, dark currant and ripe berry flavors with notes of green olive and sweet oak; velvety mouthfeel; medium-full to full tannin; lingering aftertaste.  Good Value.”

2005 Esser Vineyards Zinfandel, California
Regular price 8.95; Our price 6.99
This forthcoming and delicious Zin has a slightly smoky nose of dark plum, berry, white pepper and hints of dry rose. It is smooth and rich on the palate, where black and white peppercorn, red plum and ripe cherry join some boysenberry hints and savory notes of smoke and vanilla through its lingering finish.  Fun all by itself, it will be even better with pizza or barbecued ribs.  Winemaker notes: A flavorful, dense zinfandel with loads of raspberry and cherry fruit, bolstered by typical leather and peppery tones, along with sweet oak accents. Delicious with poultry, and grilled red meats, semi-soft and soft-ripened cheeses

2004 Limerick Lane Zinfandel, Collins Vineyard, Russian River Valley
Regular price 23.50; Our price 19.99
In 1977, Michael Collins, his brother Tom and friend Ted Markoczy, purchased 30 acres on Limerick Lane, south of Healdsburg.  After years of selling grapes, from vines dating back to 1910, to such wineries as De Loach, Chateau Souverain, Ravenswood, Davis Bynum and Gary Farrell, they built a winery on the property and crushed their first vintage in 1993.  The estate produced Zinfandel began receiving awards and accolades and quickly became well known as an exemplar of the finest California Zinfandel.  Food and Wine Magazine’s Wine Guide gave the wine 4 out of 4 stars and ranked it in the Top Five Best of the Best, describing it as: “Superbly balanced wine, full of cherry and raspberry flavors. This Zinfandel is lusher than most claret, but has the same sort of elegance.”

2002 Halstead Vineyards Syrah, Central Coast
Regular price 13.50; Our price 7.99
This Morgan Hill bottling reflects California’s Central Coast maritime influence wherein long cool growing seasons produce wines reflecting full flavor development balanced by age-worthy acids.  The berry character of the wine is set in tandem with spice elements and continues through to the long dry finish.

2005 Limerick Lane Syrah, Collins Vineyard, Russian River Valley
Regular price 25.00; Our price 14.99
The wine has a bouquet that is floral, herbal, cedary, youthful, spicy and plumy.  It is somewhat jammy and ripe with black cherry and notes of vanilla and black pepper.  It is full bodied; tight, somewhat tart, herbal and peppery.  Medium-full to full tannins make the wine slightly tart on the finish; but the lingering aftertaste of rich fruit and spice is purely lovely.

Saturday, March 14, 2009
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

If you have never tasted the fine wines of Michael David Winery this is your opportunity to rectify the shortcoming.  Tony Salomone representing present owners, Michael & David Phillips will be present to pour and discuss these high-value wines.  Located just 30 minutes south of Sacramento and one hour east of the Bay Area, this winery is situated among some of the oldest vineyards in California.  This Lodi appellation is primarily known for its old vine Zinfandels and newer plantings of Rhone varietals.  In 1850, amid the Gold Rush, Captain Charles Weber, founder of Stockton, California, brought grape cuttings to the area.  By the turn of the century (1900), twenty-five percent of California’s grape acreage was in Lodi.  During Prohibition fifteen different wine varietals were shipped throughout the country with instructions on “how not to have the grapes turn into wine”.  These were very canny farmers.

2006 Michael David Incognito Viognier, Lodi
Regular price 14.99; Our price 13.50
Incognito’s grapes are grown in the Ripken Vineyard, east of the Carquinez Straits in the Sacramento River Delta region of California.  Warm days and cool evenings, reminiscent of the clone’s native Rhone Valley, produce the powerful and intense fruit with a sultry body that characterizes this wine.  Flambéed pear and honeysuckle aromas open up into flavors of passion fruit, green apple and a lingering dried apricot finish.

2005 Michael David Incognito Red Wine, Lodi
Regular price 14.99; Our price 13.50
The rouge blend changes every vintage using Rhone style varietals.  Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignane are regulars to the blend; also added are small amounts of Petite Sirah, Cinsault, Carignane, Tannat, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Grenache.  The bouquet begins with elegant, smoky clove spice, evolving to layers of marmalade and toast that gently coat the mouth.  The blend bursts with fresh blueberry and dried cranberry notes, finishing with smooth tannins and spice.

2006 Michael David Earthquake Zinfandel, Lodi
Regular price 23.50; Our price 19.99
The original release in the “Earthquake” series was the Zin that came from an old Lodi vineyard planted around the time of San Francisco’s great earthquake in 1906.  While mulling over a label name in the vineyard, Michael Phillips thought it only seemed fitting to relate this intense wine with the historical quake.  The wine shows juicy plum and spicy clove with vanilla and toasted raspberry cobbler.  It has a full body of over 15% alcohol while clothed in bold tannins.  The finish is long and smooth.

2005 Michael David Earthquake Syrah, Lodi
Regular price 23.50; Our price 19.99
The bouquet shows dried cranberry and subtle hints of green tea.  Bing cherry and dried plum round out the bold tannins, while leaving just a hint of cedar with a warm lasting finish.  Luscious cherry and earth tones play against hints of gooseberry and leather easing on down the road to the full-bodied finish of strong, supple tannins.

2005 Michael David Earthquake Petite Sirah, Lodi
Regular price 23.50; Our price 19.99
Up front blueberry syrup, black cherry and coffee bean shake up the senses, finishing with warm cigar box cedar and vanillin flavors.  Brawny, solid tannins are seemingly endless.  . The wine is full bodied, with vanilla and prune balanced with hints of leather and toasted oak on the palate.  Try not to smile beyond this point as this Petite Sirah will leave your, teeth stained of its inky dark color.

2005 Michael David Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price 23.50; Our price 19.99
This is Cabernet Sauvignon blended with just a smidgen of Cab Franc.  It is aged in French and American oak for 25 months, instilling an attractive bouquet of vanilla, violets and menthol.  Upfront cherry notes, added to a tasty vanilla-mocha flavor combination, capture the palate.  Tannins kick in by way of the finish.

Saturday, March 7, 2009
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 happened upon some most excellent bargains from our Australian wine importers and will be showing them off this Saturday.  The offering centers on the wines of South Australia and Victoria, the major wine producing regions in the country.  Australia’s first vineyards were planted in 1788 in a small area near the Sydney Harbour Bridge in New South Wales.  Today you will find vineyards throughout all 62 designated wine regions totalling 420,000 acres.  Current export figures place Australia as the fourth largest exporter of wine, selling to more than 100 countries around the world and contributing $5.5 billion to the nation’s economy.

2006 Shoofly White Wine, Victoria
Regular price 13.50; Our price 9.99
Juicy, tropical Verdelho and exotically perfumed Viognier combine with dashes of Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling to provide a refreshing, succulent blend.  Crafted by leading Australian winemaker, Ben Riggs, the 2006 Buzz Cut exhibits aromas of tropical fruit, apricot, and grapefruit.  It is drinking well now and should last another year or so.  It pairs well with flavorful seafood such as coconut shrimp, and with pork dishes with sautéed pears or chili spices.

2006 Annie’s Lane Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia
Regular price 12.50; Our price 7.99
This Riesling is pale straw in color with green hues.  The nose shows the classic, elegant characters of Clare Valley Riesling: dried lime rind, citrus and stone fruit.  The palate is tight and elegant, with lime flavors dominating throughout. It can be enjoyed as an apéritif or as the perfect accompaniment to fruits de mer.  Its impressive length and natural acidity will allow for graceful aging over the next 5 years.

2005 Andrew Peace Rosé, Murray River, South Australia
Regular price 5.99; Our price 1.99
The blend in this very dry rosé is Shiraz (55%) and Sangiovese (45%).  It delivers lovely flavors of berries backed by hints of crisp green apples.  It is an excellent accompaniment to shellfish dishes and other light meat fish, but rather dry to serve as an apéritif.  It also serves well as a cooking wine for fish, poultry and pork.

2003 Ross Estate Grenache, Old Vine, Barossa Valley
Regular price 19.50; Our price 9.99
Ross Estate is one of my favorite Aussie wineries and wine-maker Rod Chapman does an excellent job here with grapes from vines up to 90 years of age.  These low-yielding gnarled vines produce very high quality Grenache grapes which, with Rod’s help, become a rich succulent wine with concentrated flavors.  The soft tannins frame the lovely ripe and spicy cherry fruit for a most pleasant sipping experience.

2005 St. Marys Red Wine, “Bells & Whistles”, Limestone Coast, SA
Regular price 15.95; Our price 9.99
The blend in this fun bottling is Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Shiraz (20%), Cabernet Franc (11%) and Merlot (4%).  Dark ruby colored, it delivers a nose of spice box, clove, cassis, and black currants.  It is full and quite rich on the palate.  Black cherry flavors emerge to add a bit of complexity.  Meant for near-term consumption, this attractive, forward wine should provide pleasure over the next 4-6 years.

2003 Koonowla Shiraz, Clare Valley, South Australia
Regular price 26.50; Our price 15.95
Koonowla is one of the six original wineries of Clare Valley, and only the best vineyard parcels were used for the grapes that made this wine.  The bouquet is redolent with blackberry fruit, and hints of cedar spice.  The palate has great depth balanced with ripe acidity and fine tannins. Robert Parker, Jr., of The Wine Advocate, gave this wine a 92-point rating: “The 2003 Shiraz, aged in equal parts American and French oak, exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, blockbuster-like force and richness, and noteworthy blackberry liqueur-like notes intermixed with white flowers, smoke, and asphalt.  Chewy, heady, and rich, it is best drunk over the next 7-10 years.  This is a seriously, impressive Shiraz.”