Archive for June, 2009

Wine Party/Rosenblum Cellars

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

     

Saturday, June 27, 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

After years of home winemaking, Dr. Kent Rosenblum (a veterinarian) and his wife Kathy joined with other close friends in 1978 to establish Rosenblum Cellars.  Thirty years later they are still going strong having attained their primacy in the world of Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah.  Kent focused on crafting exceptional vineyard designated wines using grapes farmed from mountainside, head-pruned, old vines.  At the time, most wineries were promoting their estate vineyards while Kent spotlighted individual growers from Sonoma and Napa, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, and other prime areas.  This concept has served the winery well with only few mishaps.  Some growers whose vineyards became famous due to Rosenblum decided to raise their prices, considerably in some cases.  These vineyards are no longer part of the offering.

2005 Rosenblum Syrah, Abba Vineyard, Lodi
Regular price 22.00; our price 18.99
Phillip Abba uses the trellis system to grow his grapes which provides filtered sunlight to complete the maturation process.  The 05 is redolent of berries and cherries, somewhat smoky and spicy, with an emphasis on white pepper.  The oak imparts a nice vanillin flavor to the wine and compliments the other spices.

2005 Rosenblum Zinfandel, Richard Sauret Vineyard, Paso Robles
Regular price 25.00; our price 22.00
This black ruby/purple wine has a fruity nose of ripe spicy black raspberries and sweet smoky scents.  It is round and soft on the palate, with great persistence of fruit, mostly blackberry.  Spicy and creamy components add up to a style of Zin that is very rich, flavorful, and hedonistic.

2004 Rosenblum Zinfandel, Eagle Point Vineyard, Mendocino
Regular price 27.50; our price 24.00
Intense and aromatic, this wine shows stunning bright blackberry fruit with evident cherry, chocolate and spice.  Although it has the heart of a Zinfandel, it is also very reminiscent of a Northern Rhône with beautiful minerality.  The blend includes 18% Petite Sirah from the same vineyard.

2006 Rosenblum Zinfandel, Carla’s Reserve, Contra Costa
Regular price 22.50; our price 19.95
This exotic Zinfandel exhibits a huge core of black cherry fruit with elements of wild berries, cassis and vanilla bean in the bouquet.  On the palate, soft and round tannins support flavors of ripe black cherry and blackberry with hints of spiced plum.  Zinfandel’s “bramble” character is much in evidence here, as well.

2006 Rosenblum Zinfandel, Rockpile Road Vineyard, Sonoma
Regular price 31.00; our price 26.99
This vineyard overlooking Lake Sonoma was propagated in the mid-1990s with Zinfandel bud-wood from the historic, 120-year-old St. Peter’s Church vineyard located in Cloverdale.  The old clone and high elevation in combination with rocky soil conditions and cool maritime breezes all come together to make one of the worlds best Zinfandels.  Rich and robust, flavors of blackberry, black cherry and raspberry mingle with spice and vanilla.

2005 Rosenblum Petite Sirah, Pickett Road, Napa
Regular price 29.95; our price 26.99
Bring your teeth brightener with you.  The nose of this very dark wine gives a nice mix of chocolate, currant and black pepper.  The fruit is very forward with chocolate covered dark cherries leading the way then currant and a slight citrus hit at the end of the finish.  Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: 92 points; Wine Spectator: 89

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Wine Party/Spanish Wines for Summer

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

 

Saturday, June 20, 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

Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, and within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions.  We fondly remember our trip to Spain 3 years ago and the many wines that eased our way across the countryside.  One of our favorite stops was at the Sandeman Bodega, a great Sherry house, in Jerez.  Perhaps one day this fall we will have a Sherry tasting event exploring all vinification styles from fino to cream Sherry, including Amontillado Palo Cortado and Olorosso.  This being summer, we will pursue a lighter fare with sparklers, roses and easy drinking reds.  To heighten the sense of enlightenment, we’ll finish with an Amontilado.

Codorníu Cava, Sparkling Wine
Regular price 9.99; our price 8.99
Cava is the Spanish designation for the traditional method (Méthode Champenoise) of producing sparkling using the French techniques of Champagne.  Cavas employ the same method by allowing the second fermentation to take place in the bottle.  In addition, this wine was aged an additional 9 months or more to round out the wine before release.  This is hands-on work and the remarkable thing about these wines is the low price, given the quality level.  The blend in this bottling is of varietals Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada.  The wine is fresh and fruity and proceeds to a dry finish.

Codorníu Cave Pinot Noir Rosé Sparkling Wine
Regular price 18.00; our price 14.99
With a history stretching back to 1872, Codorníu is one of the world’s oldest and most successful brands of Cava. It shows excellent color in its beautiful bottle and is 100% Pinot Noir.  Lots of tight bubbles come of the glass enhancing its appeal.  The wine is not sweet, just juicy, with raspberry and cherry flavors on the nose and mouth.  It is not a complex wine but has nice balance and flavor with a crisp finish.

2007 Gran Feudo Rosé
Regular price 9.99; our price 7.99
This rosé is an outstanding example of the “fruity” style, made solely from Garnacha grapes, the ideal variety for rosé wines.  Picking takes place when the grapes have the ideal balance between acidity and ripeness.  This wine is made by the saignée method.  After the skins have been left in contact with the must for a short time, the juice is drawn off by gravity, without any pressing taking place.  It shows excellent balance between fruit and acidity.  It is fresh, soft and long on the palate, fruity and clean, with floral reminiscences.

2004 Portico del Castillo Monastrell, Yecla
Regular price 7.50; our price 5.99
This Monastrell (Mourvedre) hails from Yecla, a small and rather obscure wine region in Southeastern Spain, near Jumilla.  The aromas are all earthy Mourvedre: ripe black fruit accented by characteristic varietal accents of leather.  The wine is big and full on the palate, with juicy black fruit gaining structure from crisp acidity and gentle warmth from substantial 14 percent alcohol.

2006 Valcantara Garnacha, Old Vine, Cariñena Aragón
Regular price 11.50; our price 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.

Domecq Viña 25 Cream Sherry, Jerez
Regular price 11.99; our price 9.99
Most Sherries are made from the Palomino Fino grape; that is, until you get to the Cream Sherries.  Here, the Pedro Ximénez Grape reigns supreme.  It is a rich, aromatic wine, dark mahogany in color with a beautiful amber rim.  Made from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes, its voluptuous nose strikes an aromatic balance between raisins and nutty tones.  On the palate, Viña 25 is dense, mellow, velvety and generous with a lingering finish.  Solera aging softens the sweetness of this sherry, making it a perfect match for creamy blue cheeses. It is also delicious with coffee, or ice cream, or both.

Posted in spain, wine knowledge, wine party | 1 Comment »

Wine Party/Zinfandel

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Saturday, June 13, 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

As you probably know, we are great fans of the Zinfandel grape and the lovely elixirs it produces in capable wine-making hands.  This month, the Wine Spectator devoted its cover article to Zinfandel and the telling point it makes, as we have been paraphrasing for years, is that the “outstanding” category for all red wines falls in the $69.00 range.  The “outstanding” category for Zinfandel hovers at an average of $35.00.  Even the mathematically challenged can see the evolving value of this varietal.  Owing to summer weather, we will focus this Saturday on the less heavy Zins, keeping the selection to under $10.00.  Later, in the fall, we will revisit Zinfandel with bottlings at the summit of perfection.

2007 Pedroncelli Zinfandel Rosé, Dry Creek Valley
Regular price 9.99; our price 7.99
This wine has a pretty ruby red color with aromas of strawberry and rose petal.  In the mouth, the wine is lush, yet crisp and dry, with fresh raspberry and spicy vanilla flavors.  Some black cherry and nectarine flavors emerge along the way in this crisp, enjoyable wine.  Wine Spectator rating: 87 points and “top value”.  DOUBLE GOLD,’07 San Francisco Int’l Wine & Spirits  GOLD, 2007 Los Angeles Int’l Wine & Spirits.

2003 Echelon Zinfandel, Driving Range Vineyard, Contra Costa Co.
Regular price 9.99; our price 5.99
Echelon’s winery is located in San Miguel, in the heart of the Central Coast, near many of its vineyard sources.  Nicely balanced, these impressive premium wines from the Chalone Group are easy on the palate and the budget.  Vines in this vineyard are from 50 to 100 years of age.  This bottling is more to the dry side of the spectrum, showing plums, blackberries and pepper.

2005 Renwood Zinfandel, Sierra Foothills
Regular price 11.69; our price 9.99
Something of a throwback to times past, this direct, medium-bodied, mildly berryish effort with 7% Petite Sirah eschews all of the riper imperatives of latter-day Zin.  “It may not be a wine of great size or extract, but it is fruity and fairly well-balanced, and, more importantly still, it is priced for everyday drinking.  Rated: 86 by Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines; GOOD VALUE”

2006 Gnarly Head Zinfandel, Old Vine, Lodi
Regular price 9.95; our price 8.99
Here is your perfect barbeque wine; works well with pizza, too.  Robust berry flavors and exotic spice notes from the small grape clusters are balanced with French, American and Hungarian oak, which creates heady layers of vanilla and chocolate extending to a lingering finish.

2007 Gran Sasso Primitivo, Puglia, Italy
Regular price 14.50; our price 9.99
The winery is located in the region of Abruzzo, located in the central eastern part of Italy on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, but the grapes for this bottling were sourced in Puglia, in the south.  Primitivo is the Italian version of Zinfandel, except that the Italians tend to pick earlier to preserve acidity and arrive at lower alcohol content.  There are aromas of ripe fruit and star anise.  The fruit is bright and crisp with some notes of earthiness and a good amount of chocolate and oak.

2006 Brazin Zinfandel, Old Vine, Lodi
Regular price 13.50 our price 9.99
The grapes for this wine come from head trained vines in older vineyards ranging from 35 to 80 years of age.  This deeply colored wine has aromas of mocha and spice.  Flavors of plums, chocolate, vanilla and mocha notes swarm the palate.  This is a big wine showing off its long delicious finish.

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Wine Party/Cupcake Pairing with Wines

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Saturday, June 6, 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

Those of you who were not able to attend last Saturday’s event missed out on an impromptu attempt to pair cupcakes with the wines being poured.  The delicious pastries are made by Sisters Cupcakes by Design from Cathedral City (www.sisterscupcakes.com), 760-328-5620.  Josie and Sandy, who are indeed sisters, provided us an array of cupcakes from lemon-coconut to chocolate-raspberry.  I was quite skeptical when the idea was first suggested, but was amazed at the good reception we received, not to mention the sheer fun of it all.  We decided to repeat the event this weekend, but announce it in advance.  These baked jewels will go well with the wines we have selected, but you do have to like cupcakes.

Zonin Prosecco Sparkling Wine, Italy
Regular price 11.00; our price 8.99
This is a very tasty sparkling wine, though without being overly carbonated.  The fruit is soft and pear-like and there are just enough sweet elements to remove the acidic edge one gets from Champagne.  Besides making an excellent Bellini cocktail, this Prosecco should pair well with the cupcakes.

2006 Annie’s Lane Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia
Regular price 13.50; 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 apèritif 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.

Grandial Muscat Rosé Sparkling Wine, France
Regular price 12.00; our price 9.99
This is a fruity elegant sparkling wine with fine bubbles and a fresh palate.  It is slightly sweet and should pair well with our cupcake selection.  This is a great price for this fruit-forward sparkling wine with fine bubbles and fresh palate.

2005 PKNT Carmenère Reserve, Rapel Valley, Chile
Regular price 9.00; our price 6.99
The wine is smooth and full bodied with a dark red color.   In the nose it has red cherries and plums with a touch of toasty oak.  There are hints of chocolate and berries in a setting of round tannins; soft but well structured. 

2006 Yangarra Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia
Regular price 20.95; our price 17.99
Rich spice, blackberry fruit, and hints of sweet vanilla are the hallmarks of this remarkable Shiraz.  On the palate, the wine is rich and full-bodied, with intense blackberry and dark cherry flavors, although soft tannins.  It was aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels to encourage the smoky, toasty oak flavors which, in turn, frame the rich, plush dark berry and plum flavors giving way to a balanced black pepper finish.

2006 Yangarra Cadenzia, McLaren Vale, Australia
Regular price 23.00; our price 19.99
This is a blend supposedly inspired by the opera term for an improvised personal expression at the end of an Aria (usually seen as “Cadenza”).  This blend of Grenache (68%), Shiraz (27%) and Mourvèdre (5%) blends together the array of flavors and terroirs of the estate, and is very representative of the McLaren Vale appellation in general.  The full flavor experience evokes blackberry, Bing cherry, mulberry, plums, nuts and subdued oak flavors slowly tapering off to a lingering finish.

Posted in Australian wine, Food Painings, imports, French wine, wine knowledge, wine party | No Comments »