Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, August 29, 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

The North Coast Counties of California produce some of the world’s most elegant wines…and a lot of really fun wines, as well.  We have chosen for this Saturday’s tasting event a most entertaining sampling of precisely these kinds of wines.  We’ll start in Mendocino, and move on to Sonoma and Napa Counties.  The choices are of excellent value and two of these little gems have won some very prestigious awards.  Added attraction: once again we will be pairing our wines with the superlative cupcakes made by Sisters Cupcakes by Design.  Their visits have been remarkably popular.

Scharffenberger Brut Sparkling Wine, Mendocino
List price 18.99; our price 15.99
This Scharffenberger Brut is a blend of two-thirds pinot noir and one-third chardonnay. The predominance of the pinot noir creates a sparkling wine that is fruit forward with noticeable aromas of strawberry/raspberry and some plum notes.  The Chardonnay expresses itself with subtle tropical flavors of pineapple with pear.  All of the fruit for Scharffenberger Brut undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation, making the wine rich with complex flavors and a round, lengthy finish.

2007 Dry Creek Fumé Blanc, Sonoma
List price 13.50; our price 9.99
At first swirl, this Fumé Blanc presents intense aromas of lemon-lime, ruby grapefruit and fresh cut grass.   After a couple of minutes in the glass, more subtle hints of kiwi and guava begin to reveal a complex wine.  On the palate, it is truly delicious with excellent viscosity and length showing more fresh fruit flavors and very balanced acidity.  The Sonoma County Harvest Fair awarded this wine a Gold Medal, Best of Class AND the Sweepstakes Award for white wines.  It has been out of stock in Northern California and will be likewise here soon.

2005 Marcelina Chardonnay, Napa
List price 22.95; our price 14.99
Cooler Napa vineyards down near Carneros along San Pablo Bay give this wine its delicate fruit and acid structure.  The entire batch of wine went into French oak barrels for aging.  It is very pleasant on the nose, with flavors and aromas of apple, pear and citrus.  The oak influence comes up gently in little accents of sweet oak.

2007 Martin Ray Rosé, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
List price 13.50; our price 9.99
After crushing, the grapes (80% Syrah and 20% Grenache) were “cold-soaked” for six hours to concentrate the color and flavors from the skins.  The (“saignée”) juice was then drained off and fermented at cool temperatures with Rhone yeasts in stainless steel for 3 months, but received no malolactic fermentation.  This rosé has a vibrant raspberry color and fragrant aromas of tropical peaches, cherry and a hint of violets and vanilla.  Fresh, lively flavors of kiwi/strawberry, raspberry and cherry are abundant in this medium-bodied dry wine with excellent acidity and a nice, easy finish.

2005 Rancho Zabaco “Dancing Bull” Zinfandel, Sonoma
List price 7.99; our price 5.99
Dancing Bull is the lighter side of Rancho Zabaco: brighter, more fruit forward and the perfect quaffing wine.  It is big on black cherry and raspberry flavors which are tempered with the peppery spice that is Zinfandel.  At this price you can use it to put out the flames of the barbeque.

Trentadue “Old Patch Red”, Sonoma
List price 14.00; our price 11.50
This wine is a field blend of 70% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 5.5% Carignane & 4.5% Syrah from Trentadue’s Geyserville Winery.  The bouquet displays jammy strawberry, cherry, earth, some spice and just a hint of vanilla.  It has a velvety mouthfeel and is quite extracted, but not overly so.  The big, dark fruit flavors are slightly sweet, with a little earthiness and some touches of warm spice.  The solid tannin core gives the wine body.  The Sonoma County Harvest Fair gave this wine a Gold Medal and the Best of Class award.  If you are interested in this wine, stock up now while it is still available.

Saturday, August 15, 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

It may sound a bit bizarre, pairing cupcakes with wine, but everyone seems to enjoy the experience. So Josie and Sandy have scheduled a return visit this Saturday to couple the flavors of the beautifully decorated cakes with suitable wines. We have attempted to present an array of wines that will enhance the subtle flavors in the mini cakes. Their bakery, Sisters Cupcakes by Design is located in Cathedral City in the Pickford Theater Complex. Honestly, it’s great fun!

2006 Borgo M Pinot Grigio, Venezie, Italy

List price 12.95; our price 9.99

All of the fruit for this wine comes from estate vineyards owned by the Fantinel family, the largest landholders of Pinot Grigio vineyards in Friuli. Although the grapes for Borgo M were sourced in the Venezie region, production takes place at the winery of Fantinel, where precision and quality control are paramount. All of Fantinel’s wines express the purest flavors of the varieties. There is no oak used, so there is a very clean, flinty, pear-like style that remains consistent through each vintage.

Toso Brut Sparkling Wine, Mendoza, Argentina

List price 13.50; our price 9.99

This 100% Chardonnay Sparkler is clear and bright with an overall pale yellow appearance. The yeasts used integrate perfectly well with the varietal properties of the base wine, providing a delicate harmony. It is pleasant, fresh and velvety in the mouth, drinking all too easily. The winery has an eighty year history of making fine wines of excellent value.

2005 Kangarilla Road Viognier, McLaren Vale, Australia

List price 18.00; our price 9.99

Kangarilla Road is the main road running past the vineyard towards the small village of Kangarilla. This vineyard and winery was originally established back in 1975 and is currently producing rich, mature fruit that is everything Viognier should reflect: subtropical fruits, stone fruits, citrus, and honeysuckle, floral, with an edge of lime. What a great buy on Viognier!

2005 Domaine Gerard Metz Riesling, Alsace, France

List price 16.00; our price 9.99

This Domaine has been producing grapes following organic procedures for more than a decade. Its wines are on the delicate end of the spectrum and are well balanced. The Riesling shows flinty notes against a lightly sweet core supported by a crisp acidity. It pairs well with sea foods, salads and appetizers.

2007 Gran Sasso Primitivo, Puglia, Italy

List price 14.50; our price 9.99

Primitivo is a cousin to Zinfandel from California, and surely it is high toned and fruity in the nose, with bright cherry and cranberry fruit. On the palate the wine displays a real mouthful of rich chocolate combined with a weighty (almost thick) ripeness. Many Italian Primitivo’s also exhibit an earthiness that represents terroir, but this one is all fruit driven.

2007 Molly Dooker “Two Left Feet”, McLaren Vale, Australia

List price 27.00; our price 24.50

This wine is produced by Sarah and Sparky Marquis of the famous Marquis-Phillips brand. There are a number of wines under the Molly Dooker label carrying interesting titles and labels like this blend, “Two Left Feet”. It is made up of 68% Shiraz, 17% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and the alcohol is a whopping 16%. “Molly Dooker” is an Aussie term for a lefty, and apparently both Sarah and Sparky are Molly Dookers.

<h2>Saturday, August 22, 2009

4 to 6 pm</h2>

$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 may not be able to get ourselves to Spain this summer, but surely we can bring a taste of Spain into our wine party this Saturday.  Great wines abound in Spain and the prices tend to reflect that level of greatness.  Still, there are values galore from this vast wine producing country.  Today we will focus on the nine to twelve dollar range where quality meets cost for a most harmonious ratio.

2007 Burgans Albariño, Rias Baixas | List price 14.95; our price 12.50

This wine scored 90 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “Burgans is a custom cuvée 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.

2007 Zaza Garnacha Rosé, Campo de Borja | List price 10.99; our price 9.99

Campo de Borja is part of the region of Aragon, the home of Henry VIII of England’s first wife, Catherine, and her mother, Spain’s famous Queen Isabella.  Campo de Borja once belonged to the Borja family, one of Spain’s most famous noble clans.  The Italianized version of the name is “Borgia”.  This is a medium bodied, dry rosé with aromas of strawberry and a palate of ripe berry fruit.  Also discernable are melons, watermelon and rose petals.

2006 Valcantara Garnacha, Old Vine, Cariñena, Aragón | List 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.

2007 Las Rocas Garnacha, Calatayud, Aragón | List price 13.95; our price 10.99

This wine is produced from old vine fruit, providing considerable ripe cherry fruit, a mélange of spice and a long finish reflecting a hint of tobacco leaf.  Consistently good each year, it received a 90-point rating from Robert Parker: “There are 18,000 cases of the delightful 2007 Las Rocas Garnacha, a wine sourced from Calatayud vineyards ranging in age from 70 to 100 years.  Dark ruby in color, it delivers alluring aromas of spice box, mineral, cherry, and black raspberry.  Layered on the palate, it has superb depth, succulent flavors, and a pure, lengthy finish.  It will provide pleasure over the next three years.” (02/09)

2006 Martin Codax Tempranillo, Rioja | List price 12.99; our price 9.99

This fine Tempranillo shows aromas of ripe fruit and a floral bouquet that is integrated with nuances of cedar and toasty oak.  The palate is elegant and complex; the wine is vibrant and expressive with medium body and hints of vanilla from the oak aging.  Flavors of cherries, currants, coconut and fresh raspberries capture the palate leading to a long, lingering finish.  Wine Enthusiast gave it a score of 87: “Good and meaty stuff, with bold aromas that feature leather, berry and char.  Seems saturated and ripe, and gets better the more air it sees.  Flavor-wise, we’re talking about plum, blackberry and a little vanilla.  Complete on the finish, with all angles covered.  Not complicated or complex; good value.”

Osborne Amontillado Sherry, Jerez | List price 14.00; our price 10.95

This may not be the most complex Sherry, but it is definitely easy to drink.  Its crisp caramel, toffee and hazelnut aromas lead to an equally nutty palate that features more maple and more toffee.  One should enjoy the sweet and salty mix of this medium dry sherry which, due to its extended aging, is smooth and sensuous to the palate.  It may be served chilled or at room temperature and is an excellent accompaniment to many soups, or consommés, and semi-soft cheeses, as well as smoked salmon, caviar or pâté.

Saturday, August 8, 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

Besides good growing techniques (viticulture), and proper wine making procedures (oenology), it is the blending of wines that attest to the winemaker’s art. Once the wine is made in the many vats and/or barrels for a given vintage, it falls to the ability of the winemaker to choose the best possible combination to produce the outstanding bottle we simple must buy. Even if the barrels are all Cabernet Sauvignon, assembling the best combination for this vintage is imperative. In fact, some barrels are most likely not to make the cut. Some wineries produce a lesser Cab offering at a lower price and others simply sell it off. Or it may be blended with other varietals to make a wine that sometimes rises above the sum of the parts. This is the “art” of winemaking.

2008 Peter Lehmann “Layers”, Adelaide, Australia
List price 13.95; our price 9.99

This is the first release of this wine which is a blend of Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Chardonnay. Cold fermented in stainless steel tanks, this Australian wine with grapes from Adelaide and Barossa has 12% alcohol. The wine displays floral aromas as well as lemon-lime and peach. It is crisp, with vibrant flavors of peach, citrus, banana and honeydew. It is beautifully balanced and very smooth, with solid acidity.

2006 Shoofly “Buzz Cut”, South Australia
List price 13.50; our price 9.99

Crafted by leading Australian winemaker, Ben Riggs, this wine exhibits aromas of tropical fruit, apricot, and grapefruit. Juicy, tropical Verdelho and exotically perfumed Viognier combine with dashes of Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling to provide a refreshing, succulent wine.

2004 Easton “H” House Red Wine, California
List price 14.00; our price 9.99

This is an easy drinking everyday table wine composed of predominately Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Like the new wave wines of the Languedoc of Southern France, it is made from these two great grape varieties to sip on informal occasions; a wine to enjoy when you want a delicious glass of wine, but you don’t want to think too much about it. Wine Enthusiast Magazine rated it a best buy: “A very nice red wine. Dry and robust, it shows rich flavors of berries, fruits, cocoa, herbs, and earth, with smooth tannins leading to a spicy finish.”

2006 Three Rivers Winery “River’s Red”, Columbia Valley, Wash.
List price 15.00; our price 12.99

True to its name, Three Rivers Winery uses grapes grown in appellations influenced by three prominent rivers: the Columbia, the Snake and the Walla Walla. Winemaker Holly Turner’s style is all about balance. “I don’t want too much wood or alcohol; I want everything to flow on the palate. My wine should be juicy in the mouth but not too toasty.” The blend here is Syrah (48%), Cabernet Sauvignon (23%), Cabernet Franc (18%), Malbec (9%) and Petit Verdot (2%).

2005 Michael-David Incognito Red Wine, Lodi
List price 14.95; our price 9.99

Here is a tango of Mourvedre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cinsault, Carignane, Tannat, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Grenache. I haven’t the foggiest idea as to the percentages. However, a mystery of elegant, smoky clove unveils layers of marmalade and toast that gently coat the mouth. This Rhone-style blend bursts with fresh blueberry and dried cranberry notes, finishing with a smooth myriad of tannins and spice.2006 Craggy Range “Te Kahu” Hawkes Bay, New ZealandList price 22.00; our price 17.95The blend here is Merlot (58%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Malbec (5%). Aromas of ripe plum and fruit cake characters are neatly meshed with sandalwood and spicy cinnamon overtones. The overall aromatic impression is one of brooding complexity. Fine layers of mouth filling tannin provide the texture and structure to support ample fruit flesh. Natural acidity completes this seamless integration, resulting in wine with uncommon length and power.