Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, October 10, 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

Join us Saturday when Stacy Manley of Anders-Lane Artisan Wines introduces some of the fine wineries she represents.  The four wineries we will be discussing we have carried on and off in the past and revisiting the brands now is simply a continuation of a respectful love affair.  All the wines are exceptional and priced in range from 10.00 to 25.00.

2008 Mahoney Vineyards Vermentino, Las Brisas V., Carneros

List price 16.00; our price 12.95

Vermentino, also known as Rolle in France, commonly comes from the island of Sardinia off the coast of Italy, where it produces light white wines redolent of lemon and lime leaves with an almost salty mineral twang.  Francis Mahoney formerly the owner of Carneros Creek Winery, appointed Ken Foster, veteran Pinot Noir winemaker, to oversee production at Mahoney Vineyards in June, 2002.  Foster, the winemaker/production manager from David Bruce winery in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains had been making wine there for 15 years.  This California version from Las Brisas Vineyard exhibits white peaches and citrus flavors with lovely floral notes and a refreshingly crisp finish.

2006 Mahoney Vineyards Pinot Noir, Carneros

List price 24.00; our price 18.99

The best of 40 lots of Pinot Noir from Mahoney Ranch and Las Brisas Vineyard are blended into this complex wine, showcasing seven distinct clones grown in diverse microclimates and soils.  The wine displays wonderfully structured mouthfeel accompanied by layer upon layer of abundant red fruit flavors and varietal spice.  It won a double gold medal (Best of Class) at the 2009 West Coast Wine Competition.

2007 Waterstone Vintners Pinot Noir, Carneros

List price 25.00; our price 21.00

Waterstone Vintners is a collaboration formed in 2000 between veteran winemaker Philip Zorn and longtime wine executive Brent Shortridge.  The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine were grown on hillside vineyards in the cool Carneros region.  Dark plums, cherry, cola and leather are present in this wine’s aroma.  The soft vanilla tones from the oak blend perfectly with the intense fruit core and soft tannins, providing complexity and balance, leading to a lingering finish.  This wine was awarded the Chairman’s Award, Unanimous Gold at the 2009 Riverside International Wine Competition.

2006 Mandolin Merlot, Central Coast

List price 12.00; our price 9.95

The vineyards for this wine were selected to give the wine a desired complexity and flavor.  20% of the merlot was sourced from the Carneros region, contributing intensity and richness to the balance, which was sourced from Lodi.  It is a fruit-forward wine softened by aging in small oak barrels.  Ripe cherry, currant, and black berry fruit lead to a lingering finish in this rich wine.

2005 Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

List price 27.00; our price 23.00

While a majority of grapes were sourced from Oakville and Rutherford, vineyards from Coombsville to Diamond Mountain contributed to the final blend (88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot).  The wine was aged in small French oak barrels for 18 months (80% new barrels).  Aromas of cedary oak, currants, black cherries and ripe plums are rich and concentrated on the palate.  The firm tannins underlying the wine’s core provide balance, leading to a long, lingering finish.

2005 Haywood Estate Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Sonoma

List price 28.00; our price 24.00

The grapes of Los Chamizal are grown on rock terraces in the Mayacamas Mountains high above the town of Sonoma.  In 1991, during a shaky period in the industry, Peter Haywood chose to sell his wine brand to an international corporation.  In early 2008, Peter Haywood reacquired the brand, this time from Beam Wine Estates.  Spectator writers Jim Laube and Tim Fish awarded the 2005 Los Chamizal 93 points and selected it among their 13 favorite zinfandels of the vintage. Laube had previously described Los Chamizal as “Great Zinfandel from a special site.”