Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, January 2, 2010

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 are kicking off the New Year with more recent arrivals that feature well in the under-twenty dollar range.  Three are from California, and the other three hail from France, Spain and Argentina.  There is no rhyme or reason here; only the quest for very good wine at fabulous prices.  So if you have exited your recovery period and no longer consider alcoholic beverages a bad thing, do join us.  After all, we must do our part to support the wine industry.

2008 Domaine Laurier Chardonnay, Sonoma County

List price 9.95; our price 6.99

Laurier derives its name from the French word for the laurel trees that surround the founding winery in Sonoma County. Los Carneros - whose climate is moderated by the north end of the San Francisco Bay - is ideal for growing Chardonnay grapes.  The wine displays excellent fruit character and is balanced with a lively and crisp finish.  The flavors remind of ripe spicy pear, apple, citrus and light oak flavors.  Focused, it turns a bit leafy and earthy on the finish.

2007 Domaine Laurier Cabernet Sauvignon

List price 9.95; our price 6.99

This Cabernet contains clones selected from some of Alexander Valley’s best vineyards.  The preferred winemaking technique here combines European tradition with new technology to create a wine that is abundant with fruit character and silky texture.  Nuances of black cherry, plum, black olive and vanilla top the list of flavors.  Compatible entrees include roast leg of lamb, braised short ribs, grilled Portobello mushrooms and a variety of sharp cheeses.

Chateau de Saint Cosme “Little James’ Basket Press”, Gigondas, France

List price 14.95; our price 12.99

According to Robert Parker, this wine is created from a Solera system based on 50% from 2008, and the rest from older vintages.  It is always 100% Grenache and is finished with a screw cap.  It offers lots of spicy, peppery, black cherry, and even blacker fruits along with medium body, a tasty, satisfying style, and a remarkably low price.  Spicy and rich, with layers of kirsch, cassis and blackberry fruit and a commanding note of minerals and herbs, it screams Grenache.

2006 Bodegas Bilbaínas Viña Zaco Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain

List price 13.00; our price 11.50

Zaco is the rebellious new Rioja from Bodegas Bilbaínas, a Rioja with a contemporary twist. Zaco is not constrained by the rules of the traditional ageing process.  It is neither a Crianza nor a Reserva.  Zaco is simply ready when award-winning international winemaker Diego Pinilla believes the wine is reaching its full potential.  Every year Diego will identify the perfect moment to bottle Zaco.  This is a distinctive wine made in the international style with fresh fruity aromas.  Black cherry and blackberry flavors are framed by smoky chocolate oak in this taut and focused red.  Its firm tannins and bright acidity should keep it at its peak through 2012.  It scored 90 points in the Wine Spectator.

2008 Bodegas Gascón Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

List price 14.95; our price 11.99

The Don Miguel Gascón Malbec is a full-bodied wine, deep purple in color and layered with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and a hint of mocha.  The mid-palate shows a plumy fruit, finishing with pepper, chocolate, and smooth tannins (wine’s best feature).  It is attractively packaged as well as attractively priced.  The elegant, velvety mouthfeel and round tannins will pair well with grilled red meats, wild game, pasta dishes and chocolate desserts.

2005 Bridlewood Syrah Reserve, Central Coast

List price 22.50; our price 15.99

The aroma displays spice, blackberry, plumy and earthy notes which develop into dark berry and plum as the wine opens up.  You may also pick up hints of violets, chocolate and coffee. This is a full bodied wine with soft, but powerful tannins.  The wine flavors open with blackberry jam, violets and plum; dark berries combine with mouth filling tannins to form a long silky mid-palate and end with a clean lingering finish.  While this wine is already balanced and drinking well now, the moderate alcohol, acidity and tannin structure will allow this wine to improve with additional cellaring and will drink well for the next five years.

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Saturday, December 26, 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

This Saturday we will be trying out some newly arrived white wines from France and some reds from California.  The three French whites are excellent examples from appellations along the long growing area of the Loire River.  The reds are a fine example of French varietals as grown in differing areas of California.  All are great value wines that compete against similar bottlings of higher price.  All are simply fun sipping wines to serve as an apéritif or with a meal.

2007 Chateau du Cleray Muscadet Sevre et Maine

List price 15.95; our price 11.99

Muscadet is also known as Melon de Bourgogne which is occasionally bottled by growers in California as Melon.  It is grown near the mouth of the Loire in the district of Nantes.  The short period of sur-lie aging results in a complex, soft and round wine that is bone-dry.  The flavors of citrus and melon rind are bright and lively, showing a taut freshness and clean, classically racy structure.  Wine and Spirits Magazine gave this wine a rating of 89/100.

2007 Sauvion Vouvray

List price 13.50; our price 9.99

Together with Muscadet, Vouvray is the most popular Loire wine in the USA. It is the perfect introduction to the Loire wines: easy to drink, fresh, soft, and “velvety”. It is grown in Touraine among the hundreds of romantic châteaux. Made from Chenin Blanc, this Vouvray is medium dry, complex, soft and round with honey and acacia on the nose.

2007 Sauvion Sancerre

List price 25.00; our price 19.95

This Sauvignon Blanc hails from the district of Centre, far inland where the Loire begins its southward journey.  Sancerre is situated on a hillside area across the Loire River from Pouilly-Fumé.  The wine is very aromatic with Jasmine and Acacia in evidence.  It is dry and full bodied with the usual herbaceous character one expects of the area.

2005 Pacific Oasis Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

This wine was made by fine winemaker, Daniel Gehrs, who aged the Pinot sur lies for eight months prior to finishing and bottling.  The aromas are of black raspberry, black cherry, Oriental spices and smoky French oak.  Very light for a Santa Barbara County Pinot, it is made in the true Burgundian style: This is what a Pinot is supposed to be!  The taste consists of both sour black cherry and strawberry which is pronounced on the front to the mid of the palate.  The mid palate shows a hint of earthiness and cloves which continues to a long nice finish.

2004 Murphy-Goode Merlot, Alexander Valley

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

This wine is a classic, approachable Merlot, soft and juicy with expressive fruit.  Winemaker David Ready Jr. notes: “We use the Goode-Ready designation when working with younger vines in the Alexander Valley that produce exuberant, forward fruit flavors of Bing cherry and blackberry.”  This wine is luscious on the palate, with bright acidity balancing the plentiful, jammy fruit flavors and making this Merlot highly food friendly.  Oak barrel aging (40% new, 90% air-dried American) contributed toasty aromas of sweet smoke, toffee and cedar. The wine is enjoyable now and has the structure to improve with time.

2008 Rabbit Ridge Allure de Robles, Paso Robles

List price 8.99; our price 6.99

Allure de Robles is an estate grown wine that is produced in Cotes du Rhone style.  The clones of the grapes are predominantly from Tablas Creek Winery and Vineyard Nursery, meaning they are cuttings from both the Château Beaucastel in the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape region of France and French Entav bud wood.  This wine is medium bodied with strawberry and cherry overtones from the Grenache, body from the Syrah and earthiness from the Mourvèdre.

Saturday, November 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

Thanksgiving Day is two weeks away, so it behooves us to be sampling wines that will partner well with a turkey dinner. This Saturday we will be pouring imported wines that are newly arrived or resupplied this past week. They are very forward and drinking well now. All are under $10.00 and would function well as party service. It’s nice to have alternate choices from the mainstream wines and still enjoy a great price-to-quality value ratio. There are richer and more complex wines available here to go with a turkey dinner, but for larger groups price becomes a consideration.Next week we will sample the wines of Robert Oatley Winery of Australia.

Villa Sandi Prosecco, Veneto, Italy

List price 12.95; our price 9.99

Villa Sandi is an exquisite Palladian-style villa dating back to 1622, located at the foot of the Marca Trevigiana hills, in the Veneto region and represents the combination of art and agriculture which has characterized the Venetian landscape for centuries. This Prosecco is an ideal accompaniment for a variety of cuisines and courses. Whether served as an apèritif, or at the end of a meal, or any course in between, the natural acidity and fresh taste lightly compliments, but never over-powers, a meal. This elegant sparkler achieves a nice balance between sweet, fruit flavors and lively crispness. Look for peach, pear, jasmine, grapefruit and stone that characterize the fruit with a bit of almond bitterness at the finish.

2008 Indaba Chardonnay, South Africa

List price 9.95; our price 8.99

Indaba refers to the traditional Zulu forum for sharing ideas and, frankly, this Chard is a good idea. It is a medium-bodied wine with pear and pineapple aromas, yielding to hints of butterscotch, honey, orange peel and lemons. Its good acidity (no malolactic secondary fermentation took place) marries well with the oak component culminating in a long, clean finish.

2007 Chateau Saint-Florin Rosé, Bordeaux, France

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

The blend for this rosé is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were crushed and left in stainless steel tanks for 24 hours allowing the juice to continue to “steep” with the grapes before fermentation. This wonderful extract is given a slow fermentation of up to 3 weeks at cool temperatures to enhance flavor and aromatic qualities. After another 3 weeks of sitting on the lees with occasional stirring the wine transcends to strawberry and raspberry fruit that remains dry.

2006 Chateau Trocard Bordeaux Superieur, France

List price 14.00; our price 9.99

This winery near Lalande-de-Pomerol has been owned by the Trocard family since the 16th century. Jean- Louis Trocard took over from his father, Jean in 1991. The family’s holdings have gradually expanded to 220 acres which Jean-Louis runs with the help of his wife, Elisabeth. The blend is 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, comprising a wine that is produced in the traditional method that remains so very French. The wine is soft and displays an excellent balance.

2008 Bodega Norton Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina

List price 11.00; our price 8.99

This Mendoza area wine is produced in the traditional, 8-day fermentation period with native yeast, maceration for 20 days, and natural malolactic fermentation. It is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels to produce a round, concentrated wine with a sweet tannin texture and a long harmonious finish in the mouth. Look for red and black fruit, cherries, and spicy notes.

2005 Bodegas Aresan Librato, La Mancha Spain

List price 14.00; our price 9.99

In the 1980s, Don Aurelio Arenas and his wife, Maria Dolores Sanchez, bought 125 acres of vineyards in the La Mancha region. After some success with their first bottlings, they were encouraged in their efforts and began to buy more property which has grown today to 425 acres of vineyards, with 16 different varieties of grapes planted. Their son, Aurelio Arenas Sanchez, Jr., is the chief winemaker and his success is in the bottle. This wine has a vivid, cherry red color and a complex, aromatic nose full of ripe fruit compote, with hints of spice and minerals. Light notes of dark-roasted coffee appear that balance well with the fruit on the palate. Round tannins and toasted oak notes follow through to the lingering finish. It is a well-balanced, fresh and tasty Spanish blend.

Saturday, November 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

Thanksgiving Day is three weeks away, believe it or not, and we should start now sampling wines that will partner well with a turkey dinner. This Saturday we will be pouring California wines that have arrived this past week. They are very forward and drinking well now. All are under $10.00 and would function well as party service. Of course, there are more complex, even voluptuous, wines available here to go with a turkey dinner, but price becomes a consideration. Next week we will look at imports in the same price range and the following week we will sample the wines of Robert Oatley Winery of Australia.

2008 Valley of the Moon Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

List price 11.95; our price 9.99

The fruit for this wine comes from select vineyards within the Sonoma Coast region, including the Russian River Valley, Carneros and the southern Sonoma Valley. These cool-climate appellations are characterized by foggy mornings and cool breezes that keep the fruit at an optimum temperature: perfect conditions for growing premium Chardonnay grapes. The fruit for this wine was whole-cluster pressed and fermented in French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. The wine was allowed to age “sur lies” for seven months with a portion of the wine undergoing malolactic fermentation. Aromas of pear, citrus and vanilla are followed by flavors of green apple, lime and clove spice. The rich and creamy texture is accented by hints of honey and toasty oak, and balanced with a bright finish of zesty citrus and nectarine.

2008 Alexander Valley Vineyards New Gewurz, Mendocino Co.

List price 9.99; our price 5.99

The wonderful crispness and bright fruit make this Gewurtztraminer a versatile wine. Not only is it a great sipper, but it is perfect as an aperitif. It pairs well with a variety of dishes, from spicy Asian fare to Dungeness crab to Thanksgiving turkey. It won a Gold Medal at the 2009 Orange County Fair Wine Competition. The price makes it exceptional.

2005 Mazzocco Winery Merlot, Sonoma County

List price 18.00; our price 9.99

This is a small family-owned artisan winery situated in the rolling hills of Sonoma County, nestled between the Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. This Merlot blend of 76% Merlot & 24% Cabernet Sauvignon does not disappoint. Sweet cassis, violets and cherry jam lead to licorice and mocha flavors over a rich, extracted palate. The big tannins are integrated with a fruit forward core, containing roasted oak with hints of cacao, and camphor in the finish.

2006 Red Rock Winery Merlot, California

List price 9.99; our price 7.99

The aroma of this merlot is fruity raspberry and cherry. The taste is dark cherry, plum and raspberry. The tannins are actually toned down by the fruit, so the wine is actually well-balanced. It is wonderful for casual drinking or to accompany a variety of food items such as pasta, pizza, and grilled chicken. A nice beef stew would probably go really well, too. This wine is not about complexity, it’s about quality: quality fruit & quality winemaking.

2005 Mazzocco Winery Zinfandel, Sonoma County

List price 18.00; our price 9.99

Mazzocco is especially known for its vineyard-designate Zinfandels—each robust and sumptuous yet individual in nature. Today we are trying the Sonoma blend which is fruit-forward with a splash of spice. Black cherry jam, raspberry and plums permeate the nose while the palate reveals allspice and cayenne pepper with dabs of blackberry. This 100% Zinfandel’s core is framed with supple tannins, and is accented with nougat and vanilla.

2007 Apothic Red, Winemaker’s Blend, California

List price 14.00; our price 9.99

This is a blend of three grapes, combining the dark fruit flavors of Syrah, brambly spice of Zinfandel, and smooth elegance of Merlot. The wine reveals intense fruit aromas and flavors of blackberry and dark cherry layered with hints of mocha, chocolate and brown spice. The plush, velvety mouthfeel and smooth finish round out this intriguing, full-bodied red blend. At this price it delivers considerable value.

Saturday, August 1, 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

This week we are pouring samples of wines that arrived within the last week or so. There continue to be excellent values on the market and we will keep you apprised of them. Most of these are in the $10.00 range and under and indicate the wide range of quality wines that serve for everyday use or for party fare. Much of the remainder of our summer program will reflect the value potential of this price range.

2007 Ventana Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco, MontereyList

price 12.95; our price 9.99

Ventana’s cool weather vines produce fruit which creates a wine with a slightly grassy and citrus nose. The Sauvignon Blanc displays wonderful flavors of white peach, grapefruit and a touch of honeydew. The wine is completely dry with rich rounded texture and a flinty crispness. This is not a Chardonnay “want-to-be”; it is made in the classic French style for the best accompaniment to food.

2007 Congress Springs Viognier, LodiList

price 7.95; our price 5.99

This Viognier may not offer much in the way of complexity, but the delight factor runs quite high. It is fruit laden with obvious floral peach and green apple fruit that extend far beyond the bouquet, through the mouth and on to the long crisp finish.

2007 Ventana Chardonnay, “Gold Stripe”, Arroyo Seco, Monterey

List price 14.00; our price 10.99

This wine has lively tropical fruit aromas of pineapple and mango, with intense flavors of Gala apple, pear and lemon. Oak aging adds an accent of vanilla and light honey tones. The perfect balance of fruit, oak and acidity makes this an exceptional food friendly wine. Its versatility makes it work well with shell fish, all the way to pork roasts. It won a gold medal at the Taster’s Guild Intl’ Wine Competition this year and several silver medals elsewhere, as well.

2007 Château d’Aqueria Rosé, Tavel, France

List price 14.99; our price 9.99

Here is your opportunity to try one of the benchmark Tavel rosés at the lowest price seen in recent years. This is a spectacular price, as is the wine. I doubt that this price will ever be seen again for a current release. The qualities of climate and soil followed by a controlled vinification and experienced assembly of each variety make Tavel unique among rosés in intensity of color, body and bouquet. Château d’Aqueria is the quintessential Tavel; vibrant salmon-pink in color, with a penetrating fruit fragrance offset by floral notes. Bone dry, full bodied and succulently fruity on the palate, its lush intensity and depth are balanced by an extraordinarily refreshing acidity carrying into a long, crisp finish with vibrant peppery nuances.

2006 Chateau Trocard, Bordeaux Superieur, France

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

The Trocard family traces its winemaking history back to the 16th Century. They remain located close to Pomerol and St. Emilion. The nose of this wine shows red fruit, strawberry and blackcurrant. The aromas show some complexity which increases upon aeration. Its silky attack, fineness and elegance and its supple tannins make this wine very harmonious and well-balanced in the mouth.

2006 Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

List price 16.00; our price 9.99

The rich, complex flavors of the 2006 Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon reflect both the diversity and synergy of grapes grown in Sonoma’s soils and climatic regions. The expansive aromas and mouth-filling flavors of this wine are thick with dark cherry, cassis and smoky spices. The ripe dark fruit flavors, supported by velvety tannins, culminate in an elegant finish that lingers with bittersweet chocolate and spice nuances. Fine value!

Saturday, July 4, 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

This being Independence Day, the appropriate wines to accompany a barbeque should be light and able to take a chill, especially when the temperature is over a hundred degrees.  Drop in for a casual sampling of wines that are lean in their pricing and rich in their level of quality.  I would be pleased to join you with a glass of wine to celebrate this most meaningful holiday.

Rocar Sparkling Wine, Extra Dry, California
Regular price 6.99; our price 4.99
This is a pleasant sparkler produced in the Charmat method whereby the secondary fermentation takes place before bottling.  It is light and dry which makes it a good mixer with liqueurs.  Enjoy by the pool in the heat of the day or with your favorite fruit juice for a morning treat.

2006 Brampton Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa
Regular price 9.99; our price 7.99
This Sauvignon Blanc has a whole lot going on and tastes way better than most $10 pours.  Right upfront you get a blast of fresh cut grass and zesty citrus on the nose.  Then the lemon-lime zinger gives way to a rounder palate bursting with soft, juicy honeydew, passion fruit and lychee.  It is super refreshing but also substantial and constantly changing as you swirl it over your tongue.  This wine makes a great warm weather quaffer and is also well suited for light seafood dishes and salads.

2006 Seven Terraces Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Regular price 13.50; our price 7.99
This is an amazing value.  Very nice grassy aromas with lots of lemon curd on the palate.  Additionally, this medium straw colored wine is rich with grapefruit, mango and gooseberry flavors and aromas.  It has good weight, great acidity and good length on the finish; a classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

2006 Annie’s Lane Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia
Regular price 12.50; our price 7.99
The wine 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 aperitif or as the perfect accompaniment to grilled seafood or chicken.  Its impressive length and natural acidity will allow for graceful aging for a couple of more years.

2005 Chateau Saint-Florin Rosé, Bordeaux, France
Regular price 13.00; our price 9.99
This rosé comes from 100% Merlot grown in the Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux.  Saint-Florin uses an interesting technique of allowing the crushed grapes to sit for 24 hours before running off the free run juice and beginning fermentation.  Fermentation takes place at a low temperature over a period of three weeks.  The resulting wine is bone dry, with excellent strawberry/raspberry fruit and a hint of black currents.

2007 Bodega Familia Schroeder Pinot Noir “Saurus”, Argentina
Regular price 12.99; our price 9.99
This wine from Patagonia offers red tones which become brick red as it ages.  The nose projects various flowers and red fruits such as raspberry and strawberry, in addition to fine notes of vanilla and cocoa due to the wood.  The mouth-feel is round and fruity with sweet tannins and moderate acidity.  This is a really good value for money Pinot Noir.  Feel free to give this wine a moderate chilling.

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.

Saturday, May 16, 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

Since our last event featuring wines from the southern hemisphere, more wines have arrived from Australia, Argentina and Chile.  The prices for these finds run from under 10.00 to under 20.00, however it is the quality level that makes them excellent values.  There is definitely something here to satisfy everyone.

2008 Viña Calina Alcance Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca, Chile
Regular price 17.00, today only 14.99
Alcance means “to reach for” in Spanish, and this Sauvignon Blanc shows just how far Chili’s outreach has succeed.  The wine is light straw in color with expressive tropical fruit aromas of guavas, gooseberries, passion fruit, peaches and a hint of green grassiness.  The acid is firm, but not overpowering.  The palate is lush, long and weighty. This is a bold, overt, block-selected Sauvignon Blanc.

2005 Kangarilla Road Viognier, McLaren Vale, Australia
Regular price 18.00, today only 14.99
This South Australian Viognier displays an aromatic citrus blossom with hints of light orange peel, together with nuances of light citrus and apricot.  The palate is mouth filling with lively zesty citrus flavors combined with subtle honeysuckle.  This is an elegant style displaying tight acidity, great length of flavor together with integrated mid palate texture coming from the light use of oak.

2007 Marraso Vineyards Cabernet, Mendoza, Argentina
Regular price 9.99, today only 7.99
Complex and spicy, this Cabernet Sauvignon has an intense ruby color; plum and roasted pepper aromas; and well-rounded cherry and strawberry flavors with of smoky oak on the finish.  The tannins are soft and the finish is long.

2007 Doña Paula Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Cardos, Mendoza
Regular price 9.99, today only 7.99
Named Los Cardos for the thistle plant, which apparently thrives in the vineyards at Doña Paula, this cabernet sauvignon shows the classical aromas and flavors of black currant.  The focus of the winemaking regimen is the juicy black fruit with only a small portion of the wine having spent a couple of months in oak. The result is an easy-drinking wine that’s priced to enjoy with a burger.

2007 Root: 1 Carmenère, Colchagua Valley Chile
Regular price 11.99, today only 9.99
The name comes from the fact that these grapes were grown on ungrafted, original root stock.  The nose is rich with blueberry, raspberry and spice notes coming through.  In the mouth the wine is spicy and fruity with plum and blackberry flavors, notes of clove and a really interesting sweet cigar flavor.  It is a little tannic at the start, but opens nicely in the glass with a little swirling.  Excellent!

2006 Kilikanoon Shiraz, Killerman’s Run, South Australia
Regular price 22.00, today only 18.50
The 2006 Killerman’s Run Shiraz exhibits a brick red color with crimson tints.  Lifted Shiraz characters dominate the nose with rich plum, mocha and blackberry notes supported by the French and American oak.  Made to showcase the unique flavors of Shiraz, the palate is fruit driven and balanced.  A sweet mid palate and soft tannins have created a wine with both power and finesse.

Saturday, May 9, 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 are continuing our search for bargains among wines and liquors that suit your needs for the coming summer months.  This Saturday we are showcasing some new arrivals that fit nicely into that category.  It is our job to introduce you to the myriad possibilities to satisfy personal enjoyment as well as your entertainment needs.  We do this a few bottles at a time so that the focus is not lost.  As each week goes by your knowledge of beverage products increases and, chances are, you are enjoying the party.

Grandial Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine, Brut, France
Regular price 8.99, Today only 6.99
This is a wonderfully light sparkling wine produced from 100% Ugni Blanc that is surprisingly clean, refreshing and totally dry.  It is medium bodied, displaying ripe fruit and smooth textures.  It has lightly creamy flavors that end with a crisp finish.  This is a great price for this fruity, elegant sparkling wine with fine bubbles and fresh palate.

2008 Benvolio Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy
Regular price 13.50, Today only 9.99
The Friuli–Venezia Giulia area of Italy is in the northeast next to Slovenia.  This wine comes from the Grave section of the Friuli where well drained soils produce the quintessential Pinot Grigio.  The wine is fresh and delicate, with clean pear and apple flavors set in a crisp balanced acidic structure.  Look for subtle hints of rosewater and lychee in the long flavorful finish. 

2007 Zaza Garnacha Rosé, Campo de Borja, Spain
Regular price 10.99, Today only 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.  You’ll recognize the name when you read the Italianized version – 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.

2004 Bolla Nero d’Avola, Sicily
Magnum Regular price 14.95, Today only 9.99
Nero d’Avola is the major red grape grown in Sicily and in the southern part of Italy, as well.  Up front the wine shows cherry and raspberry fruit, some peppery spice and black licorice.  With time in the bottle, the wine has fleshed out a little from its original release and is now drinking rather smoothly.

2006 Martin Codax Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain
Regular price 12.99, Today only 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.  Flavorwise, we’re talking about plum, blackberry and a little vanilla.  Complete on the finish, with all angles covered. Not complicated or complex; good value.”

Krohn White Port, “Lagrima”, Portugal
Regular price 15.00, Today only 12.99
White Port is made from, guess what?, white grapes, whereas tawny and ruby Port can be made from roughly 80 different grape varieties, most of them red. This one has been aged for 8 years.  Look for flavors of burnt caramel, plums, raisins, hazelnuts and baking spices.  Since the wine has had extended barrel aging and is fortified, it is no problem to keep it in the fridge for a month after opening it.  Serve it chilled, on the rocks with a slice of lemon or add a splash of club soda.

Starbucks Coffee Liqueur
Liter Regular price 25.00, Today only 14.99
Partnered in production with Jim Beam, Starbucks liqueur is very rich and thick, with a rich dark coffee aroma, and functions better when it is mixed.  It does go well with coffee and with lattes and is perfect for vodka, milk or cream mixing.  It is made from Latin American arabica coffee beans and actually tastes a lot like coffee ice cream.  It is neither subtle nor complex, but it is supremely smooth at 20 percent alcohol (40 proof).

Saturday, May 2, 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 is officially a buyers market in wine, and we are pleased to be presenting excellent values to you.  This Friday we will focus on imports from lands south of the equator.  Argentina continues for a second year as the leader in growth of exports, with Chile some distance behind.  But Chile has already achieved big numbers in the export game and growth had to slow down.  Australia’s position in exports is already impressive, as well, and we are seeing more and more South African wines in our marketplace, too.  The slowing world-wide economy is having its effect on prices and you are to be the beneficiaries, but only if you come see what it is all about.

Toso Brut Chardonnay Sparkling Wine, Mendoza, Argentina
Regular price 10.95 Today only 8.99
Toso has been producing sparkling wine for 85 years, and is the second-biggest sparkling exporter in Argentina.  The sparkler is produced in the Charmat method with the Chardonnay wine in contact with its lees for 5 months.  It shows nice small bubbles and a bit of buttery, toasty quality which is a pleasure to discover.  The flavors are of apple and lemon fruit.  It is very pleasant on the palate, with a delightful crispness making it deliciously easy to drink.

2007 St. Lucas Torrontés, Mendoza, Argentina
Regular price 11.95 Today only 8.95
Exotic and unique, Torrontés is the white grape to watch in Argentina.  Showing superstar potential in this climate, it delights with a myriad of floral aromatics and enticing flavors of white peaches, apricots, honey, and lemon meringue.  The intense, sensually stimulating wines it produces are great foils for tough to- match foods like ginger chicken or spicy Thai dishes, yet they also shine when enjoyed on their own.  This bottling focuses on rose petals, tropical fruit and candied peach with a touch of spice, yet balanced with good acid and a crisp character.

2006 Au Chardonnay, Limestone Coast, Australia
Regular price 9.99 Today only 6.99
Produced by Aussie Vineyards Ltd of Queensland, this bottling is the Chardonnay in a line of “Au” wines developed with the North American market in mind.  Fruit was sourced from the cool maritime climate of South Australia’s Limestone Coast, and fermentation and maturation took place in a mix of new and used French Oak, as well as some stainless steel tanks.  On the nose are aromas of grapefruit, passion fruit, minerals and nuances of oak.  The wine is crisp and smooth in the mouth, with a nice balance between fruit-and-oak richness and lean acidity and minerality.  Flavors of pear, melon, grapefruit, and pineapple mingle on the palate, brightened by acidity and framed by buttery and toasty hints of oak.  The finish is a decent swell of tropical and citrus fruit notes, tailing off on an enjoyable mix of fruit and creamy oak.

2007 Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Regular price 13.00 Today only 9.99
This wine gem is a beautiful rosé made of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from a winery that dates back to 1692.  It shows fragrant earthy aromas of cherry and strawberry and a creamy, flavor-packed palate with fresh acidity and a lingering finish.  Wine Enthusiast Magazine: 86 points “Bright, vibrant aromas of red berry and flowers open to an easygoing, fresh and fruity character that pairs well with almost any food; good minerality ensures an absence of sweetness.”

2006 Marraso Malbec, El Caballo Antiguo, Mendoza, Argentina
Regular price 9.99 Today only 7.99
This winery took the name of an ancient city named Marraso, which was protected by the spirit of an ancient horse, whose image was painted on the wall of a cave high in the Andes.  Unhappily, the cave was never found but the wine is a solid, reality Malbec, suitably dry and fruity.  It is full bodied with deep and forward berry and cherry fruit flavors.  It has mellow tannins, good acid and hints of dark cocoa, vanilla, and a note of tar for added complexity.

2007 Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Regular price 11.99 Today only 9.99
Chile’s distinctive geography makes it one of very few grape growing regions in the world where original European rootstock has been unaffected by phylloxera. While most vineyards around the world are planted on grafted rootstock, Root 1 Cabernet Sauvignon is grown on original, ungrafted roots, producing wines with intense fruit flavor and authentic varietal character.  This wine is a rich ruby in color with cherry, black currant, toffee and mocha notes.  Silky tannins and good structure lead to a long and complex finish accented with vanilla notes.