Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, February 13, 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

Since the mid-1970s the Grgich name has been associated with some the best wines coming from California’s Napa Valley.  In March 2008, founder Mike Grgich was inducted into the Vintner Hall of Fame to honor his many contributions to the American wine business.  If you haven’t met Mike Grgich, the opportunity awaits you this Saturday.  Drop by and sample the winery’s offering while chatting with Mike and his area sales rep, Melanie Kemp Lewis.  In addition to the many years of excellence in winemaking at his Napa Valley property Mike will forever be immortalized as the man who made the 1973 Chardonnay for Chateau Montelena that shook up the wine world, and especially France, by taking first place in a California vs. France taste-off in 1976.  The French are still seething over that fiasco.

2007 Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc, Napa

List price 29.95; our price 26.75

Pure aromas of tropical fruit, melon grapefruit and lemon grass are supported by a hint of minerality.  The full mouthfeel and concentrated flavors make it the ideal wine with a goat cheese salad, smoked salmon, sautéed mussels or by itself as an apéritif.

2007 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay, Napa

List price 42.00; our price 37.50

Following the classic style that Mike Grgich established when he began in 1977, the Chardonnay was not allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation, thereby creating a wine that is alive with balanced acidity.  This Biodynamically farmed Chardonnay is rich with aromas of ripe peach, mango and tropical flowers, plus a note of minerality.  Its elegance will show well with fresh seafood, roasted chicken, grilled pork, or creamy cheeses.

2005 Grgich Hills Estate Merlot, Napa

List price 42.00; our price 37.50

Estate grown means the grapes came entirely from the winery’s own vineyards, so that the winemaker can exercise total control of the quality from the vine to the bottle.  This is a full-bodied Merlot with rich aromas and flavors of ripe cherry and black berries with hints of cedar and spice.  A Cabernet lovers’ Merlot, the wine’s solid structure promises it will gain in complexity and silkiness with age.

2006 Grgich Hills Estate Zinfandel, Napa

List price 35.00; our price 31.50

The 2006 Zinfandel comes from the winery’s biodynamically farmed vineyards and is co-fermented with 5% Petite Sirah for added depth of flavor and structure.  Aged in large oak casks, this Zin has well-integrated oak nuance that doesn’t overpower the classic zinfandel aromas and flavors of red and black fruit and black pepper.  A great food wine, it would be the perfect accompaniment to pizza, or hamburgers, or hot dogs…or picnic fare of any kind.

2005 Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa

List price 59.95; our price 53.50

The 2005 Grgich Cab comes from Mike’s carefully tended vines, predominantly from Yountville, though some Rutherford and Calistoga fruit balances out the blend.  The bottle packs a lot of class, with anise, black plum and currant fruit and a spike of peppery spice on the finish.  Acid, fruit and tannin are all in harmony here.  Wine Spectator gave the wine a 92-point rating: “Savory herb and ripe currant, berry and plum aromas are firm and intense.  Full-bodied and well-structured, with the tannins gaining traction on the finish.  Rustic but balanced. Best from 2010 through 2016.”

Saturday, February 6, 2010

4 to 6

$5.00 per person

      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

2008 Loredona Viognier, Lodi

List price 11.95; our price 9.99

This wine is rather light on your tongue and is well balanced and flavorful without being heavy or oaky.  It shows pleasant honey and apricot flavors with a lovely citrus, peach, and tropical fruit character, as well.  This is your everyday pool-side sipping wine that would hold up over the rocks.

2007 Joel Gott Zinfandel, California

List price 14.95; our price 12.99

This wine is a blend of dry-farmed, old-head trained vines in Lodi and Amador Counties producing deeply-concentrated fruit while the Napa Valley harvest adds depth and complexity. Fruit from the cooler climate of Sonoma County offers spice typical of the varietal.  These diverse regions come together to produce a Zinfandel with aromas of currant, plum and sweet oak, and flavors of ripe cherry with a long, lush finish.

2006 Alexander Valley Vineyards Redemption Zin, Dry Creek Valley

List price 22.50; our price 17.99

AVV produces the well known Sin Zin, their signature Zin, Temptation Zin, a lighter style, and Redemption Zin, the wonderfully lush companion we will taste Saturday.  This wine exhibits a dark ruby color, good depth, plenty of currant, plum, licorice, and pepper characteristics, and a meaty, medium to full-bodied texture.  It shows substantial blackberry and plum flavors along with a healthy dose of black pepper and subtle notes of orange peel and glycerin.  It won a gold medal and “Best of Class” award at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

2006 Steele Wines Zinfandel, Catfish Vineyard, Lake County

List price 22.00; our price 17.99

Catfish Vineyard is truly an old-timer, planted in 1901.  The vineyard is located on the Bell Hill bench of Lake County just south of Kelseyville.  The vines are head pruned and stand on their own original roots.  Steele Wines purchased the vineyard in 2000 and has been working to rehabilitate the old vines since that time. Each year the vines are pruned back so that each vine has fewer shoots and therefore fewer bunches of grapes.  New vines have been planted where the 100-year-old vines have expired.  The flavor profile for this vineyard is ripe boysenberries and spices.

2006 Clos LaChance Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast

List price 19.95; our price 14.99

The 150-acre Clos LaChance Estate Vineyard in San Martin was planted in 1999-2000. Nearly 20 varietals were planted, along with 60 separate clones, providing Winemaker Stephen Tebb with a spice-rack of blending wines.  Hot sunny days throughout the growing season, coupled with cool ocean breezes in the evenings, allow for increased grape hang-time, and the further development of flavors and complexities.  This is a big Cabernet Sauvignon, with complexity showing from extensive barrel and bottle aging.  There are dark blackberry aromas with vanilla and classic Cabernet eucalyptus.  The flavors of cassis, plum and blackberries dominate throughout the palate and into the long, smooth finish.

2005 Bouchaine Chardonnay, “Bouche d’Or”, Carneros

List price 25.00; our price 19.95

Bouche d’Or, which translates to “Taste of Gold” (or is it “Gold Lips”?) refers to the rich amber color and luscious, sweet essence of this wine and its honey-apricot fragrance.  It works well as an apéritif to be enjoyed with liver pâté or smoked hors d’oeuvres.  To make this wine, harvesting was delayed on one acre of the estate vineyard Chardonnay grapes until November of the year, anticipating that the additional time would further concentrate the grape sugars.  The resulting wine recalls to mind honeyed apricots and ripe figs, yet is delicate in weight and smooth in texture.

Saturday, January 23, 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

My buddy, Mark Sullivan of Regal Wines, has agreed to fill in for me this Saturday and will be pouring some of his favorite California Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels.  Mark is very personable and all to willing to expound upon some of the many fine wine companies he represents.  He is also known in the trade as a heavy pourer, so be sure to tell him when you have had enough.  I am joking, of course.  Really, there is the occasional sobriety check point in our area and I went through the last one recently.  I passed with flying colors, even though there was a six pack of beer in the seat next to me.  Honestly.  Please do guide yourselves accordingly.

I will return from vacation the next week and be here for yet another tasting event.

See you then.

2007 Cambria Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, Katherine’s Vineyard

List price 19.50; our price 15.95

Connoisseur Guide lists this wine a “Good Value”:  “This one may be a few dollars less pricey than [others], but we like its more open, fruity style and its mix of Meyer lemon, vanilla and chalky notes.  Its flavors are delivered along with a pleasantly supple entry impression, and if the wine firms up a bit at the back, that is to its good as well in that it invites service with dishes ranging from the sweeter white fishes like Sole Amandine to baked chickens with pan gravies”.

2007 Byron Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley

List price 23.00; our price 17.95

Staying true to the consistent nature of Chardonnay from this cool coastal appellation, Byron’s Chardonnay combines vibrant fruit character with a rich texture and a silky finish. Aromas of orange blossom, Anjou pear and hazelnut are accented by hints of mineral and toasty oak.  On the palate, the wine is well balanced with traces of peach, mandarin orange and toasty brown spice with a long, lingering finish.

2006 Stonestreet Chardonnay, Alexander Valley

List price 27.00; our price 23.99

Wine Advocate gave this wine a 92 point rating: “The 2006 Chardonnay Alexander Valley is a beautiful wine that exhibits notes of honeysuckle, poached pear, and tropical fruit in a medium to full-bodied style, with crisp acidity and a long, very subtle, smoky oakiness.  Drink through 2010.”  We put aside some cases of this wine to let it evolve in the bottle and the payoff has arrived…delicious!

2008 Byron Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley

List price 24.00; our price 19.99

In 1964 Uriel Nielson planted Santa Barbara County’s first commercial vineyard, and the Byron estate is located on the same site as those original plantings.  All of the fruit for this Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir comes from that estate’s sandy loam soils.  A combination of older and younger vine fruit, the 2008 is concentrated yet bright, with cherry and plum character, hints of rose, smoke and cookie spices.  Earthier at its core than the nose would hint, the wine is still loaded with juicy cherry and plum fruit accented by smoke and spice and framed by fine tannins.

2006 Taft Street Zinfandel, Russian River Valley

List price 22.00; our price 17.99

The grapes for this wine were selected from the 100+ year old Cobblestone Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, located on the gentle rolling hills east of the town of Windsor.  This is amazingly good rich and plumy old vine Zinfandel for the price.

2007 Edmeades Vineyards Zinfandel, Shamrock V., Mendocino Co.

List price 32.50; our price 28.99

At 2,800 feet, Shamrock Vineyard is one of the highest elevation vineyard sites in Mendocino County, on the northern border of Humboldt County. The vineyard sits on a small 2.1-acre site perched high above the fog line and is a true mountain grown Zin.  Van Williamson has been the winemaker since 1994 and is preeminent on the subject of Zinfandel.  At first, the aromas hit you with mixed berries covered with a cherry liqueur with hints of floral, citrus and black pepper.  In the mouth you get chocolate, dried cherries, vanilla spice and notes of earthiness.

Saturday, January 9, 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 going ahead with the Ramazzotti Vineyards wine event even though we were unable to get Joe Ramazzotti here at this time.  This is a shame because Joe is a very personable man with a lifetime of vineyard management and wine making experience.  Recently he purchased the old Bandiera Winery in Cloverdale, northern Sonoma County, not far from his Geyserville area vineyards.  All wine making activity will proceed from this facility.  His style of winemaking bridges the Italian and California styles and is artful in the manner of blending.
Next Saturday, the 16th, we will be joined by Sunny Grosso, California Sales Manager for Vine Connections, importers of fine Sakes.  She will answer any questions you may have had regarding Sake.  Several styles will be poured including the “Divine Droplets”, a Daiginjo and the best Sake I’ve ever tasted.
The following Saturday, the 23rd, Mark Sullivan of Regal Wines will be pouring some of his favorite California Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels.As I will be on vacation, there will be no further reminders.  Please make a note of any of the above events in which you are interested and, by-all-means, do attend.

2007 Ramazzotti Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley

List price 16.50; our price 14.25

This Chardonnay is made exclusively from 25-year-old Wente Clone vines grown on the Smith Ranch in Dry Creek Valley and farmed by Joe Ramazzotti.  It was all barrel-fermented, unrefined and unfiltered.  You can really taste the fruit in this Chardonnay.  It has a fresh, pure apply quality that comes from not being over-handled.

2006 Ramazzotti Sangiovese, Dry Creek Valley

List price 19.50; our price 16.99

This wine has a wonderful black cherry smell, and is smooth and velvety to the taste.  It has a full-bodied taste with a lingering finish which goes well with any meal, but is especially delicious with pasta dishes.  Silver Medal Winner 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Competition.

2005 Ramazzotti Ricordo Zin Blend, Dry Creek Valley

List price 24.00; our price 21.50

The 2005 Ricordo, which means “remembering” in Italian, is made in the style of the old-time Italian Field Blends from five different grape varieties.  They are assembled on Walling Road in the Dry Creek Appellation from vineyards that are farmed by Joe.  The blend is made up of Zinfandel, of course, along with Petite Sirah, Syrah, Alicante Bouchet, Carignane and Chasselas Doré (also known as Golden Chasselas).

2005 Ramazzotti Regale Red Table Wine, Alexander Valley

List price 28.00; our price 24.25

The “Regale”, or “gift”, is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Syrah.  This wine is big, beautiful and fruity, with hints of chocolate and violets. It won a Silver Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Competition.2007 Ramazzotti Raffinto Super Tuscan Style Red, Sonoma CountyList price 32.00; our price 28.50This is your ultimate feel-good bottle. Starting a journey composed of diverse delicious fruit flavors moving across the palate, this wine offers a clean nose with hints of raspberry and black cherry.  The Raffinto, “refined”, or “refinement”, is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Franc.

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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 28, 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

In the spring of 2003, Jim Borsack and his partner Duffy Keys formed B Cellars, a first-rate wine company predicated upon two absolute principles: first, to produce exceptional artisan wines, season after season, by employing a multi-vineyard strategy, and second, to develop distinct flavors by blending wines from mutually complementary varietals. Not long after, they met the third key player, Kirk Venge named “One of the Top 20 New Winemakers in the World” by Food & Wine Magazine (October 2005). Kirk brought with him a 37 year winemaking legacy via his father, Nils, and a keen understanding of the Napa appellation, as you will learn on Saturday. The B Cellars name and logo stand for a commitment to excellence. The letter ‘b’ and the degree symbol º refer to BRIX, a wine term which defines the optimal sugar/alcohol content in grape juice that indicates the potential for greatness.

2008 B Cellars Blend 23, Napa

List price 30.00; our price 26.75

This fresh white blend of Sauvignon Blanc (50%), Chardonnay (32%) and Viognier (18%) possesses a brilliant voluminous mélange of lemon citrus, orange blossom and rose water aromas. On the palate are copious amounts of vibrant tropical fruit, citrus flavors which are bound by a touch of minerality, honeysuckle, subtle oak and acid structure. The wine was barrel fermented for perfect acidity, structure and balance.

2006 B Cellars Blend 24, Napa

List price 45.00; our price 39.95

This blend represents the best of premium Cabernet (59%), Petite Sirah (6%), Syrah (5%) and the noble Sangiovese (30%). It is forward in flavor and rustic in style with aromas of bright red cherry, cola berries, and spice box. The bounty of aromatics leads to flavors of hard red candy, blackberry and hints of minerality. The mid-palate is complex and is supported by muscular tannins. Old world in several respects, this wine should age well over the next 8 years.It received a 91 point rating from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

2006 B Cellars Blend 25, Napa

List price 55.00; our price 48.95

This seductive, round and very flavorful wine is a blend of 62% Cabernet and 38% Syrah. Sensations of blackberry, ripe black cherry, black olives and roasted coffee dominate the nose; followed by plush maraschino cherries, barrel vanillin and a wide array of black fruit aromatics. The palate is packed with black fruit, enveloped in round tannins and plenty of structure. Rich flavors of cassis, black fruit and cocoa are revealed in layers, with a dose of toasty vanilla on the lengthy finish. Balanced, generous, smooth and polished this blend will age well over the next 8-10 years. It was award a 91 point rating in the Robert Parker Wine Advocate.

2006 B Cellars Syrah, Napa

List price 45.00; our price 39.95

Delicious notes of stewed plums, candied black fruit and baked cherry pie are laden with sweet oak and briary undertones. A stunning and broad palate with firm and consistent flavors of black stone fruit, dried currants and minerality; this wine possesses bright and complex tannins making it cellar worthy for 8-10 years. Only 175 cases were produced.

2006 B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa

List price 45.00; our price 39.95

The grapes for this amazing Cab hail from Pelissa vineyard - a very old dry farmed, organically maintained vineyard originally owned by BV and responsible for many of Georges de Latour Reserve Cabernets. This single vineyard designate Cabernet is a beautiful mélange of blueberry, a hint of cola, cedar spice and white pepper on the nose. The palate is layered with candied fruit, fresh vanilla crème and a touch of smoke. This wine is marked by fresh acidity and the tannins are present on the back palate to accompany the long lasting finish.

2005 B Cellars Blend 26 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa

List price 99.00; our price 88.00

Napa Valley’s most prestigious vineyards- Tokalon, Georges III & Stagecoach - deliver a Cabernet haute mélange of Reserve quality. This voluminous wine shows layers of black cherry, blackberry and a touch of barrel vanillin and espresso bean on the nose. The palate is rich and muscular with dark fruits, currants and cassis. The finish is long and elegant exuding the sophistication of a carefully crafted wine. Both structured and generous this wine has considerable aging potential. It received 90 points in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Limited 500 case production.

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, 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 this Saturday for a sampling of new arrivals featuring some excellent values. These quality wines provide an excellent opportunity to proudly serve to friends and family truly tasty delights. In fact, two of the wines are supportive of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. They are made by Marines, for Marines, and are now being offered to the public. Beyond the opportunity to serve fine wines at excellent prices, there is the enjoyment of them by oneself.

2008 Bogle Vineyards Chardonnay, California

List price 9.99; our price 8.99

Here is a hand-crafted wine that has a little bit of something for everyone: barrel fermentation, sur-lies aging and partial malolactic fermentation. These careful processes create a wine with layers of complexity and generous character. Distinctively Chardonnay from the Clarksburg appellation, the aromatics shine of Bartlett pear and saucy apple. Mid palate, the texture shows off its silky, soft nature, allowing the creamy notes to envelop the fruit. New American oak adds nutmeg, vanilla and a hint of butterscotch to the finish, though never losing its perfectly balanced acidity.

2008 Toad Hollow Dry Pinot Noir Rosé, Eye of the Toad, Sonoma