Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, April 23, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

$10.00 per person
$5.00 is credited against purchase of the featured wines below

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Throughout its golden age, Greek wine was widely known and exported throughout the Mediterranean basin in amphorae. The Greeks introduced the Vitis Vinifera vine to ancient Egypt and later made wine in their numerous colonies in what are now Italy, Sicily, southern France and Spain. Wine development was curtailed in Greece after seizure by the Ottoman Empire which lasted about 400 years. It is said that the Greek wine industry is about 10 years behind Spain. If that is the case then the growth curve in terms of quality and volume is on a rocket-like trajectory. Pricing will play a large part in the overall success of this growth pattern. Accordingly, we have selected some interesting new wines (to the US) that are quite affordable and delicious at that.

2009 Marras Assyrtiko, Peloponnesus

List price 14.00; our price 11.99

Assyrtiko is a white Greek wine grape indigenous to the island of Santorini. It is widely planted in the arid volcanic-ash-rich soil of Santorini and other Aegean islands, such as Paros, because, simply, it thrives there. It is planted as well on the Peloponnesus which is the source of this bottling. The flavor profile is floral with a fine mineral quality. The Peloponnesus produces a more robust version of the varietal, and just as flinty. It finishes bone dry. Serve this one with Taramosalata dip.

2009 Marras Chardonnay, Peloponnesus

List price 14.00; our price 11.99

The bouquet shows green apple, melon, citron and citrus blossoms. In the mouth it is fruity with apples at the fore. It is well balanced, fresh and crisp as you would expect of a wine from the dry semi-mountainous area of the Corinthian region. It finishes somewhat tart in the manner of a Chablis.

2009 Elios Mediterranean White, Peloponnesus

List price 11.99; our price 9.99

Elios White and its Red partner are innovative blends that capture the essence of freshness and purity at an affordable price. The White is a light, crisp and refreshing blend with complex citrus and floral aromas, which combines Chardonnay (30%) and the indigenous Mediterranean varietals of Moschofilero (50%), Roditis (10%) and Savatiano (10%). The wine opens with a fruity/floral character and proceeds through a mix of apples, citrus and melon notes.

2009 Boutari Moschofilero, Mantinía

List price 16.00; our price 12.99

The appellation of Mantinía is the site of the largest battle of the Peloponnesian War between the Spartans and the Athenians in 418 BC. This is now the site of the beautiful 15-35 year old vines producing the grapes for this wine. The old vines from this vineyard, located at 2,100 feet, have produced a crisp wine that erupts with aromas of honeydew, melon and a squirt of lemon juice followed by a very distinct floral aspect, like rose petals and lavender. Serve as an apéritif, or with Mediterranean, pan-Asian, or middle-eastern food. It is rated a “top value” by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

2007 Elios Mediterranean Red, Peloponnesus

List price 11.99; our price 9.99

The Elios wines are produced by the Boutari Winery which is recognized as one of the Mediterranean’s top producers. Two familiar grapes contribute to this blend; Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, each at 30%. The remaining 40% is Agiorgitiko, which translates as St. George. The experience here is one of blackberries, spices and chocolate. Tannins in the finish tame the fruitiness.

2007 Marras Cabernet Sauvignon, Peloponnesus

List price 15.00; our price 13.50

This Cab comes from mountainous vineyards located in the Corinthian region. The bouquet is of berries and black fruit jam with spices, cedar and nuts. The flavor profile is reminiscent of ripe red fruit integrated with a pleasing nuance of chocolate and refined tannins. It has a long lasting velvety finish.

Saturday, January 8, 2011
4 to 5:30 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

Congratulations to all who have survived the past year as well as the holidays and are now emerging from the aftermath. It is time to get back on track with our weekly wine regimen as the bottles keep arriving and the wine keeps flowing. Fortunately, ours is an intellectual pursuit in an effort to better understand grape growing, wine making and sensory perception; and not just be looking for a buzz. The next Saturday, the 15th, we will host the Kenneth Volk Vineyards and winery representative, Mike Brown. The following Saturday, the 22nd, we will be joined by Deborah Ellis of Fess Parker Winery. Please engrave these dates into your memory or at least scratch them onto your calendar. These are great wineries deserving of our rapt attention.

2007 Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Blanc, Alcace, France

List price 14.95; our price 12.99

Schlumberger makes this wine with equal proportions of two grape varieties : Pinot Blanc and Pinot Auxerrois. It is a dry wine combining the freshness of one with the aromatic qualities of the other. It is quite close to Chardonnay and is well-balanced, dry and fresh on the palate, with very attractive, fine fruit. This Alsatian wine is known for its suppleness, its emphatic fruitiness and its ability to easily go with a large range of dishes.

2008 White Oak Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

Bill Myers moved from Los Angeles to the Alexander Valley in the 1970s and began making wine; he quickly became recognized for producing wonderful Chardonnay, Zinfandel and what was to become White Oak’s flagship wine: Sauvignon Blanc. It has typical grassy herbaceousness but performs more in the grapefruit genre. Even in the finish there is a slight expression of grapefruit bitterness. This is a very good food wine with a fresh, crisp finish.

2009 Pedroncelli Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

When we hosted the Pedroncelli Winery a few months back, we did not include the Chardonnay, a shameful omission we will correct here and now. While the refreshing citrus, melon and tropical fruit aromas and flavors predominate, the blend of the stainless steel fermented and barrel fermented cuveees adds both fruit-forward qualities and complexity. The wine finishes clean, crisp and light.

2008 Puerto Viejo Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

List price 9.00; our price 7.99

This wine remained on its lees for six months in stainless steel vats with micro-oxygenation and with French oak staves; 15 percent of the wine was aged eight months in French and American oak barrels. It is a well-done, affordable Cabernet with all the qualities with a black-fruit bouquet, and showing ripeness, depth and solid tannins in the mouth. The flavor profile of cola, blackberry and chocolate works just fine, and the finish is long and hints at bitter chocolate and cedar.

2007 Boutari Xinomavro, Naoussa Greece

List price 18.00; our price 15.99

Boutari Naoussa was the first Grecian bottled wine available in Greece (1879) and is the benchmark among Greece’s premium red wines. It has won many awards over the last 50 years both in Greece and internationally. It is also the #1 selling premium red wine from Greece worldwide. It has typically a rich bouquet of ripe red fruit, blackberry and plum, together with sun-dried tomato and the aromas derived from ageing: cinnamon and wood. It has a rich body, good balance and structure, with soft tannins in its finish.

2007 Estancia Meritage Reserve, Paso Robles

List price 20.00; our price 16.99

he blend in this Meritage is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. It is a deep violet wine with crimson edges. The bouquet shows ripe black cherries, licorice, mountain herbs, mocha and fine integrated oak. It is thick, deep and explosive. Chocolate dipped black fruit is enveloped in rich sweet oak. The firm, structured, ripe tannins accompany a long, fruit driven finish.

Saturday, October 30, 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 entering that period of the year wherein entertaining and partying will be shifting into high gear. Most functions are supplied with wines under the ten dollar mark which is a price barrier we maintain in our focus. Repeatedly we return to this level of economy in search of the value products that return more than the price would indicate. To make it interesting, we have chosen one wine from each of six different countries. Drop in this Saturday, taste some nice inexpensive wines and take mental notes on where best to spend your valuable assets.

2008 Matetic Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Chile

List price 10.95; our price 8.99

Chile produces some excellent Sauvignon Blancs and this one from Matetic is a full bodied wine with fine character. The new Matetic Vineyards winery is a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, constructed so as to compliment organic agricultural practices and the natural landscape of the Rosario Valley. This winery, which has a 300-thousand liter capacity, relies on a gravitational-flow design that optimizes management of the grapes brought in from the nearby vineyards. The wine is lively, with clean, zesty flavors of tropical fruit and minerals.

2009 Chateau de Campuget Rosé, Rhone, France

List price 11.95; our price 9.99

This is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache Noir. It comes from the Costières di Nimes, near the awesome French Riviera town (and close to Monaco) boasting not only one of the most well preserved Roman coliseums, but also lots of world class beaches on the beautiful French coast. It used to be considered part of the Languedoc region, but now is part of the Rhone. The wine shows lots of strawberries and stone quality, with intriguing grapefruit notes. It is juicy, yet dry.

2008 Di Majo Norante Sangiovese, Molise, Italy

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

This Sangiovese exhibits a fresh bouquet of violets, berries, spices and leather. It is deliciously smooth, plush and juicy on the palate with loads of ripe fruit. This tremendous value was given a 90-point rating by The Wine Advocate: “The 2008 Sangiovese Terre degli Osci is an incredibly delicious, full-bodied wine with gorgeous clarity and definition. Made in a bold, fruit-driven style, the wine offers terrific depth and a long, polished finish. This harmonious red is a knockout!”

2005 Castaño Solanera, Yecla, Spain

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

The name comes from “Finca La Solana” – sun-washed property in Spanish. This is a blend from 40+ year old vines of the varieties: Monastrell (65%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Garnacha Tintorera (15%). It enjoys a 90 point-rating from Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar: “Saturated purple. Smoky raspberry and cherry on the nose, with a sexy mocha quality adding complexity. Fleshy, round dark fruit liqueur flavors caress rather than pummel the palate. Gentle tannins arrive late to add structure but this is all about silky, juicy fruit.” Robert Parker chimed in with a 91-point rating.

2007 Vino Valpredo “Squeezebox Red”, Sonoma County

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

This is a blend of Zinfandel (49%), Cabernet Sauvignon (35%) and Syrah (16%). Fruit for this selection was sourced at several vineyards sites throughout Sonoma County. Vino Valpredo Wine Company who produced and bottled this offering is an offshoot of Dry Creek Valley’s Fritz Winery who has long been a producer of fine Zinfandels. Aromas of dark berry fruit with spice notes fill out the expressive and vibrant nose of this blend. Some fig notes lead the palate along with a combination of fresh and dried fruit character. Cranberry, cherry and plum are prominent. Sour cherry, blackberry and black pepper emerge in the finish, balanced by excellent acidity. The lasting flavors linger well after the last sip.

Achaia Clauss Muscat de Patras, Greece

List price 12.00; today only 9.99

We will try whenever possible to introduce you to some of the world’s finest dessert wines as we advance towards the winter months. This sweet white dessert wine is produced in the Patras Appellation of Controlled Origin on the Peloponnesus. It is vinified from the White Muscat grapes grown in the Patras defined zone. Its rich amber color, full-body and well-balanced soft flavor make it one of the best deals in dessert wines to be found anywhere.

Saturday, October 4, 2008
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 have taken delivery on some interesting imports from Mediterranean countries and on Saturday will be pairing a red and a white from each of Italy, Spain and Greece.  Join us for our poor-man’s tour of the Mediterranean as we sample wines of each country that make us wish we were there.

2006 Teruzzi & Puthod Vernaccia, “Rondolino”, Tuscany
11.50
The Vernaccia grape yields a wine that is a brilliant straw yellow in color, and the nose is delicately floral and fruity with notes of citrus.  In the mouth it is light and crisp with bright lemon/lime flavors. A slight flintiness accompanies notes of green apple.  It is harmonious, pleasantly complex in flavor and pleases with a soft mouthfeel.  It is best served lightly chilled, and is delicious with all types of seafood, white meats and carpaccio.

2007 Boutari Moschofilero, Mantinía, Greece
14.95
Boutari Moschofilero (mo-sko-FEEL-ero) is a premium white wine made from 100% Moschofilero grapes grown in high elevation vineyards in the AOC region of Mantinía in the Peloponnese.  For years, Moschofilero has been an important selling white wine in Greece and, until recently, a virtual unknown in the United States.  This is a fresh white wine with intense floral (white rose) and fruity (melon and citrus trees) aromas and flavors.  It serves well as an aperitif.

2007 Burgans Albariño, Rias Baixas Spain
12.50
This wine scored 90 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “Burgans is a custom cuvee 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.

2006 Valcantara Garnacha, Cariñena, Aragón, Spain
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.

2005 Pavlou-Kagas “Klima” Xinomavro, Macedonia, Greece
19.99
The vineyard yielding this wine is 160 kilometers to the west of Thessaloniki in the region of Macedonia in Greece.  The estate is owned by two Greeks, George Pavlou and Vasilios Kagas as well as by an Italian-Canadian Alex Pulcini, who is responsible for distribution in North America.  The Xinomavro (ksee-no-mah-vro) vines were selected from an organically-run vineyard, and are between 15 and 75 years old.  Xinomavro is a wine lover’s wine, rather than an easy drinking crowd pleaser.  With a low color and flavors of earth and sun-dried tomatoes, the grape is often compared with Nebbiolo in its youth, largely due to the high tannin and acidity.

2001 Castello di Monastero Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany
22.25
The winery is located in the area near Sienna in Tuscany where Sangiovese is “king”.  Vinification here is done in the traditional method, with contact on the lees for 14-15 days.  The wine is aged for 16 months in French wood barriques, then undergoes considerable bottle age on premises at a controlled temperature.  The color is dark with light orange hints and the bouquet: is earthy with hints of cherries slightly spiced.  The taste is dry, harmonious and complex with medium tannins.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1,
Palm Springs, 92264, 327-7701

Saturday’s tasting event will be hosted by Madeleine de Jean representing an east coast importer of wines from Greece. She will be discussing the technological advances in winemaking that have occurred in the last couple of decades as well as the wines themselves. There are many new wineries and newly trained winemakers in Greece that are changing the perception of wines from that country. Most are using the indigenous grapes as well as the international varietals such as Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot and Chardonnay. They remain proud of their heritage and insist on making the best possible bottle of wine each varietal will yield. The proof is in the tasting and the opportunity awaits you this Saturday.

2005 Haggipavlu Moschofilero, Mantinía, Peloponnesus
$15.85
This is perhaps the most popular of the white wines from Greece. Citrus remains the center of the flavor profile and some exotic fruits come into play, as well. It functions well as a food wine to accompany Greek spiced meat dishes as well as those of fish and poultry.

2005 Megapanos Savatiano, Sparta, Attica
$15.95
This is a dry wine of low vineyard yield, with good bouquet and soft viscous flavors and some stoniness; an excellent accompaniment to the fresh ingredient cuisine of Greece. The wine is fermented in stainless steel with no carbonic maceration, nor malolactic fermentation. It sees no barrel aging and enjoys a fresh fruitiness with less than 12% alcohol. The winemaker is well-known as a leader in the advancement of Greek viticulture and oenology.

2006 Vatistas Asproudi/Assyrtiko, Lakonia, Peloponnesus
$19.95
Both of these white wine grapes are ancient varietals and are quite popular in Greece. The blend is 60% Asproudi and 40% Assyrtiko and produces a lovely crisp, softly perfumed food wine. This vineyard lies in the same region where the grape, Malvasia, originated.

2005 Pavlou Xinomavro “Klima”, Macedonia
$19.99
Pavlou farms his grapes organically which we are seeing more of in Greece. Klima is a single vineyard designation and the grape Xinomavro is more closely related to the Pinot Noir grape. It sees six months of oak aging and emerges smooth and velvety.

2003 Vatistas Aghiorgitiko, Neméa, Lakonia, Peloponnesus
$29.95
This is one of the most important red wine producing regions of Greece and the star varietal is Aghiorgitiko, which probably explains why it is referred to by its Anglicized meaning: St. George. The grape is indigenous to this area with a recorded history extending back to 2000 BC. The wine is deep and complex with lovely elements of red fruits, and spices including vanilla, probably the result of spending a year in French oak.

nv Etko Commandaria St. Nicholas, Limassol, Cyprus
$19.95
Commandaria is made exclusively from two types of indigenous Cyprus grapes: Xynisteri and Mavro. The grapes are left to overripe on the vine and when sugar content reaches acceptable levels they are harvested. The grapes are then laid out in the sun to further increase the sugar density through evaporation. Fermentation takes place in vats and will arrest naturally due to the high levels of alcohol achieved at around 15%. The process has to take place within the confines of 14 designated villages that lie in the Commandaria Region, and, by law, the wine must be aged for at least four years in Oak Barrels. The flavors begin with black cherry on the palate, showing honeyed elements, and proceed to a strong yet pleasant raisin finish that lingers on and on. The Commandaria Centurion from Etko is a world class wine that sells in the $100.00 range.