Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, March 6, 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

There is hardly another class of wine offering value than the Malbec bottlings of Mendoza, Argentina.  By “value” I mean considerable quality easily discerned, at very reasonable prices, or, “bang for the buck”.  Of course there are those producers that feel they should offer a densely made Malbec bomb at $100.00 or $150.00.  Unfortunately, these wines have to compete with similar bigger-than-life reds from California, which puts them at a disadvantage.  Happily you will not have to deal with this quandary on Saturday when we will maintain a sane pricing pulse rate.

2009 Elsa Bianchi Malbec

List price 9.99; our price 8.99

The classic Malbec aromas of ripe plum and violets are evident in the nose, with hints of vanilla.  The beauty of the Malbec in Argentina is its ability to combine a rich, weighty mouth feel with a soft silkiness normally associated with lighter wines.  Elsa Malbec takes the promise of the nose through to the palate, with pleasing fruit that mimics the aroma.  The soft, supple palate leads to a lingering finish.

2008 Alamos Malbec

List price 10.00; our price 8.99

The 2008 Alamos Malbec has a dark, blackish purple color.  The nose shows ripe black fruits, black pepper spice and floral notes.  The mouthfeel is full yet soft and supple, with black raspberry and currant flavors mingled with notes of sweet spice and a touch of leather. The finish is long and persistent with soft, sweet tannins.

2008 Zolo Malbec

List price 10.99; our price 9.99

The grapes are selected from Zolo’s best vineyards located in the wine-growing region of Mendoza.  These terroirs provide a wonderful expression of fruit and variety concentration.  This wine has an attractive and intense violet color, with black fruit, berry and raspberry flavors and a finish displaying complexity and elegance.

2008 Kaiken Malbec

List price 10.99; our price 9.99

In this wine, mature red fruits and chocolate are vividly present, mixing harmoniously with the oak, while violet aromas enhance the wine’s complexity on the nose.  The wine is velvety, with excellent structure and abundant, mature tannins providing a nice silkiness.  The wine is a faithful exponent of Malbec’s potential in Argentina, with unique characteristics, blending both intensity and softness along with a long and persistent finish.

2007 Pizzella Family Vineyard “La Posta” Malbec

List price 15.00; our price 13.50

Wine Spectator gave this delightful wine a 91-point rating: “Ripe and flashy, with a showy layer of mocha leading the way for spice cake, raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors laid over a lush, creamy finish.  Dense but lithe, with the fruit echoing through the finish”.

2007 Kaiken “Ultra” Malbec

List price 19.95; our price 16.99

Showing outstanding and concentrated fruit, this wine has beautiful aromas of red berries, black cherry and a hint of cigar box cedar.  The full-bodied wine is round and velvety in mid-palate, with soft tannins.  An added touch of vanilla and toast, followed by a long and smooth finish makes this a very elegant wine.  80% of the Ultra was aged in French oak for 12 months which accounts for the considerable elegance of the wine.  Given its ripe core of spicy fruit, excellent concentration of succulent flavors, lengthy finish and balance, it should evolve for another 1-2 years and drink well through the rest of the decade.

Saturday, February 20, 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

Thanks to all who attended the event last Saturday featuring Mike Grgich and his fine wines.  Mike was gratified by the number of fans who crowded in to meet with him and taste the wines currently in release.  Melanie did amazingly well keeping up with the pouring duties and discussing the provenance of the varietals.  Our apologies to you who got to the counter after we ran out of Fumé Blanc and Zinfandel; the matter is rectified with the arrival of both now in the store.In the meantime, new arrivals are available on our shelves and really ought to be part of our sampling schedule.  This Saturday’s event will feature imports from Argentina, Germany Italy and Spain.Next Saturday, the 27th we will concentrate on Zinfandels and the following Saturday, the 6th of March, we will present Argentine Malbecs for your discerning pleasure.

2008 Banfi Principessa Perlante Gavi, Piemonte, Italy

List price 17.50; our price 13.99

Principessa Perlante captures the fresh, fruit-forward bouquet and elegant structure of Gavi with a delicate natural effervescence.  As well as an elegant apéritif, it is also an ideal accompaniment to all shellfish, and marries well with fish, veal and grilled chicken.  Its combination of delicacy and flavor makes it a most appropriate accompaniment to the nuances of Asian cuisine in general and Japanese dishes in particular.  Also, you might try it with Italian food.

2008 Alamos Chardonnay, Mendoza, Argentina

List price 10.00; our price 8.99

Built up by the Catena family in Argentina, Alamos produces terrific value wines year in and year out.  The wine is full-bodied, with red apple and pear fruit filling the mouth.  Some bright yellow stone fruit and just a hint of toffee from brief oak aging add some richness and texture.  The wine has a truly fresh flavor profile, and would work well as a bridge wine for those who prefer crisper, brighter, Chardonnay while their companions perhaps favor richer, oakier flavors.  Delicious and versatile, this is a “smoking” good deal on Chardonnay!

2000 Bert Simon Serrig Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese, Mosel, Germany

List price 24.90; our price 19.99

In 1968, as a young enologist, Bert Simon acquired the Baron von Schorlemer vineyards Serriger Herrenberg and Serriger Würtzberg.  Both vineyard sites of about 40 acres are monopole sites of the estate and almost all the vines are planted on steeply sloping hillsides.  This is a cool climate Riesling with aromas of minerals and bright citrusy fruit, with floral nuances in the background.  I love the citrus and honeysuckle fruit flavors playing off of the minerals, with a bright, tingly acidity to support it all.

2003 Conde de Valdemar, Reserva, Rioja, Spain

List price 16.50; our price 12.95

The Martinez Bujanda family, producers of Valdemar wines, founded their original winery in 1889.  They own 820 acres of vineyards, which makes Valdemar one of the largest estates in the Rioja.  A new winery was built in 1984 to take advantage of modern technologies, integrating both new and time-honored traditions of winemaking.  A blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo, the wine is clean and bright with complex aromas of stewed black berries and spicy touches of black pepper and mineral notes.  It has a fleshy ripe berry character with fine tannins extending throughout the long and very persistent finish.

2006 Monte Antico, Toscana, Italy

List price 14.00; our price 10.99

The wine is 75 percent Sangiovese, 15 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.  It is made from 25-year-old vines, mostly from Pisa, Maremma and Chianti Classico areas.  The quality of the 2006 vintage in Tuscany shines brilliantly through this wine.  The superb 2006 Sangiovese year has produced an aromatic wine with beautiful plums, berries and fresh acidity; #61 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2009.

2006 Masi Valpolicella “Campofiorin” Ripasso, Veneto, Italy

List price 15.00; our price 12.99

Masi’s 2006 Campofiorin reveals a soft, floral expression of red fruits framed by silky tannins.  This medium-bodied, restrained wine shows a lovely balance.  Campofiorin is essentially a Valpolicella made in the ripasso style which involves a secondary fermentation on the skins and stems of the estate’s Amarone.

Saturday, December 19, 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

Our annual Champagne event last week was a big hit and we are following it up with a Prosecco party.  This Saturday we will be visited by Kirsten York from Italy’s Mionetto Winery. The Mionetto family has been producing Prosecco wine in the very heart of Valdobbiadene since 1887.  The Prosecco zone, located in the Veneto, is comprised of an area between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.  This is the only place in the world where the Prosecco grape grows.  Mionetto makes a range of Prosecco styles, which would well accommodate year-end party needs at easy to manage pricing.  The best part is they are very festive, are under 12% alcohol and they taste really good.  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.  Join us this Saturday to learn all about the famous grape that produces this wonderful wine, while sipping the lovely elixir.

Mionetto IL Prosecco, Veneto

List price 11.95; our price 9.99

This is a straw-colored wine with brilliant reflections. The aroma is fruity, reminiscent of pear and citrus with a slightly floral bouquet. The wine is fresh and crisp with apparent apple and peach flavors. This lightly sparkling (frizzante) wine typifies the traditional wine-maker’s Prosecco.

Mionetto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene

List price 18.00; our price 14.99

The Valdobbiadene winemaker’s art is full of long-standing traditions which the Mionetto Company has preserved, including the ancient custom of using string-tied corks, a rustic characteristic of the Valdobbiadene wines of the past lovingly maintained by Mionetto to this day.  The wine is slightly fruity and dry, with the perfume of golden apples.

Mionetto Prosecco Brut

List price 15.95; our price 11.99

This fully-sparkling wine is pale gold with greenish tints and a full and consistent perlage. Refined, light and delicate, it has a long-lasting aroma and fruity, crisp taste that recalls the freshness of golden apples.

Mionetto Sergio Spumante, Extra Dry

List price 24.00; our price 21.95

The blend in this sparkling wine is 70% Prosecco di Valdobbiadene DOC and the other 30% is a blend of Verdiso, Bianchetta and Chardonnay.  It honors the traditions of the Veneto winemaking region and the long history of the Mionetto family.  Contemporary master vintner Sergio Mionetto produces this wine based on a formula handed down by Francesco Mionetto, who founded the winery.  A touch of two old grape varieties, unique to the region, are blended with the area’s finest Prosecco grapes; the result is a superbly dry, slightly fruity wine with just a hint of acidic crispness.  Wine Enthusiast gave the wine a 92 point-rating.

Mionetto IL Rosato del Veneto

List price 11.95; our price 9.99

This well-balanced and fruity wine has lively notes of cherries with a long and dry finish. Its pleasing aroma recalls the elegant mix of roses, raspberries and peaches.  This wine is lovely on its own, as an apèritif or paired with cured meats, mild cheeses or shellfish.  It particularly comes alive as a complement to fresh water fish such as rainbow trout and carp.

Mionetto Sergio Rosé

List price 24.00; our price 21.95

This is a brilliant, raspberry colored Italian sparkler with pretty and well-defined aromas of cranberry juice, almonds and roses.  Interesting mineral nuances that recall chalk or white stone add a patina of elegance and femininity to a fun and informal wine otherwise characterized by red berry fruit, white cherry and flower petal.

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, July 18, 2009
4 to 6 pm
$5.00 per person
      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

The first Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, the premium wine of 1987 that brought fame to the company, was concentrated and complex and became an immediate success.  This was the first ever premium Chilean export wine and it opened for Montes and for Chile, a path other wineries quickly followed.  In 1996 Montes developed the stately “M” (a classic Bordeaux style blend) the first ultra-premium wine of Chile.  An entry level line called the Classic Series was introduced in 1999.  The Alpha “M” was followed by another soon to become cult-wine, the Montes Folly in 2000 (100% Syrah), and finally, in 2003, the first Chilean Carmenère, the Purple Angel.  When Montes began (as Discover Wine Ltd.) there were only fourteen wineries exporting from Chile; today the Chilean central bank has over two hundred registered wine exporters.  Montes wines are mainly aimed at exports (94% of its entire production) to over seventy-five countries in five continents.

2008 Montes Sauvignon Blanc, Classic Series, Casablanca Valley
9.99
The wine was fermented in stainless steel allowing no oak contact.  It has attractive tropical fruits and grassy notes owing to the cool Casablanca climate.  It is a fresh, crispy light, wine to be enjoyed in its youth.

2008 Montes Chardonnay, Classic Series Curico Valley
9.99
This wine is fermented 60 % in casks and 40 % in stainless steel, with only half allowed to proceed through malolactic fermentation.  The process is carried out under controlled temperature conditions to maintain the fruity aromas.  Its aroma blends hints of butter and vanilla with tropical fruits including banana.  It is a fresh wine, fruity, with good body and balance, creamy and complex in mid palate, showing a nice elegant finish.

2007 Montes Alpha Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley
16.99
The wine was vinified as three different lots using three different strains of selected yeasts: “D”, Montrachet and native. Fermented and aged in French oak barrels for 1 year, 40% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation.  The wine remained in its original cask for one year using a monthly batonage to enhance the complexity of buttery flavors and tropical fruit.  It is full bodied and creamy in the mid palate.  This is one of the few Chilean whites that is ageable.

2007 Montes Merlot, Classic Series, Colchagua Valley
9.99
Here is a young Merlot with six months of American oak ageing.  It is elegant and refined with a marked fruitiness and softness on the palate despite the spicy black pepper elements.  Aurelio Montes decided to blend 15% Cabernet Sauvignon with this Merlot, to better marry with the oak, and give structure and finesse.

2007 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley
9.99
The nose is packed with layers of caramel, cinnamon, candy and hints of mint, with a prevalence of fruit over oak.  This is a spicy, full-flavored wine, with good body, fruit and firm tannins ending with an engaging, strong finish.

2006 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley
16.99
Considered one of the top Chilean Cabernets, it is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. It is deep ruby in color with flavors of red fruits, blackcurrant, chocolate and cigar box, in balance with well-integrated oak, specifically, fine grained French Alliers.  It is complex in the mouth, full bodied and balanced with a lasting persistence leading to a long finish.  Although a superb wine as it is now, it may also be considered for cellaring.  The first (1987) version was recently selected among the best ten year old red wines (18th) in the world and the 1990 version was ranked 10th in the world, also by WINE magazine.

2006 Montes Alpha M, La Finca Estate, Apalta Valley, Colchagua
77.00
The wine is powerful and elegant with a deep dark red color.  Yet it has soft, round, solid tannins framing a distinguished character with aromas of red fruits, cassis and a touch of cedar and cinnamon.  It has delightful notes of vanilla and coffee, and a long, lingering finish with a pleasant and harmonious balance of fruit and oak.  The “M” is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) for elegance, Merlot (5%) for softness, Cabernet Franc (10%) to add harmony and Petit Verdot (5%) for austerity.  The Petit Verdot adds an extra element of complexity by linking all the other grapes.  The structure of this wine will keep it for over 20 years.

2006 Montes Purple Angel, Apalta and Marchigue Vineyards
56.00
Carmenère was rediscovered in Chile only in 1993, after being believed extinct since phylloxera hit Bordeaux, its original home, around 1880.  The wine has a distinctive deep purple color with delicate hints of chocolate and cigar box aromas.  The wine is a blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot from the Colchagua Valley.  The Carmenère from Apalta adds sophistication and subtlety to the blend, providing chocolate, vanilla and tobacco aromas, as well as the combination of dark fruit flavors and the spiciness typical of the variety.  The grapes from the Marchigue estate provide potency and color to the wine creating a fine balance of power and elegance.  The blend is ultimately enhanced with Petit Verdot to provide structure and at the same time flavors of wild black berries.  It is full bodied, with a generous amount of ripe tannins giving grip and depth to this lovely wine.

Saturday, July 11, 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

Whether you are out by the pool on a hot summer day or at a restaurant that evening there is nothing more satisfying than a bottle of chilled dry rosé.  This style of wine serves well as an apèritif, it can be poured as a cooler over ice perhaps with a splash of soda and it is amazingly versatile with various foods.  The Europeans consume an enormous amount of rosé during the summer, not to mention dry sparkling rosés.  I, for one, choose to drink it year round because it simply is delicious.  For those of you who have a negative reaction to the word “rosé” or honestly don’t know why I’m waxing poetic over this style of wine, drop in on Saturday and give yourself an opportunity to experience this most charming expression of the grape.

2007 Gran Feudo Rosé, Navarra, Spain
Regular price 9.99; our price 7.99
This rosé is an outstanding example of the “fruity” style, made solely from Garnacha grapes, the ideal variety for rosé wines.  Picking takes place when the grapes have the ideal balance between acidity and ripeness.  This wine is made by the saignée method.  After the skins have been left in contact with the must for a short time, the juice is drawn off by gravity, without any pressing taking place.  It shows excellent balance between fruit and acidity.  It is fresh, soft and long on the palate, fruity and clean, with floral reminiscences.

2005 Chateau Saint-Florin Rosé, Bordeaux, France
Regular price 9.99; our price 7.99
This rosé comes from 100% Merlot grown in the Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux.  Saint-Florin allows 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.

2008 Mulderbosch Rosé, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Regular price 12.99; our price 9.99
Vinified from Cabernet Sauvignon, this rosé is vibrant and ripe with layered aromas of strawberry, red cherry, and raspberry with a hint of rose petal.  The palate is similarly fruit-forward with flavors of strawberry, pomegranate, and passion fruit.  Enjoy with Thai food, crab cakes, fruit-glazed pork chops, and fresh fruit.

2008 Match Book Rosé, Dunnigan Hills, California
Regular price 13.50; our price 9.99
This rosé is 100% Tempranillo from vines grown in the Matchbook Vineyard in the Dunnigan Hills.  These vines are from cuttings imported from the Pesquera region of Spain and produce classic Tempranillo aromas of black cherries, boysenberries and raspberry with a touch of chocolate mocha, and leather.  The flavor is crisp and lively with lots of citrus and peach and just a touch of sweetness.  It was made by removing a portion of the juice from the Tempranillo lots after sitting on the skins for 24 hours.  The juice was cold fermented naturally and slowly over a three-month period.  Serve chilled and pair with fresh fruit and brie.

2008 Chateau Saint-Pierre Rosé, Provence France
Regular price 16.50; our price 13.95
There are only a few wines as versatile with food or as refreshing and affordable as this Chateau Saint-Pierre.  It is 60% Cinsault and 40% Grenache from Provence with salmon-pink highlights.  It has a lovely nose of strawberry, white peach and guava.  It is full-flavored in the mouth with great character and excellent aromatic length.  It is perfect on its own or paired with a wide variety of foods: goat cheese, sandwiches, Mediterranean pasta, salads, fish and seafood.

2007 Schnaitmann Rosé, “Evoe” Wurttemberg, Germany
Regular price 19.95; our price 17.50
Showing flavors of dark cherries, cinnamon and herbs, this wine carefully blended from Pinot and Trollinger grapes, is a full bodied, serious example of rosé wine.  It has a bright salmon color and a Pinot Noir nose with strawberries and underlying earthy minerality.  It is layered on the pallet, with lots of strawberries interlaced with minerals.  It has richness, along with finesse and finishes long while refreshing.

Saturday, June 6, 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

Those of you who were not able to attend last Saturday’s event missed out on an impromptu attempt to pair cupcakes with the wines being poured.  The delicious pastries are made by Sisters Cupcakes by Design from Cathedral City (www.sisterscupcakes.com), 760-328-5620.  Josie and Sandy, who are indeed sisters, provided us an array of cupcakes from lemon-coconut to chocolate-raspberry.  I was quite skeptical when the idea was first suggested, but was amazed at the good reception we received, not to mention the sheer fun of it all.  We decided to repeat the event this weekend, but announce it in advance.  These baked jewels will go well with the wines we have selected, but you do have to like cupcakes.

Zonin Prosecco Sparkling Wine, Italy
Regular price 11.00; our price 8.99
This is a very tasty sparkling wine, though without being overly carbonated.  The fruit is soft and pear-like and there are just enough sweet elements to remove the acidic edge one gets from Champagne.  Besides making an excellent Bellini cocktail, this Prosecco should pair well with the cupcakes.

2006 Annie’s Lane Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia
Regular price 13.50; our price 7.99
This Riesling 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 apèritif or as the perfect accompaniment to fruits de mer.  Its impressive length and natural acidity will allow for graceful aging over the next 5 years.

Grandial Muscat Rosé Sparkling Wine, France
Regular price 12.00; our price 9.99
This is a fruity elegant sparkling wine with fine bubbles and a fresh palate.  It is slightly sweet and should pair well with our cupcake selection.  This is a great price for this fruit-forward sparkling wine with fine bubbles and fresh palate.

2005 PKNT Carmenère Reserve, Rapel Valley, Chile
Regular price 9.00; our price 6.99
The wine is smooth and full bodied with a dark red color.   In the nose it has red cherries and plums with a touch of toasty oak.  There are hints of chocolate and berries in a setting of round tannins; soft but well structured. 

2006 Yangarra Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia
Regular price 20.95; our price 17.99
Rich spice, blackberry fruit, and hints of sweet vanilla are the hallmarks of this remarkable Shiraz.  On the palate, the wine is rich and full-bodied, with intense blackberry and dark cherry flavors, although soft tannins.  It was aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels to encourage the smoky, toasty oak flavors which, in turn, frame the rich, plush dark berry and plum flavors giving way to a balanced black pepper finish.

2006 Yangarra Cadenzia, McLaren Vale, Australia
Regular price 23.00; our price 19.99
This is a blend supposedly inspired by the opera term for an improvised personal expression at the end of an Aria (usually seen as “Cadenza”).  This blend of Grenache (68%), Shiraz (27%) and Mourvèdre (5%) blends together the array of flavors and terroirs of the estate, and is very representative of the McLaren Vale appellation in general.  The full flavor experience evokes blackberry, Bing cherry, mulberry, plums, nuts and subdued oak flavors slowly tapering off to a lingering finish.

Saturday, May 23, 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 are bringing a small piece of Europe to you via a sampling of wines from France, Germany, Austria and Italy.  This may not represent adequate compensation for those of us who could not afford to travel to Europe this summer, but we can guarantee you an excellent afternoon of good fellowship and cheer.  Plus, there is the added attraction of honing our wine tasting skills, as well as expanding our knowledge of esoteric wines from the old world.  Now, how can you resist such an opportunity?

2005 Chartron et Trebuchet Mâcon-Villages, France
Regular price 14.00, today only 9.99
This wine is 100% Chardonnay and displays a character more akin to Chablis in that it has a steely minerality against a citrus background with toasty, yeasty notes.  It is a perfect picnic wine and is good for summer sipping.

2005 Jurtschitsch Sonnhof Grüner Veltliner, Austria
Regular price 14.95, today only 12.99
This GrüVe from the family-run Jurtschitsch wine-estate fascinates with cool flavors of fruit, followed by spicy notes and a refreshing final minerality.  “GrüVe - Smile” is how Christian Ludwig Attersee subtitled his painting to be seen on this year’s bottling.  The artist’s personal interpretation displays light but still warm shades of yellow representing its fruitiness.  Oh yes, the wine is delicious, as well.

2005 Ökonomierat Rebholz, Weißer Burgunder, Pfalz, Germany
Regular price 24.90, today only 19.99
This is a spätlese trocken bottling, meaning the grapes were late picked and fermented dry.  The Rebholz family is absolutely fanatic about producing the purest expression of this grape, allowing no adulteration of any kind (such as chaptalization or adding sweet grape juice to the fermentation process).  This Pinot Blanc has a finely spiced, mineral apple scent with a hint of honey and melon.  It is clean and dry, with a nutty flavor and a mineral presence.  It has animating acidity, but is harmonious with a smooth texture on the palate.

2007 Karl Heinz Zellerschwarze Katz, Mosel, Germany
Regular price 8.99, today only 7.50
The two-hundred-year family-owned estate has been in the hands of Karl Heinz Weis since 2001, when he took over production from his father.  Like most Mosel wineries, the estate produces mainly Riesling, followed by Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Dornfelder and Müller-Thurgau.  Karl Heinz Weis has already won many awards in both state and federal competitions and is considered at the forefront of a group of up-and-coming young Mosel vintners.  The village of Zell on the Mosel River is the genesis of this wine with the familiar black cat (Schwarze Katz) on the label.  Wines under this label are generally light and simple, and, at 9.5% alcohol, very easy to quaff.

2007 Louis Jadot Beaujolais, France
Regular price 11.99, today only 9.99
This wine is bright and fresh, with ripe, supple, crushed strawberry flavors underscored by zesty nuances of peppercorns, gentle tannins and a clean acidity, finishing on a succulent, refreshing note.  On the palate, it is light bodied, lively, and shows plenty of acidity.  There are hints of cherries with a touch of spice.  The finish is dry, a little edgy, and its mild tannins linger slightly.

2003 Sorrentino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio, Italy
Regular price 16.95, today only 9.99
This wine is produced with Piedirosso grapes from the best vineyards of Vesuvio Vulcano.  The wine is ruby-red, almost garnet-colored, with orange reflections.  It has a rich, full, sustained perfume, and an integrated, austere, harmonious flavor.  It has an alcohol content of 12.5% and excellent balancing acidity.  Serve cool, with roasted red meats, game, and dishes garnished with truffles, and cheese.

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).