Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, May 21, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

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

Today only receive an extra 10% discount,
while stock lasts.

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

Chile is well represented in the US with numerous brands offering several levels of mainstream varietals at good prices. The region has a long viticultural history dating to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought Vitis Vinifera vines with them as they colonized the region. In the mid-19th century, French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were introduced. In the early 1980s, a renaissance began with the introduction of stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of oak barrels for aging. Wine exports grew very quickly as quality wine production increased. The number of wineries has grown from 12 in 1995 to over 90 in 2007. Chile is now the fifth largest exporter of wines in the world, and the ninth largest producer. Cabernet Sauvignon leads with 39.1% of total production. Sauvignon Blanc is next with 14.3%. Merlot, Chardonnay, and Carmenère follow with 13.3, 11.2 and 8.7% of total production.

2008 Toro de Piedra Chardonnay, Curico Valley

List price 14.95; our price 11.99; today only 10.79

On the nose it is very intense with hints of pineapple, lemon, almond flowers and vanilla. Opening on the palate it shows a crisp acidity and is rich, round and creamy with flavors of baked apple, pear and spice. The wine has a long lingering finish while maintaining its freshness with notes of white fruits and vanilla.

2008 Puerto Viejo Cabernet Sauvignon, Curico Valley

List price 9.95; our price 7.99; today only 7.19

This Cab dwells at the lighter end of the spectrum showing hints of coffee, toasted almonds, licorice and cherries. On the palate this wine is upfront with mature tannins and a velvety texture. It has a persistent and harmonious finish and should prove a good everyday non-contemplative wine.

2010 Santa Carolina Pinot Noir, Maule Valley

List price 10.00; our price 8.99; today only 8.09

Red ruby in color, the Reserva Pinot Noir has aromas of raspberries and white pepper with a soft hint of oak. On the palate, this medium bodied wine shows ripe fruit characters that are well balanced with the harmonious acid.

2009 Terra Andina Carmenère, Central Valley

List price 12.00; our price 9.99; today only 8.99

Jammy red and dark berries show well on the nose, with gentle spiciness building in the glass. The wine is creamy and fruity, with vivid raspberry and blueberry flavors. The tannins are very mild and the acid balance keeps the wine lively. This is a pretty amazing bargain and extremely easy to drink.

2008 Root 1 Carmenère, Colchagua Valley

List price 11.95; our price 9.99; today only 8.99

The wine shows dark berries and mocha on the nose, augmented by a subtle smoky quality and a touch of cracked pepper. Round and fleshy, it displays slightly loose-knit dark fruit flavors but with no rough edges. It finishes smooth, with a modest persistence

2007 Casa Silva Petit Verdot, Colchagua Valley

List price 19.95; our price 16.75; today only 14.99

Wine Spectator Magazine gave this wine a 90+ rating: “The Silva family emigrated from France in the 1920’s bringing their winemaking expertise along. Deep ruby with blue hues. On the nose, fruity, fresh, with notes of black fruits and cinnamon. On the palate, very powerful, velvety, full, with firm tannins and an excellent balance between structure and acidity. Long finish.”

Saturday, May 14, 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

The wines of Germany, especially the Rieslings, are quite versatile year round and are an excellent choice for summer sipping. Some German wines are dry as with the Silvaner in our tasting while the Rieslings go from dry to quite sweet. An advantage to having off-dry to sweet wines during the summer months is that they can be served over ice. In fact, club soda can be used to liven them up, but just ice is best. The wines from boutique wineries such as von Hövel, Mönchhof and Bert Simon, however, are absolutely beautiful by themselves. So, if you are drinking cocktails with any degree of sweetness to them, do consider the Rieslings instead. They serve up very well and are quite refreshing.

2009 Hans Wirsching Silvaner, Franken

List price 18.00; our price 15.99

Mr. Heinrich Wirsching is the current owner and is in charge of the estate. He carries on 350 years of family wine making tradition. His goal is to produce “the best wines that nature will permit”. This includes pruning to yield only the best grapes, using predominantly organic fertilizer and very late, often high risk harvesting. It is a refreshing wine with notes of lemon and pear along with great minerality.

2007 Karl Heinz Liebfraumilch, Rheinhessen

List price 8.50; our price 5.99

Liebfraumilch is still one of the world’s best selling wines. Karl Heinz produces a high quality Liebfraumilch with grapes grown in some of Germany’s top vineyards of the Rheinhessen. This is a fine, light-bodied (at only 9.5% alcohol) white wine, fruit scented and imminently quaffable.

2007 Karl Heinz Zellerschwartze Katz, Mosel

List price 9.50; our price 6.99

The black cat from the town of Zell is a famous icon in German wines. Its light green apple flavors with a slight bit of sugar sweetness are tempered by a lingering bitter apple seed flavor. It is fairly light bodied (9.5% alcohol) and very quaffable. This is your basic easy-going picnic or barbecue wine. Serve chilled or on the rocks.

2007 von Hövel Riesling, Saar

List price 18.00; our price 14.99

This Saar Riesling displays a delicate, racy style, offering light lemon, apple and peach notes, with a white pepper accent. It borders on being tart, and leads to a mouthwatering finish with hints of lime and wet stone. Only 8% alcohol, though the residual sugar that appears in the form of sweetness is beautifully balanced with its acids, expressing itself in the form of a refreshing burst of citrus. It received 90pts from Wine Enthusiast and was awarded the “Editors Choice”.

2007 Mönchhof Riesling, Spätlese, Mosel

List price 22.00; our price 18.99

90 points Wine Spectator: “Juicy and bursting with peach and tangerine flavors. This almost seems easy and open until the fine structure adds some spine on the finish. A light-weight style, with finesse. Drink now through 2022.” (12/08) According to Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “once again represents excellent value and an archetype of Mosel Spätlese. With Erdener Treppchen-like suggestions of orange sherbet, nectarine, sweet lime, and sassafras this saturates the nose and palate with fruit and spice, finishing with an exuberance that helps keep its considerable sweetness from seeming at all out of place. Enjoy it over the coming 3-4 years.”

2002 Bert Simon Riesling Auslese, Serrig Herrenberg, Saar

List price 20.00; our price 17.95

Auslese (selected harvest) is a German language wine term for a late harvest wine and is a riper category than Spätlese in the Prädikatswein category of the Austrian and German wine classification. The grapes are picked from selected very ripe bunches in the autumn (late November-early December), and have to be hand picked. This 2002 Riesling is an off-dry wine that’s almost sweet enough to be a dessert wine, offering concentrated lime and white flowers on the palate, with some mineral and petroleum jelly on the finish. At only 8% alcohol, it is rich and full in the mouth, and very well balanced.

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, April 2, 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

There is an interesting dichotomy between Italian wines and California wines. The former are made in a manner to accompany food, while the latter are judged upon how well they stand alone. Of course, the Italians, like the French, are complete “foodies”. They typically do not eat without drinking wine or drink without eating. Californians frequently are content to savor the luxury of a fine rich wine, white or red, and forgo the accompanying hors d’oeuvres. How many times have you indulged with friends in a glass or wine (or so) without so much as a cracker within reach? As such, you are hereby reminded to enjoy our food assortment as you sample your way through some of the jewels of Northern Italy.

2009 Villa Sonia Pinot Grigio delle Venezie

List price 11.95; our price 9.99

The wine shows strong floral scents; rose-like with nectarine fruit. At first it suggests a Viognier wine, but the customary minerality brings it back into focus. There is indeed some stone fruit character: peach, nectarine and apricot. It does have good body and offers a decent finish. The slight bitterness in the finish indicates, as mentioned above, a wine made to accompany food.

2009 Anselmi Bianco, San Vincenzo, Veneto

List price 13.50; our price 11.99

In 2000, Roberto Anselmi chose to leave the Soave DOC, and his wines are now labeled as IGT Veneto. This was due to his frustration by the low quality and general lack of ambition in the Soave region. His clones of Garganega (the white variety of Soave) are the less productive, higher quality ones. The San Vincenzo blend is 80% Garganega, 15% Chardonnay and 5% Trebbiano varietal, with no wood, done in a fruity, youthful style. The wine is crisp with scents of minerals, apple, banana and lemon blossoms. It is medium-bodied, dry and fresh, with notes of citrus fruit, pear, grapefruit and hints of hazelnut. Try it with smoked or grilled fish, shellfish, lobster salad or roast chicken.

2007 Vigneti Sant’ Helena Sauvignon, Collio

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

This dry Sauvignon Blanc has stunning gooseberry fruit, balanced with suggestions of yellow peppers, banana and melon with a wonderfully long, flint finish. It is produced by the venerable house of Fantinel from estates in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, north-east Italy, ostensibly the most acclaimed area in Italy for the production of this varietal.

2008 Fontanafredda Barbera, Briccotondo, Piemonte

List price 12.00; our price 8.99

Fontanafredda has done an outstanding job of making a wine with real, vibrant flavors that just jump out of the glass. They’ve also done an amazing job of softening Barbera’s sometime forceful acidity to make this wine supremely pleasant for anyone to drink. Try this cherry infused charmer with foods from the BBQ or your favorite pasta.

2009 Quattro Mani Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

List price 11.95; our price 9.99

Quattro Mani, or “four hands” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is an outstanding value. Montepulciano is an extraordinarily versatile grape producing prodigious quantities of good quality wine. When grown with the idea of making a higher quality wine it shows its extraordinary complexity. It is bursting with spicy fruit and is supple, soft, balanced and vividly flavored. An outstanding wine for everyday use!

2006 Zenato Cormi, Veneto

List price 23.50; our price 19.99

This 50-50 blend of Corvina and Merlot is ruby red in color, with a bouquet of red berry fruit, blackberry and cherry. It is aged in neutral, medium-size oak barrels giving it a full-throttle style. The Cormi reveals incredible concentration and density on the palate. The strong minerality and freshness of the Corvina is complemented by the full-flavor and sweet tannins of the Merlot. It is an elegant, full-bodied red, ideal for cellaring for a few years. Enjoy with Mediterranean cuisine as well as grilled and roasted meats.

Saturday, March 19, 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

This is a fine opportunity to discover (or rediscover) the amazing world of Port and Madeira. Even if you are not a fan of dessert wines, you can surely appreciate the chance to sample and learn about the various styles offered. W & J Graham’s was founded in Oporto, Portugal’s second city, in 1820 by the two brothers William and John Graham. In 1890, Graham’s became one of the first Port companies to invest in Upper Douro vineyards with the acquisition of the famous property; Quinta dos Malvedos, recognized as one of the Douro Valley’s finest ‘river Quintas’. Today, Graham’s is owned by the Symington Family whose ancestry in the Port trade spans a period of over 350 years, through 13 generations to the present generation of Symingtons, who are owners and managers of Graham’s and the family’s other Port companies. The Blandys owned and managed their wine company nearly 2 centuries from 1811 to 2003. The Symington Family now promotes these Madeira wines world-wide.

Graham’s Porto “Six Grapes”

List price 22.00; our price 19.99

This is a big-hearted wine, sourced from the same vineyards (essentially Quinta dos Malvedos and Quinta das Lages) that contribute to Graham’s famed Vintage Ports in ‘declared’ years. As such, it closely resembles Graham’s Vintage Port style: full-bodied, with rich opulent black fruit on the palate and fragrant brambly aromas. Think of it as the ‘everyday Port for the Vintage Port drinker.’ Six Grapes is bottled relatively young (between 3 and 4 years) in order to retain the freshness and vigor comparable to a young Vintage Port. It has a seductive rich perfume of ripe plums and cherries. On the palate, it is complex, with a good structure and a long lingering finish.

2005 Graham’s Porto Late Bottled Vintage

List price 22.00; our price 19.99

The wines for this blend are selected from the finest production of a very good year, but unlike a ‘declared’ Vintage Port – which is bottled in its second year, ‘LBV’ matures for an average of 5 years in seasoned oak casks prior to bottling (hence the term, ‘Late Bottled’). This wood-ageing encourages the wine’s development and it is therefore ready to drink sooner than Vintage Port. As with the latter, Late Bottled Vintage Ports are sourced primarily from the Malvedos vineyard. The 2005 has a bouquet of great complexity, combining vibrant youthful aromas of jammy red fruits such as raspberries with hints of peppery spice. On the palate it is rich and full-bodied, with concentrated flavors of wild berries and nuances of black chocolate balanced by well structured tannins, leading to a long, firm finish.

Graham’s Port 10-year-old Tawny

List price 31.00; our price 27.99

The deep amber color is certainly “tawny”. The complex nutty aromas of orange peel and marzipan combine with hints of honey and figs. It is flavorful with rich fruitcake spiciness and hints of walnuts, beautifully mellowed, which lead to an elegant, long finish.

Blandy’s Malmsey Madeira 5-year

List price 23.99; our price 21.75

Blandy’s 5 year old Malmsey, produced from the Malvasia grape, was aged in American oak casks in the traditional ‘Canteiro’ system. This comprises of the gentle heating of the wine in the lofts of the lodges in Funchal. Over the years the wine is transferred from the top floors to the middle floors and eventually to the ground floor where it is cooler. Afterwards, the wine underwent racking and fining before the blend was assembled and bottled. The wine is dark, golden brown with the characteristic Madeira bouquet of raisins, toffee and nuts. It is sweet with a rich, full bodied, honeyed and complex finish and beautifully balanced acidity.

Blandy’s Rainwater Madeira

List price 16.95; our price 14.99

This wonderful wine combines soft fruit with a dry nutty quality. Serve lightly chilled as an apéritif. Madeira has a long history of use in cuisine where its fine bouquet adds a subtle yet recognizable nuance to sauces.

Blandy’s Sercial Madeira 5-year

List price 23.99; our price 21.75

Best served chilled as an aperitif, this dry Madeira has soft fruit with a hint of nuttiness and a clean, crisp finish.
Wine Enthusiast awarded it 91-points: “In a recent series of entry-level Madeiras, this was a standout, offering excellent complexity and richness at a reasonable price.”

Saturday, March 12, 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

Argentine wines continue to amaze as great buys abound. So many new bottlings have arrived recently that we are scheduling a second look in as many weeks. Unique packaging and a move to organic-designated grapes are becoming part of the norm. This is a great opportunity to sample and discuss the state of the industry as it pertains to Argentina and to your wallet as well.

2009 Matthew Cain Yellow + Blue Torrontés, Cafayate, Salta

List price 11.95; our price 9.99/Liter

Cafayate is the high, sunny valley in the Salta province of Northern Argentina where the Torrontés grape grows so very well. In this case you can taste it in a wine like Yellow + Blue, which Matthew Cain sources from organically farmed vineyards and vinifies it with natural yeasts. In keeping with its “green” pedigree, it’s packaged in Tetra Pak cartons, which are far lighter than glass bottles and take up less room. This is a big plus if wine bottles do not fit well in your fridge, or if you are to carry some wine in your back-pack. This is a dry Torrontés with spicy yellow fruit and floral blossom aromas leading to a dry, clean palate. It is a very well made, tasty wine with good bracing acid.

2009 Matthew Cain Yellow + Blue Malbec, San Juan

List price 11.95; our price 9.99/Liter

Argentina’s San Juan Province is the country’s second largest wine-producing region, located approximately 2,000 feet above sea level near the Chilean border. The Tetra Pak packaging is interesting in that a case of wine in glass weighs 40 pounds and holds 9 liters of wine, whereas a case of Yellow+Blue weighs 26 pounds and holds 12 liters of wine. This earth-friendly, un-oaked Malbec is made from organically grown grapes, as well, and is hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts. It is medium bodied and dry, with medium acidity, light tannins, moderate intensity, and showing blackberry, plum, and raspberry fruits.

2009 Bodega Elena de Mendoza Red Blend, Mendoza

List price 9.95; our price 8.50

Bodega Elena de Mendoza is named after the family matriarch Elena Napoli, whose parents emigrated from Italy to the heart of Argentina’s wine country in the nineteenth century. The rich, smooth flavors of this wine are an interesting combination of Malbec, Syrah and Bonarda. With dried cherry characteristics, this plush, dark blend is ideal when served alongside barbecued meats.

2008 Filus Malbec Reserve, Mendoza

List price 18.00; our price 14.99

Contrary to other Argentine wineries, Filus Wines was conceived as a New World wine exporter from the beginning in 1997 and its products are made to meet new generation drinker preferences. Both the wine and packaging designing processes relay on targeting Australian and Californian wine drinkers, who are willing to taste new wines from exotic origins. This elegant Malbec is deep ruby red with violet tones and has an intense and bright bouquet with ripe fruit flavors of plums, red currants and raspberries. Ageing in French oak for 12 months enhances and adds complexity to the deep fruit character. The wine received a GOLD MEDAL at the Argentina Wine Awards in 2010.

2009 Bodega Colomé Amalaya Malbec, Valle Calchaqui, Salta

List price 20.00; our price 17.99

Bodega Colomé is owned by Donald Hess, the Swiss entrepreneur who founded Hess Collection wines. The wine is sourced from the highest known altitude Malbec vineyards, averaging 7,500 to 8,000 feet. Founded in 1831, Bodega Colomé is one of the oldest working wineries in Argentina. Amalaya is bright ruby colored and dense with a very fruity nose of red cherries, raspberries and spices. It has a fresh palate, and finishes with soft and round tannins. This vintage remains unrated, but the 2007 Amalaya received 91 points in the Wine Spectator.

FresitaSparkling Wine with Strawberry Infusion

List price 19.00; our price16.95

Well, the wine actually is made in Chile, but the strawberries, at least, are from Argentina. Fresita (“strawberries” in Spanish) is a unique product made from premium Chilean sparkling wine infused with hand picked strawberries from Patagonia and the Andes Mountains. Fresita is naturally produced and has no added sugar from 100% natural strawberry pulp. Enjoy it as an apéritif or dessert wine, for special occasions or to simply to unwind with friends.

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, December 11, 2010
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

It is definitely that time of year and what better selection could we offer than sparkling wines from California and from the Champagne district of France. Once again, Lisa Wherry will present an excellent array of wines from the Young’s portfolio to examine not only the stylistic differences between French and California sparklers, but between the grape blends that make up these bottlings, as well. Moreover, this is, simply put, a fun event and a great way to orient oneself towards the festive days ahead.

2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs, Napa

List price 29.95; our price 26.99

The aromas are sweet and inviting with fresh lemon and lime, followed by pineapple and green apple. The generous nose is accentuated by a salty minerality that leads way to the yeastiness of fresh-from-the-oven bread. It delivers delicious flavors of green apple, fresh honeydew melon and lemon custard. The palate finishes with a pleasant acidity that is crisp, long and lingering. It received 89 points from Wine Spectator

Taittinger Cuvée Prestige, Reims

List price 43.00; our price 39.99

Taittinger is the third oldest Champagne house, and the origins of the house can be traced back to 1734. The Taittinger headquarters are in Reims, situated above 4th century Roman cellars with miles of tunnels and cellars used in the aging process in making Champagne. The House style is elegance with creamy richness. Cuvee Prestige is made of 40% Chardonnay grapes, and is a delicate wine with flavors of fresh fruit and honey. It is firm and on the dry side, with light oak, citrus and candied berry notes. Elegant yet well-toned, it shows intensity and character from beginning to end and stays persistent through the long, lovely finish.

2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Noirs, Napa

List price 35.00; our price 29.99

The long growing season of 2006 produced a fruit forward Blanc de Noirs, delivering generous aromas of strawberry, apple, and lime, followed with hints of spiced orange, cinnamon, and toasted hazelnut. Red apple and baked pineapple flavors give way to mid-palate notes of strawberry yogurt and brown sugar, leading to a zesty, crisp finish. This lively sparkling wine will retain its fruitful character and mature gracefully for many years to come.

Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne, Reims

List price 29.99; our price 26.99

Gift packing with bottle in bucket:

List price 33.00; our price 29.99

This is the best bargain in Champagne and is perennially rated 90+. In fact, Wine Enthusiast Magazine gave it a 92-point rating and made it an “Editor’s Choice”: “Toasty aromas leap from the glass in this deliciously mature wine. It is soft but still very dry, with acidity tamed by both fine, mature fruit and a creamy texture that sits well in the mouth. This is a very fine, tasty wine.”

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Reims

List price 45.00; our price 39.99

This is a fully developed wine, with a radiant bouquet that is captivating yet subtle. Although notes of fully ripe fruit, such as nectarines and cherry plums, are apparent initially, the finish hints at nougat, honey and cereal grains. This wine is smooth and generous on the palate. Three years of maturation have given it body and substance. As the wine opens up, it is full and intense with notes of warm bread blending harmoniously with some ginger and coriander. The grapes used to produce this blend are selected from the top Crus in the Champagne region (34% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay, and 33% Pinot Meunier). It has received high ratings: 94 from Wine Enthusiast and 93 from Wine Spectator.

2004 Iron Horse Russian Cuvée

List price 32.00; our price 27.00

This is the same base wine as their Classic Vintage Brut, but with a richer dosage, which makes it more opulent, slightly sweeter and heightens the fruit. It was originally designed for the historic Reagan-Gorbachev summit meetings ending the Cold War. Here we have a blend of 68% Pinot Noir and 32% Chardonnay aged 3 years on its yeast. It reveals lots of persistent effervescence, tiny, well-formed bubbles, a light straw color, and a distinctive perfume of orange rind and honeyed citrus. In the mouth, it shows a full-bodied mouthfeel and displays good intensity. Even though it is made from the same blend as the Classic Vintage Brut, the Russian Cuvee is much longer, richer, and more intense.

Saturday, December 4, 2010
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

The Folio Fine Wine Partners selection of Italian wines is a spectacular offering compiled by Michael Mondavi. Representing the company this Saturday will be Patti Lee who will expertly and charmingly provide us with all we need to know about these wines and about the Italian wine scene. The wines we will be sampling are from Tuscany, from the Veneto and from the Friuli-Venezie Giulia.

2009 Danzante Pinot Grigio, Friuli-Venezie Giulia

List price 9.95; our price 7.99A crisp lemon-blossom bouquet leads into vibrant flavors of citrus, melon and peach and a clean, well-balanced finish.
Pinot Grigio is considered a natural mutation of the noble Pinot Noir grape, with berries often tinged cinnamon brown or even slightly grayish purple. It originated in Burgundy where it is called Pinot Gris (gray) and has been planted in Italy since the last century. Now Pinot Grigio is planted widely throughout northeastern Italy, especially Friuli, Trentino and Alto Adige, where it produces superior wines in the cool alpine climate.

Villa Sandi Prosecco, Valdobbiadene, Veneto

List price 14.50; our price 10.99

Fresh with nice complexity, the bright and zippy Villa Sandi has a nice undercoating of ripe core fruit flavors. It appears a very pale straw yellow and shows a fine, persistent perlage. The aroma is fruity and flowery with hints of ripe golden apple and wild flowers. The dry, fresh and flavorsome sensation on the palate is followed by a fruity and harmonious finish with zippy, crisp citrus notes.

2007 Masi Campofiorin, Valpolicella Veneto

List price 16.00; our price 13.99

Ripasso (ree-PAH-soh) is a process used in producing some Valpolicella wines to give them richness and body. After the wine is fermented in the usual way, it’s placed in casks containing the lees from a prior batch of recioto or recioto Amarone a concentrated wine made from slightly raisined (passito) grapes. This process, which lasts from 2 to 3 weeks, adds color, tannins and complex flavors. This is the new vintage release from Masi and it is delicious. It has a deep ruby red color. On the nose are cherries and intriguing aromas of mild spices. It is bright and well rounded at the same time on the palate; focusing on baked cherry and plum flavors with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. There is an excellent balance between the supporting acidity and soft tannins. The full bodied finish delights with hints of cocoa.

2006 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany

List price 24.00; our price 19.95

This Chianti Riserva from the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi leads off the with a suite of fragrances exhibiting considerable complexity, opening to dark fruit such as plum and blackcurrant, then enriched by a pungent spiciness that infers cinnamon and clove. In the mouth the wine offers dense, impressive body, and fine-grained tannins that marry beautifully with its alcohol. The result is a solidly-built, but not heavy or extractive, wine, with a seamless, long-lingering finish.
Wine Spectator Score: 91 points.

2006 Masi Amarone, Costasera, Valpolicella, Veneto

List price 57.95; our price 49.99

The passito grapes offer a strong bouquet of baked fruit, plums and cherries, which provide the fruit flavors on the palate and are accompanied with attractive hints of coffee and cocoa. There is excellent balance between supporting acidity and soft tannins that melt into an intriguing softness. Imposing structure and a good alcoholic level gives this Amarone an attractively long finish. It is full-bodied, round and juicy, with loads of fruit and a soft, caressing palate. High ratings!

2004 Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany

List price 59.95; our price 54.99

Grown in Tuscany’s most exceptional growing areas, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi wines boast more than 700 years of family history. This powerful Brunello was #15 on Wine Spectator’s 2009 Wines of the Year: “Shows a complex nose of blackberry, tanned leather, sandalwood and cedar. Fascinating, full-bodied, with super-silky tannins and a long, long finish. Concentrated yet balanced. Beautiful and complete. Best after 2011”. This incredible ’04 Sangiovese spent three years in oak and is definitely built for the long run.

Saturday, November 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

At the turn of the 20th century, Rosemount, based in Hunter Valley and South Australia, was the second best selling Australian wine brand in the US. It was established in 1969 by Bob Oatley and was Australia’s largest family owned winery until its March 2001 merger with Southcorp Wines. After four decades of making Rosemount Winery the huge success it now enjoys, Bob Oatley and his family are again playing a key role in setting a new direction for Australian wine. Never one to rest on his laurels, in 2006 and at the age of nearly 80, Bob decided it was time to redefine perceptions about the essence of Australian wine. The hallmarks are appealing texture, moderate alcohol, bright natural acidity and purity of varietal flavor. But one thing never changes, i.e. Bob Oatley’s requirement that the wine always tastes “like you want some more.”

Today, Bob’s winemaking home is Mudgee, 261 km north-west of Sydney, a region of sunshine, ancient red-brown earth and a rich winemaking history. His wines are produced from a diverse set of family-owned vineyards spread throughout the Mudgee region as well as grapes grown for the family from vineyards as far away as Margaret River and Pemberton, Western Australia. Joining us this Saturday is Ian Dealhoy, the Southern California sales manager for the winery.

2009 Robert Oatley Pinot Grigio, South Australia

List price 15.00; our price 10.99

The Adelaide Hills, in South Australia, is the ideal region in which to grow the Pinot Grigio grape. The vineyard looks out on steep slopes that promote free air movement, encouraging cool breezes during the growing season. The aim is to capture the delicate pear, apple and spice notes of the variety. Some parcels are fermented with the clusters to promote palate weight. The wine’s natural partridge-eye hue has been retained in a wine that is crisp and fresh with the pure flavor and minerality of Pinot Grigio. 90 point rating by Wine and spirits Magazine

2009 Robert Oatley Sauvignon Blanc, Pemberton

List price 15.00; our price 10.99

The Pemberton wine region in Western Australia, almost 2,000 miles from Mudgee, provides the perfect growing conditions for Sauvignon Blanc. The elevated cool, maritime climate of this region maintains the core freshness and zesty aromatics of the variety. Separate parcels were harvested at various maturity stages to produce a mix of interesting flavors. The early harvest captures the crisp zesty core of the wine while a slightly later harvest builds an element of tropical fruit flavors. The use of selected aromatic yeasts and cool fermentation temperatures has produced a vibrant and refreshing wine. 90 point rating by Tasting Panel Magazine

2008 Robert Oatley Chardonnay, Mudgee

List price 15.00; our price 10.99

Mudgee is located 162 miles northwest of Sydney in New South Wales, a region that was planted to some of Australia’s earliest Chardonnay vines and which has a long history with this versatile variety. It is situated at over 1,500 feet with ancient red clay loam soils of volcanic origin. The aim here was to capture the lemon-lime citrus flavors and subtly support this with thoughtful use of high quality, tight grain French oak barrels for fermentation and maturation.

2009 Robert Oatley Rosé of Sangiovese, Mudgee

List price 15.00; our price 10.99

The Oatley family estates are home to the first plantings of Sangiovese and Barbera in Australia. The wine is produced by the ‘saignée’ method of making rosé, where the wine is drained off the skins after only a short period of contact. This creates a very pink rather than red wine. It has been deliberately made at the drier end of the rosé spectrum.

2009 Robert Oatley Tempranillo, Victoria

List price 16.00; today only 11.99

The King Valley, situated in North East Victoria has a long tradition of growing Mediterranean grape varieties and is home to Australia’s first plantings of Tempranillo. The region sits in the foothills of the Alpine National Park and as such enjoys cold winters and warm summers moderated by the nearby mountains. The grapes were harvested in the cool of the morning and fermented at moderate temperatures in order to retain the distinctive cherry and spice aromas. The fermenting must was gently and routinely pumped over with particular attention to maintaining a soft tannin profile. The wine was then pressed and run into selected tight grain French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and maturation prior to blending and bottling.

2007 Robert Oatley Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Mudgee.

List price 16.00; our price 11.99

Individual parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were harvested and fermented cool and gently extracted to retain fruit expression and soft tannins. The wines were then pressed off skins and run into French oak to undergo malolactic fermentation and maturation for 12 months. Individual barrel selections were then blended together.