Desert Wines and Spirits

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, 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, August 28, 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 continuing our August inventory close-out events offering an opportunity to taste and buy some outstanding wines at an additional 25% discount from already discounted prices. In September, we begin the purchasing of wines and accessories that will be our offering throughout the holidays so clearance of stock on hand is mandatory at this time. These sale prices will be available only on the Saturday on which they are offered, along with some sampling of the wines for your enjoyment. The 25% off discounted pricing will continue for one more week so if you cannot make it this Saturday you will have one more opportunity to pick up some fine wines drastically reduced; not to mention sipping some elegant wines while contemplating your purchases. Please be aware some wines blow out quite early.

2007 Jean Pabiot Pouilly Fumé, Pouilly-Sur-Loire, France

Our price 24.75; Saturday only 18.55

Over a hundred years ago, Jean Pabiot’s grandfather purchased and began planting grapes to the land that today is being overseen by Jean’s grandson, the fifth generation to work this land. This Pouilly-Fumé is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes from over 40 year old vines located near the village of Les Loges, on very pebbly limestone-clay terroir (at times up to 50% pebbles). The wine has brilliant, light golden color and a complex nose of minerals and smoke with notes of citrus fruit, vanilla and almond. It has an ample palate with an attractive silky texture and balance; a superb wine.

2006 Arrowood Chardonnay, Unfined, Sonoma Co.

Our price 19.99; Saturday only 14.99

Dick Arrowood, who was the original winemaker for Chateau St. Jean, has sold his winery but continues to consult there in order to insure consistency of style. The wine was barrel fermented and aged sur lies in French oak for 9 months. Secondary fermentation pushed the wine towards the tropical end of the spectrum yet maintaining the lightly toasty bouquet with touches of apple, peach, and baking spices. The palate is crisp and fresh with notable balanced acidity to keep the mouthfeel stimulating and lively.

2006 Napa Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Napa Valley

Our price 9.99; Saturday only 7.50

In April 2000, Beringer Vineyards sold its Napa Ridge brand for $42 million to Bronco Wine Company, who then built a huge bottling plant in southern Napa County. The Napa Ridge brand is produced here with Napa grown grapes and primarily using used French oak barrels to age the wine. Winemaker Stashak regards the use of aged barrels mostly a plus. “It’s better to use used barrels to avoid over-oaking. There’s a tendency for winemakers in California to over oak, producing wines that are hard to drink and difficult to match with food”. This wine has a rich concentrated character with black cherry and plum elements at its center. Hints of vanilla along with herbaceous juniper and mint finish the profile.

2007 Gran Sasso Primitivo, Puglia, Italy

Our price 9.99; Saturday only 7.50

Italian Primitivo is thought to be related to American Zinfandel of California after being cut from root stock in Croatia. In Italy it is harvested early to preserve acidity and keep a lower alcohol content. This wine has aromas of star anise with bright cherry and cranberry fruit. On the palate the wine displays a mouthful of rich chocolate combined with a weighty (almost thick) ripeness. While many Italian Primitivo’s exhibit an earthiness that represents terroir, this one is fruit driven.

2005 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Primitivo, North Coast, California

Our price 12.99; Saturday only 9.75

Primitivo has certain characteristics that make it unique from other clones of Zinfandel. Mainly it has small berries on a fairly large, loose cluster, is less susceptible to rot than other clones and ripens more uniformly than other Zin clones.
Primitivo is grown primarily in Puglia, Italy. This Primitivo comes from a hillside vineyard in Lake County situated in the North Coast appellation. The vineyards are located in rolling hills and the grapes are planted in well drained soil. The nurturing heat ripens this vineyard just right so that the grape retains its great acidity and flavor for which this varietal is best known. This Primitivo is ruby red, has concentrated strawberry and cranberry flavors and a rich velvety mouth feel.

2006 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Celestus, Paso Robles

Our price 29.99; Saturday only 22.50

Daniel and Georges Daou left their native France to attend UCSD, where they graduated with degrees in electrical and computer engineering. After college, the enterprising brothers formed DAOU Systems, where they developed intranet technologies for hospitals. Highly successful, they turned to their interest in wine which is developing very nicely. The Celestus is a blend of 80% Cabernet, 15% Syrah and 5% Petit Verdot. It was aged in French oak barrels for 16 months. The nose exudes raspberry, red plums, dark cherry, sandalwood, anise, lavender and roses. It is dry with a strong tannin backbone and hints of plum, anise and rose petal. It is multi layered and complex with a long finish.

Saturday, August 14, 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

Your reward for remaining in the desert through the month of August is an opportunity to taste and buy some outstanding wines at an additional 25% discount from already discounted prices. In September, we begin the purchasing of wines and accessories that will be our offering throughout the holidays. Needless to say, some product clearance has to take place to accommodate additional inventory. Lucky you! These sale prices will be available only on the Saturday on which they are offered, along with some sampling of the wines for your enjoyment. Last week our sale began with California wines which gratifyingly sold out much of the stock offered that day. Do, by all means, join us as this Saturday we feature imported wines.

Kangarilla Road Viognier, Australia

Our price 9.99; Saturday only 7.50

This Viognier from McLaren Vale is true to the variety while remaining dry. It 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 a dry style displaying tight acidity, great length of flavor together with integrated mid palate texture coming from the light use of oak.

Sauvion Vouvray, Loire, France

Our price 9.99; Saturday only 7.50

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

Ca’ Del Doge Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, Italy

Our price 7.99; Saturday only 5.99

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a type of red wine made from the Montepulciano wine grape in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy. Up to 10% Sangiovese is permitted to be added to the blend. This is a fruity, dry wine with soft tannins, and as such is often consumed young.

The Goats Do Roam Wine Co. “The Goatfather”, South Africa

Our price 7.99; Saturday only 5.99

Fairview Winery of Paarl makes a series of similar playful wines that primarily are blends. This one is a blend of Barbara, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Primitivo and Nebbiolo. It is medium-bodied with bright, red fruit tones that feature hints of violets, earth and plum with just a whisper of tannin.

La Carraia Fobiano, Umbria, Italy

Our price 15.99; Saturday only 11.99

This dark, intense and powerful wine should be decanted for about an hour before drinking (or use your Vinturi). It is ripe with nice secondary aromas and flavors of cherry, blackberry and currant fruit on the nose and palate, and with notes of herbs on the nose. It is somewhat dry on the palate, with juicy acidity and fine dry tannins. Overall, it is a full bodied lovely wine that drinks well with food but is a little austere without.

Domecq Viña 25 Cream Sherry, Jerez, Spain

Our price 9.99; Saturday only 7.50

Most Sherries are made from the Palomino Fino grape; that is, until you get to the Cream Sherries. Here, the Pedro Ximénez Grape reigns supreme. It is a rich, aromatic wine, dark mahogany in color with a beautiful amber rim. Made from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes, its voluptuous nose strikes an aromatic balance between raisins and nutty tones. On the palate, Viña 25 is dense, mellow, velvety and generous with a lingering finish. Solera aging softens the sweetness of this Sherry, making it a perfect match for creamy blue cheeses. It is also delicious with coffee, or ice cream, or both.

Saturday, July 31, 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

Aside from rosés, I can think of no better category of wine that would serve the desert dweller more enjoyably. The Prosecco grape is grown primarily in the Veneto area of Italy that is northwest of Venice, near the Alps. Many good Pinot Grigios come from this area also. The wine produced from this grape is light, lightly sparkling, refreshing and versatile. It pairs well with many dishes such as seafood with light pasta sauces and is terrific by itself as an apéritif. It should be drunk quite chilled and, given the intense heat of our summers, served over ice poolside. Prosecco is made using the Charmat method rather than the Champagne method. The wine goes through secondary fermentation in pressurized tanks rather than in individual bottles. The shorter tank fermentation is preferable because it preserves the freshness and flavor of the grapes. The flavor profile is citrus, melon, lemon, honey and almonds (usually in the finish).

Zonin Prosecco

List price 10.00; 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, it mixes well with liqueurs such as cream de cassis to form a Kir.

Mionetto Prosecco “IL”

List price 12.99; our price 9.99

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 and contains an alcohol level of only 10.5 percent. This gentle-sparkling wine has garnered a “Best of Tasting” award from the Wall Street Journal and a “Best Buy” recommendation from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Villa Sandi Prosecco

List price 14.00; our price 10.99

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.

Lamarca Prosecco

List price 15.00; our price 12.99

This sparkling wine is a pale, golden straw in color. Bubbles are full textured and persistent. On the nose the wine brings fresh citrus with hints of honey and white flowers. The flavor is fresh and clean, with ripe citrus, lemon, green apple, and touches of grapefruit, minerality, and some toast. The finish is light, refreshing, and crisp.

Mionetto Prosecco, Organically Grown Grapes

List price 18.00 our price 14.99

This Organic category Prosecco is made with certified organically-grown grapes. In the vineyard, the grapes are grown without synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. In the cellar, the wine is vinified separately to ensure purity. Reducing the carbon footprint of this wine even further, recycled materials were used for the bottle, label and shipping box. This delightful Prosecco is bright yellow in color. Its perfume of delicate elderflowers leads to an explosion of golden apples on the palate. It weighs in at a mere 11 % alcohol.

Mionetto Prosecco Sergio

List price 24.00; our price 17.99

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; along with a bit of Chardonnay to add body. 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.

Saturday, June 26, 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

When one thinks of reds from Northern Italy, the obvious districts are Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto.  Chianti remains the major wine of Tuscany, though “super-Tuscan” blends using Cabernet, Syrah and Merlot grapes are extremely popular.  Of course, the main grape here will forever be the Sangiovese, and, for Brunello, the Sangiovese Grosso.  In Piedmont, the red grape required in Barolo and Bararesco is Nebbiolo, though Barbera gets a lot of play.  The Veneto gives us Valpolicella and Amarone from mostly the Corvina grape which is blended with Molinara and Rondinella. Finishing up our event will be the Muscat dessert wine from Chiarlo of Piedmont, whose Barbera will begin our line-up.

2006 Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti, Piemonte

List price 15.00; our price 12.95

Although the Barbera vine is believed to have originated in the Monferrato area from a spontaneous cross of seeds from ancient vines, it is generally agreed that the area producing the best Barbera wines is that of Asti.  It accounts for 52 percent of the region’s acreage under vine, and nearly half the total annual production of red wine. Pure, ripe plum and strawberry fruit flavors underscored by a crisp acidic note and a hint of earth mark this charming, succulent wine, set in a supple texture supported by sweet, soft tannins.

2006 Masi Campofiorin Rosso Del Veronese

List price 16.00; our price 13.99

The Boscaini family has owned and operated the Masi Company for six generations. This Ripasso style wine is a form of Valpolicella Superiore that is fermented, and, at the end of November mixed with the addition of 30% of lightly dried Corvina grapes (previously crushed for Amarone).  This provokes an immediate second fermentation which lasts 15 days. The malolactic takes place as well.  This process enriches the wine in alcohol, in color and in tannins, as well as giving it new and more complex aromas and flavors.  The excellent structure shows quickly on the contrasting berry fruits and vanilla nose.  Rich, baked fruit flavors on the palate are supported by good acidity and balanced with soft, well integrated tannins. It has a long, velvety finish with hints of cocoa.  The blend is 80% Corvina and 20% Rondinella.

2007 Villa Nozzole Chianti Classico, Toscano

List price 21.00; our price 18.95

Ambrogio Folonari and his son Giovanni purchased the Nozzole estate in 1971. Situated north of the village of Greve in Chianti, the Nozzole estate now grows Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay as well as their highly esteemed Sangiovese.  Besides the two wonderful Chiantis, Giovanni produces excellent super Tuscans and a fine Chardonnay.  This blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot along with 18 months of barrel aging combine to make Villa Nozzole a ripe “New World” fruit forward style of Chianti Classico.  It has a bouquet of ripened fruits, chocolate and vanilla notes. Showing similar flavors it is full bodied with soft tannins and a persistent finish.  It complements meat, poultry and cheeses.

2005 Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva, Toscano

List price 24.00; our price 21.99

This Riserva shows crisp, ripe red berry and cherry fruit flavors and aromas sustained by a fresh, acidic note offset by classic Sangiovese notes of earth, mushrooms and leather,.  It is a plump, modern styled Chianti with a medium body, an elegant tannic backbone and a clean fruity finish.

2006 Masi Amarone Classico Costasera, Rosso Del Veronese

List price 57.95; our price 49.99

The blend is 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and 5% Molinara.  There is a strong bouquet of baked fruit, plums and cherries, which provide the fruit flavors on the palate, accompanied by attractive hints of coffee and cocoa.  An intriguing softness is the result of the excellent balance between supporting acidity and soft tannins.  Imposing structure and good alcoholic level gives this Amarone an attractively long finish.  Wine Spectator gives this wine a 91-point rating.

2009 Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato, Piemonte

List price 14.00; our price 11.99

The Moscato Bianco grape is an extremely ancient one, the origins of which are not precisely known.  Wines from this grape were first developed as still wines in the 17th century under the patronage of the House of Savoy, when refined methods of cultivating and vinifying this difficult variety were discovered.  The cool, steep Langhe hillsides of Asti and Cuneo, near the town of Canelli, remain the principal center of production for Moscato d’Asti (hence, the alternate name, Moscato di Canelli).  Exuberant aromas of tropical fruit and honeysuckle blossoms mark this fresh, lightly sparkling wine and carry into a palate of ripe melon and mango flavors finishing on a delicate sweet note underscored by bright acidity.

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, December 5, 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 have a fondness for Italian wines and decided to squeeze in one more Italian wine event before the end of the year.  These wines arrived this week and will no doubt be your first opportunity to taste them.  Italy remains the number one wine producer in the world and reigns at the top with the most varietals under cultivation.  Winemakers there are not after “knocking your socks off”; rather they seek to balance all the elements of wine to harmonize with food.  You cannot sip their wines for long without desiring at least an antipasto, or pasta, or pizza.

2008 Umani Ronchi Verdicchio, Marche

List price 10.50; our price 8.99

The Bucci family has been involved in viticulture in the classic Castelli di Jesi zone of the Marche for over three centuries.  Today they tend some 21 hectares of vineyards, sited mainly around the village of Montecarotto, using wholly organic methods.  A combination of low yields in the vineyards and meticulous vinification, results in wines of memorable intensity and power. The bouquet is quite floral and the palate reflects ripe fruits which together display considerable finesse.

2008 Casale Mattia Frascati Superiori, “Terre del Casale”, Latium

List price 13.00; our price 11.75Frascati is one of the classic Roman appellations, a white wine that many (correctly) associate with open-air dining in the Eternal City.  Like many other Italian wines, it is a blend, and it must be at least 50% Malvasia Bianca di Candia.  That’s set, but winemakers have considerable latitude for the remaining 50%, typically mixing in Trebbiano and Greco.  The bouquet is bright, with fresh, rather pungent floral accents supported by clean bright fruit.  The palate, too, is bright, with lively minerality and clean citric acidity that flow into a lovely fruit finish with a hint of bitterness.

2007 Teruzzi & Puthod Terre di tufi, Tuscany

List price 19.95; our price 17.99

This super Tuscan from San Gimignano is a blend of Vernaccia, Chardonnay, Malvasia and Vermentino.  The aromas and flavors are of fresh pineapple, flowers and mineral.  It is medium-bodied and silky, with good, clean fruit and a lingering finish.

2007 Badiolo Chianti, Tuscany

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

Chiantis are based on the Sangiovese grape, which typically yields a medium-bodied wine with strawberry and cherry fruits that are accented with delicate notes of green herb, dusty soil, leather and spice.  While Chianti can be produced exclusively from Sangiovese, the vast majority of Chianti is blended with a small percentage of other grapes.  Traditional grapes like Mammolo, Colorino, and Canaiolo are used to add some flesh and aromatic complexity to the finished wine but always play second fiddle to Sangiovese.  Many producers now include some Merlot, adding fruit and richness, or Cabernet Sauvignon, which contributes power and dark fruit flavors, to their Chianti yielding a wine that is richer and chunkier than the wines of the past.  This bottling in straw-wrapping is known as a “fiasco” and is done in the light-to-medium straight forward Sangiovese style.

2008 Umani Ronchi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Tuscany

List price 9.95; our price 8.99

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is one of the most widespread native varieties of Italy, mainly along the Adriatic coast.  It is appreciated for its full, mellow qualities and its aromatic persistence.  A careful selection of the grapes is followed by fermentation on the skins for 10 days.  After malolactic fermentation the wine is stabilized and matured in bottle before release. The resulting product is medium bodied and dry, with a finely textured structure and ripe, plumy fruit.  It pairs well with Provencal lamb with Mediterranean vegetables, lamb and red pepper kebabs, pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, olive and goat cheese or pork tenderloin with balsamic-cranberry sauce.  This blend is 90% Montepulciano and 10% Sangiovese.

2004 De Valier Valpolicella Ripasso, Veneto

List price 24.00; our price 19.95

The first contemporary Ripasso wine was produced in 1964 by applying the technique of a second fermentation of Valpolicella grapes (70% Corvina, 20% Molinara, and 10% Rondinella in this blend) on the skins and lees of the Amarone, transforming young fresh wine into rich full bodied wine suitable for aging in barrel and bottle. The nose is floral and full with fruity scents of cherry, blackberry and hints of vanilla.  The taste is medium bodied, well structured and balanced, harmonic with sweet tannins, and an elegant finish; an excellent example of the renowned Italian classic from Veneto.

Saturday, October 24, 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

Recent “DNA” testing has shown Primitivo to possess the exact same genetic make up as our Zinfandel. Interestingly though, both varieties origins are tracked back to Croatia and are mutated from the Crljenak varietal. And while the grapes may be identical in theory, the wines they produce have distinct differences. Primitivo’s home province is Apuglia (also called Puglia), located in the “heel” of Italy’s boot.

Wines made from Primitivo have notes of plum and spice, like Zinfandel, but because of different growing soils and climate, the fruit character is less jammy, the structure more akin to old world wines, with rustic notes of earth and spice, as well as tamed fruit flavors. Most likely the Croatian vines were brought to Italy by the Greeks, but we know the Zinfandel we know and love came to the United States in 1820, when New York nurseryman George Gibbs carried back various cuttings from the Imperial Austrian plant species collection.

Over the next two decades, Zinfandel became a popular table grape in the Northeast U.S. Although there are some commercial claims that Agoston Haraszthy (who founded Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma) brought Zinfandel to California, records show that a Massachusetts nurseryman introduced it here. In either case, Zinfandel is now considered indigenous to California, where it has thrived since the mid-1850′s.

2006 A. Mano Primitivo, Puglia

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

This all Primitivo grape wine from Puglia is made from 70-100 year-old, hand-cultivated, low-yielding vines. A. Mano (meaning “made by hand”) is a fruit-packed, food-friendly, modern wine, an excellent value and a great alternative to American Zinfandel. It pairs exceedingly well with a variety of dishes – grilled meats, rich pastas, spicy foods and barbecue.

2007 Gran Sasso Primitivo, Puglia

List price 14.50; our price 9.99

This example packs all of the fruit-driven ripeness fans of the grape expect, yet remains at all times light on its feet and fresh. The succulent, direct blueberry fruit is laced with notes of briar, gravel and spice, but has none of the thick, port like or oxidized elements so prevalent with so many examples of Primitivo out there.

2007 Layer Cake Primitivo, Puglia

List price 17.50; our price 14.99

The wine is opaque and purple-colored with a nose of jammy black cherry and blackberry fruit, truffles, tar, and spice. Warm and rich in the mouth; the ripe fruit is well supported by the depth of the structure.

2003 TerreD’uva Primitivo di Manduria

List price 18.00; our price 14.99

The concentrated nose presupposes rich red fruits and blueberries which are replicated in the mouth to our considerable satisfaction. The smooth expression in the mouth plays out to a long well-balanced finish. It stands up to strong cheeses.

Now to make it more interesting, here are two wines made from Primitivo grapes transplanted to California:

2005 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Primitivo, North Coast

List price 19.95; our price 12.99

This Primitivo comes from a hillside vineyard in Lake County. Compared to Zinfandel, the clone has certain characteristics that make it unique from other clones; mainly it has small berries on a fairly large, loose cluster. It is less susceptible to rot than other clones and ripens more uniformly. The wine is deep ruby red, has concentrated strawberry and cranberry flavors and a rich velvety mouth feel.

2006 Di Arie Primitivo Block #4, Shenandoah Valley

List price 28.00; our price 23.75

The winery was the brainchild of Chaim Gur-Arieh, a Turkish-born Israeli who came to the U.S. where he earned a degree in food science and later became famous as the inventor of Cap’n Crunch cereal (specifically, the formula that allowed it to remain crunchy in milk). Further, he invented a submerged-cap fermentation technique that maximizes extraction in his red wines by giving them more skin contact, submerging and gently moving the cap that forms on the surface of the tank during fermentation. This delicious wine shares many of the qualities of a top zinfandel. Rich, soft, with spicy fruit and a hint of black pepper, with plenty of fruit and none of the heaviness sometimes seen in wines from the Sierra foothills.