Desert Wines and Spirits

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.

<h2>Saturday, August 22, 2009

4 to 6 pm</h2>

 

$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 may not be able to get ourselves to Spain this summer, but surely we can bring a taste of Spain into our wine party this Saturday.  Great wines abound in Spain and the prices tend to reflect that level of greatness.  Still, there are values galore from this vast wine producing country.  Today we will focus on the nine to twelve dollar range where quality meets cost for a most harmonious ratio.

2007 Burgans Albariño, Rias Baixas | List price 14.95; our price 12.50

This wine scored 90 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “Burgans is a custom cuvée made for importer Eric Solomon and in terms of bang for the buck, it has no challenger.  The 2007 is light gold-colored with a sprightly nose of mineral, spring flowers, and lemon peel.  Ripe, balanced, and concentrated, this is an ideal match for flaky fish courses.”  Also: look for the flavor of white peaches balancing nicely off of the wet stone character.  Excellent with oysters, lightly fried white fish or even roast chicken.

2007 Zaza Garnacha Rosé, Campo de Borja | List price 10.99; our price 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.  The Italianized version of the name is “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.

2006 Valcantara Garnacha, Old Vine, Cariñena, Aragón | List price 11.50; our price 8.99

The Valcantara is made of Grenache from vineyards of more than 40 years old.  Flavors of berries, cherries and leather carry from the nose to the palate.  The wine is medium bodied, lush, full, spicy and fruity, with rounded tannins.  It is ideal with any roasted or highly flavored meat dish, as well as a variety of tapas.

2007 Las Rocas Garnacha, Calatayud, Aragón | List price 13.95; our price 10.99

This wine is produced from old vine fruit, providing considerable ripe cherry fruit, a mélange of spice and a long finish reflecting a hint of tobacco leaf.  Consistently good each year, it received a 90-point rating from Robert Parker: “There are 18,000 cases of the delightful 2007 Las Rocas Garnacha, a wine sourced from Calatayud vineyards ranging in age from 70 to 100 years.  Dark ruby in color, it delivers alluring aromas of spice box, mineral, cherry, and black raspberry.  Layered on the palate, it has superb depth, succulent flavors, and a pure, lengthy finish.  It will provide pleasure over the next three years.” (02/09)

2006 Martin Codax Tempranillo, Rioja | List price 12.99; our price 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.  Flavor-wise, we’re talking about plum, blackberry and a little vanilla.  Complete on the finish, with all angles covered.  Not complicated or complex; good value.”

Osborne Amontillado Sherry, Jerez | List price 14.00; our price 10.95

This may not be the most complex Sherry, but it is definitely easy to drink.  Its crisp caramel, toffee and hazelnut aromas lead to an equally nutty palate that features more maple and more toffee.  One should enjoy the sweet and salty mix of this medium dry sherry which, due to its extended aging, is smooth and sensuous to the palate.  It may be served chilled or at room temperature and is an excellent accompaniment to many soups, or consommés, and semi-soft cheeses, as well as smoked salmon, caviar or pâté.

 

Saturday, June 20, 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

Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, and within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions.  We fondly remember our trip to Spain 3 years ago and the many wines that eased our way across the countryside.  One of our favorite stops was at the Sandeman Bodega, a great Sherry house, in Jerez.  Perhaps one day this fall we will have a Sherry tasting event exploring all vinification styles from fino to cream Sherry, including Amontillado Palo Cortado and Olorosso.  This being summer, we will pursue a lighter fare with sparklers, roses and easy drinking reds.  To heighten the sense of enlightenment, we’ll finish with an Amontilado.

Codorníu Cava, Sparkling Wine
Regular price 9.99; our price 8.99
Cava is the Spanish designation for the traditional method (Méthode Champenoise) of producing sparkling using the French techniques of Champagne.  Cavas employ the same method by allowing the second fermentation to take place in the bottle.  In addition, this wine was aged an additional 9 months or more to round out the wine before release.  This is hands-on work and the remarkable thing about these wines is the low price, given the quality level.  The blend in this bottling is of varietals Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada.  The wine is fresh and fruity and proceeds to a dry finish.

Codorníu Cave Pinot Noir Rosé Sparkling Wine
Regular price 18.00; our price 14.99
With a history stretching back to 1872, Codorníu is one of the world’s oldest and most successful brands of Cava. It shows excellent color in its beautiful bottle and is 100% Pinot Noir.  Lots of tight bubbles come of the glass enhancing its appeal.  The wine is not sweet, just juicy, with raspberry and cherry flavors on the nose and mouth.  It is not a complex wine but has nice balance and flavor with a crisp finish.

2007 Gran Feudo Rosé
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.

2004 Portico del Castillo Monastrell, Yecla
Regular price 7.50; our price 5.99
This Monastrell (Mourvedre) hails from Yecla, a small and rather obscure wine region in Southeastern Spain, near Jumilla.  The aromas are all earthy Mourvedre: ripe black fruit accented by characteristic varietal accents of leather.  The wine is big and full on the palate, with juicy black fruit gaining structure from crisp acidity and gentle warmth from substantial 14 percent alcohol.

2006 Valcantara Garnacha, Old Vine, Cariñena Aragón
Regular price 11.50; our price 8.99
The Valcantara is made of Grenache from vineyards of more than 40 years old.  Flavors of berries, cherries and leather carry from the nose to the palate.  The wine is medium bodied, lush, full, spicy and fruity, with rounded tannins.  It is ideal with any roasted or highly flavored meat dish, as well as a variety of tapas.

Domecq Viña 25 Cream Sherry, Jerez
Regular price 11.99; our price 9.99
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, 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).

Saturday, October 4, 2008
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

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

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

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

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

2007 Burgans Albariño, Rias Baixas Spain
12.50
This wine scored 90 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “Burgans is a custom cuvee made for importer Eric Solomon and in terms of bang for the buck, it has no challenger.  The 2007 is light gold-colored with a sprightly nose of mineral, spring flowers, and lemon peel.  Ripe, balanced, and concentrated, this is an ideal match for flaky fish courses.”  Also: look for the flavor of white peaches balancing nicely off of the wet stone character.  Excellent with oysters, lightly fried white fish or even roast chicken.

2006 Valcantara Garnacha, Cariñena, Aragón, Spain
8.99
The Valcantara is made of Grenache from vineyards of more than 40 years old.  Flavors of berries, cherries and leather carry from the nose to the palate. The wine is medium bodied, lush, full, spicy and fruity, with rounded tannins.  It is ideal with any roasted or highly flavored meat dish, as well as a variety of tapas.

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

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

Saturday, August 30, 2008
4 to 6 pm
$5.00 per person
       Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

I never get enough of Spanish wines and I hope you feel the same way.  Otherwise, I’m going to have to drink a lot of good red wine from Spain on my own.  This time we are embarking upon a virtual tour of the more important wine producing areas as defined by the “Demoninacion de Origen”, Spain’s organization for appellation control.  The main grapes are Tempranillo, Garnacha and Cariñena.

Cordorniu Pinot Noir Brut Cava, Penedès
14.99
The Penedès wine district, some 40 kilometres south of Barcelona where the Codorníu Cellars are located, represents more than 95% of total production of cava.  Spain’s first rosé cava is made entirely from the stylish pinot noir grape and is an attractive salmon pink with firm and assertive bubbles.  It is a pale cherry-red color with aromas of recently picked and deliciously ripe summer fruits, particularly raspberries and blackcurrants.  The flavors are berry-like and fresh with a very subtle lemony citrus flavor.

2004 Montoya Vino de Aragon
7.99
Aragon borders France in the middle of the Pyrenees and is flanked by Catalonia on the east.  The Ebro River area is where most of the vineyards are to be found.  This wine is a very nice blend of Spain’s two most famous grapes, Tempranillo and Garnacha.  The fruit tones lean to cherry and raspberry and are well balanced with spicy oak and structured rich tannins.  It provides a good accompaniment to meats and cheeses.

2006 Onix Classic, Priorat
14.99
The Priorat is located about 100 miles southwest of Barcelona in central southern Tarragona, an area characterized by its black slate soils.  Here the late harvested and low yielding Cariñena (50%) and Grenache (50%) grapes have been sourced from steep hillside vineyards that have survived extraordinarily dry conditions  The result is a wine with spicy, mineral-accented raspberry on the nose.  Fresh, red berry flavors are complicated by floral and anise notes, and finish with good acidity.  It seems devoid of tannins, but moderate acidity lends great lift to the middle and to the lingering finish.

2000 Campo Viejo Gran Reserva, Rioja
17.95
Rioja has been fought over by so many belligerents over the centuries the grapes were often trod on before leaving the vine.  The wine is garnet cherry-red in color with aromas of stewed fruit, wood, and spicy nuances.  It shows a lot of character and delivers a long finish.  The aging process takes five years (two in oak casks, three in the bottle).  This is an elegant wine that is a wonderful complement to beef rib roast, sauced meats, casseroles and aged cheese.

2004 Liberalia Tres, Toro
19.50
The name of the winery is taken from the celebrations which were held in the ancient Roman civilization in honor of the god Liber (also known as Bacchus) to celebrate the passing of children into puberty.  Of course, a great deal of wine was consumed during the Bacchanalia.  The vineyard is 25 to 80 years of age 90% of which is planted to Tinto de Toro.  The grape delivers a wine with an outstanding body of fruit: blackberry and raspberry with a hint of licorice.  There is a subtle background of wood focused on vanilla with an element of cinnamon.

2001 Garcia Figuero Crianza Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero
29.50
This region lies on the country’s northern plateau and is one of five wine regions within the autonomous community of Castile and León.  It is also one of several recognized wine-producing regions to be found along the course of the Duero River.  Eighty-percent of the Tempranillo grapes used in this wine come from 20-40 year-old vines, with the remaining 20-percent from 50 year-old vines.  The wine is aged for twelve months in two-plus year-old barrels (90-percent American and 10-percent French oak). It is then aged an additional two years in bottle before leaving the cellar.  The deep red fruit has a cherry bias and is accompanied by a hint of coffee.  Spice elements round out the full bodied wine.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

4 to 6 pm
$5.00 per person

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

760-327-7701

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This Saturday we will be visited by Katie Finn of Epic Wines who will lead us in a discussion of Spanish wines from C.V.N.E., which stands for Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España (The Northern Spanish Wine Company), one of the best-known producers in the Rioja. Cvné, is situated in Haro where the oldest wineries of Rioja Alta established themselves, for the main reason of transporting their goods to the port of Bilbao. In 1879, two brothers decided to set up a business in the recently flourishing trade of the wine business. La Cuné, as it is commonly known in Haro, is made up of a group of buildings, mostly from the 19th century and arranged around a courtyard surrounded by pavilions for the purpose of wine production, aging, and bottling.

nv Paul Cheneau Brut, “Lady of Spain”

$9.99
Cava was first introduced in 1872 and, by the turn of the century, cava was the wine of choice among the chic patrons of Barcelona’s elegant art nouveau cafes and cava bars. As a tribute to the fashionable ladies who made cava so popular, Paul Cheneau introduced the “Lady of Spain”. This Penedés sparkler is straw colored with greenish tints, shows steady effervescence, small bubbles and a gentle crown. The bouquet has a clean and elegant fruity aroma with hints of toast and yeast in the background. On the palate it is appetizing, fruity, well structured, rich and mature with a touch of honey, almond and a trace of dried herbs. The long finish includes a slightly toasted background flavor with pleasant traces of lees. The grape varieties in the blend are Macabeo (47%), Xarello (33%) and Parellada (20%).

2006 Monopole Blanco Seco

$17.50
Monopole was created in 1915 to change the style of rustic and oxidized wines formerly produced in Rioja from the Viura grape variety. Cold skin maceration produces excellent aromatic extraction and after pressing, fermentation is carried out at cold, controlled temperatures in stainless steel tanks, to retain aromatic freshness. There are citrus and floral aromas, along with some grapefruit and orange blossom. The wine is fine and elegant on the palate with ripe citrus and mango and a balanced acidity, creating a long fresh, appealing finish.

2006 Cune Rosado

$9.99
The grapes are held in stainless steel tanks at low temperature to prevent the start of fermentation. The juice is removed (saignée or bleeding) from the solids after around 24 to 48 hours, once the proper color is determined. The fermentation is then carried out without the presence of seeds or skins at a controlled temperature for around 8 days to obtain the required fruit levels in the wine. The wine displays ripe summer fruit & herbaceous notes on the nose continuing onto the palate and a long complex finish. The varietal blend is Tempranillo (80%) and Garnacha (20%).

2004 Cune Crianza

$17.50
Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at approximately 80oF to retain varietal aromas. After fermentation the wine was transferred to American oak casks where it remained for at least 12 months, with regular rackings to develop its finesse. It has a nice elegant mouth feel, yet is very lively, with some spice notes and a very balanced acidity. The grape varieties are Tempranillo (80%) and the rest a blend of Garnacha Tinta & Mazuelo.

2000 Viña Real Reserva

$35.00
After stainless steel fermentation, the wine is transferred to a mix of American and French oak casks to mature, for up to 2 years, before being bottled. Once bottled, it remains in cellar to continue its maturation prior to release to the market. There is good intensity on the nose, with ripe fruits, warm spices and elegant toasty oak. The palate is rich and velvety, with good acidity and tannin. The vanilla from the oak is beautifully married with the raspberry fruit of the Tempranillo producing a fine, rich, complex palate and long finish. The wine is balanced now, but has potential to improve.

2000 Contino Reserva

$48.00
After stainless steel fermentation, the wine was given maceration time of 15-20 days prior to entering into the malolactic fermentation, and then transferred into a mixture of French and American oak barrels, for a nice 2 year rest. Once the wine is bottled, it is aged a further year in bottle prior to being released. You will experience an explosion of ripe berry fruits with hints of licorice and balsamic notes countered by an elegant touch of oak.