Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, February 5, 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

Every once and a while it is instructive to turn away from the usual stuff and pay some attention to the unique varietals that abound about us. There are thousands of wine grape varietals and we tend to stay with the tried and true, which for most people can be counted on the fingers of one hand. For those of us dealing with wine on a daily basis, this can get really boring, especially for wine makers. So, to amuse myself and hopefully titillate you as well, we will taste and discuss the following wines. Two are repeats from the Kenneth Volk event last month, but as I was away on vacation, I will revisit them and share with you my enthusiasm for esoterica.

2008 Castello Banfi Principessa Perlante, Gavi, Piemonte

List price 17.50; our price 13.99

Cortese is the white grape in this beautifully packaged soft and dry white wine. It is a delicate, and elegant, product of the Gavi vineyards of the Piedmont region of Italy. The floral citrusy flavors are enhanced by a slight spritz that dances merrily across the tongue.

2009 Argiolas “Costamolino”, Sardegna

List price 18.00; our price 14.99

This Vermentino is from Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean. The property owned by Antonio Argiolas is located about fifteen miles from Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital. Antonio and his sons, Franco and Peppetto, have worked hard to become leaders in Sardinian enology. They have been able to incorporate the use of modern technology into their traditional winemaking processes to attain high standards in quality. The wine is subtle with a delicate bouquet. It has a fresh, dry, well-defined palate with pleasant delicacy and crispness.

2001 Rainbow Ridge Alicante Bouschet, Lodi

List price 22.00; our price 19.99

This Alicante Bouschet, al-eh-KAN-tay (Fr. Ah-lee-KAHNT) boo-SHAY, you may remember was the brain child of Dennis Costa whose Rainbow Ridge wines enjoyed a short but well-received success. Especially this bottling garnered accolades, including a 91 rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine and a bronze medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Widely cultivated since 1866, it is a cross of Petit Bouschet and Grenache. Alicante is a teinturier, a grape with red flesh, and is one of the few teinturier grapes that belong to the Vitis Vinifera species (the wines you know and love). Its deep color makes it useful for blending with light red wine.

2008 Kenneth Volk Negrette, San Benito County

List price 19.00; our price 15.99

Negrette has its own distinct aroma and flavor profile. It shares some of the characteristics of both Syrah and Pinot Noir. This wine has aromas and flavors of bramble fruit and cherry with spicy, old vine gaminess. It is a deeply pigmented wine with relatively low tannin and a silky smooth texture.

2007 Kenneth Volk Mourvèdre, Enz Vineyard

List price 22.00; our price 19.99

The Enz Vineyard Mourvèdre is one of the oldest planting of that varietal in California. In its 86th growing season, these ancient head-trained vines produced a beautiful well balanced crop of small-berried clusters. Traditional winemaking techniques and aging in French oak helped to craft this delicious wine. Ripe fruit aromas and exotic spice are followed by flavors of blueberry, cherry and licorice.

Mirabile Nero d’Avola, Sicilia

List price 15.00; our price 12.99

This Nero d-Avola (literally “the black grape of Avola”) has an intense ruby red color with violet highlights. The scent is elegant, with hints of ripe fruit and spices. It is complex on the palate thanks to polyphenols, (the chemical class of tannins is a subset of polyphenols) sustained by the right degree of tanginess. This is an everyday kind of wine showing good balance, persistence on the finish and representing excellent value.

Saturday, October 31, 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

Planning on throwing a vampire themed Halloween party? On that hallowed day we will be sampling some specially bottled varietals evoking the spirits of the occasion. All the wines are from California and feature the succulent names Vampire and Dracula. Michael Machat, a Los Angeles attorney started Vampire Vineyards 20 years ago and sold his first 500 bottles to rock star, Alice Cooper, who easily passes for one of the undead. In the early 1990’s after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Machat decided to get the blood of the vine straight from its native soil in Transylvania. Romania is the tenth largest wine producing nation in the world, and during the cold war, provided wine to the entire Soviet Bloc. The winery planted its own rootstock at the beginning of this century in the mountainous region of Paso Robles, California, where the ocean fog frequently rolls in off the coast providing the perfect cover to the hidden vineyards. After seven years, Vampires’ rootstock now has yielded wonderful tight small clusters of grapes that produce very nice wines — smooth and well rounded, with forward fresh fruit — that have been aged in both French and American Oak Barrels.  Sip the Blood of the Vine along with us and enjoy!

2007 Vampire Chardonnay, California

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

In the Central Coast cool coastal breezes allow fresh acidity to remain intact in the fruit, and the long, extended growing season provides full flavor development in the grapes. Hand-picked at peak ripeness, this Chardonnay was barrel fermented in French oak, aged on the yeast lees for one year, and then carefully bottled with minimal handling to ensure that subtle flavors remain intact. Crisp and refreshing, this is an ideal accompaniment to grilled seafood or poultry, and also complements mildly flavored cheeses. The wine’s rich texture, the result of regular stirring of the lees, further provides a big mouthfeel.

2007 Vampire Pinot Noir, Vin De Pays D’Oc

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

Vampire elected to source this Pinot from France owing to a deal it could not refuse.  Fruit and wild strawberry aromas persist on the nose, balanced by hints of fine French oak.  The vibrant ruby red colors hint at a young wine, but the taste reveals a sense of maturity.  Elegant soft fruit flavors are already finely integrated into the structure of the wine, as is the oak, adding a subtle but defined complexity to the flavor.  This is a light smooth wine, easy to drink at any time of the year and exhibiting typical character of a young Pinot Noir.

2005 Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

An extended growing season, with sunny, moderate daytime temperatures, along with cool summer nights, allowed ideal fruit development in this Paso Robles wine.  Well-drained soils, rich in maritime fossils, added uniquely aromatic components to this fruit-forward wine.  Classic, small-lot fermentations, followed by aging with both European and American oak, gives full expression to the varietal flavors in this wine.  Judiciously blended with small amounts of Merlot for softness, and Syrah for added structure, the wine displays ripe flavor character and a lovely aroma that will continue to develop with additional time in bottle.

2006 Dracula Zinfandel, Paso Robles

List price 19.95; our price 16.99

This elegant Zinfandel is big, rich and expressive!  It is full of deep plum flavors that lead to cracked pepper & spices, with a refined texture and concentration.  On the palate it is powerful and elegant, finishing with polished tannins.

Also for sale are two vodkas from the same company:

Vampyre Red Vodka, England

List price 23.00; our price 19.95

This wickedly smooth elixir is the first red vodka in the United States. Triple distilled in England by one of the world’s leading distillers of vodka and gin.

Blavod Black Vodka, England

List price 27.00; our price 24.00

Blavod Black Vodka gets its unique color from Black Catechu – the resin of the heartwood of the Acacia catechu, a tree indigenous to India and Burma.  For centuries, Black Catechu has been used for a natural dye as well as an ingredient in herbal medicines.  The amount used to give Blavod its trademark color remains true to vodka’s foundation of being both odorless and tasteless and clean on the palate.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

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

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

The art of winemaking lies in the blending of individual lots once they have become wine. Varietals often come up short in the expectations of the wine maker, or he simply wants something extra to eventually leap out of the bottle. Even if all the barrels are of the same grape, the wine maker still must blend to the desired result because not all barrels will develop the same. Vinho Verde of Portugal is not a grape, but a wine region from which various indigenous grapes make the blend. Australian producers like to marry Viognier with Marsanne to tame the fruity nature of the former. In Champagne, wines from Chardonnay grapes are frequently blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, another red. Bordeaux blends up to five grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot to achieve the house style of the Chateau. In California, anything goes, so long as it tastes good, and, thank the wine god, it usually does.

Aliança Vinho Verde, Portugal

List price 9.95; our price 7.99

The Vinho Verde region, in the northwest area of Portugal, blends Azal Branco, Loureido and Pedema grapes to make this delightfully light and refreshing wine. It is a fresh, medium-dry wine, low in alcohol, fruity and well-balanced. It is clean and crisp, with its fresh scent of lemons and lively spritz. Ideal on its own, it partners well with salads, seafood, chicken and pasta.

2008 d’Arenberg Viognier Marsanne “The Hermit Crab”, Australia

List price 16.95; our price 13.99

Out of the glass leap expressive aromatics of lime and lemon, peaches, pears and apricot stone with spicy, floral notes in the background. The wine shows excellent balance on the palate; the luscious stone fruit and ginger spices are harmonized by savory nutty characters from the Marsanne. There is a wonderful combination of freshness, complexity and balance between fruit flavor, acid and alcohol.

2001 Gloria Ferrer Brut Sparkling Wine, “Royal Cuvée”, Carneros

List price 24.00; our price 19.99

Two prestigious wine magazines have given this wine a 93 point rating. With this kind of praise I might as well keep my mouth shut. Wine Spectator: “This sparkling wine is fresh and vibrant, yet offers a core of rich, luscious fruit. Aromas of Asian pear, rose water and lemon curd lead to layered flavors of fresh ginger, pippin apple and cinnamon that finish on a showy note. Drink now through 2013.” Wine Enthusiast and listed in the Top 100 Wine of the Year: “Royal Cuvée is usually Gloria Ferrer’s best bubbly, and so it is with this bottling, a worthy follow-up to the past several vintages. Very finely structured, it shows appealing flavors of cherries, citrus fruits and vanilla, and is so rich, it’s almost like a table wine. Watch it change as it warms in the glass.” This is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

2005 Chateau Potelle Cougar Pass, Paso Robles

List price 18.95; our price 14.99

This is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet and a lot of winemaker’s creativity! It begins with a beautiful floral nose that develops towards red berry, cherry and spicy notes. It is very easy to drink yet complex and interesting. The wine is totally un-fined and unfiltered which means that it has conserved all the qualities that the nature and the winemaking gave it. It is concentrated and rich with finely textured, soft and supple tannins.

2003 de Lorimier Mosaic Meritage, Alexander Valley, Sonoma

List price 29.95; our price 19.99

This Bordeaux blend of Cab (66%), Merlot (16%), Malbec (14%) and Cab Franc (4%) is redolent of ripe blue/black berry, cassis, cream, vanilla flavors and a light tangy spice. Tannins are there but not dominant so this is more of a drink now vintage than one to hold onto.

2003 Source Napa Red, “Heritage Sites”

List price 38.00; our price 29.50

The Merlot (74%), Cab (24%) and Cab Franc (2%) in this blend are drawn from four historic and geographically diverse vineyards owned by the Gamble Family. Heritage Sites expresses a range of fruit, structure, ripeness, texture, acidity and terroir which make up a wine that is rich, warm and approachable.

Saturday, August 29, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

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

The North Coast Counties of California produce some of the world’s most elegant wines…and a lot of really fun wines, as well.  We have chosen for this Saturday’s tasting event a most entertaining sampling of precisely these kinds of wines.  We’ll start in Mendocino, and move on to Sonoma and Napa Counties.  The choices are of excellent value and two of these little gems have won some very prestigious awards.  Added attraction: once again we will be pairing our wines with the superlative cupcakes made by Sisters Cupcakes by Design.  Their visits have been remarkably popular.

Scharffenberger Brut Sparkling Wine, Mendocino
List price 18.99; our price 15.99
This Scharffenberger Brut is a blend of two-thirds pinot noir and one-third chardonnay. The predominance of the pinot noir creates a sparkling wine that is fruit forward with noticeable aromas of strawberry/raspberry and some plum notes.  The Chardonnay expresses itself with subtle tropical flavors of pineapple with pear.  All of the fruit for Scharffenberger Brut undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation, making the wine rich with complex flavors and a round, lengthy finish.

2007 Dry Creek Fumé Blanc, Sonoma
List price 13.50; our price 9.99
At first swirl, this Fumé Blanc presents intense aromas of lemon-lime, ruby grapefruit and fresh cut grass.   After a couple of minutes in the glass, more subtle hints of kiwi and guava begin to reveal a complex wine.  On the palate, it is truly delicious with excellent viscosity and length showing more fresh fruit flavors and very balanced acidity.  The Sonoma County Harvest Fair awarded this wine a Gold Medal, Best of Class AND the Sweepstakes Award for white wines.  It has been out of stock in Northern California and will be likewise here soon.

2005 Marcelina Chardonnay, Napa
List price 22.95; our price 14.99
Cooler Napa vineyards down near Carneros along San Pablo Bay give this wine its delicate fruit and acid structure.  The entire batch of wine went into French oak barrels for aging.  It is very pleasant on the nose, with flavors and aromas of apple, pear and citrus.  The oak influence comes up gently in little accents of sweet oak.

2007 Martin Ray Rosé, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
List price 13.50; our price 9.99
After crushing, the grapes (80% Syrah and 20% Grenache) were “cold-soaked” for six hours to concentrate the color and flavors from the skins.  The (“saignée”) juice was then drained off and fermented at cool temperatures with Rhone yeasts in stainless steel for 3 months, but received no malolactic fermentation.  This rosé has a vibrant raspberry color and fragrant aromas of tropical peaches, cherry and a hint of violets and vanilla.  Fresh, lively flavors of kiwi/strawberry, raspberry and cherry are abundant in this medium-bodied dry wine with excellent acidity and a nice, easy finish.

2005 Rancho Zabaco “Dancing Bull” Zinfandel, Sonoma
List price 7.99; our price 5.99
Dancing Bull is the lighter side of Rancho Zabaco: brighter, more fruit forward and the perfect quaffing wine.  It is big on black cherry and raspberry flavors which are tempered with the peppery spice that is Zinfandel.  At this price you can use it to put out the flames of the barbeque.

Trentadue “Old Patch Red”, Sonoma
List price 14.00; our price 11.50
This wine is a field blend of 70% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 5.5% Carignane & 4.5% Syrah from Trentadue’s Geyserville Winery.  The bouquet displays jammy strawberry, cherry, earth, some spice and just a hint of vanilla.  It has a velvety mouthfeel and is quite extracted, but not overly so.  The big, dark fruit flavors are slightly sweet, with a little earthiness and some touches of warm spice.  The solid tannin core gives the wine body.  The Sonoma County Harvest Fair gave this wine a Gold Medal and the Best of Class award.  If you are interested in this wine, stock up now while it is still available.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

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

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

This week we are pouring samples of wines that arrived within the last week or so. There continue to be excellent values on the market and we will keep you apprised of them. Most of these are in the $10.00 range and under and indicate the wide range of quality wines that serve for everyday use or for party fare. Much of the remainder of our summer program will reflect the value potential of this price range.

2007 Ventana Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco, MontereyList

price 12.95; our price 9.99

Ventana’s cool weather vines produce fruit which creates a wine with a slightly grassy and citrus nose. The Sauvignon Blanc displays wonderful flavors of white peach, grapefruit and a touch of honeydew. The wine is completely dry with rich rounded texture and a flinty crispness. This is not a Chardonnay “want-to-be”; it is made in the classic French style for the best accompaniment to food.

2007 Congress Springs Viognier, LodiList

price 7.95; our price 5.99

This Viognier may not offer much in the way of complexity, but the delight factor runs quite high. It is fruit laden with obvious floral peach and green apple fruit that extend far beyond the bouquet, through the mouth and on to the long crisp finish.

2007 Ventana Chardonnay, “Gold Stripe”, Arroyo Seco, Monterey

List price 14.00; our price 10.99

This wine has lively tropical fruit aromas of pineapple and mango, with intense flavors of Gala apple, pear and lemon. Oak aging adds an accent of vanilla and light honey tones. The perfect balance of fruit, oak and acidity makes this an exceptional food friendly wine. Its versatility makes it work well with shell fish, all the way to pork roasts. It won a gold medal at the Taster’s Guild Intl’ Wine Competition this year and several silver medals elsewhere, as well.

2007 Château d’Aqueria Rosé, Tavel, France

List price 14.99; our price 9.99

Here is your opportunity to try one of the benchmark Tavel rosés at the lowest price seen in recent years. This is a spectacular price, as is the wine. I doubt that this price will ever be seen again for a current release. The qualities of climate and soil followed by a controlled vinification and experienced assembly of each variety make Tavel unique among rosés in intensity of color, body and bouquet. Château d’Aqueria is the quintessential Tavel; vibrant salmon-pink in color, with a penetrating fruit fragrance offset by floral notes. Bone dry, full bodied and succulently fruity on the palate, its lush intensity and depth are balanced by an extraordinarily refreshing acidity carrying into a long, crisp finish with vibrant peppery nuances.

2006 Chateau Trocard, Bordeaux Superieur, France

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

The Trocard family traces its winemaking history back to the 16th Century. They remain located close to Pomerol and St. Emilion. The nose of this wine shows red fruit, strawberry and blackcurrant. The aromas show some complexity which increases upon aeration. Its silky attack, fineness and elegance and its supple tannins make this wine very harmonious and well-balanced in the mouth.

2006 Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

List price 16.00; our price 9.99

The rich, complex flavors of the 2006 Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon reflect both the diversity and synergy of grapes grown in Sonoma’s soils and climatic regions. The expansive aromas and mouth-filling flavors of this wine are thick with dark cherry, cassis and smoky spices. The ripe dark fruit flavors, supported by velvety tannins, culminate in an elegant finish that lingers with bittersweet chocolate and spice nuances. Fine value!

Saturday, July 25, 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

Besides the fine wines being produced at Gallo Sonoma Winery, the parent company has purchased other California wineries and continues the tradition of making fine wines at these venerable properties, as well.  Most are recognizable, such as Louis Martini, Rancho Zabaco, MacMurray Ranch, Bridlewood Estate, Frei Brothers and Mirassou Winery.  We have received the latest vintages from these wineries and will be showing them off this Saturday.  Representing Gallo at our event will be Market Specialist, Debbie Pellkofer.  She is a font of information on all these properties and will cheerfully answer any questions while pouring some excellent examples of the winemaker’s art.

2006 Bridlewood Chardonnay, Monterey County
List price 11.99; our price 9.99
This aromatic Chardonnay displays ripe aromas and pure flavors of nectarine, Mandarin oranges and fresh apples.  Notes of vanilla and spice lead to a rich mid-palate structured with a lime and mineral finish.  Excellent value-priced wine.

2007 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris, Sonoma Coast
List price 18.95; our price 14.99
This Pinot Gris (or Pinot Grigio) possesses an expressive fruit-forward character, exhibiting rich aromas of fig and white peach.  The bright aromas and complex varietal characters of citrus and elements of spice add both weight and interest to the wine.  The flavors of peach, spicy pear and citrus are melded together in a rich core, resulting in a round mouthfeel which complements its crisp, clean finish.

2007 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir, Central Coast
List price 19.95; our price 14.99
Here is an affordable introduction to the cool-climate wonders of Central Coast Pinot Noir, specifically, the Santa Lucia Highlands.  It is a clean, red-fruited wine with hints of cola sweet spices that carry from the nose to the palate.  Also noticeable are elements of vanilla, clove, cherries and cranberries.  It is easy to drink and a bargain as well.

2006 Bridlewood Syrah, Central Coast
List price 14.99; our price 11.50
The wine opens with aromas of smoke, cedar, and chocolate leading to bright cherry fruit framed with spicy oak.  As it evolves, a nose of dark fruits and violet flowers gives way to dark chocolate.  On the palate, this wine shows rich flavors of blackberry, dark cherry and sweet brown spice with a hint of mocha.  It is full of soft, chewy tannins, proceeding through a long, clean finish.

2007 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
List price 14.95; our price 10.75
The nose is packed with layers of caramel, cinnamon, candy and hints of mint, with a prevalence of fruit over oak.  Also, there are sweet aromas of black currants, licorice, and cedar.  This is a spicy, full-flavored wine, with good body, fruit and firm tannins ending with an engaging, strong finish.

2005 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa County
List price 21.95; our price 16.75
This fine Cab exhibits a deep garnet, color with intense aromas of cedary oak, currents and black cherries.  Concentrated flavors of ripe plums, chocolate and tobacco marry perfectly with the oak nuances.  It is a well structured wine that is balanced with firm, velvety tannins that culminate in a long, elegant finish.  It received a Double Gold at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and a 91 point rating from Wine and Spirits Magazine.

2007 Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel, Sonoma Heritage Vines, Sonoma
List price 15.95; our price 11.99
Rancho Zabaco was one of the original Mexican land grants in Northern Sonoma.  This Zin specialist has produced a blend of 90.4% Zinfandel, 6.1% Petite Sirah and 2.5% Syrah that explodes with loads of ripe raspberry flavors; long and round in the aftertaste.  It delivers an abundance of black fruits and spice, demonstrating the classic and distinctive characteristics of Zinfandel.  The soft, plumy, and jammy flavors and textures make this wine not only approachable, but also versatile, allowing it to be paired with a wide range of foods.

2007 Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel Reserve, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma
List price 18.95; our price 15.50
This wonderful Zin has a richly fragrant nose of ripe, sweet spiced blackberries, concentrated cherries and sweet stony minerals.  It is mouth-filling, ripe, and full, with concentrated fruit and very good balance for such a ripe wine.  It has a very long, spicy, richly-fruited finish, with a bit of gravel making showing through at the end.  There is a fair amount of soft tannins to add a bit of structure.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday, October 18, 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

Next Saturday, the 18th, Katie Finn will join us representing Argentine producer, Fincas Patagonicas, the producer of the Zolo line of wines.  The Ortiz family, which owns the winery, selects grapes from estate vineyards throughout the different key regions of Mendoza.  The purpose of the winery’s Zolo classic line is to create a family of fruit-forward, great value wines, which can be enjoyed with a wide range of food or by themselves.  Located at various altitudes, each of these terroirs provides a different expression of fruit and varietal concentration.  The week after, on the 25th, Paul Chatterton will return to complete the excursion through the Gallo properties but this time focusing on wineries the company owns out of the US.  Other wineries, importers and distributors are lining up for future events and for your pleasure.

2007 Zolo Torrontés
9.99
Torrontés is the most distinctive of all Argentine wines, because Argentina is the only country to produce it.  Torrontés has enticing aromas that are strikingly similar to Viognier, with hints of peach pit, flowers, and orange citrus fruit.  On the
palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with enticing fruit flavors.  It is well-balanced and has a long finish.

2008 Melipal Malbec Rosé, Mendoza
9.99
This great rosé just arrived along with the Zolos and you simply must try a sample.  The wine’s watermelon and straw-berry vibrancy carries right through the nose and palate with an explosive range of assorted, freshly crushed red fruits.

2006 Zolo Bonarda
9.99
Bonarda is Mendoza’s most planted varietal and a fun grape to discover.  This wine has a very deep purple color with typical Bonarda aromas of raspberries and fruit jam.  In the mouth it has sweet tannins with toasty barrel notes from its 6 months in oak.

2005 Zolo Cabernet Sauvignon
9.99
The Cabernet grapes for this wine are carefully selected from estate vineyards located at 3,000 feet above sea level.  This wine achieves an ideal level of maturity and high concentration of flavors.  It has a deep red color and displays aromas of red fruits, strawberry jam, spice, and vanilla.  It was aged for 8 months in oak.

2006 Zolo Malbec
9.99
The grapes were selected from Zolo’s estate vineyards located in the best wine-growing regions of Mendoza.  Located at various altitudes, each of these terroirs provides a wonderful expression of fruit and varietal concentration.  The wine has a deep purple color, with a high intensity of black fruits, raspberries, and violets.  It was aged for 6 months in oak.

2005 Zolo Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
16.99
The Zolo Reserves display ultra-high concentration and aromatic complexity  They are made from Zolo’s single estate vineyard, San Pablo, in Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, at 4,300 feet above sea level.  This wine has concentrated black fruit, chocolate and toast aromas.  It is full bodied with remarkable elegance, harmony, and a long finish.  It received 12 months of aging in new French and American oak barrels.

2005 Zolo Malbec, Reserve
16.99
This fabulous Malbec shows concentrated plum, raspberry, and meaty aromas.  It is soft and sweet in the mouth with ripe and velvety tannins, the result of 10 months of aging in new French and American oak barrels.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

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

You’ve probably noticed that the temperatures are steadedly on the rise. There is no better time to reintroduce you to one of the three most versital styles of wine produced around the globe (along with Riesling and sparkling wine). Rosé is consumed in great quantities throughout Europe, but is equated in the minds of most Americans with sweet and sappy White Zinfandel. Often have I had to divert customers from this view. Fortunately, the sophistication level in California, regarding wine, is relatively high and most people do not not react to me negatively when I sing the praises for rosé.
This Saturday only, all rosés will be discounted an extra 10% from our usual discounted price, so don’t dally.

2005 Gran Feudo Rosé, Navarra, Spain
Priced every day:$9.75; Saturday only 8.78
This cool fragrant rosé was made from the Garnacha Tinta grape (Grenache). The bouquet is reminiscent of rosehip tea and the flavors focus on strawberry and spicy raspberry fruit. The wine is fresh and lively with a clean finish.
Wine & Spirits Magazine gave this bottling a 90-point rating.
2006 Cune Rosado, Rioja, Spain
Priced every day: $9.99; Saturday only 8.99
This is a saignée process wine; the juice is removed 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 blend is Tempranillo (80%) and Garnacha (20%).
2005 Jake-Ryan Cellars Rosé, Napa
Priced every day: $9.99; Saturday only 8.99
The rosé from this Calistoga winery is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah. Its light pink color and bright nose of strawberry and raspberry are an indication of its refreshing balanced style. Flavors of fresh red fruit on the palate lead to a long finish with nice acidity.
2005 Chateau d’Aqueria Rosé
Priced every day: $14.95; Saturday only 13.46
From the tiny village of Tavel, which has proven to be the font of serious Grenache-based rosé, this wine sports deep color, reserved but complex cherry–red plum fruit, herb and licorice flavors, all set in a full, fleshy frame. The wine is substantial, owing to its harmonious blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Clairette, and will go well with hearty fowl and fish dishes. It is terrific by itself as well!
2006 Fleur Pinot Noir Vin Gris, Carneros, Napa
Priced every day: $10.95; Saturday only 9.86
This bright, fresh, and flavorful rosé is made in a crisp, dry style designed to accompany food. It displays aromas of strawberry and honeysuckle while exhibiting a mouthwatering finish that cleanses the palate.
2006 Robert Stemmler Vin Gris Rosé of Pinot Noir
Priced every day: $11.95; Saturday only 10.75
This Vin Gris is a dry rosé style wine made entirely of Pinot Noir. It is pleasing with a light body, rose petal aromas and flavors of strawberry, raspberry and mineral with a crisp, clean finish.
2005 Epiphany Grenache Rosé, Santa Barbara
Priced every day: $10.95; Saturday only 9.86
The grapes for this rosé come from Fess Parker Estates in Santa Ynez Valley. 30% of the wine was produced in stainless steel tanks and the other 70% was barrel fermented. The beautiful aromatics segue to crisp fruit flavors of strawberry, cherry and watermelon.
2004 Renwood Syrah Rosé, Amador
Priced every day: $9.95; Saturday only 8.96
The bouquet consists of cherry, watermelon and strawberry. On the pallet, the wine is bright with flavors of fresh raspberry and cherry and supports a complex and balanced mouthfeel. The finish displays soft and round tannins, which linger on the palate. This is a deep flavored wine, but with a lively acid for balance.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

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

Although many varietals would pleasantly support an Easter dinner, I thought it would be instructive to choose one varietal, Chardonnay, and offer a stylistic comparison. There are many ways to render a varietal; light to heavy and delicate to bombastic. Here is a line-up of Chards that will provide balancing accompaniment to most menus, especially if the meal is being served midday, with temperatures in the eighties.

The following week we go to France for a visit to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Ventoux, Loire and Bandol. Paul Chatterton will be here representing import company Maisons Marques & Domaines.

2006 Pavilion Chardonnay, Napa

$9.99

The wines for Pavilion are crafted by Brian Mox and Larry Levin, both who are among the most experienced winemakers in the Napa Valley. Their resumes include a who’s who of Napa giants. This wine was barrel aged in French oak and shows aromas of pear, vanilla, and toasty oak with hints of white peach. Ripe fruit flavors of pear, caramel apple and melon lead to a long soft lingering finish. The balance of this lush medium bodied wine makes it a pleasure to savor on its own or enjoy with a wide variety of foods.

2006 Tormaresca Chardonnay, Puglia, Italy

$9.99

The vineyard for this wine lies near the Adriatic Sea off of Italy’s heel. The name itself refers to the towers that line the coast. The grapes are fermented in barriques, after inoculation with a special yeast, and then allowed to proceed with the malolactic fermentation. After ageing for about 3 more months in barrique, the wine is moved to Inox tanks at a controlled temperature, where it goes through the fining process until ready for bottling. The fruit element is towards the exotic end of the spectrum, but with good minerality and bracing acid. Citrus, pear and pineapple notes round out the experience.

2006 Edna Valley Chardonnay, Paragon, San Luis Obispo Co.

$9.99

Edna Valley uses the processes of barrel fermentation, malolactic fermentation, lees stirring and aging in new oak barrels to achieve the desired balance. The wine has smoky aromas of vanillin oak and sweet spice balanced by white peach, pineapple and citrus notes. On the palate, full, round flavors of white peach and citrus are accompanied by a subtle minerality on the long finish. Serves well with creamy pastas, baked sea bass, seared scallops, roast chicken with lemon and herbs and, yes, roasted pork as well.

2006 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma

$13.99

The fruit for this blend is sourced from three vineyards. The lion’s share came from their Sonoma Coast vineyards with their Los Carneros Vineyard on the home ranch providing much of the rest. A small lot of grapes come from Knight’s Valley, the warmest Sonoma County appellation, to complement the cool area grapes. After cold fermentation and settlement, the wine bypasses oak contact and proceeds directly to bottle. Pears and grapefruits are the dominant characteristics of this flavorful and medium-bodied Chardonnay. Serve with grilled salmon or roasted chicken.

2004 Steele Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Barbara

$19.95

In 1991, Jed Steele made the decision to produce his own label and is now entering his fifth decade as part of the California wine business. Bien Nacido is a well-known vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. The wines are typical of Santa Barbara with lots of tropical fruit aromas and flavors. The wine received a 92-point rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine: “Plenty of richness here, mangoes, pineapple custard, Key lime pie, not to mention smoky, caramelly, butterscotchy oak, but there’s also a streamlined, sleek minerality that leaves a lip-smacking steely feeling behind. Part of that is acidity. Really fine wine.”

2005 Byron Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley

$19.95

The wine was 100% barrel fermented with 100% malolactic fermentation. Additional layers of complexity were achieved through sur lie aging and weekly hand stirring of the barrels known as batonage. This wine combines vibrant fruit character with a rich texture and a silky finish. Aromas of orange blossom, pear and hazelnut are accented by hints of mineral and toasty oak. On the palate, the wine is well balanced with traces of peach, mandarin orange and toasty spice with a long, lingering finish.