Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, December 10, 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

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

2007 Domaine Carneros Brut, Carneros

List price 24.00; our price 21.95

This is a great property to visit if you are in the Napa/Sonoma area. The aroma of Meyer lemon and apple leads to supple flavors of lime and nectarine, layered with crème brûlée and cinnamon. It received a 90 point rating from Wine Enthusiast: “This is a glamorous, fashionable wine that gives the pleasure you want in a bubbly. It’s dryish and crisp, with doughy yeast, raspberry and lime flavors. A good price for a California sparkling wine of this quality.”

2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs, Napa

List price 29.95; our price 26.99

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

Taittinger Cuvée Prestige, Reims

List price 39.00; our price 33.99

Taittinger is the third oldest Champagne house, and the origins of the house can be traced back to 1734. The Taittinger headquarters are in Reims, situated above 4th century Roman cellars with miles of tunnels and cellars used in the aging process in making Champagne. The House style is elegance with creamy richness. Cuvee Prestige is made of 40% Chardonnay/60% Pinot Noir grapes, and is a delicate wine with flavors of fresh fruit and honey. It is firm and on the dry side, with light oak, citrus and candied berry notes. Elegant yet well-toned, it shows intensity and character from beginning to end and stays persistent through the long, lovely finish.

2006 Iron Horse Brut, Green Valley, Sonoma County

List price 29.95; our price 26.99

This is the most traditional of the Iron Horse sparklers. It is a classy blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay, aged an average of four years on the yeast in the bottle. Rich and creamy, it says “Champagne”, though the fruit is unmistakably Sonoma County-Green Valley. The nose shows Hazel nut and ripe red apple. In the mouth: there is red apple, yeast and a touch of lime. It pairs well with food, especially anything spicy, salted or fried. Actually, it works extremely well with anything from mac and cheese to grilled steak.

2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Noirs, Napa

List price 35.00; our price 29.99

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

Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne, Reims

List price 33.00; our price 29.99

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

2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Brut Rosé, Napa

List price 35.00; our price 29.99

This creamy cherry/berry sparkler with tropical fruit highlights has scored big with the critics: 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, 92 points form Parker’s Wine Advocate and 94 Points from Connoisseurs’ Guide:” A sensational effort, the 2007 Brut Rosé (60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay) offers a beautiful light salmon/pink color as well as a terrific nose of Framboise/Kirsch and strawberries. The wine hits the palate with freshness, lots of tiny, well-defined bubbles, medium body and a fresh, long finish. This beauty is a top-notch dry rose sparkling wine.”

Saturday, July 9, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

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

Today only receive an extra 10% discount!

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

A cold bottle of something that sparkles with bubbles is often the perfect summer enhancement. Especially those lighter in alcohol, which is always a good idea if you are out in the hot sun and by the pool. We have chosen seven products that are fresh and crisp, and dry to slightly sweetened, with lovely fruity quality. The two at the end perform more as cocktails and are quite lovely. These are perfect summer libations and certainly within everyone’s budget.

Canella Prosecco Brut

List price 14.95; our price 12.99; today only 11.69

This wine’s ripe pear and peach notes are marked by a nutty richness. Most Proseccos do exhibit an almond nuttiness that helps the wine finish with a light almond bitterness. This is a great seafood wine up to and including fried calamari.

Verdi Sparkletini Italian Spumante

List price6.99; our price 5.99; today only 5.39

Sparkletini is an elegant, all-natural malt beverage made in Italy by the renowned Bosca family. Sparkletini is a delightfully sparkling Spumante with a light, refreshing taste that’s perfect whenever you feel like enjoying a fun, sophisticated drink. Serve chilled to enjoy its balanced, clean taste. The bottle is sealed with a re-sealable cork closure that preserves all the sparkle. There are subtle strawberry/pear hints in the mouth and a touch of sweetness, checked by an effervescence that is quite refreshing.

Verdi Sparkletini Italian Spumante Apple

List price 6.99; our price 5.99; today only 5.39

This version is an excellent beverage to be served on the rocks while lounging by the pool. One is mindful of biting into a crisp Granny Smith apple when sipping this delightful sparkler.

Verdi Sparkletini Italian Spumante Raspberry

List price 6.99; our price 5.99; today only 5.39

This one shows a very bright essence of raspberry in the nose. If you like Chambord liqueur, you are going to love this quaffing light-weight. Every sip begins with a heady raspberry perfume that carries through to the lovely long finish. A touch of citrus acidity balances nicely the fruity sweetness of the raspberry.

Verdi Sparkletini Italian Spumante Peach

List price 6.99; our price 5.99; today only 5.39

The white peach bouquet is aromatic and inviting. The fruit is very forward, yet reserved in its sweetness. This, it turns out, is the perfect antecedent to the Bellini Cocktail that follows.

Canella Bellini Cocktail di Venezia

List price 13.99; our price 12.95; today only 11.69

The story of Bellini begins in Venice, in the legendary setting of a world-famous artists’ café. One warm summer evening in 1948, its owner decided to mix the fruity white peaches, the grapy sparkle of Prosecco spumante, and a whisper of wild raspberries. He called it Bellini as a tribute to the arts and specifically the Venice-born Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini. The original formula became two-thirds Prosecco sparkling wine from the hills north of Venice, one third white peach juice with fresh fruit pulp and a few drops of raspberry juice. Forty years after it was invented, Italy’s award-winning Prosecco grower, Canella, took up the difficult challenge of producing the famous Venetian cocktail to satisfy its numerous worldwide fans, yet maintain the freshness and delicacy of the original recipe.

Canella Mimosa Blood Orange

List price 13.99; our price 12.95; today only 11.69

Blood Orange Mimosa is a wine cocktail made from grape wine and the juice and pulp of the celebrated, crimson-fleshed Sicilian blood oranges. The finest cultivars are orchestrated to achieve the best combination of flavors, fragrance and color: the darkest-hued, Moro; Tarocco, the tastiest and sweetest; and the tender Sanguinello. The ensemble is light, fruity, refreshing and flavorsome.

Saturday, April 30, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

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

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

The state of Washington is producing some very nice wines and more importantly some fine values. It is a good idea to touch bases with Chateau Ste. Michelle to see where the levels of quality and value are currently. Besides Chardonnay and Cabernet, it is worth noting that some really good Merlot is coming out of that state. I’m talking about Merlot with structure as well as flavor. We will be offering, too, a blended red wine that arrived recently that some of you have already been enjoying.

2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley

List price 9.95; our price 7.99

This is a pleasurable, food-friendly Chardonnay. It is a fresh, soft style of Chardonnay with bright sweet apple/citrus fruit character and subtle spice and oak nuances. Chardonnay grapes are blended from vineyards all over Washington’s Columbia Valley to make this a complex, interesting wine. The sur lie aging gives it an appealing softness.

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle, Chardonnay, Indian Wells, Columbia Valley

List price 17.99; our price 13.95

The warmth of the Wahluke Slope produces Chardonnay with an appealing tropical fruit character and rich texture. The Indian Wells Chardonnay delivers ripe tropical pineapple flavors and showcases the luscious opulence of Washington fruit. I like this wine with scallops, scampi or pasta with slightly richer sauces. It is smooth and fragrant, with cedar and peach pit overtones to the apple and stone fruit flavors, finishing with polish.

2007 Magnificent Wine Co. House Wine, Walla, Walla, Columbia Valley

List price 10.00; our price 8.99

This is a nice hearty blend that enjoys an 89-point rating from The Wine Spectator: “On the lighter side, showing lovely red berry and sweet red pepper flavors that settle gently onto a bed of silky tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon (32%), Syrah (31%), Merlot (30%), Malbec (3%), Zinfandel (2%), Cabernet Franc (1%) and Petit Verdot (1%). Drink now through 2014.” It comes off full, dense and chewy, all the while showing opulent, smooth, lavender flower and berry fruit.

2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot, Columbia Valley

List price 12.69; our price 10.99

This Merlot shows complexity while being approachable. It offers aromas of black cherry, leather and spice with layers of rich dark red fruit and cola flavors. This is a great “everyday red” to be served with beef, lamb, grilled salmon, hearty pastas, etc. The blend is 89% Merlot, 8% Syrah and 3% Malbec. The wine was aged 15 months in French and American oak, of which 31% was new.

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

List price 12.69; our price 10.99

This Columbia Valley Cabernet bottling serves to highlight concentrated Washington red fruit in an accessible style. It is an inviting Cab with plenty of complexity and structure yet with silky tannins. The blend is quite interesting, too: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 7% Merlot, 3% Mourvedre, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec, and 1% Grenache. It is a very versatile wine, especially with food. It was aged 16 months in American and French oak, 32% of which was new.

2006 Northstar Merlot, Walla Walla, Columbia Valley

List price 36.00; our price 29.99

This rich wine is concentrated and yet elegant, with aromas of cherry, plum, raspberry, and blackberry, finishing off with flavors of toasted oak, vanilla, coconut, mint, and toffee. Wine Spectator gave it a 91-point rating: “The 2006 Merlot Columbia Valley is composed of 76% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It was aged in French and American oak, 65% new, for 18 months. The fruit was sourced from 14 different vineyards making the wine a testament to the art of blending. Dark crimson-colored, it displays an alluring bouquet of cigar box, sage, clove, cinnamon, black cherry, and a hint of chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, round and elegant on the palate, it has solid depth and enough ripe tannin to support 2-3 years of additional cellaring. Drink this intensely flavored effort from 2011 to 2021″.

Saturday, March 12, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

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

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

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

2009 Matthew Cain Yellow + Blue Torrontés, Cafayate, Salta

List price 11.95; our price 9.99/Liter

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

2009 Matthew Cain Yellow + Blue Malbec, San Juan

List price 11.95; our price 9.99/Liter

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

2009 Bodega Elena de Mendoza Red Blend, Mendoza

List price 9.95; our price 8.50

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

2008 Filus Malbec Reserve, Mendoza

List price 18.00; our price 14.99

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

2009 Bodega Colomé Amalaya Malbec, Valle Calchaqui, Salta

List price 20.00; our price 17.99

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

FresitaSparkling Wine with Strawberry Infusion

List price 19.00; our price16.95

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

Saturday, February 19, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

$10.00 per person

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

Grgich Hills Estate (formerly Grgich Hills Cellar) is located in Rutherford, California in the heart of the Napa Valley. The winery changed its name in 2006 when it first began producing only “estate grown” wines made from grapes grown exclusively in vineyards owned by the winery. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic and the winery converted to solar energy in 2006. Winemaker Mike Grgich first gained international recognition at the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 when the Chardonnay he produced at Chateau Montelena won first prize among white wines, much to the chagrin of the French. We have been fortunate the last two years to have the opportunity to host this master wine maker at our Saturday wine event. Naturally, we will be pouring his exceptionally fine wines as well as offering hors d’oeuvres that compliment the varietals being offered. Half of the fee to attend ($5.00) will go toward each person’s purchase of the featured wines. Mike will be signing bottles during the event and you can have yours personalized. As usual, the wines are outstanding.

2008 Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc, Napa Valley

List price 26.50; our price 23.99

80% of the grapes were fermented in previously used small French oak barrels with the rest in 900-gallon French oak casks, called foudres, using only naturally occurring yeasts. Afterward the wine was aged six months on its lees (the spent yeast) in neutral barrels. These techniques added body while showcasing the wonderful fruit; not masking it behind new oak. Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar publication awarded this wine 91 points: “Pale silvery-yellow color. Aromas of lemon, grapefruit and spices. Juicy and brisk but ultimately supple, with intense, medium-bodied flavors of grapefruit and licorice lifted by minerals and flowers. Finishes brisk, firm-edged and long ($30)”

2008 Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley

List price 37.50; our price 33.95

This biodynamic Chardonnay did not undergo malolactic fermentation, thereby reserving its wonderful acidity. The wine displays aromas of orange blossom honey and toasted almonds with a hint of tropical fruit and crushed stone on the finish. Match this Chardonnay’s elegant style with poached salmon, roasted chicken, grilled pork, or creamy cheeses.

2005 Grgich Hills Estate Merlot, Napa Valley

List price 33.00; our price 29.95

The great thing about estate grown grapes is that the winemaker has total control of the quality from the vine to the bottle. This is a full-bodied Merlot with rich aromas and flavors of ripe cherry and black berries with hints of cedar and spice. A Cabernet lovers’ Merlot, the wine’s solid structure promises it will gain in complexity and silkiness with age.

2007 Grgich Hills Estate Zinfandel, Napa Valley

List price 33.95; our price 31.00

Grown at the estate vineyard in Calistoga, nestled in northern tip of Napa Valley, these Zinfandel grapes are certified organic and Biodynamic, as well. Classic Zinfandel flavors of strawberries, raspberries and plums make this wine the perfect match for grilled meats, thin crust pizza and pastas with tomato sauce; or just for sipping while the mind wanders and wonders.

2006 Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

List price 53.00; our price 48.00

The varietal blend here is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. The result is an elegant wine with aromas of black cherries and licorice with a long finish focused on notes of chocolate and red and black currants. Full bodied with smooth tannins, it’s the perfect partner with filet mignon, grilled steak or lamb chops

Saturday, February 12, 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

This line of wine has been around only since 2004 and was originally part of Gallo’s Rancho Zabaco production. As Gallo was upgrading the Rancho Zabaco line (the Monte Rosso Vineyard Zin is around $35.00) it was decided to break away the low price level varietals and allow them to stand on their own. These are nicely made wines and constitute excellent value. Even the bottles are of heavier glass than many expensive wines and all but the Sauvignon Blanc are cork finished. Personally, I’d prefer all of these were screw capped, but I know how much “ceremony” is derived from the opening of a dinner wine. In any event, these are your quintessential barbeque or pizza wines.

Next week we will be joined by Mike Grgich for a tasting of his wines and for a bottle signing.

2009 Dancing Bull Sauvignon Blanc

List price 9.99; our price 7.99

The wine is crisp and clean with bright grapefruit tanginess balanced by tropical fruit and a hint of cut grass herbaceousness usually found in New Zealand wine. The nose is packed with aromas of green apple, lime, kiwi, with subtle notes of fresh cut grass. The mouth is very lively, with crisp acidity and focused grapefruit and lime freshness balanced by tropical flavors of guava and mango. Very nice.

2008 Dancing Bull Chardonnay

List price 9.99; our price 7.99

The winemaking goal was to make a dry Chardonnay that was both refreshingly crisp and balanced. This was accomplished through the use of Monterey County fruit that provided the natural, cool climate fruit flavors and nice acidity. Partial malolactic fermentation was employed to soften a portion of the green fruit flavors and create a smooth creaminess. The addition of Sauvignon Blanc and a touch of Viognier added some tropical flavors and a lovely fragrant nose. It displays primary flavors of citrus, tropical fruits, and apple typical of medium bodied Monterey County Chardonnay but these characters are then complimented by secondary flavors of pear, peach, melon and floral notes. Very subtle barrel influences of creamy, toasty and vanilla oak characters are also present from the partial fermentation of a very small portion of the wine in oak.

2007 Dancing Bull Merlot

List price 9.99; our price 7.99

Here’s more proof that you can have a big, lush, ripe wine without an over-the-top alcohol level. At 13.5% alcohol, this is a wine you can stick with during dinner. Merlot lovers will be right at home with the ripe flavors of dark fruit, blackberry and black cherry, with a bit of spice and a lush velvety finish. The ripe fruit is balanced by subtle hints of vanilla and milk chocolate.

2009 Dancing Bull Zinfandel

List price 9.99; our price 7.99

This wine showcases a soft mouthfeel, which makes this wine both approachable and versatile with plenty of ripe dark fruit flavors of blackberry and black cherry, complemented by bright red fruit flavors of raspberry and strawberry. Spicy notes of black pepper and vanilla add layers which allow the fruit to be the star. It pairs well with heavier sauced dishes such as braised pork ribs or pasta with a rich, tomato based sauce.

2008 Dancing Bull Cabernet Sauvignon

List price 9.99; our price 7.99

Sourced primarily from the Central Coast and Sonoma County, the fruit for this Cab is sourced from both warm and cool climate regions to produce a Cabernet Sauvignon with layers of fruit flavors, primarily of black cherries, black currant and blackberry. The Central Coast fruit benefits from warm days and the marine layer fog that cools the grapes in the evenings to create ripe, forward fruit flavors and the distinctive, Cabernet dark red color. The cooler climate of Sonoma County and the coastal regions adds structure, firm tannins and a bit of spice. A very small percentage of the wine was barrel aged, contributing the chocolate and vanilla undertones with just a hint of herbal spice.

ChocoVine Dutch Chocolate Wine

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

This chocolate cream wine product is actually quite good. Think Baileys, but with a 14% alcohol instead of 17%. It is made in Holland by Team Products, a division of Dekuyper, one of the oldest cordial manufacturers in the world. Try it.

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, January 22, 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

The estate vineyard surrounding the winery, Rodney’s Vineyard, is named in honor of Fess’s late son-in-law, and was the first vineyard developed. With a total of 118 acres planted, this vineyard provides the foundation of the Rhone wine program and has already produced several award winning Syrah and Viognier bottlings. The newest acquisition known as Fess Parker Ranch, Camp Four, is a 1,400 acre parcel of land purchased in the spring of 1999. The initial 250 acre planting was completed and produced its first crop in harvest 2003. It is located slightly southwest from the winery in the Santa Ynez Valley. The warmer climates and loam soils of this site show great potential for producing fully ripened, mature fruit. You have only to taste these wines to experience what I’m talking about. Joining us this Saturday is Deborah Ellis, western regional sales director for Fess Parker.

2009 Fess Parker Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County

List price 18.00; our price 15.95

Crisp, clean aromas of apple, pear and pineapple combine with yellow melon, white flowers and a touch of oak to create this refreshing Chardonnay. On the palate lush citrus flavors followed by distinct layers of apple, honey, pear and a hint of light cream & lemon couple with great texture and balance making it a wonderfully food friendly wine. This is a fine Santa Barbara Chardonnay, with a wonderful amount of tropical fruit, little evidence of wood, with crisp acids, and a nice, medium-body.

2009 Parker Station Pinot Noir

List price 14.00; our price 11.99

This second label from Fess Parker is produced from a mix of purchased fruit and selected lots from the estate. Geared for early drinking, it is fruit forward, with cherry, plum and strawberry flavors, overlain with clove and other spices, and just a hint of toasty oak. This medium bodied Pinot Noir is round, balanced and eminently drinkable.

2008 Fess Parker Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara

List price 19.00; our price 15.99

Captivating scents of black cherry, strawberry and raspberry mingle with a touch of nutmeg and clove. On the palate, the flavors of cranberry, dried sage, vanilla, clove and raspberry combine elegantly with a touch of oak. Here is your perfect red wine for salmon, duck or lamb seasoned with Mediterranean spices.

Fess Parker Frontier Red, Lot 102

List price 11.99; our price 9.99

According to Robert Parker: “One of California’s finest values is Fess Parker’s non-vintage Frontier Red. A kitchen sink blend of mostly Rhone Ranger varietals, it is a dead-ringer for a California-styled Cotes du Rhone. Notes of pepper, black cherries, spice box, roasted herbs, and smoke are present in this lush, medium-bodied, richly fruity offering. Meant to be drunk upon release, it is an ideal choice for shrewd consumers looking for a delicious red that works with an assortment of culinary dishes.”

2007 Fess Parker Big Easy

List price 29.95; our price 25.50

With The Big Easy the winery is paying homage to one of its favorite cities; the culinary mecca is a great supporter of Fess Parker wines. It is made from Camp Four fruit incorporating other varietals along with Syrah. The blend is 92% Syrah and 8% Grenache. Notes of blueberry, blackberry, smoked meat, and vanilla are found on the nose along with flavors of black cherry, blackberry compote, cinnamon, black pepper and vanilla on the palate. This is a meaty, well structured blend leading to a long lengthy finish with its dense chocolaty tannins. The finish is dry and its tannins are subtle.

Saturday, January 15, 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

Proprietor Ken Volk has been making Santa Barbara and Central Coast wines for more than a quarter century. Perhaps best known as the founder of Wild Horse Winery, Ken has earned a reputation for crafting world-class wines, particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley. The vineyard and winery property was formerly the “original” Byron Winery (the present Byron Winery is located next door), established by Ken Byron Brown in 1981. In 1994 the winery was acquired by the Robert Mondavi Winery Corporation. Ken Volk purchased the building and land at the end of 2004, after over a year of negotiations. The sale included the winery and vineyard only – no brands, no wine, and no on-going business venture. The emerging success of this winery “fixer-upper” is all Ken Volk. On hand to pour the wines and discuss his product line will be Mike Brown, national sales manager for the winery.

2007 Kenneth Volk Chardonnay, Santa Maria

List price 19.95; our price 14.99

Whole cluster pressing and barrel fermentation helped to create this distinctive and rich Chardonnay. It has aromas of toasted oak, wet slate, along with fruit aromas of apple, pear, and mandarin. Fruit flavors continue on the palate with a rich mouth feel and balanced acidity. This wine won a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

2007 Kenneth Volk Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara Co.

List price 22.00; our price 19.99

Although known for his Pinot Noirs primarily from the Santa Maria Valley, Volk sources the grapes for this wine from adjoining areas as well as from the Santa Maria Valley. Hopefully one day we can concentrate on his Pinot Noir line-up from this valley that is home to some of the best Pinot producing vineyards in the state: the defining Bien Nacido Vineyards, as well as the Santa Rita Hills to the south. The leafy aromatics and red fruit flavors of this wine are followed by firm tannins. This is the perfect wine to enjoy with duck comfit and with mushroom dishes. The ageing in French oak further adds to its complexity.

2008 Kenneth Volk Negrette, Caleri Vineyard, 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.

2006 Kenneth Volk Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

List price 22.00; our price 19.99

Paso Robles has a rich history of winemaking and grape growing beginning in 1797 when the first wine grapes were introduced to Paso Robles by the Franciscan missionaries at the historic Mission San Miguel Arcangel, where Father Junipero Serra planted more than a thousand vines. Though known primarily for its Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon remains the leading variety for the Paso Robles appellation, accounting for 38 percent of the region’s wine grape acreage. This brilliant, deep ruby red wine shows aromas of crushed cherries and a hint of chocolate playing against flavors of ripe fruit. It is balanced and restrained.

Saturday, January 8, 2011
4 to 5:30 pm

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

Congratulations to all who have survived the past year as well as the holidays and are now emerging from the aftermath. It is time to get back on track with our weekly wine regimen as the bottles keep arriving and the wine keeps flowing. Fortunately, ours is an intellectual pursuit in an effort to better understand grape growing, wine making and sensory perception; and not just be looking for a buzz. The next Saturday, the 15th, we will host the Kenneth Volk Vineyards and winery representative, Mike Brown. The following Saturday, the 22nd, we will be joined by Deborah Ellis of Fess Parker Winery. Please engrave these dates into your memory or at least scratch them onto your calendar. These are great wineries deserving of our rapt attention.

2007 Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Blanc, Alcace, France

List price 14.95; our price 12.99

Schlumberger makes this wine with equal proportions of two grape varieties : Pinot Blanc and Pinot Auxerrois. It is a dry wine combining the freshness of one with the aromatic qualities of the other. It is quite close to Chardonnay and is well-balanced, dry and fresh on the palate, with very attractive, fine fruit. This Alsatian wine is known for its suppleness, its emphatic fruitiness and its ability to easily go with a large range of dishes.

2008 White Oak Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

Bill Myers moved from Los Angeles to the Alexander Valley in the 1970s and began making wine; he quickly became recognized for producing wonderful Chardonnay, Zinfandel and what was to become White Oak’s flagship wine: Sauvignon Blanc. It has typical grassy herbaceousness but performs more in the grapefruit genre. Even in the finish there is a slight expression of grapefruit bitterness. This is a very good food wine with a fresh, crisp finish.

2009 Pedroncelli Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

When we hosted the Pedroncelli Winery a few months back, we did not include the Chardonnay, a shameful omission we will correct here and now. While the refreshing citrus, melon and tropical fruit aromas and flavors predominate, the blend of the stainless steel fermented and barrel fermented cuveees adds both fruit-forward qualities and complexity. The wine finishes clean, crisp and light.

2008 Puerto Viejo Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

List price 9.00; our price 7.99

This wine remained on its lees for six months in stainless steel vats with micro-oxygenation and with French oak staves; 15 percent of the wine was aged eight months in French and American oak barrels. It is a well-done, affordable Cabernet with all the qualities with a black-fruit bouquet, and showing ripeness, depth and solid tannins in the mouth. The flavor profile of cola, blackberry and chocolate works just fine, and the finish is long and hints at bitter chocolate and cedar.

2007 Boutari Xinomavro, Naoussa Greece

List price 18.00; our price 15.99

Boutari Naoussa was the first Grecian bottled wine available in Greece (1879) and is the benchmark among Greece’s premium red wines. It has won many awards over the last 50 years both in Greece and internationally. It is also the #1 selling premium red wine from Greece worldwide. It has typically a rich bouquet of ripe red fruit, blackberry and plum, together with sun-dried tomato and the aromas derived from ageing: cinnamon and wood. It has a rich body, good balance and structure, with soft tannins in its finish.

2007 Estancia Meritage Reserve, Paso Robles

List price 20.00; our price 16.99

he blend in this Meritage is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. It is a deep violet wine with crimson edges. The bouquet shows ripe black cherries, licorice, mountain herbs, mocha and fine integrated oak. It is thick, deep and explosive. Chocolate dipped black fruit is enveloped in rich sweet oak. The firm, structured, ripe tannins accompany a long, fruit driven finish.