Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, February 27, 2010

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

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

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

We are very much devoted to Zinfandel which no doubt explains why we have so many Zin events, or at least include samples in other tasting events.  Besides being a delicious wine, it has value power when compared to, let’s say, Cabernet Sauvignon.  You can figure on getting the same quality level on a mid thirty-something dollar Zin as a mid sixty-something Cab, with many good Zins beginning in the $10.00 range.  Most fans of the grape are acquainted with Four Vines of Paso Robles and some have heard of Mettler Family of Lodi, but who has heard of Oakridge Winery of Lodi; and did you know that Dante Dusi of Paso Robles’ Dusi Vineyard has his own label of Old Vine Zin?  Phil Molnar from Frank-Lin Distributors will be on hand to discuss and pour the wines.

2005 Oak Ridge Winery Zinfandel, Old Vine, Lodi

List price 15.00; our price 12.99

This family-owned and operated winery was founded in 1934 as a winemaking cooperative of local growers.  During the last 5 years the historic landmark has been transformed into a state-of-the-industry winery.  Some of the gnarled old vines on this property are over 120 years old, yielding small amounts of concentrated fruit.  The wine has a bright lovely fruit focused on full berry and spice flavors.  It unleashes a blast of wild berry, currant, pepper and chai tea flavors, wrapped into sturdy but fine tannins.  From the Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine: “As ripe as it is fruity, but sufficiently fixed on blackberries to stay on the varietal track, this broad, slightly viscous, full-bodied Zin fits the district style to a ‘T.”

2006 Four Vines Zinfandel, Old Vine Cuvée, California

List price 14.00; our price 11.50

This Old Vine Cuvée was selected from vineyards in the top Zinfandel appellations of California.  Old vine fruit lends increased depth and character to the blend.  Aged in small French and American oak barrels, the wine begins with silky layers of berry fruit and spice, then glides into a lingering oak finish.  You will find it jammy and juicy, with ripe cherry and toasty mocha aromas and easygoing blackberry and spice flavors.  It has enough tannins and structure to hold awhile.

2007 Mettler Family Vineyards Zinfandel, “Epicenter” Old Vine, Lodi

List price 22.00; our price 18.99

With their roots in the wine industry dating back to the 1770s, it’s no surprise that the Mettler Family is still growing grapes today.  After migrating to the U.S. in the late 1800’s, the Mettler family eventually settled in Lodi which is a true Mediterranean climate.  This is why early settlers from Europe chose to plant their vineyards here.  Intense and rich, the red berry fruit explodes in the mouth showing first its fine balancing acid, then moves on to the oak elements of earth and spice with some bacon notes.

2007 Dante Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel, Paso Robles

List price 32.00; our price 26.75

Janell Dusi remembers making wine with her grandfather in the basement using fruit from her family’s 100-acre, 80-year-old Paso Robles Vineyard  The high quality fruit from this vineyard is also sold to wineries like Turley, Four Vines and Tobin James.  Janell’s 2007 Zinfandel is purely hers.  Feminine in style, this Zin is bright and evocative of blueberries with judicious oak influence and nice acidity.  Some tea leaf spice emerges from the soft fruit mouth feel.  It is a special Zin from a fantastic vintage.

2005 Oakridge Winery Zinfandel, “Moss Roxx”, Ancient Vine, Lodi

List price 29.95; our price 26.99

Besides making their own find wines, Oakridge is a custom crush facility that produces wines for other companies and or vintners.  Moss Roxx is sourced from 8 distinctive ancient vine vineyards.  18 months in multiple cooperages accentuates the classic varietal spice and imparts vanilla aromatics, sweet, dark fruit notes and a clean, fresh mouth feel.  It shows Zin’s fine bramble character alongside oak spice nuances.  This rich elegant wine will also age wonderfully for 5-10 years.

2005 Four Vines Zinfandel Port, Paso Robles

List price 25.00; our price 21.99

The grapes were left on the vine until maximum ripeness, picked and fermented slowly until 10 Brix, where upon 2 year-old oak aged brandy was added to stop the fermentation.  The wine was aged in small French oak barrels for 20 months.  The dark ruby colored dessert wine opens with a ripe plum and spice like bouquet.  On the palate, it is full bodied, quite smooth, and balanced.  It is rich and concentrated with velvety-sweet, ripe red raspberry flavors and a hint of raisin on the back palate.   The finish is nice, smooth, and pleasant, with spice trailing into a silky caramel finish.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

4 to 6

$5.00 per person

      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

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

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

2008 Loredona Viognier, Lodi

List price 11.95; our price 9.99

This wine is rather light on your tongue and is well balanced and flavorful without being heavy or oaky.  It shows pleasant honey and apricot flavors with a lovely citrus, peach, and tropical fruit character, as well.  This is your everyday pool-side sipping wine that would hold up over the rocks.

2007 Joel Gott Zinfandel, California

List price 14.95; our price 12.99

This wine is a blend of dry-farmed, old-head trained vines in Lodi and Amador Counties producing deeply-concentrated fruit while the Napa Valley harvest adds depth and complexity. Fruit from the cooler climate of Sonoma County offers spice typical of the varietal.  These diverse regions come together to produce a Zinfandel with aromas of currant, plum and sweet oak, and flavors of ripe cherry with a long, lush finish.

2006 Alexander Valley Vineyards Redemption Zin, Dry Creek Valley

List price 22.50; our price 17.99

AVV produces the well known Sin Zin, their signature Zin, Temptation Zin, a lighter style, and Redemption Zin, the wonderfully lush companion we will taste Saturday.  This wine exhibits a dark ruby color, good depth, plenty of currant, plum, licorice, and pepper characteristics, and a meaty, medium to full-bodied texture.  It shows substantial blackberry and plum flavors along with a healthy dose of black pepper and subtle notes of orange peel and glycerin.  It won a gold medal and “Best of Class” award at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

2006 Steele Wines Zinfandel, Catfish Vineyard, Lake County

List price 22.00; our price 17.99

Catfish Vineyard is truly an old-timer, planted in 1901.  The vineyard is located on the Bell Hill bench of Lake County just south of Kelseyville.  The vines are head pruned and stand on their own original roots.  Steele Wines purchased the vineyard in 2000 and has been working to rehabilitate the old vines since that time. Each year the vines are pruned back so that each vine has fewer shoots and therefore fewer bunches of grapes.  New vines have been planted where the 100-year-old vines have expired.  The flavor profile for this vineyard is ripe boysenberries and spices.

2006 Clos LaChance Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast

List price 19.95; our price 14.99

The 150-acre Clos LaChance Estate Vineyard in San Martin was planted in 1999-2000. Nearly 20 varietals were planted, along with 60 separate clones, providing Winemaker Stephen Tebb with a spice-rack of blending wines.  Hot sunny days throughout the growing season, coupled with cool ocean breezes in the evenings, allow for increased grape hang-time, and the further development of flavors and complexities.  This is a big Cabernet Sauvignon, with complexity showing from extensive barrel and bottle aging.  There are dark blackberry aromas with vanilla and classic Cabernet eucalyptus.  The flavors of cassis, plum and blackberries dominate throughout the palate and into the long, smooth finish.

2005 Bouchaine Chardonnay, “Bouche d’Or”, Carneros

List price 25.00; our price 19.95

Bouche d’Or, which translates to “Taste of Gold” (or is it “Gold Lips”?) refers to the rich amber color and luscious, sweet essence of this wine and its honey-apricot fragrance.  It works well as an apéritif to be enjoyed with liver pâté or smoked hors d’oeuvres.  To make this wine, harvesting was delayed on one acre of the estate vineyard Chardonnay grapes until November of the year, anticipating that the additional time would further concentrate the grape sugars.  The resulting wine recalls to mind honeyed apricots and ripe figs, yet is delicate in weight and smooth in texture.

Saturday, January 23, 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

My buddy, Mark Sullivan of Regal Wines, has agreed to fill in for me this Saturday and will be pouring some of his favorite California Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels.  Mark is very personable and all to willing to expound upon some of the many fine wine companies he represents.  He is also known in the trade as a heavy pourer, so be sure to tell him when you have had enough.  I am joking, of course.  Really, there is the occasional sobriety check point in our area and I went through the last one recently.  I passed with flying colors, even though there was a six pack of beer in the seat next to me.  Honestly.  Please do guide yourselves accordingly.

I will return from vacation the next week and be here for yet another tasting event.

See you then.

2007 Cambria Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, Katherine’s Vineyard

List price 19.50; our price 15.95

Connoisseur Guide lists this wine a “Good Value”:  “This one may be a few dollars less pricey than [others], but we like its more open, fruity style and its mix of Meyer lemon, vanilla and chalky notes.  Its flavors are delivered along with a pleasantly supple entry impression, and if the wine firms up a bit at the back, that is to its good as well in that it invites service with dishes ranging from the sweeter white fishes like Sole Amandine to baked chickens with pan gravies”.

2007 Byron Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley

List price 23.00; our price 17.95

Staying true to the consistent nature of Chardonnay from this cool coastal appellation, Byron’s Chardonnay combines vibrant fruit character with a rich texture and a silky finish. Aromas of orange blossom, Anjou 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 brown spice with a long, lingering finish.

2006 Stonestreet Chardonnay, Alexander Valley

List price 27.00; our price 23.99

Wine Advocate gave this wine a 92 point rating: “The 2006 Chardonnay Alexander Valley is a beautiful wine that exhibits notes of honeysuckle, poached pear, and tropical fruit in a medium to full-bodied style, with crisp acidity and a long, very subtle, smoky oakiness.  Drink through 2010.”  We put aside some cases of this wine to let it evolve in the bottle and the payoff has arrived…delicious!

2008 Byron Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley

List price 24.00; our price 19.99

In 1964 Uriel Nielson planted Santa Barbara County’s first commercial vineyard, and the Byron estate is located on the same site as those original plantings.  All of the fruit for this Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir comes from that estate’s sandy loam soils.  A combination of older and younger vine fruit, the 2008 is concentrated yet bright, with cherry and plum character, hints of rose, smoke and cookie spices.  Earthier at its core than the nose would hint, the wine is still loaded with juicy cherry and plum fruit accented by smoke and spice and framed by fine tannins.

2006 Taft Street Zinfandel, Russian River Valley

List price 22.00; our price 17.99

The grapes for this wine were selected from the 100+ year old Cobblestone Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, located on the gentle rolling hills east of the town of Windsor.  This is amazingly good rich and plumy old vine Zinfandel for the price.

2007 Edmeades Vineyards Zinfandel, Shamrock V., Mendocino Co.

List price 32.50; our price 28.99

At 2,800 feet, Shamrock Vineyard is one of the highest elevation vineyard sites in Mendocino County, on the northern border of Humboldt County. The vineyard sits on a small 2.1-acre site perched high above the fog line and is a true mountain grown Zin.  Van Williamson has been the winemaker since 1994 and is preeminent on the subject of Zinfandel.  At first, the aromas hit you with mixed berries covered with a cherry liqueur with hints of floral, citrus and black pepper.  In the mouth you get chocolate, dried cherries, vanilla spice and notes of earthiness.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

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

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

We are kicking off the New Year with more recent arrivals that feature well in the under-twenty dollar range.  Three are from California, and the other three hail from France, Spain and Argentina.  There is no rhyme or reason here; only the quest for very good wine at fabulous prices.  So if you have exited your recovery period and no longer consider alcoholic beverages a bad thing, do join us.  After all, we must do our part to support the wine industry.

2008 Domaine Laurier Chardonnay, Sonoma County

List price 9.95; our price 6.99

Laurier derives its name from the French word for the laurel trees that surround the founding winery in Sonoma County. Los Carneros - whose climate is moderated by the north end of the San Francisco Bay - is ideal for growing Chardonnay grapes.  The wine displays excellent fruit character and is balanced with a lively and crisp finish.  The flavors remind of ripe spicy pear, apple, citrus and light oak flavors.  Focused, it turns a bit leafy and earthy on the finish.

2007 Domaine Laurier Cabernet Sauvignon

List price 9.95; our price 6.99

This Cabernet contains clones selected from some of Alexander Valley’s best vineyards.  The preferred winemaking technique here combines European tradition with new technology to create a wine that is abundant with fruit character and silky texture.  Nuances of black cherry, plum, black olive and vanilla top the list of flavors.  Compatible entrees include roast leg of lamb, braised short ribs, grilled Portobello mushrooms and a variety of sharp cheeses.

Chateau de Saint Cosme “Little James’ Basket Press”, Gigondas, France

List price 14.95; our price 12.99

According to Robert Parker, this wine is created from a Solera system based on 50% from 2008, and the rest from older vintages.  It is always 100% Grenache and is finished with a screw cap.  It offers lots of spicy, peppery, black cherry, and even blacker fruits along with medium body, a tasty, satisfying style, and a remarkably low price.  Spicy and rich, with layers of kirsch, cassis and blackberry fruit and a commanding note of minerals and herbs, it screams Grenache.

2006 Bodegas Bilbaínas Viña Zaco Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain

List price 13.00; our price 11.50

Zaco is the rebellious new Rioja from Bodegas Bilbaínas, a Rioja with a contemporary twist. Zaco is not constrained by the rules of the traditional ageing process.  It is neither a Crianza nor a Reserva.  Zaco is simply ready when award-winning international winemaker Diego Pinilla believes the wine is reaching its full potential.  Every year Diego will identify the perfect moment to bottle Zaco.  This is a distinctive wine made in the international style with fresh fruity aromas.  Black cherry and blackberry flavors are framed by smoky chocolate oak in this taut and focused red.  Its firm tannins and bright acidity should keep it at its peak through 2012.  It scored 90 points in the Wine Spectator.

2008 Bodegas Gascón Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

List price 14.95; our price 11.99

The Don Miguel Gascón Malbec is a full-bodied wine, deep purple in color and layered with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and a hint of mocha.  The mid-palate shows a plumy fruit, finishing with pepper, chocolate, and smooth tannins (wine’s best feature).  It is attractively packaged as well as attractively priced.  The elegant, velvety mouthfeel and round tannins will pair well with grilled red meats, wild game, pasta dishes and chocolate desserts.

2005 Bridlewood Syrah Reserve, Central Coast

List price 22.50; our price 15.99

The aroma displays spice, blackberry, plumy and earthy notes which develop into dark berry and plum as the wine opens up.  You may also pick up hints of violets, chocolate and coffee. This is a full bodied wine with soft, but powerful tannins.  The wine flavors open with blackberry jam, violets and plum; dark berries combine with mouth filling tannins to form a long silky mid-palate and end with a clean lingering finish.  While this wine is already balanced and drinking well now, the moderate alcohol, acidity and tannin structure will allow this wine to improve with additional cellaring and will drink well for the next five years.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

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

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

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

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

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

2006 A. Mano Primitivo, Puglia

List price 12.00; our price 9.99

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

2007 Gran Sasso Primitivo, Puglia

List price 14.50; our price 9.99

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

2007 Layer Cake Primitivo, Puglia

List price 17.50; our price 14.99

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

2003 TerreD’uva Primitivo di Manduria

List price 18.00; our price 14.99

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

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

2005 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Primitivo, North Coast

List price 19.95; our price 12.99

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

2006 Di Arie Primitivo Block #4, Shenandoah Valley

List price 28.00; our price 23.75

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

Saturday, October 10, 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

Join us Saturday when Stacy Manley of Anders-Lane Artisan Wines introduces some of the fine wineries she represents.  The four wineries we will be discussing we have carried on and off in the past and revisiting the brands now is simply a continuation of a respectful love affair.  All the wines are exceptional and priced in range from 10.00 to 25.00.

2008 Mahoney Vineyards Vermentino, Las Brisas V., Carneros

List price 16.00; our price 12.95

Vermentino, also known as Rolle in France, commonly comes from the island of Sardinia off the coast of Italy, where it produces light white wines redolent of lemon and lime leaves with an almost salty mineral twang.  Francis Mahoney formerly the owner of Carneros Creek Winery, appointed Ken Foster, veteran Pinot Noir winemaker, to oversee production at Mahoney Vineyards in June, 2002.  Foster, the winemaker/production manager from David Bruce winery in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains had been making wine there for 15 years.  This California version from Las Brisas Vineyard exhibits white peaches and citrus flavors with lovely floral notes and a refreshingly crisp finish.

2006 Mahoney Vineyards Pinot Noir, Carneros

List price 24.00; our price 18.99

The best of 40 lots of Pinot Noir from Mahoney Ranch and Las Brisas Vineyard are blended into this complex wine, showcasing seven distinct clones grown in diverse microclimates and soils.  The wine displays wonderfully structured mouthfeel accompanied by layer upon layer of abundant red fruit flavors and varietal spice.  It won a double gold medal (Best of Class) at the 2009 West Coast Wine Competition.

2007 Waterstone Vintners Pinot Noir, Carneros

List price 25.00; our price 21.00

Waterstone Vintners is a collaboration formed in 2000 between veteran winemaker Philip Zorn and longtime wine executive Brent Shortridge.  The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine were grown on hillside vineyards in the cool Carneros region.  Dark plums, cherry, cola and leather are present in this wine’s aroma.  The soft vanilla tones from the oak blend perfectly with the intense fruit core and soft tannins, providing complexity and balance, leading to a lingering finish.  This wine was awarded the Chairman’s Award, Unanimous Gold at the 2009 Riverside International Wine Competition.

2006 Mandolin Merlot, Central Coast

List price 12.00; our price 9.95

The vineyards for this wine were selected to give the wine a desired complexity and flavor.  20% of the merlot was sourced from the Carneros region, contributing intensity and richness to the balance, which was sourced from Lodi.  It is a fruit-forward wine softened by aging in small oak barrels.  Ripe cherry, currant, and black berry fruit lead to a lingering finish in this rich wine.

2005 Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

List price 27.00; our price 23.00

While a majority of grapes were sourced from Oakville and Rutherford, vineyards from Coombsville to Diamond Mountain contributed to the final blend (88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot).  The wine was aged in small French oak barrels for 18 months (80% new barrels).  Aromas of cedary oak, currants, black cherries and ripe plums are rich and concentrated on the palate.  The firm tannins underlying the wine’s core provide balance, leading to a long, lingering finish.

2005 Haywood Estate Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Sonoma

List price 28.00; our price 24.00

The grapes of Los Chamizal are grown on rock terraces in the Mayacamas Mountains high above the town of Sonoma.  In 1991, during a shaky period in the industry, Peter Haywood chose to sell his wine brand to an international corporation.  In early 2008, Peter Haywood reacquired the brand, this time from Beam Wine Estates.  Spectator writers Jim Laube and Tim Fish awarded the 2005 Los Chamizal 93 points and selected it among their 13 favorite zinfandels of the vintage. Laube had previously described Los Chamizal as “Great Zinfandel from a special site.”

Saturday, September 19, 2009

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

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

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

We live by the rule, “one can never have enough Zinfandel”. But then you know that if you regularly attend our events. Every few weeks there is a Zin tasting featuring newly arrived wines or revisiting old favorites. We never miss an opportunity to include a rosé in our tastings and fortunately Pedroncelli Winery of Sonoma makes a good one. From there we work our way through deep reds of Amador County, Sonoma County and Napa County.

2007 Pedroncelli Dry Rosé of Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

List price 9.99; our price 7.99

In the early 1950s, John Pedroncelli created a rosé originally from a blend of grapes and called it Vin Rosé. In 1954, he created the Zinfandel Rosé and so it has continued ever since. The accent on crisp acidity and true varietal character allows the fresh Zinfandel flavors to shine. After ensuring that sufficient flavor and color had been extracted from the berries, free run juice was drawn from the tanks after a 24 hour soak. The juice finishes fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine is fermented dry leaving a full fruit flavor with a great acid balance to give a crisp and tart finish. The aroma is of strawberry and rose petal with black cherry, vanilla and nectarine flavors in the mouth.

2005 Montevina Zinfandel, Sierra Foothills, Amador Co.

List price 9.95; our price 7.99

Montevina makes eight different Zinfandels from Amador County. The Montevina Sierra Foothill Zinfandel can best be described as workingman’s Zin for everyday use, softer in tannin and lighter in body. It is all about berry fruit and spice, with irresistible cassis and pepper aromas, and lush blackberry, ripe plum and spice flavors followed by a long, smooth finish.

2005 Valley of the Moon Zinfandel, Sonoma County

List price 15.00; our price 12.99

Over half of the grapes for this Zinfandel come from vines planted in the 1940’s near Sonoma’s Mayacamas Mountains on the western side of the valley. The remaining grapes come Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. The wine has a lovely bouquet of boysenberries and French oak. The excellent body is well balanced with acid and tannins, giving way to a concentrated, lingering finish.

2006 Taft Street Zinfandel, Russian River Valley

List price 22.50; our price 17.99

The old-vine grapes for this wine were fermented on the skins with extended maceration for over two weeks. The wine was drained and pressed to a combination of French and American oak barrels, where a complete malo-lactic fermentation took place. After 18 months oak aging the wine was bottled. It shows great finesse as the berry and spice components are well integrated.

2007 Buehler Vineyards Zinfandel, Napa

List price 29.95; our price 16.99

Dry-farmed for over 20 years, this 4.5 acre estate block consists of mature thirty-seven year old vines typically giving around 2.5 tons/acre of beautiful hillside zinfandel fruit. It is aged for 11 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels, 20% of which are new. This is your typical “bramble” styled Zin in a mouth-filling, flavorful and juicy experience.

2006 Girard Zinfandel, Old Vine, Napa

List price 22.00; our price 18.99

The vineyard sources for Girard’s Old Vine Zinfandel are the Blue Ridge and Morgan vineyards on Mt. Vaca, the highest peak of the Vaca range, which forms the Eastern border of the Napa Valley. The fruit concentration from these mountain vineyards ensure that the Zin has rich flavor extraction, a fruit-forward palate and wonderful layers of complexity from multiple soil types. The soft tannins and spicy flavors of blueberry, ripe cherry and plum dominate this rich, smooth Zinfandel.

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, June 27, 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

After years of home winemaking, Dr. Kent Rosenblum (a veterinarian) and his wife Kathy joined with other close friends in 1978 to establish Rosenblum Cellars.  Thirty years later they are still going strong having attained their primacy in the world of Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah.  Kent focused on crafting exceptional vineyard designated wines using grapes farmed from mountainside, head-pruned, old vines.  At the time, most wineries were promoting their estate vineyards while Kent spotlighted individual growers from Sonoma and Napa, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, and other prime areas.  This concept has served the winery well with only few mishaps.  Some growers whose vineyards became famous due to Rosenblum decided to raise their prices, considerably in some cases.  These vineyards are no longer part of the offering.

2005 Rosenblum Syrah, Abba Vineyard, Lodi
Regular price 22.00; our price 18.99
Phillip Abba uses the trellis system to grow his grapes which provides filtered sunlight to complete the maturation process.  The 05 is redolent of berries and cherries, somewhat smoky and spicy, with an emphasis on white pepper.  The oak imparts a nice vanillin flavor to the wine and compliments the other spices.

2005 Rosenblum Zinfandel, Richard Sauret Vineyard, Paso Robles
Regular price 25.00; our price 22.00
This black ruby/purple wine has a fruity nose of ripe spicy black raspberries and sweet smoky scents.  It is round and soft on the palate, with great persistence of fruit, mostly blackberry.  Spicy and creamy components add up to a style of Zin that is very rich, flavorful, and hedonistic.

2004 Rosenblum Zinfandel, Eagle Point Vineyard, Mendocino
Regular price 27.50; our price 24.00
Intense and aromatic, this wine shows stunning bright blackberry fruit with evident cherry, chocolate and spice.  Although it has the heart of a Zinfandel, it is also very reminiscent of a Northern Rhône with beautiful minerality.  The blend includes 18% Petite Sirah from the same vineyard.

2006 Rosenblum Zinfandel, Carla’s Reserve, Contra Costa
Regular price 22.50; our price 19.95
This exotic Zinfandel exhibits a huge core of black cherry fruit with elements of wild berries, cassis and vanilla bean in the bouquet.  On the palate, soft and round tannins support flavors of ripe black cherry and blackberry with hints of spiced plum.  Zinfandel’s “bramble” character is much in evidence here, as well.

2006 Rosenblum Zinfandel, Rockpile Road Vineyard, Sonoma
Regular price 31.00; our price 26.99
This vineyard overlooking Lake Sonoma was propagated in the mid-1990s with Zinfandel bud-wood from the historic, 120-year-old St. Peter’s Church vineyard located in Cloverdale.  The old clone and high elevation in combination with rocky soil conditions and cool maritime breezes all come together to make one of the worlds best Zinfandels.  Rich and robust, flavors of blackberry, black cherry and raspberry mingle with spice and vanilla.

2005 Rosenblum Petite Sirah, Pickett Road, Napa
Regular price 29.95; our price 26.99
Bring your teeth brightener with you.  The nose of this very dark wine gives a nice mix of chocolate, currant and black pepper.  The fruit is very forward with chocolate covered dark cherries leading the way then currant and a slight citrus hit at the end of the finish.  Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: 92 points; Wine Spectator: 89

Saturday, June 13, 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

As you probably know, we are great fans of the Zinfandel grape and the lovely elixirs it produces in capable wine-making hands.  This month, the Wine Spectator devoted its cover article to Zinfandel and the telling point it makes, as we have been paraphrasing for years, is that the “outstanding” category for all red wines falls in the $69.00 range.  The “outstanding” category for Zinfandel hovers at an average of $35.00.  Even the mathematically challenged can see the evolving value of this varietal.  Owing to summer weather, we will focus this Saturday on the less heavy Zins, keeping the selection to under $10.00.  Later, in the fall, we will revisit Zinfandel with bottlings at the summit of perfection.

2007 Pedroncelli Zinfandel Rosé, Dry Creek Valley
Regular price 9.99; our price 7.99
This wine has a pretty ruby red color with aromas of strawberry and rose petal.  In the mouth, the wine is lush, yet crisp and dry, with fresh raspberry and spicy vanilla flavors.  Some black cherry and nectarine flavors emerge along the way in this crisp, enjoyable wine.  Wine Spectator rating: 87 points and “top value”.  DOUBLE GOLD,’07 San Francisco Int’l Wine & Spirits  GOLD, 2007 Los Angeles Int’l Wine & Spirits.

2003 Echelon Zinfandel, Driving Range Vineyard, Contra Costa Co.
Regular price 9.99; our price 5.99
Echelon’s winery is located in San Miguel, in the heart of the Central Coast, near many of its vineyard sources.  Nicely balanced, these impressive premium wines from the Chalone Group are easy on the palate and the budget.  Vines in this vineyard are from 50 to 100 years of age.  This bottling is more to the dry side of the spectrum, showing plums, blackberries and pepper.

2005 Renwood Zinfandel, Sierra Foothills
Regular price 11.69; our price 9.99
Something of a throwback to times past, this direct, medium-bodied, mildly berryish effort with 7% Petite Sirah eschews all of the riper imperatives of latter-day Zin.  “It may not be a wine of great size or extract, but it is fruity and fairly well-balanced, and, more importantly still, it is priced for everyday drinking.  Rated: 86 by Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines; GOOD VALUE”

2006 Gnarly Head Zinfandel, Old Vine, Lodi
Regular price 9.95; our price 8.99
Here is your perfect barbeque wine; works well with pizza, too.  Robust berry flavors and exotic spice notes from the small grape clusters are balanced with French, American and Hungarian oak, which creates heady layers of vanilla and chocolate extending to a lingering finish.

2007 Gran Sasso Primitivo, Puglia, Italy
Regular price 14.50; our price 9.99
The winery is located in the region of Abruzzo, located in the central eastern part of Italy on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, but the grapes for this bottling were sourced in Puglia, in the south.  Primitivo is the Italian version of Zinfandel, except that the Italians tend to pick earlier to preserve acidity and arrive at lower alcohol content.  There are aromas of ripe fruit and star anise.  The fruit is bright and crisp with some notes of earthiness and a good amount of chocolate and oak.

2006 Brazin Zinfandel, Old Vine, Lodi
Regular price 13.50 our price 9.99
The grapes for this wine come from head trained vines in older vineyards ranging from 35 to 80 years of age.  This deeply colored wine has aromas of mocha and spice.  Flavors of plums, chocolate, vanilla and mocha notes swarm the palate.  This is a big wine showing off its long delicious finish.