Saturday, November 2, 2013
4:00 to 5:30 pm

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

Home of: www.WineAndSpiritGifts.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030
facebook.com/DesertWinesAndSpirits

Yes, we have great wines made here in California, but it is always instructive to use the European wines as a touchstone to base our criticisms. While we continue to evolve in our state with marrying the correct varietals to the proper micro climates, the main wine producing areas of Europe have pretty much got it figured out. Of course they have been at it for a few hundred years longer than we. Our wines will never be French in style, but maybe we prefer it that way. In any case, the wines being tasted this Saturday are typical of what one expects from over there. Joining us to introduce these lovely wines will be Valentin Pellegrinelli, the brand ambassador for California of Les Grands Chais de France.

Grandial Brut Sparkling Wine, Bourgogne

LIST PRICE 9.99; OUR PRICE 7.95
This fresh and crisp sparkler is a Blanc de Blancs made from a blend of white grapes. It is produced in the heart of the Bordeaux wine-growing area, by a company that is a leader of European technological innovation. It utilizes the Charmat method of production, which differs from the classic method as the fermentation takes place in an autoclave, a large pressurized container, instead of in the bottle. It is dry and harmonious with good bubbles, and is a very good wine at an exceptionally good price.

2010 Goulaine Vouvray, Loire

LIST PRICE 14.00; OUR PRICE 11.50
This Vouvray is quite expressive showing floral and ripe fruit in the sense of citrus and quince notes against a backdrop of developing honey aromas. It has a good balance of sugar and acidity which explode for a very round and full-bodied palate. It has a long finish characterized by notes of honey and dry fruit.

2012 Goulaine Rosé d’Anjou, Loire

LIST PRICE 9.99; OUR PRICE 8.99
This is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Grolleau and Gamay from Anjou in the Loire Valley. It receives short skin maceration in order to extract the color and preliminary aromas. Fermentation takes place at low temperature to develop the aromatic potential with maximum protection against oxidation. Alcoholic fermentation is stopped when the level of residual sugar reaches 16g/l which leaves a hint of sweetness. It is quite powerful and elegant with red fruit and notes that evoke grenadine. It has a fresh entry, is well-balanced in the mouth with fruity notes and is harmonious and pleasant.

2010 Châteaux Roquecourbe, Minervois

LIST PRICE 18.00; OUR PRICE 14.99
This structured and elegant Minervois is a great blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Following a 10 days maceration process at controlled temperature, the wine is sent to age and settle in oval barrels. The nose is quite intense with ripe red fruit accents. The taste is dominated by its supple and robust structure. It is balanced, fleshy and spicy with a lingering finish.

2011 Château Fonfroide, Bordeaux

LIST PRICE 16.50; OUR PRICE 12.99
The Fonfroide is a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Entre Deux Mers region. The wine-making process takes place in stainless steel vats with temperature control to provide aromas of preserved fruits. The palate is supple and well-balanced with notes of spice and red fruits. Think of duck breast, red meats or pork to accompany this very nice Bordeaux.

2010 Château Dumas Cenot, Bordeaux

LIST PRICE 15.00; OUR PRICE 11.99
​67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot is the blend in this wine from the area south of the Gironde. After stainless steel fermentation, the wine is barrel aged for 6 months. It is aromatic and full of expression, and well structured with soft tannins. Its charm lies in the readily easy accessibility and is a joy in which to indulge.

Saturday, October 26, 2013
4:00 to 5:30 pm

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

Home of: www.WineAndSpiritGifts.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030
facebook.com/DesertWinesAndSpirits

After 20 years of living in Sonoma County and selling the local wines, I maintain an abiding affection for the high caliber of great everyday drinking wines produced there. This Saturday we have selected a group of excellent examples that support this very premise. I don’t believe people understand how large Sonoma County is and how varied the many micro climates. Whereas the wineries of Napa have dedicated themselves on the whole to producing world class wines, the Sonoma people, on the whole, pride themselves with the production of high quality value wines; their success rate is high.

2012 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley

LIST PRICE 20.00; OUR PRICE 17.99
This Pinot Grigio possesses an expressive fruit-forward character, exhibiting rich aromas of fig, white peach, and pear. 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 meld together in a rich core, resulting in a round mouth feel which complement its crisp, clean finish.

2012 MacMurray Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

LIST PRICE 20.00; OUR PRICE 17.99
The wines of MacMurray Ranch are crafted by winemaker Susan Doyle, who makes wines that reflect the old Burgundian sense of “terroir”, the special qualities that weather, land, and the hand of man that give her wines their individual distinction. This Chardonnay exhibits a rich expression of the appellation, with its elegant palate of apple and tropical fruit flavors. Subtle notes of sweet caramel and vanilla are framed by a luxurious mouth-feel.

2011 Leese-Fitch Pinot Noir

LIST PRICE 12.00; OUR PRICE 9.99
Leese-Fitch does a fantastic job of crafting gorgeous Pinot Noir in this price range. One readily perceives flavors reminiscent of dark plum, raspberry, tobacco leaf, cocoa, and rhubarb. The wine finishes with a hint of earthy loam, black cherry, and toffee. This Pinot Noir has an exotic nose of strawberry and raspberry jam with notes of fresh oregano and wild game. The palate starts with tart cherry fruit and then develops into layers of dried fruit (strawberry and figs) herbs (oregano and thyme) and earth (wild mushrooms). The acidity makes this wine very food friendly.

2011 Leese-Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon

LIST PRICE 12.00; OUR PRICE 9.99
This Cabernet Sauvignon presents aromas of fresh roasted hazelnuts, espresso, cherry liquor, and black currants. In the mouth, it exudes deep blackberry notes with toffee, dark cherry, Dutch cocoa, tea leaf, and fig compote. On the finish, there are rich tannins, caramel oak notes, toasted coconut, and black raspberry with mouthwatering acidity.

2011 Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon

LIST PRICE 15.00; OUR PRICE 11.99
This deep, black wine gives forth a bold fresh blackberry aroma, and on the palate black plum fruit is accompanied by a touch of deepening tannin. It is ready to drink young, but offers bold layers even in its youth. The finish shows exotic spice with the black fruit.

2009 Ghost Pines Cabernet Sauvignon

LIST PRICE 20.00; OUR PRICE 16.99
​The Ghost Pines displays aromas of plums and blackberries, with layered notes of mocha and roasted nuts. It has good complexity and will continue improving up to 3 years. This Louis Martini wine project is smooth and bright with juicy blackberry and dark cherry, toasted vanilla oak and spice. It is balanced, supple and long in the finish.

Saturday, October 19, 2013
4:00 to 5:30 pm

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

Home of: www.WineAndSpiritGifts.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030
facebook.com/DesertWinesAndSpirits

New French wines, at least new to us, and new vintages of favorites from France, are the focus of our scrutiny this Saturday. All are produced in the South of France and are showing youthful fruit and fragrance. The bouquet on the whites and the rosé display a lovely perfume and are dry and crisp. The reds have good body and character and are perfect fare for this time of year as we imbibe our way through the fall.

2011 Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc

LIST PRICE 12.00; OUR PRICE 9.99
The distinctive taste of this wine focuses on light, crisp, floral and some nice saline aspects. The clean apple and lemon citrus flavors are refreshing and tough to top in this price range. Minimal to moderate acidity is paired with a viscous texture that goes well with any kind of seafood. It is different and more interesting than many other typical whites, with good balance and a nice viscous quality leading to a long finish.

2011 Triennes Viognier “Sainte Fleur”, Provence

LIST PRICE 19.95; OUR PRICE 15.95
Domaine de Triennes is a winery in the great wine making area of Bandol in the Provence region of France. It constantly strives to makes whites and rosés that are fresh and that express pristine aromas and flavors. It has an intense perfume of apricot, honey-suckle, white flowers and honey of lavender. This wine strikes a beautiful balance between aromatic richness, crisp acidity and mineral structure.

2012 Triennes Rosé, Provence

LIST PRICE 19.95; OUR PRICE 15.95
This Rosé has a lovely light pink color. It is crisp floral and impeccably balanced. An aromatic nose of red fruits and candy is followed by a round, harmonious and seamless palate. This wine will seduce you by its freshness and elegance. It is a blend of Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache and Merlot and is produced by pressing the grapes directly after their arrival to the winery. The juice is then fermented in temperature controlled tanks and bottled early to retain maximum freshness.

2010 Châteaux Roquecourbe, Minervois

LIST PRICE 18.00; OUR PRICE 14.99
This structured and elegant Minervois is a great blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Following a 10 days maceration process at controlled temperature, the wine is sent to age and settle in oval barrels. The color is a deep crimson red with purple tints. The nose is quite intense with ripe red fruit accents. The taste is dominated by its supple and robust structure. It is balanced, fleshy and spicy with a lingering finish.

2010 Domaine de Fontsainte, Corbières

LIST PRICE 15.00; OUR PRICE 13.50
This winery lies in the sunniest area in the appellation of Corbières, enjoying south-southeast exposure, and protection from the cold, northeast winds by a large 500-hectare forest. It is a blend of 60% Carignan, 30% Grenache Noir and 10% Syrah. It is dark purple with dark fruit, savory meaty notes, and hints of earthiness on an interesting and pleasant bouquet. The palate is lovely, well balanced, and for the price, is rather outstanding. Immediate and generous, it has notes of fresh red fruits, such as cherries and black fruits, like blueberries. The richness develops with notes of cacao powder and a delicate touch of licorice.

2010 Alain Jaume Clos de Sixte, Lirac

LIST PRICE 28.00; OUR PRICE 24.95
​On the nose, aromas of red and black ripe fruit (kirsch and wild blackberry) are dominant. The mouth is full, with flavors of blackcurrant liquor and spice. The tannins are both harmonious and elegant thanks to the fleshiness of the wine. In the finish there are hints of licorice and vanilla, which give the wine length and complexity. The blend is 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre. The Wine Advocate awarded this wine a 92 point rating: “Outstanding!”

Saturday, October 12, 2013
4:00 to 5:30 pm

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

Home of: www.WineAndSpiritGifts.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030
facebook.com/DesertWinesAndSpirits

This Saturday we are taking a virtual tour of wine countries that lie south of the equator. You will be welcomed with a sparkler from Argentina and proceed with two whites from New Zealand and South Africa, then finish with three reds from Argentina, Chile and Australia. All of the wines selected are differing varietals, just to make it interesting. The many micro-climates tend to mirror those of the northern latitudes, yet the styles vary considerably, as you will experience.

Pascual Toso Brut Sparkling Wine, Argentina

LIST PRICE 11.00; OUR PRICE 9.99
The yeasts used for this 100% Chardonnay sparkler integrate perfectly well with the varietal properties of the base wine, providing a delicate harmony. Pleasant, fresh and velvety in the mouth, this drinks so very easily. It is ideal for parties, especially backyard BBQs that feature Argentine style grilled meat!

2012 Babich Sauvignon Blanc, Black Label, Marlborough, New Zealand

LIST PRICE 12.99; OUR PRICE 10.99
Family owned and operated Babich Wines was founded in 1916 by Croatian immigrant Josip Babich. This wine was developed to complement food and, while displaying the pungent and crisp characteristics that set Marlborough sourced fruit apart, shows great depth and complexity on the palate. The bouquet overflows with ripe gooseberry and red current aromas. The palate is big with an explosive array of fruit salad and red currants, which follow through from the nose and join with zesty lemon & lime – all complemented by elegant mineral notes. It is dry and crisp, yet generous and beautifully textured, and proceeds to a great length.

2010 De Zoete Inval Chardonnay, Paarl, South Africa

LIST PRICE 12.00; OUR PRICE 9.99
De Zoete Inval, which means “a sweet falling” is a family winery located at the base of the Paarl valley on the banks of the Berg River in southern Paarl. The winery produces an easy to drink Chardonnay that features citrus and melon fruit. It is subtly oaked for added complexity and pairs well with light to medium flavored seafood dishes.

2011 Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserva, Mendoza, Argentina

LIST PRICE 11.50; OUR PRICE 9.99
On the nose, this wine features good complexity where the Cabernet spiciness blends perfectly with mature fruit allowing plum and cherry aromas to stand out. Its oak ageing contributes by adding complexity to the wine. In the mouth it’s a full wine of subtle tannins. It has a long finish, where fruit flavors dominate and blend well with the sweet notes provided by the oak ageing.

2009 Montes Alpha Merlot, Colchagua Valley, Chile

LIST PRICE 22.00; OUR PRICE 19.99
On the nose this Merlot presents aromas of red berries, especially of strawberries and cherries, accompanied by interesting violet notes. All this is perfectly blended with the coffee, tobacco and vanilla flavors, the result of its twelve months of oak aging. On the palate it’s a full-bodied wine, rich yet fresh and very soft-textured, with delicious plummy fruit flavors, dark berry fruit, chocolate notes and soft, elegant tannins. It has wine excellent finesse with a long, smooth and pleasant finish.

2010 d’Arenberg Shiraz, “The Footbolt”, McLaren Vale, Australia

LIST PRICE 19.95; OUR PRICE 17.99
​Wine & Spirits Magazine gives this wine a 91-point rating: “Chester Osborn named this flagship shiraz after the racehorse his great grandfather sold to buy the vineyards that established d’Arenberg—now ranging over 1,200 acres of vines in McLaren Vale. The wine is meaty, along with plenty of cracked black peppercorn spice and violet florals. Completely wrapped in tannins, this is austere and savory, needing time to mellow. It is an intense young Shiraz and a great buy.”

Saturday, October 5, 2013
4:00 to 5:30 pm

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

Home of: www.WineAndSpiritGifts.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030
facebook.com/DesertWinesAndSpirits
As more of our customers, as well as visitors, are returning to the desert it seems appropriate to resume our tasting events, which will begin on Saturday. Our guest host will be Annie Arnold from organic wine company Mountain Peoples Wine & Beer Distribution. For 18 years this company has been working with small family wineries, breweries, importers and farmers who are committed to producing the highest quality organic wine and beer while caring for the planet and the palate. Besides being really good wines, these organic bottlings offer excellent value, as well.

2012 Les Hauts de Lagarde Bordeaux Blanc, France

LIST PRICE 15.00; OUR PRICE 13.75
This vineyard in Saint Laurent du Bois produces an excellent wine from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (60%) and Sémillon (40%). The dominance of Sauvignon Blanc reveals flavors of white flowers, citrus and white fruits. While in the mouth the Sémillon brings roundness, volume and richness with pleasant notes of citrus fruits. A fine liveliness leads to a great finale. Consider trying this with vegetable platters, oysters, seafood, appetizers, and it stands up to Salmon, as well.

2011 Les Hauts de Lagarde Bordeaux Rouge, France

LIST PRICE 15.00; OUR PRICE 13.75
The sibling wine to the Blanc reveals great aromas of fresh fruits (blackcurrant, blackberries) and spices. The fruitiness, roundness and tannic mouth give it a lovely balance. The blend is Merlot (65%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). This harmonious wine is ideal with pork roasts and can be pared with most red meats, poultry, pasta dishes and your favorite cheese.

2012 Pircas Negras Malbec, Argentina

LIST PRICE 11.95; OUR PRICE 9.99
This red wine from Argentina is made from 100% Malbec grapes. It has scents of plum, blackberry and spice on the nose while following through with velvety, soft and juicy cherry and blackberry flavors interwoven with vanilla, allspice and fresh herbs on the palate. A vegan delight! Pair this wine with any heavy, peppery meal from tofu to beef, but consider as well pork and pasta dishes.

2012 Buenas Ondas Malbec/Syrah, Argentina

LIST PRICE 12.99; OUR PRICE 10.95
The blend here is Malbec (50%) and Syrah (50%). It has a wonderful nose of red fruits, especially raspberry which is typical of Syrah. On the palate it exhibits a floral character mindful of violets, with some vanilla notes and chocolate. It is quite complex with a very round mouth-feel and with round tannins. It is Organic Vegan and happily displays a long retro-taste of vanilla, chocolate and red fruits on the finish. I have no idea what the Vegan will do with this wine which cries out for a steak.

2009 Bodegas Iranzo VERTVS Tempranillo, Crianza, Spain

LIST PRICE 12.00; OUR PRICE 9.99
Only free run juice is use in the production of this wine, along with indigenous yeasts, for total suitability to vegans. This wine has a layered and vibrant nose of red cranberry, red raspberry, cooked cherries and raisins. In the mouth many of the same flavors are present: raisin pie, cooked cranberries and blueberry hints. The finish seems rather soft, but then Tempranillo’s typical tannins get a little grippy. It’s ready now but wants savory and even rich foods.

2010 Chacewater Zinfandel, Sierra Foothills, California

LIST PRICE 17.99; OUR PRICE 14.99
​This big jammy Zin is packed with strawberry, red cherry, white pepper and laced with smoky vanilla oak. The lush mid-palate is fat with berry characters, finishing with expansive fruit, lingering sweet oak and complex ripeness.