4 to 5:30 pm
$10.00 per person
$5.00 is credited toward 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
This Saturday we will be pouring the new releases of Ghost Pines from the 2009 vintage. In 1964 Louis P. Martini, son of Napa pioneer Louis M. Martini, purchased 178 acres of land in the eastern hills of the Napa Valley. The vineyard was named Ghost Pines after the native grey pines which at dusk appear to hover solitary and ghostlike. Seventy-five years later, Napa’s historic Louis M. Martini Winery launched the secondary label Ghost Pines wines to give wine-maker, Michael Eddy the freedom to blend the finest grapes from additional appellations. The result is a collection of sophisticated wines that illustrate the best characteristics of each varietal and region, balancing elegance with structure, intensity with nuance. After stints in winemaking at California’s Trefethen Family Vineyards, Beaulieu Vineyard and Rodney Strong Vineyards, Michael joined E. & J. Gallo Winery in 2005 as an associate winemaker focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. He joined the Louis M. Martini winemaking team in Napa in 2008 and became the winemaker for Ghost Pines in 2009. Representing the company, Freddie Lassiter will be on hand to discuss the wines being poured.
2010 GHOST PINES CHARDONNAY
List price 19.50; our price 14.99
The Chardonnay is a blend of grapes from Napa, Sonoma and Monterey counties. Aromas of baked apple from the North Coast underscore the unmistakable lemon cream flavors of Monterey County. An expressive Chardonnay, this wine finishes with warm notes of sweet, toasty vanilla.
2009 GHOST PINES MERLOT
List price 19.50; our price 14.99
This 100% Merlot is a blend of 53% Sonoma County and 47% Napa County. It reflects the power and structure of Napa balanced nicely with the luscious mixed berry fruit of Sonoma. The aromas of roasted coffee and chocolate combine superbly with toastiness from the judicious use of French oak. The wine has good body and is polished and plush around the edges with good focus on the berry fruitiness.
2009 GHOST PINES CABERNET SAUVIGNON
List price 20.00; our price 16.99
Lake County (12%) contributed ripe fruit and a generous mouthfeel and viscosity to the overall blend. Sonoma County vineyards (48%) supplied jammy dark fruits, and Napa County vineyards (40%) established the foundation for structure and density to support Sonoma County’s fruit forward characteristics. The wine displays aromas and flavors of plums and blackberries, with layered notes of mocha, toasted pound cake and roasted nuts. It has good complexity and an aging potential up to 3 years for maximum enjoyment.
2009 GHOST PINES RED BLEND
List price 20.00; our price 16.99
This inaugural vintage of the Red Blend is a dark wine with rich aromas and flavors of blackberry and pepper, framed by hints of toast and leather on the nose. The blend is 33% Cabernet, 29% Petite Sirah, 22% Zinfandel, 10% Merlot and 6% Syrah. Flavors of dark berry, licorice and brown spice meld with notes of cedar and dried herb on the palate. Soft, round tannins give way to a long, lingering finish.
2008 FREI BROTHERS CABERNET SAUVIGNON, ALEXANDER VALLEY RESERVE
List price 20.00; our price 17.50
Frei Brothers is the companion winery to Ghost Pines in the Gallo portfolio and is included here “just for fun”. This classic Alexander Valley Cab has intense aromas of cassis and crushed berries. Flavors of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and tobacco are framed by firm, velvety tannins and a long, elegant finish. The Wine Advocate says 90 Points: “Another outstanding effort as well as a sleeper of the vintage is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. Composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and the rest Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, it possesses a dense ruby/purple color, deep, medium to full-bodied flavors, lots of black currant, underbrush and loamy soil notes intertwined with a hint of oak, and a robust, extroverted, impressive finish. This wine should drink well for at least a decade.”
2009 GHOST PINES ZINFANDEL
List price 19.50; our price 14.99
Sourcing from both the Sonoma and San Joaquin appellations allowed for a blend which accentuates the best of what each region has to offer. Sonoma County Zinfandel (85%) offers lush fruit, with flavors of savory dark spices and concentrated intensity. The San Joaquin County Zinfandel (15%) adds jammy red raspberry and strawberry flavors along with a strong, rich structure. The wine opens with flavors of dark blackberries, raspberry and strawberry jam with subtle nutty aromas of dried oat and sweet toast. Full and balanced, the Zin boasts rich, chewy tannins that lead to a long and supple finish.