1/17/'12 Tuesday's Store email/ Enjoy
Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine
Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits
JANUARY 2012 Here At Cleveland Park Is American Wine Month unofficially. Our distributors had so many numbers to hit ( SO MANY wine cases to sell before the end of 2011 ) that they made us some pretty amazing wine deals, We have lots for you to taste and choose from. Ean and I opened some of the bottles this past Friday and Saturday and sold quite a few making a sizable dent in what we have left to sell you all through January. But don't worry : we have plenty to offer you still from 14 HANDS Vineyard, STERLING Vineyards, JUNIPER CANYON, ARCHSTONE, CHANDON and more. Come see and taste what we have to offer you.
THIS MORNING I SAW LOTS OF WHITE : First, the bare brown tree tops outside my house and through the woods and my neighborhood were all covered in white. It was pretty spectacular : the brilliant round orb of the sun shining through baby blue skies and wisps of long-drawn-out white clouds like cotton candy : the blaze, the amaze, the wonder of it all with such wonderful reflections off the whitened brown trees above and the snow on the ground : lovely. Our dog was enjoying it as much as I was sniffing mightily and feeling charged by the cold air, too.
LATER, DRIVING TO WORK on Route 50 ( Arlington Boulevard ) I saw perched above me a large white bird. It sat on some of these same branches covered all in white and I first thought : owl, hawk and then later eagle. It was large , it was serene and beautiful and really an off-white color. I wish I could have doubled back to see it again, wish that I had had my camera ready to take a quick snapshot of it.
I THOUGHT HERE AT THE STORE a few minutes ago of the song " White Bird " by IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY and I thought how nice it was to see this beautiful creature above me free and peaceful. It was a nice touch / sight for me to see as I started this work week. Maybe I will call this week here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits : " White Bird " after the eagle and the idea of freedom. What will happen tonight in New Hampshire? How will that all play out later tonight as many of us stay glued to our televisions and wonder which Republican Presidential candidate will be triumphant? Which will leave the race after tonight? We have plenty of wine here for you all to pick up after work as you watch and listen to your televisions reveal the results of tonight's elections ...
NEWS : I BELIEVE that last night was the official opening of St. Arnold's Mussel Bar right next to Dino's ristorante ( where Tres Sabores used to be, remember? Seems already like a long time ago, doesn't it? I have a copy of the menu here for both upstairs and downstairs if you want to see it before heading over there? Just ask me : it's in our office.
IT'S ALSO : RESTAURANT WEEK and as you know you can get excellent mussels at Lavandou and they have a special menu, too that I have here. I made a copy. Stop for that as well. TAKE ADVANTAGE of Restaurant Week's lunch and dinner menus and great prices, too. Hopefully St, Arnold's is participating in Restaurant Week? I don't know but it would be a great idea as they are " new " here and people need to get to know them. At Lavandou the luncheon menu for three courses is : $20.12 , and their dinner menu is for three courses is : $35.12. You all know my weakness for all things French. There are , of course many fine restaurants here all following Restaurant Week. Some are not : take advantage of them all, from January 9th - January 15th, 2012. Dine Well this week! ALSO : come by the store and stock up on wines that you may enjoy before or after your meals. You might want to continue with the " good cheer and libations " and we are here and wanting to help you do this. This is a great opportunity, too to start your Valentine's Day celebrations early. We also have lots of ideas here for you with many wines as well as Bailey Kasten's excellent chocolates, too. It never stops here, the GOOD TIMES that is.
REGIS JUST CALLED, we are now working on a wine-owner-maker dinner PETER FRANUS of California here at Palena on Monday, January 30th, 2012 so mark your calendars as I will have more information shortly. That's TWO WINE DINNERS for January, 2012 that we will host. I will write more about both shortly. Later in this email I will include the menu for our ALL WHITE WINE Wine Dinner : " Winter White & Pig Dinner" on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012, 7 PM ( $95 a person plus tax and gratuities ). So much to look forward to.
BEER From Santos :
1) Red Marker Ale Craft Brewed in Williamsburg, VA. from the WILLIAMSBURG Ale Werks ( On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, www.AleWerks.com ) is something local and green and special, too! WE are thrilled to have it here with us.
2) STEEN BRUGGE St. Pieters Abdij " Triple " Ale With Spices ( $10.99 a 4-pack of 11.2 Fl. Oz bottles, 8.7% alcohol by volume, brewed in Belgium at the Steenbrugge Abbey, started in 1084 ...www.palmbreweries.com ) ... with Gruut ( what's that? Anyone know? ).
3) " Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A. ( Kelly Ripa ?!? ) A Rye-Based Double IPA from HEBREW The Chosen Beer is " brewed with an obscene amount of malts & hops " .... On Special for $14.99 a 4-pack of 12 ounce bottles, 10% alcohol by volume, It's " conceived in San Fransisco and brewed in New York by Schmalz Brewing Co. established in 1996, a tribute to Jewish stars. You should check this out and see what you all think. Made in Saratoga Springs . New York. Cheers!
4) Ta Henket by DOGFISH HEAD Beer : Beer brewed with Za'atar, Doum fruit, and chamomile ( On Special for $13.99, a 4.5% alcohol by volume, 1 Pt 9.4 Fl. Oz bottle, Milton , Delaware, www.dogfish.com ) : " This ancient Beer is brewed with Za'atar, Droum fruit, Chamomile, Emmer Farro and free-range Egyptian yeast ". Wow, sound so exotic, label is with hieroglyphics, too.
LIQUOR/ LIQUEUR From Ravi :
NEW FROM INDIA :
TWO NEW SINGLE MALT WHISKIES :
1) AMRUT Single Malt Whisky ( $47.99, 46% alcohol by volume, N.R. Jagdale group, Kambipura, Bangalore, 560 074 India ). " According to Indian mythology, when the Gods and Rakshasas - the demons - churned the oceans using the mountain Mero, a golden pot sprang out of the oceans containing the " elixir of life ". This was called the " Amrut ". ... This whisky is made from select Indian barley, grown at the foothills of the Himalayas ... mashed and distilled in small batches to preserve the natural aromas and matured in oak barrels in unique tropical conditions at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level at Bangalore , the " garden city " of India. ... " Sound so intriguing all of this! Come check it out. Since 1948 ... so there has been ample time to get things going really well.
2) AMRUT " Fusion " Single Malt Whisky ( $62.99 , 50% alcohol by volume, 750ml bottle ) with three medals to it's credit so far : come look at them clearly emblazoned on the bottle shiny canisters!
ONE INDIAN RUM, Too :
1) Old Port " Deluxe " Since 1948 Matured Rum, from AMRUT Distilleries, TTD, ( $18.99, 750ml bottle, 40% alcohol by volume, from Kambipura, Bangalore, India ) : with beautifully dark, amber burnt caramel color: you just want to have your tongue dive deep and long into it - so beautiful : sun-seasoned ... cheers ...
MORE From Ravi :
1) The SPEYSIDE Aged 12 Years Single Highland Malt Scotch Whiskey ( $39.99, 43% alcohol by volume ) is back once again and we are thrilled to see it return. Great value for a smooth, silky and elegant single malt that makes for some beautiful sipping on a beautiful winter's day with bright, blazoned sunshine gliding effortlessly down the palate and through the baby blue skies : meeting quickly in the glass before you swallow and inhale these two wondrous slices of life in liquid and sunshine-air form.
2) CIROC French " Red Berry " Imported vodka from fine French grapes, 5-times distilled ( On Special for $32.99, 35% alcohol by volume ) is " new and exciting! "
3) STOLI Chocolate Razberi ( $23.99, 37.5% alcohol by volume ) from STOLICHNAYA, chocolate Raspberry Flavored Premium Russian Vodka is something fun and perfect as we get ready for Valentine's Day in February!
WINES By Ean & Tony : Thinking Already Of VALENTINE'S DAY -
1) 14 HANDS 2009 Merlot Washington State ( On Special for $12.99, from Paterson, WA. 14hands.com for more info ) : this 2009 Merlot is delicious all by itself! Really full and generous and rounded and buffered and blanketed and silky and rich and forward with no bite at all : like being on a waterbed that envelopes you and your taste-buds, rocks and cuddles them, soothes them, no stress, no burn, just richness and ripeness of Merlot fruit. Lovely. Perfect sipping, perfect any way you want it : with or without food!
2) LA STRADA Pinot Noir Marlborough 2004 New Zealand Pinot Noir ( On Special for $19.99 - already sold 60 cases!, Regularly $44.99 , www.frommwineries.com, from Godfrey Road, Blenheim, New Zealand ) is a great food wine. It's thicker and richer and more flavorful than many Pinot Noirs. It's also got more bottle age and 2004 was a great vintage in New Zealand. This gives everyone a chance to drink some really fine Pinot Noir with their meals. Buy some cherries, strawberries, blackberries, walnuts and have a feast early, a picnic in your bedroom, a fiesta in your family room with a blazing fire to warm you, spread the cushions out on your floor in front of the fire ... only 7 cases available now.
3) 2009 Red Cotes Du Rhone from CHATEAU DE BOUSSARGUES ( On Special for $12.99 ) is drinking beautifully now. It showed well for the first three nights that I had it open and that pleased me a whole lot. It's really spicy, earthy and balanced and reminds me of the excellent wines coming from the Rhone valley. This wine makes them be proud for what they are and can do for such a great value. Delicious! I liked it a whole lot. Watch it dance the fandango on the tips of your tongue. Pass some back and forth between tongues. Speak in red wine tongues to one another - fun Valentine's Day practice ...
4) Pinot Noir Blended with Shiraz : " new " from YELLOW TAIL ( $6.99 ) : it's always fun to have a " new " dry red blend and it only costs $6.99. We will sample all of these YELLOW TAIL wines with Roberta on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 from 3-6PM. Join us, NEVER any charge. Chase the TAIL, be caught, surrender your taste buds ... and most of all, ENJOY ....
5) Petit Verdot 2009 Carneros California dry California red is On Special for $19.99 - regularly $32.99 , from Yountville, California ) and it's unique and rare and fun and one of the three grapes used to make French champagne! Very few people know this. Have it with some bubbly now before Valentine's Day. It's great with lamb, spicy foods and pork roast, too. It's a great food wine and a " new " wine experience to wax poetic about and to conjure up Bacchus the god of wine and to perhaps lead into romance?!? Pinot Meunier, fun, exciting ... try some : a GREAT DEAL now.
6) " Th Puzzle " from NEWTON in Spring Mountain's District, Napa Valley, this 2007 ( GREAT VINTAGE ) is a Bordeaux blend that comes from 112 distinct vineyard blocks in this unique mountain diverse micro-climate with smaller and fewer grapes. Wow, this is something special, 14.5% alcohol by volume ( for more info go to : www.newtonvineyard.com ). It's On Special for $79.99 - down from $104.99 a bottle. BUY a bottle while supplies last and get it at 10% OFF the $79.99 a bottle. That's $71.99 a bottle and a $33 savings! And it's a magnificent winery and a magnificent vintage. The wine can be aged quite some time as it will improve substantially with more bottle age. So no need to rush : keep it for years to come. WHAT A GREAT DEAL : ONLY eighteen ( 18 ) bottles available now for sale. Make this a special Valentine's Day present for someone special in your lives.
7) GALLO'S Signature Series ( Gina Gallo - winemaker ) Santa Lucia Highland's 2009 Pinot Noir ( $32.99 ) is showing really well now. I just tried some with Laura Russell and it is pretty amazing. Great color, great extraction, great refraction of flavors and colors that zig and zag and move effortlessly over my tongue and saturate/ingratiate themselves so nicely over the full extension of my tongue. What a nice way to tilt my head back and sip and relax and smile and talk with Laura. This would make a great Valentine's Day red that will be sure to both please and tease those that are drinking it. A real pleasure that we still have a few bottles here in stock.
THREE WHITES - Dry :
1) Tree-Free Chardonnay ( 88% Australia and 12% New Zealand ) YELLOW TAIL ( $6.99 ) : BRand-Spanking New! Perfect for Valentine's Day when you want no oak in your wines! Cheers. Great value, too.
2) Viognier 2010 Cotes Du Thongue dry French Southwest from DOMAINE De MONTMARIN ( $10.99 ) : our best-seller Viognier for years : dry, flavorful, complex, engaging, enthralling, distinct and personable and very teasing in a pleasing sort of way. Another great Valentine's Day prelude ...
3) Viognier 2010 Valle de Chanarmuyo, La Rioja, Argentina from CHANARMUYO Estate ( $12.99 ) is bolder, bigger, heartier and more pithy and gutsy and perfect during these cold spells. Pour some and drink a glass outside as you think about being a polar bear with your special one and taking a dip in the arctic-cold waters of the Potomac river like many just did recently. Perfect lead into Valentine's Day : it will warm and steel you against the elements and be a true pleasure to enjoy with a hearty meal. Make some home-made bread and serve with this 2010 Viognier ...
WEEK'S Tastings :
1) FRIDAY, January 13th, 2012 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Richard coming of National to pour our three wines from 14 HANDS in Washington, U.S.A. : a Chardonnay, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot! Join us, never any charge.
2) SATURDAY, January 14th, 2012 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Matt of Washington Wholesalers coming to pour an assortment of STERLING, ARCHSTONE, CASA LAPOSTOLLE, and more maybe? We will see. No charge once again!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS :
1) Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 7PM
WINTER WHITE & PIG DINNER
Cost : $95 per person with tax and gratuity added ALL WHITE WINES at
777 I St. N.W. Washington D.C. 20001 (202) 742-8550 at PS 7's Restaurant I will post the menu soon. It's here in the store for you all to see. Call them and go to their web page to see the menu ASAP!
2) Monday, January 31st, 2012 @ Palena Restaurant a wine-maker/owner dinner with PETER FRANUS of his own very famous California winery. More to follow really soon.
I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS so check our web page at : www.clevelandparkwine.com as well as our Facebook page at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, our Twitter at : cpwinespirits and my blogs at : chatwine.blogspot.com and chatpoetry.blogspot.com. Thanks for all your business and support . We appreciate it all greatly.
LOOKING FOR " Local, Healthy and Kosher " soups - they deliver to your door, too : SOUPERGIRL www.thesoupergirl.com featuring seasonal produce from our local farms. Meet Sarah. D.C.'s Very Own Local Soup Company that also happens to be kosher. Delicious! Cheers, Thanks again, can never say that too many times, TONY
