1/25/2012/Store's Weekly Email
This is yesterday's store email that I sent out to all our customers. It's also on our Facebook page at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits. Cheers and enjoy, TONY
Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine
Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits
I JUST CAME from a meeting of the board of our CP Business group held at Ripple and I must say I was charged and impressed, befuddled and amazed, too by the progress that is being made to draw attention to our strip here in uptown Cleveland Park N.W. Washington D.C. WE are working, for example on banners to hang up and down the two-block stretch here. They are coming along well and that's really exciting as they will stand out and let people know about us.
THE MEETING at our library this past Thursday, January 19th, 2012 at 7PM was well-attended by a number of our Cleveland Park citizens I am told and a big topic of discussion and concern was the Uptown movie house here. Everyone wants to make sure that it stays here and is healthy and thriving as so much of our identities are tied up to some extent in it with all the grand openings of the many blockbuster movies today. I have gone to a number of them by simply crossing the street with my trusty camera and taking pictures of people like Nicolas Cage and Benjamin Bratt, Tom Cruise and many more. I will write a separate blog on all this and include some pictures of them along with more on developments up and down our two-block strip. The " new " signal and cross-walk mid-way here on Connecticut Avenue are progressing, too with " new " tree box plots for both trees and flowers. They just planted a " new " baby tree in front of the Uptown movie house the other day. Check it out.
SO : AS YOU SEE there are things happening all around us here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and we are thrilled to be a part of it all. Mention was made of the many mentions of our local restaurants doing so well recently in magazines like the Washingtonian and they mentioned, too seeing me on New Year's Eve at 9 AM on NBC4. That was fun.
MANY THINGS CONTINUE to unfold and evolve here inside Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits as well and that of course is really encouraging. We a have our two dinners planned for both
- Palena with owner and wine-maker Peter Franus of his own California winery PETER FRANUS on Monday, January 30th, 2012 ( $120 per person plus tax and gratuity, call : 202-537-9250 to reserve seats ). Go to our web page : www.clevelandparkwine.com to see the menu for this extraordinary meal with executive chef Frank Ruta. AND :
- PS7'S ALL WHITE WINE & PIG Dinner on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012, 7 PM ( $95 plus tax and gratuity per person, 777 I St. N.W. Wash. D.C. 20001, 202-742-8550 ). This is the night before our BIG-THEME Valentine's Day Wine-Tasting on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 from 5:30-8:30PM.
BOTH DINNERS could be PRE-VALENTINE'S DAY dinners! Be proactive and celebrate Valentine's Day more than once. Here is your chance. AND COME to our BIG-THEME Wine-Tasting as well as that is free and that will give you more ideas about how to celebrate Valentine's Day with that someone special in your lives.
CHINESE NEW YEARS Started this past Sunday I believe and it's the " Year Of The Tiger " and there has already been lots of talk about that on Facebook that I have seen. We have a whole store filled with many wines that would be perfect to start and to continue with this week like :
5 RIESLINGS :
1) STERLING Central Coast Riesling 2009 Vintner's Collection ( $14.99 ) is that soft, Kabinett German style that is easy to sip and a touch off-dry and lovely with-or-without food. Really quite the treat. It's also 10% OFF $14.99 through Valentine's Day.
2) CASA LARGA New York State's Finger Lakes region ( $14.99 ) 2010 dry Riesling is another great choice to combine with a meal as the dry Riesling will cut through many of the stronger herbs and spices and be refreshing and cleanse one's palate at the same time. The owner will be one of our featured guests here at our BIG-THEME Valentine's Day Wine Tasting on Wed. Feb. 8th, 2012.
3) DAVID HILL Vineyards and Winery Estate Riesling 2009, Willamette Valley in Oregon ( $20.99 ) blew me away the other day that we tasted it with our rep Chris. it's pretty much simply sinfully delicious and delectable with or without food. I loved it : could have enjoyed much more than the two-three sips I did of it when sampling it with Ean. Yummy and a " Must-Try ".
4) DAEDALUS Cellars Dundee Hills 2009 " Maresh Vineyard " Oregon Riesling ( $25.99 ) I enjoyed thoroughly with the winemaker Sara Shaw the last time she was here in Washington D.C. at our Winemaker Dinner over at Ripple restaurant. It was fabulous then and should be even more fabulous and developed and evolved today as it's four or so month's since then. Really nice, also highly recommend it. Drier, crisper, more lean and beautiful : more toned like a fine athlete. Cheers.
5) J.J. PRUM 2007 Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett Mosel Riesling ( $46.99 ). This, too should be drinking like a dream now as it evolves ever-so-slowly-gracefully-in-the-bottle. It's ONE of " the MEASURES " against which many other Rieslings made in Germany and around the world are compared to. The last time I tasted this was again with owner/winemaker Katarina Prum when she did her in-store wine-tasting here. That was impressive, really a treat and very impressive! This would be the pinnacle for a great meal when you can blow the budget!
BEER From Santos Rivera : 3 " New " Flavors -
1) HITACHINO " Nest Beer " White Ale WA. ( On Special for $12.99 1Pt. 8 Fl. Oz 5% alcohol by volume, product of Japan, 1257 Kounosu Naka-Shi ) : great colorful label and brand spanking hew! EXCITING.
2) HITACHINO " West Beer " Japanese Classic Ale, JCA ( On Special for $12.99 a 1 Pint 8.3 Fluid Ounces, go to : www.kodawari.cc for more information, brewed and bottled by Kiuchi brewery 1257 Kounosu Naka-Shi Ibaraki, Japan ) is another exciting new entry here in Cleveland Park.
3) HITACHINO " West Beer " Ginger Brew Ale, brewed with ginger GA ( On Special for $12.99 a 1 Pint 8.3 Fluid Ounces, 7% ale by volume, : www.kodawari.cc for more info, ) excellent product of Japan. 3 Ales in this series that we currently have for you all here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits! YES!!!!!
ALSO From Santos :
1) MOOSEHEAD Lager Proudly Independent Saint John, New Brunswick Canadian brewery since 1867! Santos has thirty cases left at $14.99 a case or $4.99 a 6-pack. Come and check this out : what a great deal! Don't delay, call us at : 202-363-4265 to reserve whatever you want. Cheers!
LIQUOR By Ravinder Sharma : Ravi has a whole lot of " new " things for you all :
TWO for Valentine's Day :
1) GODIVA Chocolate - Vodka-infused with Chocolate & other Natural Flavors ( $29.99, 30% alcohol by volume - 60 proof, ) :
a) Enjoy on the rocks OR :
b) in the Ultimate Chocolate Martini.
For more ideas go to : www.DRINKiQ.com
2) VINCENT VAN GOGH " Double Expresso " Double Caffeine Naturally infused Coffee Flavored Vodka ( $27.99 ), imported from Holland 35% alcohol by volume. This is the perfect coffee flavor for an espresso martini. Create your own latte, cappuccino, or mocha martini. Lots of great choices.
ALSO From Ravi :
1) DOLIN Blanc Vermouth de Chambery, France ( $13.99, since 1821, from Louis Ferdinand Dolin, 16% alcohol by volume ). For more info on how to use this " new " BLANC vermouth go to : www.dolin.fr. From Avenue du Grand Arietaz, 73094 Chambery, France.
2) SKINNGIRL White Cranberry " Cosmo " ( On Special for $12.99, 9.95%alcohol by volume, 19.9 Proof, 750ml bottle, go to : skinnygirlcocktails.com ). Bethenny Frankel says : " A cosmopolitan is the most fun, flirty and sexy cocktail you can drink. I created the Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmo to give you a more elegant twist on a classic without the guilt. Finally a pretty, flirty, clear cocktail that won't stain your carpet or couch! Let's be clear! " Bethenny Frankel
3) " Solerno " Blood Orange Liqueur ( $34.99, from Sicily, Italy, 40% alcohol by volume ) is great to serve mixed with Prosecco sparkling wine or lemon-flavored sparkling water. Fun and " new " and also a great Valentine's Day cocktail. Love the color and the bottle : great packaging here.
WINES From Ean & Tony :
WHITE:
1) 2009 BENESSERE Pinot Grigio Napa Valley ( Carneros ) CA. ( On Special for $21.99 , www.benesserevineyards.com ) is a delicious treat to enjoy all by itself as well as with a many meal. It's really good Pinot Grigio!
ROSE :
1) BOXWOOD ESTATE Topiary Dry Virginia rose 2010 from Middleburg ( $17.99 , go to : www.boxwoodwinery.com for more info ). This 2010 is big and dry and flavorful and with an edge and great acidity and is excellent with foods as simple as salads with a good vinaigrette and nuts and paper-thin slices of hard or semi-hard cheeses for example. Simple sometimes can be grand : this and a great green salad and then later some decadent sweets and sweeter wines for a wonderful Valentine's Day celebration chez vous / intimate and at home? Sounds good.
RED :
1) Malbec 2010 D.O.Colchagua Valley, Chile from MONTES ( $13.99, 14% alcohol by volume ) us really quite hearty and flavorful and will warm you both on a cold winter's evening. Best with a meal : a hearty vegetarian meal would work quite well in this case : does not have to be a meat dish to be satisfying.
SPLURGE On Special :
1) " The Puzzle " Napa Valley 2007 ( GREAT VINTAGE from California ) Spring Mountain District dry red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc - EVERYTHING except Malbec here ( On Special for $79.99, regularly $14.99 ) is a really nice treat to enjoy with a meal. This is like they do in Bordeaux, France on the Left Bank where there is more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than Merlot. In this case we have 56% Cabernet and 33% Merlot and a whopping 8% Petit Verdot! Cheers, this is a real treat now and even more later with more bottle-age.
WEEK'S TASTINGS :
Friday, January 27th, 2012 ( 5-8PM ) : We have a Tradewinds Spanish and Argentinian Wine-Tasting for you all that will be a whole lot of fun with some " old favorites " and a few " new " wines as well. Join us, never any charge. Bring family and friends.
Saturday, January 28th, 2012 ( 3-6PM ) : We have Roberta here of Washington Wholesalers to taste through the YELLOW TAIL Aussie wines including TWO ( 2 ) " new " flavors : 1) the " Tree-Free " Chardonnay that is unoaked as well as the 2) Shiraz and Pinot Noir dry red blend : BOTH at $6.99. Come check them out and see what you think of them as well as of the flavors that you already know.
I KNOW THAT I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS but I want to get this email off the presses while it is still Hot & Relevant and into your hands and eyes early while you are still at work. Thanks for everything as usual. Don't forget that you can also follow us at : www.clevelandparkwine.com, on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, on Twitter at : cpwinespirits, and on my blogs of : chatwine.blogspot, chatpoetry.blogspot.com, too. I post this store email every week immediately on Facebook and am starting to post it as well on the web page for you all to read whenever you get a chance.
LET US KNOW WHAT WE MAY DO for you all. WE are here for you. Call us at : 202-363-4265. We deliver, too so call us anytime you need anything. We just also posted an ad on the local Cleveland Park neighborhood List Serve that went out two-three days ago. We will be doing more of that on a monthly basis to reach out as much as possible to all of you.
I ORDERED LUNCH @ LAVANDOU down the street from us and had a moment to catch up with Florence the owner and she reminded me that they have " no-corkage " on Mondays so you can come and buy your wines here and go there any Monday night and have them pour your wine for you and not get charged to have it opened for you. This way you may drink exactly what you want. My lunch was delicious as usual : my stek-frites with good bread and real butter. What a treat. It always makes me feel like I am back in France in a small restaurant or bistrot. What great times and memories those all were. I loved it, really I did. I still do. Merci Florence. They will have a Valentine's Special Meal for you all, too. Go to : 202-966-3002 / 966-3003 to reserve seats , contact@lavandoudc.com. Tell Florence that we sent you. Cheers and thanks for everything you do for us. TONY
