The Devil's Work Is Never Done

We Have Great Mother's Day Cards
Stop In And Take A Look.
8 6 0 - 4 4 3 - 6 8 1 7

Think of us as Wine - "With Benefits."

Thanks to everyone that turned out for the weekly tasting last Friday night. If you missed it - you can imagine that the hundred dollar Beaucastel was popular - but also intoxicating. It was SO good that we opened a second bottle just to calm everyone down - I mean the stuff is like magic.

We want to let you know that we appreciate your generous support - and it is because of your continued grass roots evangelizing of our store and events to your friends and colleges - that we are able to open and share wines like the Beaucastel with you. We have a great season planned for you.

The list for the weekly tasting is just below a few items of interest.

First
Many thanks to our friends at The O'Neill for gathering at City News on Friday night. A good time was had by all.


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Our Gift Baskets Make A Lasting Impression.
Keep them in mind for Mother's Day.

Our gift baskets can be a combination of all the wonderful goodies that we have. A recent example was a box of Davidoff cigars, a bottle of Scotch, and an assortment of cheese and crackers - for a 50th birthday.

Others might include desert wine, baked goods, flowers and chocolate - you get the idea - anything goes.

Please visit our expanding cheese & gourmet department - We have an amazing selection and we love to sample them all. Please stop in and have a taste.

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In 1993, a simple but remarkable concept took root in Portland, Oregon. That concept was to handcraft superior chocolates - chocolates that would not only taste exquisite, but that would look exceptional, as well. The result would be a chocolate indulgence for all the senses. We are proud to be an authorized retailer of Moonstruck Chocolates.

Do You Know A Chocoholic?

Decadent chocolate truffles with fresh flavors found in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Our case is full - but it goes quickly. A Great Gift For Mother's Day.

Friday April 30 - 6-9 p.m.
No Charge Please Join Us

Domaine de Ballade Sauvignon Blanc $10

Remember this one? You may not as it never made it to the tasting party. Let's go back in time to March, long, long ago: "Another little treasure from Gascony on France's northern Atlantic coast.

Has the price of Sancerre and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc gotten to you too?

Here's is a lovely substitute - white flowers and lemon with a marvelous round finish. Crisp, clear and exquisitely made, a wonderful match for seafood and salads. This weekend cook up some fresh cod with an arugula salad - Add a couple bottles of Ballade = dinner party!" - Why, that menu sounds better suited for May 1st!

Varaschin Prosecco Cuvee Rose $15

Another in our "don't fear the rose, the sun's coming out" series, this is an old favorite that you may be familiar with. Dry sparkling Prosecco, colored with a helping of Moscato Rose, so much fruit, it's like taking a nap on a cloud of raspberries on a sunny afternoon. Still the same price, we're loading back up on the Varaschin (Brut as well), so come by and hoist a glass of our finest Italian bubbly!



Santa Ema Merlot Reserve $12

Have any of our regulars noticed how these prices haven't changed in years?
It's remarkable. We call this a brown-bag special, because we dare you to take it to a party in a brown bag and put it up against all comers. From the Maipo Valley, this concentrated Merlot was created by Italian immigrants, the Voglino family, who have been making wine in Chile for 80 years. A concentrated deep red with exquisite oak treatment - 10 months in French barrel.
If your friends are bragging about their favorite new California wallet-buster, bring this.
We'll wipe the price off.






"Costozza" di Longare Cabernet 2004 $16


Continuing our walk down memory lane, let's not forget this gorgeous Cabernet/Cab Franc from Veneto in Northern Italy.

Do you remember when this wine was $26?

Well the new vintage has come in and it's still on deep sale. May we remind fanatics 2004 (along with 2001) is considered a prize year in Italian reds? Leaner and more elegant than the '03, still the unmistakable old-world qualities of direct acidity, earthy fruit and persistent finish. Incredible with seared red meats if you're already breaking out the charcoal grill...


Please join us. Its fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.
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Wine Stimulus Program

Greetings from New London,
We have a nice line up for Friday night, the list is just below a few items of interest.



This just in:
The Wine Spectator's top 100 came out last week and we have been lucky to have had many of the names on our shelf over the past season. We also managed to get a few extra bottles of some of them - not easy after they publish the list.

#10 Seghesio Sonoma zinfandel 2007 93pts $26

And Our Very Favorite Wine Of All Time - #8
The Perrin Family's Chateau Beaucastel - we have had Marc Perrin in our store, we have had dinners and incredible vertical tastings with him, we have even been to the chateau for a sleep-over - we love this wine.

#8 Chateau Beaucastel
Chateau-Neuf-Du-Pape 96pts 2005 $115
"One of my favorite wines of all time, if for no other reason than I have a deep history with the wine going back many vintages.

Once, I even did a vertical tasting with Marc Perrin of the 2004, 2003, 2001, 1995, 1989, 1985, 1983, 1978, as well as several vintages of the Rousanne V.V.. Beaucastel ages better than any wine I've ever had, there I said it.

The 1978 and 1983 are still drinking beautifully, they get finer and lighter as they age obviously, but still show no sign of being in decline. I've even done head to heads with Ch Rayas and even once Beaucastel 1983 vs. Ch Latour 1982. When the dusk settles and you get past the fame of the other suitors for your palate, I still prefer Beaucastel, it is my tongue's favorite lover. There is an intrinsic advantage to that scope of varietal blending, in terms of complexity, and depth of flavor and what can I say about Mouverde that hasn't been said before in song and story."
-Jim Morrison

A Face You Can Trust

Dave's Fave
The Monday Tasting 12.1.08

Bardolino Superiore 2006 $15
I know what you're saying, it's cold, I want to stay inside, and I'm craving a hearty Italian wine at the right price. Found one!

From our friends at Seiterre, who also make the slammin' Pinot Grigio we poured Friday and our popular Casaia Rosso Toscana. The Rosso Toscana has an appealing red and yellow label which, we suspect, may cause this Bardolino, with it's brown and purple label, to be overlooked on the shelf - so what have you been missing?

A classic Bardolino, produced in the high, cool climate of Verona, on the glacial moraine hills east of Lake Garda. The traditional varietals of the region (Rondinella, Corvina, and Molinara) produce a wine with ample fruit and a spicy, herbal quality. "Very nice fruity opulence safeguarded," declares an Italian website. I think you'll agree. Order Now

Wine Stimulus Program
The Friday Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday December 5 - 6 - 9 p.m. - No Charge

1 - Alexander Valley Vineyards New Gewurztraminer 2008 $12

Sustainably farmed and produced from organic grapes in Mendocino California.

Bursting with exotic flavors of pear and lychee and a bit of spice on the nose.

This soft young wine pairs well with ethic and spicy food. The perfect wine for Lamb Saag or Chicken Vindaloo from our friends at Northern Indian on State Street.
Order Now


2 - Vina Albali Tempranillo Reserva 1999 $9

From Valdepenas in southern Spain comes this clear and pretty expression of the Tempranillo grape.


Light bodied with a ruby red color, ripe cherry and notes of spice and Vanilla . Come see how inexpensive good, authentic wine can be.

Order Now





3 - Alto Moncayo veraton Garnacha 2006 $32

A perennial favorite, as always in limited quantities.

"Saturated ruby. Very spicy on the nose, which displays blackberry, blueberry, white pepper and cinnamon qualities. Sappy dark berry flavors combine intensity with depth, picking up candied licorice with air.

Turns sweeter on the finish, which leaves an exotic floral note behind.

This went through multiple changes in the glass and is utterly delicious now." Josh Raynolds, 91pts International Wine Cellar
Order Now







4 - Alto Moncayo (the big one) garnacha 2006 $50

93 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"Deep ruby with a bright rim. Impressively complex, seductive bouquet of dark berry preserves, tobacco, graphite and smoky Indian spices. Pliant black raspberry and candied cherry flavors are enlivened by zesty minerals and firmed by fine-grained tannins. An exotic floral pastille quality emerges with air and carries into the finish, which is strikingly sweet, lively and persistent. "

92 points from Wine Spectator:
"This plush, dense red shows coffee and spicy oak, with berry and wild plum fruit and accents of licorice and black pepper. The tannins are firm but well-integrated, and this finishes warm and spicy. Modern and alluring. Drink now through 2012. Only 600 cases made.

Order Now





Thanks very much for your support over the holiday season - we appreciate it.

And thanks for always making this so much fun.
We have a lot of things planned for the coming weeks and the New Year. Everything is based on your comments and suggestions - we are listening.

Please join us. It's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.



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