winE-Letter
WinE-Letter
Our winE-Letter is where you will first find out about our new wine finds for the week, special in-store wine tastings, hard to get wines, special offers, classes, Bogart's weekly recipe and anything else going on in our wine world! Our distribution list is private. We will not share or sell your contact information with any outside party. winE-letter ArchivesPosted by Issue Date
New Vino Finds Vins Julien Schaal Gewurztraminer 2005 - Calling all Gewurz lovers! This wine is truly amazing for the money - we don't find true Alsatian wines at such a reasonable price thanks to the dollar/euro exchange rate. Classic, spicy Gewurztraminer fruit with just a touch of exotic spices and rose petal, this would be a perfect accompaniment to any spicy or moderately hot dish, not to mention that Gewurztraminer makes me think Spring! $13.99 per bottle. Sauvion Muscadet
Sevre et Maine 2006 - As one of the
best-known Muscadet producers, Sauvion has long been established in the Bouchaine
Carneros Chardonnay 2005 - A deal
and a half! Well made Napa Valley Chardonnay (from Carneros, no less) which
usually retails for about $25 and we have it for a steal of a deal price. This
is a very well made Chardonnay with just the right notes of creaminess without
being heavy and showing a touch of exotic fruit such as fuji apples.
Judiciously utilized oak, this wine will work well with any fish dishes with a
cream sauce or any roasted poultry or dinner salads.
Specially priced at $17.99 per bottle.
Terre des
Lauzeraies Cotes-du-Rhone 2006 -
This is one of those reds which is perfect to drink alone or you could have it
with just about anything. It's a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and
Carginan - your classic cast of characters from the
Our 'Don't Forget'
Department Etienne-Rodier
Viognier Vin de Pays d'Oc 2006 -
Nothing reminds one more of Spring than a delightful glass of Viognier. It gets
better when the price is right! This is a very easy drinking Viognier -
slightly aromatic but not overly so - and a perfect aperitif glass of vino.
$9.99 per bottle. Mars & Venus Central Valley (Chile) Merlot NV - An amazing mouthful of juice for the money...that's how I'd describe both the Merlot and the Cabernet Sauvignon. Good weight on the palate and it really tastes like Merlot! Soft and supple with loads of blueberries. $7.99 per bottle. Mars & Venus
Central Valley ( Baronnie de
Montgaillard Vin de Pays des Cotes du Ceresson 2006
- This red was a tasty little find from the Southwestern part of Chateau Vrai
Caillou The 2005 vintage has lots
of gems to find in it and this wine is one of them. The fruit is ripe, balance
and supple made with 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
An excellent red for any kind of red meats or stews. $11.79 per bottle. Roncier White NV
- I think this is what the French mean when the say a 'house white' or a 'house
white blend'. I vote it sure is delicious for the money! A blend of
Chardonnay, Aligote and a touch of Columbard from the Auka La Consulta
Torrontes 2007 - More springtime in a
glass! Ok, so we're on a white roll this week with wines which scream Spring.
You can't blame us! The Torrontes grape tends to be very reminiscent of the
Viognier grape and sometimes, many Torrontes from Domaine Bernard-Goussu
Saint Veran 2004 - A very pleasant,
excellent springtime Chardonnay from Upcoming Tasting Events Cooking Class &
Wine Pairing at Jasmine Café on Sunday, March 30th Join Chef Eduardo as he
demonstrates how to cook a springtime three course meal. Lucinda will pair
three wines for each course - two which go with the dish and one which does not
- and explain why the wines work and don't work. The class will run from 5:00pm
and 7:00pm and you will get to eat what we learn to cook! Here is what Chef
Eduardo will be showing us how to make:
~First Course~
Asparagus Risotto
~ Main Course ~
Pan Roasted Stripped Bass
with Walnut Herb Crust in a
Orange-Lemon Butter Sauce
with Chives
~ Dessert ~
Riesling & Ginger Poached
Pear in Filo with Frangipan, Toasted Pine Nuts & Poaching Syrup Price is $65 inclusive.
For reservations, please call Jasmine Café at 703.471.9114. JAO has some of the very
best Burgundies in the If you adore Burgundies or
want to learn more about the nuances of Burgundies, this is a tasting not to be
missed! In addition, one of our customers who is a fantabulous cook and big
Burgundy lover is going to make three 'snacks' for us to nibble on during the
tasting including an out-of-this-world crabmeat dip. Here are some of the wines
which we will be tasting:
Domaine des Malandes 'Fourchame' 1er Cru
Chablis 2005 - $35.99
Domaine Henri Bourgeois Sancerre 2003 - $58.99
Vallet-Freres Pernand-Vergelesses Village 2005
- $44.79
Domaine Marc Sorrel Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2005
- $29.99
Domaine Ballot-Millot 'La Refene' 1er Cru
Pommard 2005 - $55.59
Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron 'Les Fleurieres'
Nuits
Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard 'Clos des Chenes' 1er
Cru Volnay 2005 - $76.99
Domaine Jacques Cacheux 'Les Plantes' 1er Cru
Chambolle-Musigny 2005 - $98.99
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret 'Les Orveaux' 1er Cru
Vosne-Romanee 2005 - $114.99
Domaine Cristia Chanteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 -
$39.99 'Bogie's Birthday
Blowout Bash' Tasting (with cake!) on Saturday, April 19th from
12:00pm to 4:00pm Bogart turns 11 (!) on
April 19th and since it's a Saturday, we decided to turn our
'regular' Saturday tasting into a blowout bash!! We'll have Brian Forsgren here
from Potomac Selections (some of the coolest, most unusual wines in the market
which are just fantastic) along with Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections
(great Italian wines, always spectacular Kermit Lynch wines and some other
goodies from France) and Amy Evans from Dionysos Imports (who will be pouring
our house pick for Prosecco, among other things). The complete lineup for the
tasting will be published in next week's
winE-Letter. Bogart is gunning for cake from Cakelove, Warren Brown's creation and
of Food Network fame...Bogart's favorite channel besides Animal Planet. Since
Bogart is an elder statesman, he might just get what he wants. As always, the
tasting is complementary but party hats are required!
Upcoming Wine Dinners RESCHEDULED...Vernal Equinox Wine Dinner at Zeffirelli's in Herndon on Thursday, April 17th We will be having a wine
dinner at Zeffirelli's in Old Town Herndon with John Grimsley of Grappoli
Imports. I just need to get the date straight for when John is available to do
the dinner!! As many of you know, Zeffirelli's is an Italian institution in
Herndon. And Grappoli Imports offers some of the best Italian wines in the
marketplace. Here's the menu:
Greeter
Gemin Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Vino
Spumante Brut NV
First Course
Calamari Fritti with Marinara Sauce
Marco Felluga 'Molamatta' Bianco
Collio 2006
Second Course
Beef Carpaccio with Lemon, Truffle
Oil & Parmesan Cheese
Bastianich Tocai Friulano Colli
Oriental
Third Course
Linguini Carbonara
Garofoli 'Colle Ambro' Rosso Piceno
2004
Fourth Course
Lamb Chops with Balsamic Vinegar
Sauce
Inama 'Bradisismo'
Dessert
Tirimisu
Coffee & Tea
Cost is $75 per person
plus tax & gratuity. For Reservations, please call Zeffirelli's at
703.318.7000. Zeffirelli's Ristorante is located at
IN THE PANTRY Cowgirl Creamery
Cheeses Cowgirl Creamery
originated in
We are also carrying the
fantastic flatbread crackers carried by Cowgirl Creamery in Sea Salt, Sweet
Onion & Crème Fraiche and Wild Mushroom. As Cowgirl Creamery's
cheese inventory always is changing, we'll have different cheeses in stock
throughout the year as well. Order Galletta's
Italian Food Specialties for Pickup at The Wine Seller Order some specialty foods
for your Easter Dinner from Galletta's! Galletta's is a family owned and
operated Italian store located in the heart of downtown Leesburg. We take
orders for Galletta's products and pick them up and bring them to the store for
pickup after 11:00am on Saturdays. Items available include cheese, charcuterie,
pastas, sauces and pantry items. For the list of what is
available, please email
Lucinda@thewineseller.com. Ordering Guidelines
New Olive Oils in
Stock One of our vendors
represents a collection of organic olive oils and many are regularly reviewed in
food and wine publications. There were several good ones and here are the ones
we have picked up to date:
A few words about Olive
Oil from the importer... The laws in Europe are
clear, but in the Free fatty acids (FFA) are
an indicator of oil quality. FFA levels for Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOO) have
to be below 0.8% according to international standards. The only olive oils this
company carries are EVOOs and all are organic and/or biodynamic. Olive oil
deteriorates with exposure to air and light. The importer recommends keeping
oils in an air-tight bottle or container protected from heat and light.
Wine Classes Our wine classes are a
great way to have some fun, meet other people sharing your interest in wine and
learn something new about wine. Seating is limited and classes have been
popular. Here are the next upcoming classes: Tuesday, April 1st
- Sake Class - 4 seats left Sake is one of those
departments in the Wine World which is like a black hole. What it is? What is
it made from? Is it good? With what does it go? We'll unravel the World of
Sake with the exquisite Sakes from Joto Sake - a premium Sake importer based out
of Tuesday, May 6th
- Introduction to Wine Class Have you been bitten by
"the wine bug&#xu201D; and want to learn more about wine? We'll take you a Tour
de Force around the wine world as we discover grape varietals, wine growing
regions and vinification processes. We'll try the basic grape varietals and
discover stylistically what flavor profile of wines you enjoy which will in
turn, make you a more savvy shopper and diner. $35 per person. 7:00pm. Tuesday, May 20th
- Wine & Cheese: Build a Better Cheese Platter Everybody
loves to put together a cheese platter when they entertain. What cheeses work
best together on a cheese platter? And how do you figure out what wines work
best with all the different cheeses? We'll show you how to put together a
delectable cheese platter and taste some wine options which will make you sing.
Cheeses will be from Cowgirl Creamery. $40 per person. 7:00pm. Tuesday,
June 3rd - Herbs & Wine Herbs are one
of the most important components in matching foods with wine. We'll see how
several of the herbs found in every kitchen (Sage, Rosemary, Basil, Thyme,
Oregano) work well with different wines. This will help you in choosing wines
to go with meals you prepare at home. $40 per person. 7:00pm. If you are interested in
signing up for any of our Wine Classes, please email
Lucinda@thewineseller.com or call 703-471-9649.
Bogie's Recipe Board I'm already dreaming of my
birthday cake. How do I get my Mom to make me one with lamb chops and cheese in
it?! I do have a discriminating palate but I'm not overly picky...I'll take
anything I can get to celebrate my upcoming birthday!! Ok, back to my task at
hand, coming up with a recipe for this week's
winE-Letter.
I'm going to go with a fish dish this week which utilizes chives in its sauce,
seeing as how the chives in my backyard are already coming up out of the
ground. From the cookbook, Cooking with the Wines of Oregon, here's my
recipe for this week: Salmon with Lemon
Chive Sauce Serves 4 4 salmon steaks, 6 oz each Salt and freshly ground
black pepper to taste 2 Tbsp olive oil ¼ cup white wine 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice ¼ cup cold butter,
quartered 2 Tbsp finely chopped
fresh chives 8 whole chive leaves for
garnish Preheat the oven to 400
degrees. Season the salmon steaks with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a
large frying pan over high heat. Add the steaks and sear for 1-1/2 minutes on
each side. Place on a preheated tray in the oven and bake for 7 minutes or
until barely cooked through. Combine the wine and lemon
juice in a small, heavy saucepan and bring to a boil and then simmer over medium
heat until the liquid is reduced to about 1 Tbsp. Remove from the heat and add
the butter piece by piece, whisking the whole time until the butter is
completely melted. Stir in the chopped chives. Spoon the sauce over the
salmon and serve. Place 2 whole chives atop each steak to garnish. Wine Pairing
Suggestions
Quiz Corner Welcome to our weekly wine
(and sometimes food) quiz! Last Week's Quiz Question: The Quiz Corner was on Spring Break last week! This Week's Quiz
Question: Muscadet comes from the Bonus Question:
From where did this grape originate before it got to the That's it
for this week! Regards, Lucinda,
Vaughn, Dan, Nancy, Bev and Bogart This
Week's Tastings: Friday
from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Saturday
from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Monday through Friday:
11:00am to
8:00pm
Saturday:
10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday:
12:00pm to 4:00pm
WOO
HOO.....Spring is finally here!! It
just doesn't exactly feel like Spring outside today. Oh well, we do have Easter
eggs, ham and lamb coming up this weekend. Who's the calendar planning genius
that put
Easter
Wine Picks Value Picks Etienne-Rodier
Viognier Vin de Pays d'Oc 2006 -
Nothing reminds one more of Spring than a delightful glass of Viognier. It gets
better when the price is right! This is a very easy drinking Viognier -
slightly aromatic but not overly so - and a perfect aperitif glass of vino.
$9.99 per bottle. Mars & Venus Central Valley (Chile) Merlot NV - An amazing mouthful of juice for the money...that's how I'd describe both the Merlot and the Cabernet Sauvignon. Good weight on the palate and it really tastes like Merlot! Soft and supple with loads of blueberries. $7.99 per bottle. Mars & Venus
Central Valley ( Baronnie de
Montgaillard Vin de Pays des Cotes du Ceresson 2006
- This red was a tasty little find from the Southwestern part of Chateau Vrai
Caillou The 2005 vintage has lots
of gems to find in it and this wine is one of them. The fruit is ripe, balance
and supple made with 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
An excellent red for any kind of red meats or stews. $11.79 per bottle. Domaine Fond
Croze 'Cuvee Tentation' Cotes du Rhone 2006 - There's nothing like a good red Cotes du Rhone in the wintertime and
this one proves to be not only tasty but of good value. It's a blend of 60%
Grenache and 40% Syrah. The nose offers bright red fruits of raspberries and
cherries intermingled with violets and the taste offers a round, supple, juicy
red wine with a perfectly balanced dry finish.
$9.99 per bottle. Roncier White NV
- I think this is what the French mean when the say a 'house white' or a 'house
white blend'. I vote it sure is delicious for the money! A blend of
Chardonnay, Aligote and a touch of Columbard from the Auka La Consulta
Torrontes 2007 - More springtime in a
glass! Ok, so we're on a white roll this week with wines which scream Spring.
You can't blame us! The Torrontes grape tends to be very reminiscent of the
Viognier grape and sometimes, many Torrontes from Tegernseerhof
Zweigelt Rosé 2007
- You knew a
Rosé was going to make it into the
winE-Letter,
didn't you?! Crack one of these babies open as your quaffing wine before Easter
dinner. A touch of white pepper and plenty of savory watermelon fruit.
$11.79 per bottle. Traza 'Gru 2' Rioja 2006 - I really enjoyed this wine as it isn't as light and dry as many Riojas can be. From the Vinos Sin Ley folks who brought us the tasty G5 wine a couple of years back, this Rioja is uncharacteristically 100% Graciano (versus normally being made from the Tempranillo grape). It is supple and textured on the palate with warm spices and offers firm weight when drinking. One of those 'dinner in a glass' wines. $13.99 per bottle. Domaine Bernard-Goussu
Saint Veran 2004 - A very pleasant,
excellent springtime Chardonnay from Special
Occasion Picks Collutta Colli
Orientali del Friuili Pinot Grigio 2006 - Whites from the northern parts of
Grant Burge 'Holy Trinity' Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre 2002 - Not only is this the perfect name for an Easter wine, it's perfect for a leg of lamb! Loads of notes of Rosemary abound in the glass. This is an earthy wine, not a big fruit bomb, so any kind of dish with Herbs de Provence and/or mushrooms would be a great match. $39.99 per bottle. Bodegas Naia 'Naiades' Rueda Verdejo 2005 - 80 to 100 year old pre-phylloxera (!) vines and the wine is aged in used oak barrels from Didier Dagueneau who makes the famed 'Pur Sang' Pouilly Fume. This wine is amazingly rich and complex offering up apples, pears, spice and honeysuckle. $32.99 per bottle. Kruger-Rumpf Nahe
Riesling Kabinett 2006 - A true
beauty just oozing elegance & a perfect match for ham or pork. Wines from the
Nahe region in Upcoming Tasting Events Easter Wine
Tasting with Brandon Skall of The Henry Wine Group This Saturday, March 21st
from 12:00pm to 4:00pm Join us the day before
Easter and come try some fantastic wines to go with your holiday meal whether
you're cooking ham, lamb, pork, beef or fish! It's always nice to try before
you buy!! Here's what we will be tasting:
Burgans Rias Baixas Albarino 2006 - $13.99
An excellent match for any
seafood dish or baked ham & a perfect alternative to Chardonnay
Bodegas Naia 'Naiades' Rueda Verdejo 2005 -
$32.99
80 to 100 year old pre-phylloxera
vines and the wine is aged in used oak barrels from Didier Dagueneau - this wine
is a stunner & in a blind tasting, you'd think it was a Burgundy!
Kruger-Rumpf Nahe Riesling Kabinett 2006 -
$22.99
A true beauty just oozing
elegance & a perfect match for ham or pork...plus it's fun to say the name!
Juan Gil Jumilla Monastrell 2005 - $17.99
This is an ongoing favorite of
the store for the last couple of years and an excellent match for beef...it's a
full throttle red
Three Rings Barossa Shiraz 2006 - $17.59 Cooking Class &
Wine Pairing at Jasmine Café on Sunday, March 30th Join Chef Eduardo as he
demonstrates how to cook a springtime three course meal. Lucinda will pair
three wines for each course - two which go with the dish and one which does not
- and explain why the wines work and don't work. The class will run from 5:00pm
and 7:00pm and you will get to eat what we learn to cook! Here is what Chef
Eduardo will be showing us how to make:
~First Course~
Asparagus Risotto
~ Main Course ~
Pan Roasted Stripped Bass
with Walnut Herb Crust in a
Orange-Lemon Butter Sauce
with Chives
~ Dessert ~
Riesling & Ginger Poached
Pear in Filo with Frangipan, Toasted Pine Nuts & Poaching Syrup Price is $52 per person
plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, please call Jasmine Café at
703.471.9114. Attention Paul Everitt of JAO Wine
Imports will be here for a very special 'Bogie's Birthday
Blowout Bash' Tasting (with cake!) on Saturday, April 19th from
12:00pm to 4:00pm Bogart turns 11 (!) on
April 19th and since it's a Saturday, we decided to turn our
'regular' Saturday tasting into a blowout bash!! We'll have Brian Forsgren here
from Potomac Selections (some of the coolest, most unusual wines in the market
which are just fantastic) along with Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections
(great Italian wines, always spectacular Kermit Lynch wines and some other
goodies from France) and one or two others vendors who will be confirmed by next
week's winE-Letter
publication. Bogart is gunning for cake from Cakelove, Warren Brown's creation
who is also on The Food Network...Bogart's favorite channel besides Animal
Planet, and since Bogart is an elder statesman, he might just get what he
wants. Party hats required!
Upcoming Wine Dinners RESCHEDULED...Vernal Equinox Wine Dinner at Zeffirelli's in Herndon on Thursday, April 3rd We will be having a wine
dinner at Zeffirelli's in Old Town Herndon with John Grimsley of Grappoli
Imports. As many of you know, Zeffirelli's is an Italian institution in
Herndon! And Grappoli Imports offers some of the best Italian wines in the
marketplace. Here's the menu!
Greeter
Gemin Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Vino
Spumante Brut NV
First Course
Calamari Fritti with Marinara Sauce
Marco Felluga 'Molamatta' Bianco
Collio 2006
Second Course
Beef Carpaccio with Lemon, Truffle
Oil & Parmesan Cheese
Bastianich Tocai Friulano Colli
Oriental
Third Course
Linguini Carbonara
Garofoli 'Colle Ambro' Rosso Piceno
2004
Fourth Course
Lamb Chops with Balsamic Vinegar
Sauce
Inama 'Bradisismo'
Dessert
Tirimisu
Coffee & Tea
Cost is $75 per person
plus tax & gratuity. For Reservations, please call Zeffirelli's at
703.318.7000. Zeffirelli's Ristorante is located at
In the Pantry...Just in Time for Your Easter Dinner Easter Chocolates In addition to our regular
selection of chocolates and pate de fruit, we have some special Easter
chocolates arriving at the beginning of next week. We have four piece boxes of
chocolate with new Spring flavors: Rhubarb Caramel, Fresh Ginger, Chat Noir
(dark chocolate ganache infused with lemon zest and black peppercorns) and Café
au Lait (dark chocolate ganache infused with Shenandoah Joe's Old World Espresso
topped with a vanilla bean white chocolate ganache). 4 piece chocolate boxes
are $6.50. Also, we will be getting
in special chocolate Easter eggs: the Rocher Egg which is a hollow dark
chocolate egg shell covered with caramelized slivered almonds in dark chocolate
on an edible dark chocolate base and the Traditional Spring Egg which is a
hollow dark chocolate egg shell covered with Chocolaterie Wanders' housemade
marzipan and garnished with a hand-piped chocolate pussy willow (the traditional
German garnish) on an edible dark chocolate base. Easter eggs are $19.95 each. COWGIRL CREAMERY
CHEESES ARE HERE!! Cowgirl Creamery cheeses
are in the house! For those of you who attended our Wine & Cheese classes back
in early December, you've already discovered how incredible these cheeses are.
For those of you who haven't had any cheeses from Cowgirl Creamery (which
originated in Marin County in California and a couple of years ago, the owners
opened up a second location in downtown D.C.) simply put, the cheeses are
divine. Cowgirl Creamery makes their own cheeses but also sells artesian
cheeses from around the world. We currently have the following cheeses for
sale:
And, we are carrying the
fantastic flatbread crackers carried by Cowgirl Creamery in Sea Salt, Sweet
Onion & Crème Fraiche and Wild Mushroom. As Cowgirl Creamery's
cheese inventory always is changing, we'll have different cheeses in stock
throughout the year as well. Order Galletta's
Italian Food Specialties for Pickup at The Wine Seller Order some specialty foods
for your Easter Dinner from Galletta's! Galletta's is a family owned and
operated Italian store located in the heart of downtown Leesburg. We take
orders for Galletta's products and pick them up and bring them to the store for
pickup after 11:00am on Saturdays. Items available include cheese, charcuterie,
pastas, sauces and pantry items. Here are some of the items
which are available: Galletta's Items
Available to Order & Pricing Cheeses Asiago Allevo - $15.00 per
lb English Farmhouse Cheddar
- $14.99 per lb Italian Fontina - $10.99
per lb Gorgonzola Dolce - $13.99
per lb Manchego - $15.00 per lb Marscapone Tub - $6.00
each Moliterno - $29.99 per lb
(Sheep's milk w/ Black Truffles) Parmigiano Reggiano -
$15.00 per lb Pecorino Romano - $9.00
per lb Provolone - $5.99 per lb Queso Leonora - $24.00 per
lb (handmade goat cheese) Fresh Ricotta (3 lb
container) - $10.00 Containers of Grated
Parmigiano - Varies but around $8 to $10 per container Meats Bresaola - $25.99 per lb Hot Sopressata - $14.99
per lb Italian Dry Sausage -
$14.99 per lb Oregano Salami - $20.00
per lb Pancetta - $10.99 per lb San Daniele Prosciutto -
$22.99 per lb Recla Speck Alto
Sweet Sopressata - $14.99
per lb Vismara Genoa Salame -
$14.99 per lb Pastas Fresh Pasta - $3.99 each
(choose Lasagne Sheets, Fettucine, Linguini or Pappardelle) Sauces Alfredo Sauce - $5.99 each Basil Pesto Sauce - $7.99
each Lemon Cream Sauce - $5.99
each Marinara Sauce - $3.99
each Nonni's Meat Sauce - $5.99
each Vodka Sauce - $7.99 each Pantry Items Honey with Black Truffle
from Frascati - $14.00 each (this is fantastic over the handmade goat
cheese!) Ordering Guidelines
New Olive Oils in
Stock One of our vendors
represents a collection of organic olive oils and I had the opportunity to try
the lineup last week. There were several good ones and here are the first ones
which came in this week:
A few words about Olive
Oil from the importer... The laws in Europe are clear, but in the Free fatty acids (FFA) are
an indicator of oil quality. FFA levels for Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOO) have
to be below 0.8% according to international standards. The only olive oils this
company carries are EVOOs and all are organic and/or biodynamic. Olive oil
deteriorates with exposure to air and light. The importer recommends keeping
oils in an air-tight bottle or container protected from heat and light.
Wine Classes Our wine classes are a
great way to have some fun, meet other people sharing your interest in wine and
learn something new about wine. Seating is limited and classes have been
popular. Here are the next upcoming classes: Tuesday, March 25th
- Component Tasting Class - 3 seats left Ever find yourself puzzled
when someone says, 'this wine shows notes of milk chocolate, black currants and
cassis'? What about sugar, acid and tannins? We'll break down the wine world
by comparing different common components found in white and red wines and then
trying some wines which show off those notes and traits. $50 per person.
7:00pm Tuesday, April 1st
- Sake Class - 4 seats left Sake is one of those
departments in the Wine World which is like a black hole. What it is? What is
it made from? Is it good? With what does it go? We'll unravel the World of
Sake with the exquisite Sakes from Joto Sake - a premium Sake importer based out
of Tuesday, May 6th
- Introduction to Wine Class Have you been bitten by
'the wine bug' and want to learn more about wine? We'll take you a Tour de
Force around the wine world as we discover grape varietals, wine growing regions
and vinification processes. We'll try the basic grape varietals and discover
stylistically what flavor profile of wines you enjoy which will in turn, make
you a more savvy shopper and diner. $35 per person. 7:00pm. Tuesday, May 20th
- Wine & Cheese: Build a Better Cheese Platter Everybody
loves to put together a cheese platter when they entertain. What cheeses work
best together on a cheese platter? And how do you figure out what wines work
best with all the different cheeses? We'll show you how to put together a
delectable cheese platter and taste some wine options which will make you sing.
Cheeses will be from Cowgirl Creamery. $40 per person. 7:00pm. Tuesday,
June 3rd - Herbs & Wine Herbs are one
of the most important components in matching foods with wine. We'll see how
several of the herbs found in every kitchen (Sage, Rosemary, Basil, Thyme,
Oregano) work well with different wines. This will help you in choosing wines
to go with meals you prepare at home. $40 per person. 7:00pm. If you are interested in
signing up for any of our Wine Classes, please email
Lucinda@thewineseller.com or call 703-471-9649.
Bogie's Recipe Board I wanted to do a lamb
recipe today. After all, Easter is the holiday of lamb! But my Mom cooked our
Easter dinner this past Sunday and she made such a good chimichurri sauce for
lamb, she talked me into doing that recipe for this week's Recipe Board. It was
fantastic!! It's from the April issue of Food & Wine (which has a lot of good
recipes in it, by the way, and we sell it at the store) and it's fast to make
and super fresh to eat. Mint Chimichurri Serves 4 2 cups fresh mint leaves 1 small jalapeno, seeded
and coarsely chopped 1 small shallot, coarsely
chopped 1 garlic clove, coarsely
chopped 2 tbsp red wine vinegar Pinch of sugar (my Mom
left this ingredient out and it tasted just fine) ½ cup extra virgin olive
oil In a blender, puree the
mint, jalapeno, shallot, garlic, vinegar, sugar and olive oil. Season with
salt, if desired. Serve partly on the side
of lamb chops or slices or lamb. Wine Pairing
Suggestions
Quiz Corner Welcome to our weekly wine
(and sometimes food) quiz! Last Week's Quiz Question: What is Rolle? Answer: Rolle is the French name for Vermentino. Congratulations to this
week's quiz winner Bill Haskitt...come on in and collect your prize! This Week's Quiz Question: The Quiz Corner is on Spring Break this week!! That's it
for this week! Happy
Easter!! Regards, Lucinda,
Vaughn, Dan, Nancy, Bev and Bogart This
Week's Tastings: Friday
from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Saturday
from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with a Special Easter Wine Tasting with Brandon Skall of
The Henry Wine Group
Monday through Friday:
11:00am to
8:00pm
Saturday:
10:00am to
6:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to
4:00pm It’s
ROSÉ
time……YIPEE!!
Time to get that ‘ole
Rosé
Bandwagon out, oil up the wheels and tool it around the patio. Ok, I know I’m
going to get a lot of grief about the pink
typing being back in the winE-Letter and it might not exactly be warm enough yet for patio time with a glass
of Rosé
in hand…but I did get to try two 2007
Rosés
this week and both were absolutely delicious. And drinking
Rosés
always makes me think of hangin’ outdoor time and dining al fresco. Between the
crocuses and daffodils ready to bust out of their shells and
Rosés
appearing on the scene, I just know Spring has to be close! Speaking of Spring,
we have our Vernal Equinox Wine Dinner at Zeffirelli’s rapidly approaching as
the dinner is a week from today. Please check out the menu below! And at the
end of the month on Sunday the 30th, we have a cooking and wine class with Chef
Eduardo at Jasmine Café. The menu for the class is also listed below and I’ll
be selecting the wines this week to pair with each of the courses. I can’t wait
to learn how to make frangipan! We have a fantastic tasting this evening
with Gray Mosby who has two stunners and some old favorites to show…this is a
tasting not to be missed! And the day before Easter, we’ll be tasting a
smattering of wines which pair perfectly with the foods often served at Easter
so come on in and taste while you shop. If you’re looking for gourmet food
specialties to serve for your Easter dinner, look no further than your local,
neighborhood wine shop…us! We have Cowgirl Creamery cheeses which would make
for excellent nibblers before your meal and we can get all sorts of gourmet
goodies from Galletta’s Italian Market so check out the list below. Plus, we
are getting in some new olive oils from around the globe this week and dipping
fresh bread into olive oil is always a terrific snack! All the usual suspects
are also in the reading below – New Vino Finds, Easter Wine Picks, Wine Class
information, Quiz Winners and a new question and of course, the
winE-Letter
wouldn’t be the winE-Letter
without the expert culinary advice from the Food Hound (aka Bogart). So read on
below and ‘May the Luck ‘O The Irish be with ye!’
We hope to see you tonight!! New Vino Finds Mars & Venus Central Valley (Chile) Merlot NV – An amazing mouthful of juice for the money…that’s how I’d describe both the Merlot and the Cabernet Sauvignon. Good weight on the palate and it really tastes like Merlot! Soft and supple with loads of blueberries. $7.99 per bottle. Mars & Venus
Central Valley ( Domaine
Bernard-Goussu Saint Veran 2004 – A
very pleasant, excellent springtime Chardonnay from Tegernseerhof
Zweigelt Rosé 2007
– You knew a
Rosé was going to make it into the
winE-Letter,
didn’t you?! Crack one of these babies open as your quaffing wine before Easter
dinner. A touch of white pepper and plenty of savory watermelon fruit.
$11.79 per bottle. Traza ‘Gru 2’ Rioja 2006 – I really enjoyed this wine as it isn’t as light and dry as many Riojas can be. From the Vinos Sin Ley folks who brought us the tasty G5 wine a couple of years back, this Rioja is uncharacteristically 100% Graciano (versus normally being made from the Tempranillo grape). It is supple and textured on the palate with warm spices and offers firm weight when drinking. One of those ‘dinner in a glass’ wines. $13.99 per bottle.
Easter
Wine Picks Value Picks Etienne-Rodier
Viognier Vin de Pays d’Oc 2006 –
Nothing reminds one more of Spring than a delightful glass of Viognier. It gets
better when the price is right! This is a very easy drinking Viognier –
slightly aromatic but not overly so – and a perfect aperitif glass of vino.
$9.99 per bottle. Baronnie de
Montgaillard Vin de Pays des Cotes du Ceresson 2006
– This red was a tasty little find from the Southwestern part of France not too
far from the Pyrenees. It’s a blend of 40% Syrah, 40% Merlot and 20% Grenache.
The result is a glass of wine with silky tannins, crushed berries and just a
slight hint of spice. An excellent value red at
$9.99 per bottle. Chateau Vrai
Caillou The 2005 vintage has lots
of gems to find in it and this wine is one of them. The fruit is ripe, balance
and supple made with 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
An excellent red for any kind of red meats or stews. $11.79 per bottle. Domaine Fond
Croze ‘Cuvee Tentation’ Cotes du Rhone 2006 – There’s nothing like a good red Cotes du Rhone in the wintertime and
this one proves to be not only tasty but of good value. It’s a blend of 60%
Grenache and 40% Syrah. The nose offers bright red fruits of raspberries and
cherries intermingled with violets and the taste offers a round, supple, juicy
red wine with a perfectly balanced dry finish.
$9.99 per bottle. Roncier White NV
– I think this is what the French mean when the say a ‘house white’ or a ‘house
white blend’. I vote it sure is delicious for the money! A blend of
Chardonnay, Aligote and a touch of Columbard from the Auka La Consulta
Torrontes 2007 – More springtime in a
glass! Ok, so we’re on a white roll this week with wines which scream Spring.
You can’t blame us! The Torrontes grape tends to be very reminiscent of the
Viognier grape and sometimes, many Torrontes from |
