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
The kids are out of
school and vacations to the beach have started…summer is in full swing! I think
we’re going to have to great ready for some more steamin’ hot weather starting
today. No worries though – we have plenty of delicious, reasonably priced wines
to wet your whistle! And speaking of wetting your whistle, come on down on
Saturday afternoon to wet your whistle and meet Mac McDonald, owner and
winemaker of Vision Cellars. Vision Cellars is boutique winery specializing in
Pinot Noirs (yes, the Pinot Queen has a big smile on her face and a gleam in her
eye as you read this!). I had the pleasure of meeting Mac earlier in the week
and tasting through the lineup of wines which we’ll be trying on Saturday (which
are listed below). Not only is Mac making some great tasting wines, he’s a very
smart man. Take for instance the story of how he crafted his White Wine – a
combination of Sauvignon Blanc (his wife’s favorite white grape) and Pinot Gris
(Mac’s favorite white wine grape). He made this white out of both of their
favorite grapes and now they have a white they can drink on the patio together!
And just to point out how sharp Mac is, it’s 79% Sauvignon Blanc – I told Mac he
really knows how to keep peace in the family!!!!! Besides having some great
wines to taste, Mac is just a delightful gentleman and he’d love to answer any
questions you have about
New Vino Finds Joel Delaunay Colombelle Vin de
Pays de
Rosé
of the Week Mulderbosch
Stellenbosch Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
– A tasty Rosé
from
Patio Whites
and BBQ Reds (and some
Pinkies thrown in for good measure…) Mars & Venus
Central Valley ( Mar & Tierra
Curico Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006
– We are always looking for tasty
Patio Whites
this time of year and this Sauvignon Blanc from south of the Equator quenched
our thirst. Crisp, refreshing acidity with each sip, this is a perfect quaffer
or excellent with soft cheeses or light snacks.
$9.99 per bottle. Hammer Coastal Vines Gouguenheim
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 – This wine
from the same winery was just as tasty as the Malbec. A line of red currants
definitely runs through the taste profile and it is a well structured but not
overly tannic Cabernet. A value for
$9.99 per bottle. Pampano Rueda 2007 – A blend of 80% Macabao and 20% Verdejo grapes, this white wine just screams Springtime! It’s crisp and refreshing and an all around perfect Patio White. $10.99 per bottle. Gouguenheim
Tupungato Malbec 2006 – You don’t
find values like this wine everyday. The balance in this wine is spot on – the
oak is well integrated and while a round and supple wine, there are lovely notes
of dark red and black fruits. A mouthful of wine for
$9.99 per bottle. Nobilissima Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio 2006 – This is exactly what you want when you’re looking for an everyday Pinot Grigio to sip on or enjoy with a light meal or salad. Crisp acidity shows on the palate with some light notes of melons and lemon. $10.99 per bottle.
Upcoming Events The Winemaker &
Owner of Vision Cellars will be in the house on Saturday, June 28th
from 12:00pm to 4:00pm Winemaker Mac McDonald of
Vision Cellars will be here to show off his wines which just happen to include
several award winning Pinot Noirs. Hey, the Pinot Heads need to stick together,
don’t they?! Many of Mac’s wines are made with fruit sourced from the
‘
‘Las Alturas Vineyard’
(vineyard is owned by the Wagner Family – the
owners of Caymus)
‘Cole Ranch’
Upcoming Wine Classes Tuesday, July 1st
– Mediterranean Discovery…SOLD
OUT! We'll tour the countries
bordering the Mediterranean Sea - Tuesday, August 5th
– Summer Bounty Corn, tomatoes, peaches -
these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll taste several wines which
work with the bounty from the garden, along with the bounty itself - and you'll
shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. Jason Bise of The Country Vintner will
be back in the house for this class along with Lucinda. $40 per person.
7:00pm. Tuesday, September 2nd
– Introduction to Wine 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, September 30th
– Something About Sherry Todd Ruby, Sherry Expert
Extraordinaire, will join us as we unravel the world of Sherry and taste the
wide varieties of styles of Sherry - Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado and Cream to
name a few. Todd’s a walking encyclopedia about Sherries!! We'll also pair
foods to work with different styles of Sherry - just in time for the upcoming
holidays! $50 per person. 7:00pm. Tuesday, October 7th
– Say Pinot! Discover Pinot Noir and Its Cousins, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Meet Pinot Noir and its
cousins, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. We’ll take a comparative tour of styles of
these three grapes with wines from the For reservations, please
call Lucinda at 703-471-9649 or email
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Bogie’s Recipe Board One of the things my Mom
doesn’t let me eat is soup. Probably a good thing, for a whole host of
reasons. That said, the cookbook Lemon Zest sure looked appetizing so I
was leafing through it out on the chaise lounge chair on the patio earlier in
the week. Yup, that’s right, I sun myself every morning. My Mom shakes her
head and tells me I must really be a C-A-T. Humpf. I prefer to think of myself
as a ‘Sunny Boy’. Anyhow, here’s my recipe pick for this week – a soup for
summertime! Zesty Makes about 7 cups 4 cups buttermilk (not
unsalted) 2 cups seeded and chopped
ripe tomatoes (about 2 large tomatoes) 2 cups fresh corn kernels
(3 to 4 ears) 1 cup finely chopped
fresh fennel or seeded English cucumber 18 fresh basil leaves,
finely shredded, plus tiny sprigs fresh basil for garnish 1-1/2 tsp finely grated
lemon zest 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp coarsely ground
black pepper Stir together the
buttermilk, tomatoes, corn, fennel or cucumber, basil, zest, salt and pepper in
a large bowl. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours or until very cold –
up to 24 hours. Serve the soup chilled,
garnished with the fresh basil sprigs. Wine Pairing
Suggestions
·
We’re back to acid as a dominate factor
in a dish – the buttermilk. That said, this is still a soup, albeit a chunky
soup. For whites, a creamier Sauvignon Blanc would be a good match…something
from the
·
For a red wine, one that is round and
supple on the palate perhaps with some warm spices would be a good choice.
Dolcetto from
Quiz Corner Last Week’s Quiz Question: Why are there often rose bushes planted at the ends of the rows of grapevines? Answer: Because rose bushes are more susceptible to disease than grapevines, they will start looking sickly before vines do. Thus, they act like a bellweather for what is going on in the vineyard – and the early warning gives the vineyard manager time to treat the problem before it spreads to the vines. Congratulations to this
week’s quiz winners Jim Harvey, Brandon Skall and Joe Biggins. Come on and
collect your prize! And kudos to the many, many people who submitted correct
answers this past week! This Week’s Quiz
Question: What is the name of the
smallest appellation in the Hint: Come and meet Mac
on Saturday and he can help you with this answer! Send in your quiz
question answers to
Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on Monday. Bogart will put on his ‘prize
picking’ scarf and pick up to three winners out of the correct answer pile. And
unlike humans, Bassets consider bribery perfectly legit!
Special Orders Are you looking for a
particular wine you had at a restaurant? Or perhaps you need to get a specific
bottle for a gift for someone? Give us a call (703-471-9649) or email us (Lucinda@thewineseller.com)
and we’ll be happy to track down whether the wine is available from a
Wines for Weddings,
Family Reunions or if you’re heading to the Beach! When you’re entertaining,
there’s a lot to purchase and prepare. No one is looking to break the bank but
no one wants to skimp on quality. The same goes for a week at the beach house.
Wine shopping at The Wine Seller means you don’t have to skimp on the quality
part…it just means you don’t have to overspend for great tasting wines!!! If I do toot our own horn here for a minute, we are the kings and queens of finding ‘Interesting Wines. Reasonably Priced.’ For starters, we have our ‘Six Bucks and You Won’t Upchuck’ section where you’ll find several different wines for $5.99 per bottle. Buy a mix or match case and the bottle price goes down to $5.39!! And yes, the wines really are tasty! My running joke for that section is that ‘I kiss a lot of frogs in the wine tasting category before I find ones that we’ll stack there and feel good about.’ Plus you’ll find in our bins that most of the selections are in $7 to $15 range and right now, our bins have some screaming good Patio Whites which are perfect for the sticky, hot weather which is known as summertime in D.C. So if you’re planning a
get together or plotting what to drink on vacation, give us a call
(703-471-9649) or email us (Lucinda@thewineseller.com)
and we’ll be happy to give you some suggestions to fit your budget.
Cleanout Corner I’ve been yappin’ about
this for some time but we’ve finally set up a ‘Cleanout Corner’. It’s back on
the wall near the beer cooler. It’ll include both wine as well as Vineyard
Table items. All are one way trips out of the store (read: item are not
returnable). Wines are 70% off the price and Vineyard Table Items are 50% off.
Wines which make it to the Cleanout Corner are there because I’m unsure whether
they are still drinking well or not. So, you might get a fantastic deal or you
might get some wine perfect for cooking. Vineyard Table items are there most
likely because it’s something we aren’t going to carry it anymore either because
it’s no longer available or we wanted to clear out some room to bring new items
into the store. Happy Hunting everybody!
Hours for the July 4th
Holiday Here are our hours for
next week:
Monday – Thursday: 11:00am to 8:00pm (normal
hours)
Friday, July 4th: 11:00am to
4:00pm
Saturday, July 5th: 10:00am to
6:00pm (normal hours)
Sunday, July 6th: 12:00pm to
4:00pm (normal hours) That’s it for this
week! Regards, Lucinda, Vaughn,
Nancy, Bev, Susan & Bogart This Week’s
Tastings: Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Saturday from
12:00pm to 4:00pm with Mac McDonald of Vision Cellars
703.471.9649
Monday through Friday: 11:00am to
8:00pm
Saturdays: 10:00am to
6:00pm Sundays: 12:00pm to 4:00pm It's been a pretty
spectacular sports week and how appropriate that it jived with Father's Day this
past weekend! The Celtics won!! And how 'bout the Tiger and Rocco showdown and
sudden death on Monday? Now, that was some game!! Now, if you can just
figure out how to jerry-rig the telly outside on the patio, you can pour
yourself a glass of Patio White and go flop outside. Life doesn't get any
better with the weather we've been having this week! Coming next weekend, we'll
have winemaker and owner Mac McDonald of Vision Cellars here to show off his
wines. Like a proud Papa, his children are his many Pinot Noirs several of
which we'll be sampling that afternoon. In the meantime, we have plenty of
value
Patio Whites,
Rosés
and
BBQ Reds
to keep you in good stead and your thirst quenched. We pride ourselves on
finding the jewels and gems in the wide world of wine which offer a lot of
complexity and interest in the glass but won't wipe out all the dead presidents
in your wallet. I like to call it excellent 'bang for the buck'. We have two
seats left for our July 1st wine class on Mediterranean Wines & Foods
and a few seats left for our August 5th class on Summer Bounty and
Wines to Pair with it. Lots of quiz winners from last week's quiz question and
we have new quizzer this week. And a week without a
Rosé
of the Week at The Wine Seller would be like a week without sunshine. No
worries mate - one of our favorites from the South of France just shipped into
port and this is as classic a
Rosé
as it gets! Enjoy the sunshine and seasonable weather and we'll look forward to
seeing you soon!
New Vino Finds La Cappuccina
Soave 2007 - An old favorite is
back and it's mighty tasty in the 2007 vintage. Melons and light peaches abound
in the glass. It's a very satisfying glass of vino alone not to mention it's a
perfect wine for all the summertime BBQs and trips to Wolf Trap.
$9.99 per bottle. Lancatay Mendoza
Malbec 2005 - This is a richer,
darker styled Malbec than most at this price point. It's really looking for a
piece of beef hot off the grill or a burger with all the toppings. Filled with
blue and black fruits and just a hint of smokiness which isn't overdone or
overblown. This is a 'big boy' wine.
$11.99 per bottle.
Rosé
of the Week Domaine Saint
Andre de Figuiere 'Magali'
Patio Whites
and BBQ Reds (and some
Pinkies thrown in for good measure...) Mars & Venus
Central Valley ( Mar & Tierra
Curico Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006
- We are always looking for tasty
Patio Whites
this time of year and this Sauvignon Blanc from south of the Equator quenched
our thirst. Crisp, refreshing acidity with each sip, this is a perfect quaffer
or excellent with soft cheeses or light snacks.
$9.99 per bottle. Hammer Coastal Vines Gouguenheim
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - This wine
from the same winery was just as tasty as the Malbec. A line of red currants
definitely runs through the taste profile and it is a well structured but not
overly tannic Cabernet. A value for
$9.99 per bottle. Pampano Rueda 2007 - A blend of 80% Macabao and 20% Verdejo grapes, this white wine just screams Springtime! It's crisp and refreshing and an all around perfect Patio White. $10.99 per bottle. Gouguenheim
Tupungato Malbec 2006 - You don't
find values like this wine everyday. The balance in this wine is spot on - the
oak is well integrated and while a round and supple wine, there are lovely notes
of dark red and black fruits. A mouthful of wine for
$9.99 per bottle. Nobilissima Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio 2006 - This is exactly what you want when you're looking for an everyday Pinot Grigio to sip on or enjoy with a light meal or salad. Crisp acidity shows on the palate with some light notes of melons and lemon. $10.99 per bottle. Pares Balta
Penedes 'Ros de Pacs' Rosé 2007
- This is a very pleasant
Rosé
comprised of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot coming from the
northeastern part of Spain near the Coast by Barcelona. Can't you just picture
yourself on the beach in
Upcoming Events The Winemaker &
Owner of Vision Cellars will be in the house on Saturday, June 28th
from 12:00pm to 4:00pm Winemaker Mac McDonald of
Vision Cellars will be here to show off his wines which just happen to include
several award winning Pinot Noirs. Hey, the Pinot Heads need to stick together,
don't they?! Many of Mac's wines are made with fruit sourced from the
Upcoming Wine Classes Tuesday, July 1st
- Mediterranean Discovery...there
are a couple of seats left! We'll tour the countries
bordering the Mediterranean Sea - Tuesday, August 5th
- Summer Bounty Corn, tomatoes, peaches -
these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll taste several wines which
work with the bounty from the garden, along with the bounty itself - and you'll
shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per person. 7:00pm. For reservations, please
call Lucinda at 703-471-9649 or email
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Bogie's Recipe Board This recipe is an
adaptation hijacked from watching Good Morning America a couple of weeks ago.
Yes, I do watch the morning shows. I really can't help it because my Mom is a
self-confessed news junkie. One of my favorite chefs was on GMA a week or two
ago - Mario Batali. Now, I could hang out with Mario anytime and maybe I'd get
some of the really good Italian cured meats! Anyhow, back to the recipe which
is perfect for summer. It involves a favorite of everybody's in the summertime,
corn. Roasted Corn on the
Cob with Balsamic & Parmesan Ear of corn 2/3 olive oil mixed with
1/3 balsamic vinegar Grated Parmesan Chiffonade slices of
fresh basil Mario grilled his ears of
corn on the grill after husking; my Mom usually keeps the corn in the husks.
Really depends upon whether you want the grill marks on the corn or not. Mix a
ratio of 2/3 olive oil and 1/3 balsamic vinegar together and put in a shallow
bowl or plate so you can roll the ear of corn in it. If you'd like, you can add
a little sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to the olive oil and balsamic
vinegar mix. In another shallow bowl or plate, place the grated Parmesan.
After the ear of corn comes off the grill, first roll it in the olive oil &
balsamic vinegar mixture. Then, move over to the plate with the grated
Parmesan. Top of which slivers of fresh basil and enjoy. Wine Pairing
Suggestions
·
Since the corn will most likely be a
side dish to something else you're eating, an all purpose white or red is
probably in order here. Since you do have some vinegar in the mix, a wine with
some good acidity would pair well to stand up to the vinegar. Italian whites or
reds would be good matches as would Spanish whites or reds. Another option
would be either a white Rhone or red
Quiz Corner Last Week's Quiz
Question:
True or False: The invention of the potato
chip was a mistake. Bonus points if you know in what State it was invented! Answer:
True. From Sante magazine's June, 2008 edition: The potato started out as a
mistake 155 years ago. Chef George Crum received a complaint that his French
Fries were too thick. In response, he sent out thin, crispy slices of potato.
The location of his Congratulations to this
week's quiz winners Krista Bush, Nadine Dallitis & This Week's Quiz Question: Why are there often rose bushes planted at the ends of the rows of grapevines? Send in your quiz
question answers to
Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize
picking' scarf and pick up to three winners out of the correct answer pile. And
unlike humans, Bassets consider bribery perfectly legit! That's it for this
week! Regards, Lucinda, Vaughn,
Nancy, Bev, Susan & Bogart This Week's
Tastings: Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Saturday from
12:00pm to 4:00pm
703.471.9649
Monday through Friday: 11:00am to
8:00pm
Saturdays: 10:00am to
6:00pm Sundays: 12:00pm to 4:00pm Wow. I don't know where
to start this week. The tomato scare? The Celtics/Lakers matchup? How to
bottle BoGAS? (Read on below if you're not familiar with our plan for BoGAS).
As far as the tomato scare goes, if you haven't read or heard about in the news
yet, check out the FDA's website for the latest list of tomatoes to stay away
from when eating out or shopping at the grocery store. One of my reps slyly
stated this week that in order to get in his daily tomato allowance, he was
going to take up drinking Bloody Marys! Hey, as long as keeps to wine in the
evenings!! I'll be glad when they figure this whole tomato thing out because
for me, tomatoes are a desert island item - you know, things you couldn't live
without on a desert island? My list would be short - tomatoes, balsamic
vinegar, wine (please don't make me be specific but
A Perfect Pinot for
Dad Hug Cellars '
New Vino Finds Mar & Tierra
Curico Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006 -
We are always looking for tasty
Patio Whites
this time of year and this Sauvignon Blanc from south of the Equator quenched
our thirst. Crisp, refreshing acidity with each sip, this is a perfect quaffer
or excellent with soft cheeses or light snacks.
$9.99 per bottle. Hammer
Rosé
of the Week Casa do Lago
Touriga Nacional Rosé 2007
- From
Patio Whites
and BBQ Reds (and some Pinkies thrown in for good
measure...) Mars & Venus
Central Valley ( Domaine des Cassagnoles Vin de Pays de Cotes de Gascogne 2007 - This crisp, refreshing white wine is a blend of Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros Mensang from the Gascony region in Southwest France. Amazingly for this inexpensive table white, the grapes are all estate grown. This is a perfect summertime white to drink alone or have with cheeses, salads or light antipasto. It's quite reminiscent of a Sauvignon Blanc. For all of you Colombelle lovers out there, since the new vintage isn't out yet, this is a great white to give a try. $9.99 per bottle. Coastal Vines Gouguenheim
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - This wine
from the same winery was just as tasty as the Malbec. A line of red currants
definitely runs through the taste profile and it is a well structured but not
overly tannic Cabernet. A value for
$9.99 per bottle. Pampano Rueda
2007 - A blend of 80% Macabao and
20% Verdejo grapes, this white wine just screams Springtime! It's crisp and
refreshing and an all around perfect
Patio White.
$10.99 per bottle. Gouguenheim
Tupungato Malbec 2006 - You don't
find values like this wine everyday. The balance in this wine is spot on - the
oak is well integrated and while a round and supple wine, there are lovely notes
of dark red and black fruits. A mouthful of wine for
$9.99 per bottle. Nobilissima Delle
Venezie Pinot Grigio 2006 - This is
exactly what you want when you're looking for an everyday Pinot Grigio to sip on
or enjoy with a light meal or salad. Crisp acidity shows on the palate with
some light notes of melons and lemon.
$10.99 per bottle. Pares Balta
Penedes 'Ros de Pacs' Rosé 2007
- This is a very pleasant
Rosé
comprised of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot coming from the
northeastern part of Spain near the Coast by Barcelona. Can't you just picture
yourself on the beach in
Upcoming Events Malcolm Riddle of International Cellars is Back on Saturday, June 14th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm Make no mistake about it.
Malcolm has a cult following! He'll be back in the house on the second Saturday
in June pouring some new vintages of old favorites along with some new wine
finds. We'll be trying the new vintage of the Nyakas Sauvignon Blanc from Mr. Nice Legs himself, Al McCosh, will be in the house on Saturday, June 28th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm But as he always states, he won't be showing his legs! Al keeps finding the coolest, neatest wines from the West Coast and it doesn't hurt around here that he is as much of a Pinot lover as the Pinot Queen!! He'll show off some of his latest new wine finds here on the last Saturday in June.
Upcoming Wine Classes Tuesday, July 1st - Mediterranean Discovery...there are a couple of seats left! We'll tour the countries
bordering the Mediterranean Sea - Tuesday, August 5th - Summer Bounty Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per person. 7:00pm. For reservations, please call Lucinda at 703-471-9649 or email Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Bogie's Recipe Board My Mom had a party a
couple of weekends ago and the recipe I'm going to post for this week was a
big hit with everybody. She used as a dip for the roasted veggie platter
but you could also drizzle it over roasted or grilled veggies if you wanted.
And don't be scared of the anchovies - just grind them up and you'll never see
them but they add a ton of flavor to the recipe. This recipe comes from Susan
Branch's The Summer Book which she wrote while being inspired by being on Roasted Veggie Dressing ¼ cup Balsamic Vinegar 2 anchovies, mashed 1 Tbsp 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 Tbsp Parsley, minced 1 Tbsp fresh Rosemary leaves ½ cup olive oil Whisk together vinegar,
anchovies & Wine Pairing Suggestions
·
Anchovies are potent so you need a wine
which will stand up to the flavors whether white or red. Italians use anchovies
a lot in their recipes (just think of Caesar salad!) so any Italian white wine
would work well - Erbaluce, Gavi, Verdicchio or even a Pinot Grigio with some
weight or a Pinot Grigio blend. Whites for
·
For a red, a Spanish Garnacha or
Garnacha/Tempranillo blend would be nice as would a Pinot from
Quiz Corner Last Week's Quiz
Question: What is the term used to
describe the traditional method of clarifying wine whereby certain substances
(such as egg whites or whole milk) are added to the barrel, vat or tank and then
gradually settle at the bottom taking with it, suspended particles in the form
of sediment and leaving the wine clear? Answer:
Fining Congratulations to this week's quiz winners Robert Scharrer, Mike Flaherty & Mark Snyder. Come on and collect your prize! And kudos to the many, many people who submitted correct answers this past week! And a correction to the quiz question from two weeks ago on Estufagem. We did have a correct quiz winner in Jose Ignacio Fernandez. His answer was the Portuguese spelling called Estufado. Clearly, I need to brush up on my Portuguese! This Week's Quiz
Question (and it's a food question this week): True or False: The invention of the potato chip was a mistake.
Bonus points if you know in what State it was invented! Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Bassets consider bribery perfectly legit! That's it for this
week! Happy Birthday Regards, Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy, Susan & Bogart This Week's Tastings: Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Malcolm Riddle of International Cellars 703.471.9649 Monday through Friday: 11:00am to 8:00pm Saturdays: 10:00am to 6:00pm Sundays: 12:00pm to 4:00pm Wow. That was some
weather yesterday!! Let's hope we don't see any more weather of that intensity
level for the rest of the summer. It sure looks like we are in for some
humidity this weekend though so we've got a bunch of
Patio Whites,
Rosés
and
BBQ Reds
lined up to keep you hydrated and happy including a new
Patio White
to add to our growing list. We've
got a pretty full house for Sunday's wine dinner at Catina d'Italia but there
are still a few seats available if you haven't signed up yet. A week in the
summertime at The Wine Seller wouldn't be balanced without a
Rosé
of the Week find which we've got. A huge 'thank you' to Peter Gaylor of William
Harrison Imports who came to help run our Herbs & Wine Class. It was a great
class and the food Peter made was outstanding! We're going to have to swindle
the tomato tapanade recipe out of Peter before the summer passes!! Malcolm
Riddle of International Cellars will be in the house next Saturday, the 14th,
pouring some of the wines in his portfolio which have proved to offer some
terrific value. Bogie has a dessert recipe up on this week's recipe board and
there's a new quiz question up in the Quiz Corner. Pfew! The season already
seems likes it's zipping along so welcome summertime!!
New Vino Finds Huber 'Hugo' Gruner Veltliner 2007 - Nothing says summertime like a glass of Gruner Veltliner (use your best Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation to say it properly!!) Gruner Veltliner is to Austrians what Pinot Grigio is to Italians - the perfect patio quaffer and a wine which works with everything. $11.99 per bottle.
Rosé
of the Week Pares Balta
Penedes 'Ros de Pacs' Rosé 2007
- This is a very pleasant
Rosé
comprised of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot coming from the
northeastern part of Spain near the Coast by Barcelona. Can't you just picture
yourself on the beach in
&nb
sp;
Value Wines for the
Patio...and we've got lots of 'em!! Nobilissima Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio 2006 - This is exactly what you want when you're looking for an everyday Pinot Grigio to sip on or enjoy with a light meal or salad. Crisp acidity shows on the palate with some light notes of melons and lemon. $10.99 per bottle. Bodegas Agapito
Rico 'Carchelo' Jumilla 2006 - This
old vine Monastrell from the Jumilla region in Pampano Rueda 2007 - A blend of 80% Macabao and 20% Verdejo grapes, this white wine just screams Springtime! It's crisp and refreshing and an all around perfect Patio White. $10.99 per bottle. Gouguenheim
Tupungato Malbec 2006 - You don't
find values like this wine everyday. The balance in this wine is spot on - the
oak is well integrated and while a round and supple wine, there are lovely notes
of dark red and black fruits. A mouthful of wine for
$9.99 per bottle. Gouguenheim
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - This wine
from the same winery was just as tasty as the Malbec. A line of red currants
definitely runs through the taste profile and it is a well structured but not
overly tannic Cabernet. A value for
$9.99 per bottle. Domaine des Cassagnoles Vin de Pays de Cotes de Gascogne 2007 - This crisp, refreshing white wine is a blend of Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros Mensang from the Gascony region in Southwest France. Amazingly for this inexpensive table white, the grapes are all estate grown. This is a perfect summertime white to drink alone or have with cheeses, salads or light antipasto. It's quite reminiscent of a Sauvignon Blanc. For all of you Colombelle lovers out there, since the new vintage isn't out yet, this is a great white to give a try. $9.99 per bottle. Coastal Vines Kanu Stellenbosch
Chenin Blanc 2007 - This kind of
white wine is the perfect white to work with all sorts of meals off the grill or
all the salads we tend to eat as entrees this time of year. Perfect with fish
and chicken, it even has enough weight that is can work with something like
flank stead salad. It's 83% Chenin Blanc, 10% Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Viognier
and it's a voluptuous mouthfeel when drinking the wine. Supple, round and with
loads of melons and pears, this is a great summertime wine.
$10.99 per bottle. Mars & Venus
Central Valley (
Upcoming Events Malcolm Riddle of
International Cellars is Back on Saturday, June 14th from 12:00pm to
4:00pm Make no mistake about it.
Malcolm has a cult following! He'll be back in the house on the second Saturday
in June pouring some new vintages of old favorites along with some new wine
finds. The tasting menu will be posted next week and it will include some old
favorites offering excellent value not to mention some new wines like a
delicious Minervois we just discovered. Mr. Nice Legs
himself, Al McCosh, will be in the house on Saturday, June 28th from
12:00pm to 4:00pm But as he always states,
he won't be showing his legs! Al keeps finding the coolest, neatest wines from
the West Coast and it doesn't hurt around here that he is as much of a Pinot
lover as the Pinot Queen!! He'll show off some of his latest new wine finds
here on the last Saturday in June.
Upcoming Wine Dinners Italian Wine
Dinner at Cantina d'Italia this Sunday, June 8th
- There are a few seats left!! Commencing at 3:00pm, join the Chef of Cantina
d'Italia for a culinary delight of 5 courses. The Italian wines paired with
each course are from the portfolio of distributor Bravo Cellars. Cantina
d'Italia is a long time old Herndon favorite located at
Silene Cococciola (Abruzzo)
Upcoming Wine Classes Tuesday, July 1st
- Mediterranean Discovery We'll tour the countries
bordering the Mediterranean Sea - Tuesday, August 5th
- Summer Bounty Corn, tomatoes, peaches -
these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll taste several wines which
work with the bounty from the garden, along with the bounty itself - and you'll
shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per person. 7:00pm. For reservations, please
call Lucinda at 703-471-9649 or email
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Bogie's Recipe Board Strawberries are in season
so I'm picking a dessert recipe this week. Not to mention, the herbs are really
popping in the garden. This recipe would be great for an easy, light dessert -
especially if you are cooking for a crowd. From the cookbook, Perfect
Vinaigrettes: Red Wine-Thyme
Dressing for Strawberries Serves 4 4 cups strawberries, hulled
and halved ½ cup granulated sugar ¼ cup fresh orange juice ½ tsp freshly minced thyme 1 cup fruity young red wine
such as a Gently toss the
strawberries and sugar together in a medium bowl. In another bowl, combine the
orange juice, thyme and wine. Pour the mixture over the strawberries and stir
to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Serve in stemmed glass or clear glass bowls. Wine Pairing Suggestions
Quiz Corner Last Week's Quiz Question: What is the name of the process where a wine is heated (for a minimum of 90 days) and causes maderization of the wine which, in this case, is the desired result? Answer: Estufagem Sorry, no quiz winners this
week. This Week's Quiz Question: What is the term used to describe the traditional method of clarifying wine whereby certain substances (such as egg whites or whole milk) are added to the barrel, vat or tank and then gradually settle at the bottom taking with it, suspended particles in the form of sediment and leaving the wine clear? Send your quiz answers in
to
Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize
picking' scarf and select up to three winners out of all the correct quiz
replies. That's it for this
week! Regards, Lucinda, Vaughn,
Nancy, Susan & Bogart This Week's
Tastings: Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Saturday from
12:00pm to 4:00pm
703.471.9649
Monday through Friday: 11:00am to
8:00pm
Saturdays: 10:00am to
6:00pm Sundays: 12:00pm to 4:00pm So, has everybody been
enjoying an actual season called 'Spring' around here this year?! After growing
up in |
