WinE-Letter  2007 Archived Issues

I'm seeing stars...or at least tonight I will be!!!!!  Come on by and try bubbles from around the globe during our 6^th Annual 'All That Sparkles' bubbly wine tasting.  Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing, keeper of many of the good bubbles in Virginia, will be in the house sampling some pretty cool wines including the namesake Champagne of the person who was quoted as saying 'I'm seeing stars' after drinking it!  Notice that 'Dom Perignon' in the list below?!  If you can't make it tonight, don't worry - we have plenty of other tasty samplings to try between now and Christmas - just take a look at the schedule below.  If you're planning a special holiday meal or if you're in charge of getting the wines for a special holiday meal, there's nothing we'd rather do than help you pick up some delicious finds at reasonable prices.  Let us do the heavy lifting of shopping while you take a moment to relax, regroup and taste some vino!  And speaking of menus, read on below to see all of the gourmet selections we will be offering from Galletta's, a family run Italian store based out of Leesburg.  Their grated Parmesan is the best I've ever had and their Prosciutto is as good as what you'd find at The Italian Store in Arlington.  'Tis the season for good food, good friends and good fun so enjoy the holiday season as it kicks into high gear!

'Tastier Thursday' TONIGHT featuring Bubblies from all around the world from 5:00pm to 7:00pm

It's that time of year, time for bubbles and Champagne Girl couldn't be happier about that!  This year, we're going to have a large lineup of bubbles to let everyone taste a variety of styles from a variety of places and we'll take orders at special, 'that evening only' pricing.  All wines will be in and available for pickup by Wednesday afternoon, December 19^th, just in time for Christmas and/or New Year's.  Here's what's on the table to taste tonight:

Segura Viadus Brut Reserva NV (Cava from Spain)

Lindauer Brut NV (New Zealand)

Zonin 'Special Cuvee' Prosecco NV (Italy)

Gloria Ferrer 'Royal Cuvee' Brut NV (Sonoma, California)

Quiz Corner

Last Week's Quiz Question:  White wine from Burgundy is almost always made with the Chardonnay grape.  Name the one appellation in Burgundy where Sauvignon Blanc is the grape.  There is only allowed appellation in Burgundy.

Hint: As the crow flies, the appellation is only 35 miles from Sancerre in the Loire Valley.

Answer:  Saint-Bris.

Congratulations to Ryan Gibbons and Cliff Alligood, this week's quiz winners...come on in and collect your prize!

This Week's Quiz Question:  The Quiz Corner is on vacation due to too much trptophan!

Odds & Ends & Holiday Hours

Just a reminder for the holidays, we'll be open on the following upcoming Mondays:

• Monday, December 3rd from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 10th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 17th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 24th from 10:00am to 3:00pm
• Monday, December 31^st from 10:00am to 5:00pm

Our hours for the upcoming week are:

• Thursday, November 22nd - CLOSED
• Friday, November 23rd from 11:00am to 5:00pm
• Saturday, November 24th from 10:00am to 6:00pm
• Sunday, November 25th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
• Monday, November 26th - CLOSED
• Tuesday, November 27th - Normal Hours Resume

That's it for this week!  Happy Turkey Day!!

Regards,

Lucinda, Vaughn, Dan, Nancy and Bogart

This Week's Tastings:

Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm - Italian Wine Tasting with Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing

Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm

304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA  20170  703-471-9649

Monday:  Closed
Tuesday through Friday:  11:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday:  10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday:  12:00pm to 4:00pm

http://www.thewineseller.com/

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ISSUE DATE: November 15, 2007
WEEK OF: November 11, 2007

Call Jerry Lewis!  Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive!!  Yup.  It's that time of year again when those Marketing Mavericks in France know when to send over easy drinking, fruit driven red wine which is perfect for the Big Bird and arrives just in time for that quintessential American holiday known as Thanksgiving!  Now, who woulda thunk there was a correlation between Beaujolais Nouveau and Thanksgiving?!  We've got two Beaujolais Nouveau picks this year along with a laundry list of wines at all price points to go with your holiday meal.  If you really want to make shopping for wine for Thanksgiving, we've made it easy again this year with our choice of two Six Packs to Go-Go for $57 plus tax.  Plus, since it seems to be a French-themed kind of day, Bogart has a classic French recipe which would make an outstanding appetizer for Thanksgiving.  And yes, it involves cheese!  There are no quiz winners from last week but we've got a new quiz question this week before the Quiz Corner takes a week off for Turkey Day.  There are a couple of seats left in the Wine & Cheese Class on Wednesday, December 5^th and due to overwhelming demand, we've added a third Italian wine class on Tuesday, January 29^th.  See, learning can be fun!  So bring in your menus for next Thursday (yes, Thanksgiving is only a week away!) and let us assist you in making the perfect wine selections for your big spread!

Our Beaujolais Nouveau Picks

Domaine Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Nouveau 2007 - It's tried and true.  It's fresh and new.  It's Beaujolais Nouveau!  We've carried the Domaine Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Nouveau from Kysela Pere et Fils for years and it's always a big hit.  $12.99 per bottle.

Jean Paul Brun 'Domaine des Terres Dorees' Beaujolais Nouveau 2007 - Jean Paul Brun is an old fashioned wine making kind of guy.  Virtually all other Beaujolais Nouveau is now made by adding a particular industrial yeast during fermentation. This yeast is a laboratory product made from a tomato base which imparts wines with banana and candy aromas - a classic taste profile for Beaujolais Nouveau.  Brun believes it produces a beverage with no authenticity and very little charm.  His view is that Beaujolais drinks best at a lower degree of alcohol and that there is no need to add sugar to the must (chapitalize) to reach higher alcohol levels.  So, he chapitalizes minimally or not at all - depending on the vintage and the cuvée.  His Beaujolais is made to be pleasurable - light, fruity and delicious - not an artificially inflated wine that shines at tasting competitions.  For 13 out of 15 years Brun's Nouveau has been voted by the growers in Beaujolais as 'The Best Nouveau of the Vintage' and Robert Parker has rated Brun as a four-star producer (the only other Beaujolais producers with four stars are in the Crus).  This one will be sure to go quickly!  $15.99 per bottle.

'Tastier Thursday' Wine Tasting Tonight from 5:00pm to 7:00pm featuring Turkey Day Wines

Join us for our 6^th Annual Turkey Day Wine Tasting with Jason Bise of The Country Vintner.  We will be trying the following wines:

 Scharffenberger Brut NV

Ferraton 'Samorens' Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2006

Cline Sonoma Marsanne/Rousanne 2005

River Road Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2005

75er Wine Company Lake County 'Amber Knolls Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Wine Tasting featuring Turkey Day Wines on Saturday, November 17^th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Please join Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing as we taste some wines perfect for the upcoming turkey feast.  Featured wines include:

St. Hallett Barossa 'Poacher's Blend' Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Erath Oregon Pinot Gris 2006

J. Lohr Monterey 'Wildflower' Valdiguie 2006

Erath Oregon Pinot Noir 2006

Plus a few Italian surprises perfect the table with the Big Bird including:

Ruffino Tenuta La Solatia Toscana Chardonnay 2005

Ruffino Toscana 'Modus' 2005

Sparkling Cider for Grown-Ups (!) Tasting on Tuesday, November 20^th from 12:00pm to 5:00pm

Eric Bordelet is considered to be one the best artisan makers of 'Adult' cider in Normandy.  Eric worked as a sommelier at a famous Parisian restaurant for many years and learned the cider making trade from his father.  Eric approaches making sparkling cider with the same artisan approach as making wine.  Apples and pears, his fruits of choice for the sparkling ciders, are dry farmed and hand harvested.  Eric is big on biodynamic farming which frequently truly does produce a purer and most delicious wine.

We are bringing in several of his ciders for the first time this year and we'll be taking them for a test drive on Tuesday afternoon next week - just two days before Thanksgiving.  These sparkling ciders would be the perfect choice to celebrate your holiday table!  

The Turkey Day Six Pack Face Off....the Dynamic Duo vs. the Odd Couple

This year's six pack faceoff is between Dan & Nancy, the 'Dynamic Duo' and Vaughn and Bogart, the 'Odd Couple'.  Who knew 'the Mutt' could pick out wines?!  But, he and Chef Richard won the 6 pack contest last year!  Here are the six packs for this year with dynamite pricing and tasty picks.

Dynamic Duo 6 pack - $57

1 btl of Saint Meyland Brut NV

3 btls of Terrazzo Esino Blanco (Verdicchio/Trebbiano) 2006

2 btls J. Lohr 'Wildflower' Valdiguie 2005

Odd Couple 6 pack - $57

1 btl of Domaine St. Vincent Brut NV

2 btls of St. Hallett 'Poacher's Blend' Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2006

3 btls of Terre d'Aleramo Piemonte Barbera 2005

Upcoming Tastings

Friday, November 30th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm - Italian wine tasting with Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing.  Jim will be pouring an array of wines from all over Italy for us to try.  Complimentary.
 

Wine Classes

We have a few seats left for the following upcoming classes:

Wednesday, 12/5 - Wine & Cheese:  Build a Cheese Platter to Work with Wine   2 seats left!

Tuesday, 1/29 - Italian Wine Class  JUST ADDED!!

Tuesday, 2/5 - Introduction to Wine:  Get the Wine Bug!

Tuesday, 3/4 - Component Wine Tasting Class

Tuesday, 4/1 - Sake

For a complete list of our wine classes, please see our website at http://www.thewineseller.com.  Click on the 'Wine Classes' link on the right side of the home page.  All wine classes are available as gift certificates which make for a great holiday present!

If you are interested in signing up for any of the remaining seats for any of these classes, please call (703-471-9649) or email (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) to sign up!

Our Picks for Turkey Day This Year...Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

I know it seems nearly impossible to be thinking about Thanksgiving with the warm temperatures we've had all October BUT....Thanksgiving is four weeks from today!!!  We've scoured all of our reps' books and think we have found some great wines at all price points this year for Thanksgiving.  Of course, our first measuring yardstick was that all the wines on the list had to pass our 'two glass theory'...after all, a long weekend with family calls for at least two glasses!!  All of the wines will work terrifically with all the trimmings on the table so come on in, tell us what you're making, we'll try not to invite ourselves to your house for dinner and we will hook you up with some great wines, red or white (or both) from $5.99 on up.  

Help!  My family size is a merger of The Waltons and Eight is Enough!

Domaine Lalanne Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne 2006 - This white blend of Gros Mensang, Petit Mensang and Ugni Blanc sure is tasty for the money!  Full of fruit showing notes of bosc pears and ripe apples, the wine retains a crisp, dry finish which makes you want more.  Definitely a 'two glass' wine!  $8.79 per bottle.  

Borsao Garnacha/Tempranillo 2006 - A true 'no brainer' as they say.  Comprised of Tempranillo and Garnacha, this table red is fresh and juicy.  $6.99 per bottle.

Terrazzo Esino Bianco 2006 - This tasty blend of 80% Verdicchio and 20% Trebbiano is the perfect wine to go from pre-dinner to dinner and beyond and it's a crowd pleaser to boot.  Definitely a 'two glass' theory wine which is easy to enjoy and easy on the pocketbook.  $7.99 per bottle.

Terre d'Aleramo Piemonte Barbera 2005 - Talk about a winner...this wine ROCKS!  What a terrific all around crowd pleasing red from Northern Italy which is perfect for everything from turkey and all the trimmings to pizza when you can't stand to see turkey in one more format by the Sunday after Thanksgiving!  And the value price is unbeatable!  $7.99 per bottle.

Bodega Torre Castillo Jumilla Monastrell 2006 - This is the tastiest red wine to come down the Kysela pipe for the price since Tres Ojos hit the market about four years ago.  Umm, umm good it is!  Made from 100% Mourvedre grapes in the eastern coastal region of Jumilla, this rich, opulent wine is full of body and flavor with round, supple tannins on the finish.  It's an excellent fall and winter red to be quaffing while pedaling around the house or would be excellent with the game dishes of fall.  We think this one is going to seduce you!  $9.99 per bottle.

La Bamba Bonarda-Sangiovese-Tempranillo 2006 - Want an easy drinking table red that won't break the bank but offers loads of flavor?  Then this blend of 40% Bonarda, 40% Sangiovese and 20% Tempranillo from Argentina is your wine.  It offers medium weight on the palate with a supple finish.  $7.99 per bottle.

Valle Martello Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006 - This the kind of Italian red wine which should be a glass pour at every Italian restaurant.  And it definitely fits our 'two glass' theory!  An excellent balance of fruit and earth which is silky and supple on the palate, this is a perfect fall red for any kind of meats, roasts or game as well as any kind of tomato based Italian dish.  Normally $10.99, specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.

Blue Jean Red Wine NV - This juicy little number from California is approximately 1/3 Zinfandel, 1/3 Merlot and 1/3 Syrah.  The Zinfandel and the Merlot are sourced from select vineyard sites in Sonoma County and the Syrah is from the mountains north of Santa Barbara in the Central Coast.  The result is a tasty red table wine that's perfect alone or with absolutely anything off the grill.  $9.99 per bottle.

Ok.  My family is only the size of the Brady Bunch so I have some extra Dead Presidents in my wallet...

Stevenot Sierra Foothills Zinfandel 2005 - This flavorful is one of the best tasting everyday priced Zinfandels I've tasted in awhile.  It's positively fantastic for the money!  It's got all the classic traits of Zinfandel - rich red and black fruits, a very pleasant briariness and fairly full bodied on the palate without being tannic.  This is an excellent wine for any meats off the Barbie, especially if they have strong spices or BBQ sauce.  $12.79 per bottle.

Chateau Thebaud 'Cuvee Petite M' Muscadet 2006 - Here is an excellent white which is a perfect match for shellfish.  Perhaps some oysters on the half shell or gulf shrimp cocktail?  This wine is clean with a hint of flintiness but retains nice balance because of the richness of weight on the palate.  $10.99 per bottle.

J. Lohr 'Wildflower' Monterey Valdiguie 2006 - Valdiguie is an obscure southern French grape and in the case of California growers, it was mistakenly identified as 'Napa Gamay', until it was correctly ID'd to be Valdiguie.  It is Gamay in style, however, with bright red fruits and a beautiful violet color.  It's a perfect red for fall as well as for the table with turkey and all the trimmings.  $11.59 per bottle.

Lapis Luna Monterey Chardonnay 2005 - This unoaked Chardonnay was a very pleasant surprise upon tasting it.  It's clean and focused and hints only slightly at tropical fruits instead of being dominated by them which is often the case with Chardonnays from this region of California.  Pretty melon and apple notes abound in the glass and with its focused acidity, it works from appetizers to main menus.  Value priced at $10.99 per bottle.

Fabbioli Cellars Virginia Chambourcin 2006 - How 'bout supporting the home team for Thanksgiving?!  This lighter red would be perfect for turkey and all the trimmings and we'd suggest you even stick it out on the deck for about a half an hour before dinner to get it chilled to just the right temperature.  $15.99 per bottle.

Capolan Sonoma County Merlot 2004 - For the price, this Merlot shows some serious complexity in the glass.  It's definitely a darker style with notes of black currants, tobacco and dark chocolate on the palate.  A very satisfying drink for the price of $11.99 per bottle.

Ferraton Pere et Fils 'Samorens' Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2006 - We first fell in love with this wine late in the summer and tried to order it, only to find out it was out of stock.  It's back, for now, but sure to be gone by Turkey Day as it is a perfect white wine for the holiday and just received a bunch of fantastic reviews.  A little richer and more earthy on the palate, an excellent match for mushroom or oyster stuffing.  $10.99 per bottle.

Inama 'Vin Soave' Soave Classico 2006 - Each time we taste out this wine, it is a huge hit.  It is rich without being opulent and offers great weight on the palate which makes it a great wine to work with all sorts of foods on the table.  The Italians know how to make great wine to go with food!  $16.99 per bottle.

Cline Marsanne/Rousanne Sonoma County 2005 - This blend of 74% Marsanne and 26% Rousanne, two white grapes originated from the Rhone valley, are perfect marriage for a rich white wine exhibiting loads of balance and flavor.  We tasted this wine out at our first wine class and it sold out on the spot.  This wine would be an excellent white for turkey and all the trimmings or any seafood dish you might do for the holidays.  $17.99 per bottle.

Just the Two of Us (or maybe four) and looking for a gorgeous bottle or two to enjoy

Bodegas Nais 'Naisdes' Rueda Verdejo 2005 - This unique gem is from the northern part of Spain and is made from 100+ year old Verdejo vines which were amazingly enough, left untouched by phylloxera.  It is a rich wine with amazing acidity and shows off notes of ripe pears, honeysuckle and a touch of vanilla spice.  In a blind tasting, one might mistake it for a terrific White Burgundy.  $32.99 per bottle.

Domaine Marc Sorrel Hermitage Rouge 2004 - The best way to describe this wine is sexy and sumptuous.  I haven't tasted a Rhone blend as voluptuous as this wine in a very long time.  Started initially by Felix Sorrel in 1927, this Domaine is known to be the finest source of artisanal and traditionally made Hermitage wines.  And o, la la...it doesn't disappoint.  The grapes are hand harvested and are picked late in the season to make richer, more concentrated wines.  It's a 100% Syrah and with it's seductive nose and persistent finish, you might bypass the turkey altogether and just enjoy a glass or two of this wine!  $74.99 per bottle.

Gift Baskets

Pre-made gift baskets of varying sizes and with varying items arrive this weekend at the store.  In addition, we will be receiving more baskets over the next few weeks.  Also, if you wish to order a gift basket in advance, please email Lucinda@thewineseller.com and I can email you the gift basket price sheet.  If you do want to order a gift basket, we will need to have your order by the Thursday before the following Friday for pickup.  For example, I would need to have your order today, Thursday the 15^th, for pickup on/after Friday the 23^rd.  We will try to keep the store stocked with baskets already made, however.

Bogie's Recipe Board

My Thanksgiving recipe homework continues and since I originated in France and I am Cheese Hound, I am picking a recipe which utilizes both of these aspects.  These will blow everyone's socks off they are so tasty (it's the cheese that's the secret ingredient!) and I know after eating a couple dozen of these tasty pastries (ok, my Mom doesn't know about this so don't tell her!), I'm ready to sleep on the sofa for hours.  From Saveur Cooks Authentic French, here is the classic French Cheese Puff recipe perfect for a big group of humans or one cheese lovin' Basset Hound:

Gougeres
Makes 3 dozen

8 tbsp butter cut into pieces

¾ cup milk

Salt and ground white pepper

1 cup flour

4 large eggs at room temperature

1-1/2 cups grated Comte or Gruyere cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.  Combine butter, ½ cup of the milk and ½ cup water in a medium saucepan over high heat.  Season generously with salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil and when butter has melted, remove pan from heat.  Add flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until mixture forms a thick dough and pulls away from the sides of the pan, 1 to 2 minutes.  Return pan to heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.

Let dough cool to room temperature then beat in eggs, one at a time, making sure each egg is completely incorporated into the mixture and dough is smooth after each addition.  Dough should be thick, shiny and smooth.  Add 1 cup of the cheese and beat in until well combined.  

Spoon tablespoon-size mounds of dough onto nonstick baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each.  Brush tops with remaining ¼ cup milk, then sprinkle with remaining ½ cup cheese.  Bake one tray at a time in lower third of the oven until gougeres have double in size and are golden in color, approximately 20-25 minutes.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Wine Pairing Suggestions

• Any clean, not-over-oaked West Coast Chardonnay would work or particularly, a White Burgundy
• Pinot Noir, Beaujolais Nouveau or a Grenache from Spain would work nicely as a red wine
• Sparkling wine would be a festive way to commence the meal with these tasty wonders!

Quiz Corner

Last Week's Quiz Question:  True or False.  Grapes used to make Beaujolais Nouveau can come from anywhere in Beaujolais, including the cru appellations.

Answer:  False.  Grapes from the Cru areas in Beaujolais (Fleurie, Brouilly, Moulin-A-Vent, etc.) cannot be used for making Beaujolais Nouveau.

Sorry, no quiz winners this week.

This Week's Quiz Question:  White wine from Burgundy is almost always made with the Chardonnay grape.  Name the one appellation in Burgundy where Sauvignon Blanc is the grape.  There is only allowed appellation in Burgundy.

Hint: As the crow flies, the appellation is only 35 miles from Sancerre in the Loire Valley.

Odds & Ends & Holiday Hours

Just a reminder for the holidays, we'll be open on the following upcoming Mondays:

• Monday, November 19th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 3rd from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 10th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 17th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 24th from 10:00am to 3:00pm
• Monday, December 31^st from 10:00am to 5:00pm

Our hours for the upcoming week are:

• Sunday, November 18th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
• Monday, November 19th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Tuesday, November 20th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Wednesday, November 21st from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Thursday, November 22nd - CLOSED
• Friday, November 23rd from 11:00am to 5:00pm
• Saturday, November 24th from 10:00am to 6:00pm
• Sunday, November 25th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
• Monday, November 26th - CLOSED
• Tuesday, November 27th - Normal Hours Resume

That's it for this week!

Regards,

Lucinda, Vaughn, Dan, Nancy and Bogart

This Week's Tastings:

Thursday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm - 6th Annual Turkey Day Wines with Jason Bise of The Country Vintner

Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm - Beaujolais Nouveau

Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - Turkey Wines with Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing

304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA  20170  703-471-9649

Monday:  Closed
Tuesday through Friday:  11:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday:  10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday:  12:00pm to 4:00pm

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ISSUE DATE: November 8, 2007
WEEK OF: November 4, 2007

It's Tryptophan time!  Yup, it's that time of year where it's time to take your Trip-to-The-Wine-Seller in order that you'll have interesting wines, reasonably priced, at your dinner table for the Day of the Big Bird!!   Because you know when all is said and done, tryptophan will get you and you'll be snoozing away by 5:00pm Thanksgiving Day with the football game on the telly.  Thanksgiving is only TWO WEEKS from today....YIKES!!!!!!!!  We've got all sorts of wine picks for the upcoming holiday ranging from $7 on up and spanning the globe from Oregon and California to Italy to New Zealand to all over France.  Speaking of France, don't forget that next Thursday is Jerry Lewis time!!  Yup, Beaujolais Nouveau will be hitting our shelves and we'll have two different ones to offer.  But don't dilly dally, it always sells faster than you can say, 'Jerry Lewis, Jerry Lewis'!  Our annual six pack rivalry is back for Turkey Day.  This year, we have the 'Dynamic Duo' of Dan & Nancy vs. the 'Odd Couple' of Vaughn and Bogart.  Who will sell more 6 packs?  Stay tuned as we keep track of the sales count.  Last year, Bogart and Chef Richard won by 'an ear length'...Baskets are arriving in the store this weekend plus we have a special Thanksgiving wine tasting going on Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.  So bring in your Turkey Day menus and tell us how many you need to feed and we'll get you set up with the best wine values around no matter what your budget!

Wine Tasting featuring Turkey Day Wines on Saturday, November 10^th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Please join Brian Forsgren this Saturday afternoon as he samples some of turkey picks from his eclectically tasty portfolio.  In addition, we will be sampling some of the gourmet food products Brian sells from the Neal Rosenthal portfolio.  Featured wines include:

Domaine La Manarine Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2006

Albert Mann 'Cuvee Albert' Pinot Gris 2005

Jacques Charmetant Vielles Vignes Beajolais 2005

Le Dereze Cotes du Rhone Villages 2005

And a special favorite of ours from the appellation of St. Joseph in the Rhone Valley!

As always, wine and food tastings are complimentary!

Upcoming Tastings

Thursday, November 15^th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm - '6^th Annual Turkey Day Wine Tasting' with Jason Bise of The Country Vintner.  A perennial favorite at tastings here at the store, Jason will be back again this year pouring several of his picks for Thanksgiving this year.  We promise great wines, good fun, tasty nibbles and a turkey free zone!  Complimentary.

Saturday, November 17^th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - 'Thanksgiving Day Wine Tasting' with Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing.  Make your holiday wine shopping more enjoyable and definitely easier as you get to try before you buy!  Jim, a veteran of the wine business in Northern Virginia, will be tasting out wine selections perfect for your holiday table.  Complimentary.

Wine Classes

We have a few seats left for the following upcoming classes:

Wednesday, 12/5 - Wine & Cheese:  Build a Cheese Platter to Work with Wine   4 seats left!

Tuesday, 2/5 - Introduction to Wine:  Get the Wine Bug!

For a complete list of our wine classes, please see our website at http://www.thewineseller.com/classes.htm.  All wine classes are available as gift certificates which make for a great holiday present!

If you are interested in signing up for any of the remaining seats for any of these classes, please call (703-471-9649) or email (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) to sign up!

I know it seems nearly impossible to be thinking about Thanksgiving with the warm temperatures we've had all October BUT....Thanksgiving is four weeks from today!!!  We've scoured all of our reps' books and think we have found some great wines at all price points this year for Thanksgiving.  Of course, our first measuring yardstick was that all the wines on the list had to pass our "two glass theory&#xu201D;....after all, a long weekend with family calls for at least two glasses!!  All of the wines will work terrifically with all the trimmings on the table so come on in, tell us what you're making, we'll try not to invite ourselves to your house for dinner and we will hook you up with some great wines, red or white (or both) from $5.99 on up.  And we'll be adding to our list each week!! 

Help!  My family size is a merger of The Waltons and Eight is Enough!

Domaine Lalanne Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne 2006 - This white blend of Gros Mensang, Petit Mensang and Ugni Blanc sure is tasty for the money!  Full of fruit showing notes of bosc pears and ripe apples, the wine retains a crisp, dry finish which makes you want more.  Definitely a 'two glass' wine!  $8.79 per bottle.  

Borsao Garnacha/Tempranillo 2006 - A true 'no brainer' as they say.  Comprised of Tempranillo and Garnacha, this table red is fresh and juicy.  $6.99 per bottle.

Terrazzo Esino Bianco 2006 - This tasty blend of 80% Verdicchio and 20% Trebbiano is the perfect wine to go from pre-dinner to dinner and beyond and it's a crowd pleaser to boot.  Definitely a 'two glass' theory wine which is easy to enjoy and easy on the pocketbook.  $7.99 per bottle.

Terre d'Aleramo Piemonte Cortese 2006 - And here's the white mate to the red wine listed above.  Cortese is the grape of Gavi and this juicy little number would make the perfect quaffer over loads of appetizers before you sit down for the big meal.   $7.99 per bottle.

Bodega Torre Castillo Jumilla Monastrell 2006 - This is the tastiest red wine to come down the Kysela pipe for the price since Tres Ojos hit the market about four years ago.  Umm, umm good it is!  Made from 100% Mourvedre grapes in the eastern coastal region of Jumilla, this rich, opulent wine is full of body and flavor with round, supple tannins on the finish.  It's an excellent fall and winter red to be quaffing while pedaling around the house or would be excellent with the game dishes of fall.  We think this one is going to seduce you!  $9.99 per bottle.

La Bamba Bonarda-Sangiovese-Tempranillo 2006 - Want an easy drinking table red that won't break the bank but offers loads of flavor?  Then this blend of 40% Bonarda, 40% Sangiovese and 20% Tempranillo from Argentina is your wine.  It offers medium weight on the palate with a supple finish.  $7.99 per bottle.

Valle Martello Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006 - This the kind of Italian red wine which should be a glass pour at every Italian restaurant.  And it definitely fits our 'two glass' theory!  An excellent balance of fruit and earth which is silky and supple on the palate, this is a perfect fall red for any kind of meats, roasts or game as well as any kind of tomato based Italian dish.  Normally $10.99, specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.

Ok.  My family is only the size of the Brady Bunch so I have some extra Dead Presidents in my wallet...

Stevenot Sierra Foothills Zinfandel 2005 - This flavorful is one of the best tasting everyday priced Zinfandels I've tasted in awhile.  It's positively fantastic for the money!  It's got all the classic traits of Zinfandel - rich red and black fruits, a very pleasant briariness and fairly full bodied on the palate without being tannic.  This is an excellent wine for any meats off the Barbie, especially if they have strong spices or BBQ sauce.  $12.79 per bottle.

Chateau Thebaud 'Cuvee Petite M' Muscadet 2006 - Here is an excellent white which is a perfect match for shellfish.  Perhaps some oysters on the half shell or gulf shrimp cocktail?  This wine is clean with a hint of flintiness but retains nice balance because of the richness of weight on the palate.  $10.99 per bottle.

J. Lohr 'Wildflower' Monterey Valdiguie 2006 - Valdiguie is an obscure southern French grape and in the case of California growers, it was mistakenly identified as 'Napa Gamay', until it was correctly ID'd to be Valdiguie.  It is Gamay in style, however, with bright red fruits and a beautiful violet color.  It's a perfect red for fall as well as for the table with turkey and all the trimmings.  $11.59 per bottle

Fabbioli Cellars Virginia Chambourcin 2006 - How 'bout supporting the home team for Thanksgiving?!  This lighter red would be perfect for turkey and all the trimmings and we'd suggest you even stick it out on the deck for about a half an hour before dinner to get it chilled to just the right temperature.  $15.99 per bottle.

Capolan Sonoma County Merlot 2004 - For the price, this Merlot shows some serious complexity in the glass.  It's definitely a darker style with notes of black currants, tobacco and dark chocolate on the palate.  A very satisfying drink for the price of $11.99 per bottle.

Ferraton Pere et Fils 'Samorens' Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2006 - We first fell in love with this wine late in the summer and tried to order it, only to find out it was out of stock.  It's back, for now, but sure to be gone by Turkey Day as it is a perfect white wine for the holiday and just received a bunch of fantastic reviews.  A little richer and more earthy on the palate, an excellent match for mushroom or oyster stuffing.  $10.99 per bottle.

Inama 'Vin Soave' Soave Classico 2006 - Each time we taste out this wine, it is a huge hit.  It is rich without being opulent and offers great weight on the palate which makes it a great wine to work with all sorts of foods on the table.  The Italians know how to make great wine to go with food!  $16.99 per bottle.

and all the trimmings or any seafood dish you might do for the holidays.  $17.99 per bottle.

Just the Two of Us (or maybe four) and looking for a gorgeous bottle or two to enjoy

Bodegas Nais 'Naisdes' Rueda Verdejo 2005 - This unique gem is from the northern part of Spain and is made from 100+ year old Verdejo vines which were amazingly enough, left untouched by phylloxera.  It is a rich wine with amazing acidity and shows off notes of ripe pears, honeysuckle and a touch of vanilla spice.  In a blind tasting, one might mistake it for a terrific White Burgundy.  $32.99 per bottle.

Albert Mann 'Cuvee Albert' Pinot Gris 2005 - This rich, Alsatian wine still retains excellent acidity making for a perfect turkey day wine and all those sides you'll have on the table.  Terrific weight on the palate and juicy on the finish.  $22.99 per bottle.

Domaine Marc Sorrel Hermitage Rouge 2004 - The best way to describe this wine is sexy and sumptuous.  I haven't tasted a Rhone blend as voluptuous as this wine in a very long time.  Started initially by Felix Sorrel in 1927, this Domaine is known to be the finest source of artisanal and traditionally made Hermitage wines.  And o, la la...it doesn't disappoint.  The grapes are hand harvested and are picked late in the season to make richer, more concentrated wines.  It's a 100% Syrah and with it's seductive nose and persistent finish, you might bypass the turkey altogether and just enjoy a glass or two of this wine!  $74.99 per bottle.

The Turkey Day Six Pack Face Off....the Dynamic Duo vs the Odd Couple

This year's six pack faceoff is between Dan & Nancy, the 'Dynamic Duo' and Vaughn and Bogart, the 'Odd Couple'.  Who knew 'the Mutt' could pick out wines?!  But, he and Chef Richard won the 6 pack contest last year!  Here are the six packs for this year with dynamite pricing and tasty picks.

Dynamic Duo 6 pack - $57

1 btl of Saint Meyland Brut NV

2 btls J. Lohr 'Wildflower' Valdiguie 2005

Odd Couple 6 pack - $57

1 btl of Domaine St. Vincent Brut NV

2 btls of St. Hallett 'Poacher's Blend' Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2006

3 btls of Terre d'Aleramo Piemonte Barbera 2005

Six packs available for pickup staring Friday, November 9^th!

Gift Baskets

Pre-made gift baskets of varying sizes and with varying items arrive this weekend at the store.  In addition, we will be receiving more baskets over the next few weeks.  Also, if you wish to order a gift basket in advance, please email Lucinda@thewineseller.com and I can email you the gift basket price sheet.  It will also be posted shortly online on our website at http://www.thewineseller.com.  If you do want to order a gift basket, we will need to have your order by the Thursday before the following Friday for pickup.  For example, I would need to have your order today, Thursday the 8^th, for pickup on/after Friday the 16^th.  We will try to keep the store stocked with baskets already made, however.

Bogie's Recipe Board

Boy, did I get a homework assignment this week (and probably next week too!).  Mom told me 'look for Thanksgiving recipes'.  So, here's my first pick and I hope someone (hint, hint) makes it for me to try.  After all, there's no better picture of a basset than one with a big biscuit stuffed into its mouth after swiping it off the counter!!  From The Thanksgiving Table:

Herbed Buttermilk Biscuits
Makes about 15 biscuits 

¾ tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp baking powder

¼ tsp freshly ground pepper

4 tbsp ice cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces

2 tbsp minced fresh parsley

1 tbsp fresh thyme

1 tbsp fresh sage

¾ cup plus 2 tbsp buttermilk

1-1/2 tbsp olive oil for brushing
 

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and pepper.  Scatter the butter over the top.  Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour until the butter pieces are no larger than peas.  Add the herbs and the buttermilk, stirring just to blend well.  Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface; then, using your fingertips, press the dough into a circle about ½ inch thick.  Cut 2 inch rounds with a biscuit cutter or use the rim of a drinking glass.  Reshape any remaining dough and cut more biscuits.  Place the rounds on an ungreased baking sheet.  Brush the biscuits with olive oil.  Bake until golden brown, about 18 to 20 minutes.  Serve warm or rewarm just before serving.

Wine Pairing Suggestions

• Why, any of our Thanksgiving picks!

Quiz Corner

Last Week's Quiz Question:  Name two techniques utilized for cap management during fermentation.

Due to technical difficulties with the Quiz Master's email, we'll have to announce any winners for last week and the week before once I can break back into my downloaded emailbox.  Sorry!!

This Week's Quiz Question:  True or False.  Grapes used to make Beaujolais Nouveau can come from anywhere in Beaujolais, including the cru appellations.

Odds & Ends & Holiday Hours

Just a reminder for the holidays, we'll be open on the following upcoming Mondays:

• Monday, November 12^th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, November 19th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 3rd from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 10th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 17th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 24th from 10:00am to 3:00pm
• Monday, December 31^st from 10:00am to 5:00pm

That's it for this week!

Regards,

Lucinda, Vaughn, Dan, Nancy and Bogart

This Week's Tastings:

Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm

Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - Brian Forsgren from Potomac Selections

304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA  20170  703-471-9649

Monday:  Closed

Tuesday through Friday:  11:00am to 8:00pm

Saturday:  10:00am to 6:00pm

Sunday:  12:00pm to 4:00pm

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ISSUE DATE: November 1, 2007
WEEK OF: October 28, 2007

How 'bout those BoSox!  I know it was a fast World Series but their win sure puts a smile on every Red Sox lover across the country.  Now, if we could just straighten out those Redskins!  Then again, maybe we should stick to what we know...wine.  If you're a chocolate and/or wine lover, you should definitely plan on stopping by this Saturday afternoon to sample some of the confectionary delights of locally based Chocolaterie Wanders as well as some wine picks for the Big Bird.  Gift items for the holidays are starting to arrive and wines perfect for turkey and all the trimmings are lining up in the bins.  I just can't believe it'll be Turkey Day in three weeks!!  Bring in your menus and we'll be more than happy to help you pair wine with your foods or stop by for the perfect hostess gift.  Whatever your need, we're sure to have a perfect fit.  And don't forget, this Saturday night you get to 'fall back' so turn your clocks back an hour.  If you don't, you'll be guaranteed to be one of the first people to arrive where you go Sunday morning!  

Wine Tasting featuring Turkey Day Wines on Saturday, November 3^rd from 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Please join Sandy Dickerson this Saturday afternoon as he samples some of the best turkey picks from his portfolio.  Featured wines include:

Monte Schiavo Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2006 - $10.99

Weingut Josef Bauer 'Hengstberg' Riesling 2005 - $13.99

Meinklang Pinot Noir 2005 - $14.99

Corte alla Flora Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2003 - $21.99

Lodali Moscato d'Asti 2006 - $13.99

As always, wine and food tastings are complimentary!

And Chocolate!  

We are very excited to have found an excellent purveyor of fine chocolates and confectionaries locally!  Starting in the beginning of November, we will be carrying chocolates and other fine sweets from Wanders Chocolatiere located in Manassas.  Everything by Wanders is hand made and besides chocolates filled with all sorts of ganaches and other fillings, they also make Pate de Fruit made with Pearmund Cellars wines as well as dried fruits dipped in chocolate and caramelized almonds.  On Saturday, November 3^rd, the owners of Wanders, Wilhelm and Melanie Wanders, will be at the store from 12:00pm to 4:00pm sampling their wares.  We'll be having a wine tasting too so plan to join us and try some fantastic treats!  We'll also be putting up on our website the selections from Wanders which we will be carrying.

Upcoming Tastings

Saturday, November 3^rd from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - A Double Header!  Chocolate and Wine!!  How can you go wrong??!  Sandy Dickerson of Siema Imports will be here tasting out some wines perfect for the Day of the Big Bird.  Wanders Chocolaterie owners, Melanie and Wilhelm Wanders, will be here sampling the confectionaries.  Wilhelm is a Master Pastry Chef and his family has been in the sweets business for generations.  Melanie is CIA graduate and Chez Panisse alum.  I doubt anybody will be eating dinner after this tasting!  Complimentary.  

Saturday, November 10^th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - More food & wine to try!  Brian Forsgren of Potomac Selections will be showing off some of the best Alsatian wines in the market and some of the most interesting Rhone reds we've seen of late.  In addition, Brian also represents the gourmet specialties of Neal Rosenthal so we'll be trying some of the fine foods in their portfolio.  Some specialties include gourmet honey from Italy, French vinegars and mustards, specialty mushrooms from Italy and capers packed in salt.  Complimentary.

Thursday, November 15^th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm - '6^th Annual Turkey Day Wine Tasting' with Jason Bise of The Country Vintner.  A perennial favorite at tastings here at the store, Jason will be back again this year pouring several of his picks for Thanksgiving this year.  We promise great wines, good fun, tasty nibbles and a turkey free zone!  Complimentary.

Saturday, November 17^th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - 'Thanksgiving Day Wine Tasting' with Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing.  Make your holiday wine shopping more enjoyable and definitely easier as you get to try before you buy!  Jim, a veteran of the wine business in Northern Virginia, will be tasting out wine selections perfect for your holiday table.  Complimentary.

Wine Classes

We have a few seats left for the following upcoming classes:

Wednesday, 12/5 - Wine & Cheese:  Build a Cheese Platter to Work with Wine

Tuesday, 1/22 - It's Amore!  A Love Affair with Italian Wines...Come Discover Italy is more than Pinot Grigio & Chianti!

Tuesday, 2/5 - Introduction to Wine:  Get the Wine Bug!

For a complete list of our wine classes, please see our website at http://www.thewineseller.com/classes.htm.  All wine classes are available as gift certificates which make for a great holiday present!

If you are interested in signing up for any of the remaining seats for any of these classes, please call (703-471-9649) or email (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) to sign up!

Our Picks for Turkey Day This Year...Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

I know it seems nearly impossible to be thinking about Thanksgiving with the warm temperatures we've had all October BUT....Thanksgiving is four weeks from today!!!  We've scoured all of our reps' books and think we have found some great wines at all price points this year for Thanksgiving.  Of course, our first measuring yardstick was that all the wines on the list had to pass our "two glass theory"....after all, a long weekend with family calls for at least two glasses!!  All of the wines will work terrifically with all the trimmings on the table so come on in, tell us what you're making, we'll try not to invite ourselves to your house for dinner and we will hook you up with some great wines, red or white (or both) from $5.99 on up.  And we'll be adding to our list each week!! 

Help!  My family size is a merger of The Waltons and Eight is Enough!

Domaine Lalanne Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne 2006 - This white blend of Gros Mensang, Petit Mensang and Ugni Blanc sure is tasty for the money!  Full of fruit showing notes of bosc pears and ripe apples, the wine retains a crisp, dry finish which makes you want more.  Definitely a 'two glass' wine!  $8.79 per bottle.  

Borsao Garnacha/Tempranillo 2006 - A true 'no brainer' as they say.  Comprised of Tempranillo and Garnacha, this table red is fresh and juicy.  $6.99 per bottle.

Terre d'Aleramo Piemonte Barbera 2005 - Talk about a winner...this wine ROCKS!  What a terrific all around crowd pleasing red from Northern Italy which is perfect for everything from turkey and all the trimmings to pizza when you can't stand to see turkey in one more format by the Sunday after Thanksgiving!  And the value price is unbeatable!  $7.99 per bottle.

Bodega Torre Castillo Jumilla Monastrell 2006 - This is the tastiest red wine to come down the Kysela pipe for the price since Tres Ojos hit the market about four years ago.  Umm, umm good it is!  Made from 100% Mourvedre grapes in the eastern coastal region of Jumilla, this rich, opulent wine is full of body and flavor with round, supple tannins on the finish.  It's an excellent fall and winter red to be quaffing while pedaling around the house or would be excellent with the game dishes of fall.  We think this one is going to seduce you!  $9.99 per bottle.

Valle Martello Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006 - This the kind of Italian red wine which should be a glass pour at every Italian restaurant.  And it definitely fits our 'two glass' theory!  An excellent balance of fruit and earth which is silky and supple on the palate, this is a perfect fall red for any kind of meats, roasts or game as well as any kind of tomato based Italian dish.  Normally $10.99, specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.

Blue Jean Red Wine NV - This juicy little number from California is approximately 1/3 Zinfandel, 1/3 Merlot and 1/3 Syrah.  The Zinfandel and the Merlot are sourced from select vineyard sites in Sonoma County and the Syrah is from the mountains north of Santa Barbara in the Central Coast.  The result is a tasty red table wine that's perfect alone or with absolutely anything off the grill.  $9.99 per bottle.

Ok.  My family is only the size of the Brady Bunch so I have some extra Dead Presidents in my wallet...

Stevenot Sierra Foothills Zinfandel 2005 - This flavorful is one of the best tasting everyday priced Zinfandels I've tasted in awhile.  It's positively fantastic for the money!  It's got all the classic traits of Zinfandel - rich red and black fruits, a very pleasant briariness and fairly full bodied on the palate without being tannic.  This is an excellent wine for any meats off the Barbie, especially if they have strong spices or BBQ sauce.  $12.79 per bottle.

Chateau Thebaud 'Cuvee Petite M' Muscadet 2006 - Here is an excellent white which is a perfect match for shellfish.  Perhaps some oysters on the half shell or gulf shrimp cocktail?  This wine is clean with a hint of flintiness but retains nice balance because of the richness of weight on the palate.  $10.99 per bottle.

J. Lohr 'Wildflower' Monterey Valdiguie 2006 - Valdiguie is an obscure southern French grape and in the case of California growers, it was mistakenly identified as "Napa Gamay"until it was correctly ID'd to be Valdiguie.  It is Gamay in style, however, with bright red fruits and a beautiful violet color.  It's a perfect red for fall as well as for the table with turkey and all the trimmings.  $11.59 per bottle

Lapis Luna Monterey Chardonnay 2005 - This unoaked Chardonnay was a very pleasant surprise upon tasting it.  It's clean and focused and hints only slightly at tropical fruits instead of being dominated by them which is often the case with Chardonnays from this region of California.  Pretty melon and apple notes abound in the glass and with its focused acidity, it works from appetizers to main menus.  Value priced at $10.99 per bottle.

Capolan Sonoma County Merlot 2004 - For the price, this Merlot shows some serious complexity in the glass.  It's definitely a darker style with notes of black currants, tobacco and dark chocolate on the palate.  A very satisfying drink for the price of $11.99 per bottle.

Just the Two of Us (or maybe four) and looking for a gorgeous bottle or two to enjoy

Bodegas Nais 'Naisdes' Rueda Verdejo 2005 - This unique gem is from the northern part of Spain and is made from 100+ year old Verdejo vines which were amazingly enough, left untouched by phylloxera.  It is a rich wine with amazing acidity and shows off notes of ripe pears, honeysuckle and a touch of vanilla spice.  In a blind tasting, one might mistake it for a terrific White Burgundy.  $32.99 per bottle.

Bogie's Recipe Board

This recipe came from Nancy and Dan, who shared some of their culinary finesse with me last evening!  Ok, my Mom let me finish up the remaining amounts in the bowl, I didn't get a whole dish, but it sure was yummy!  I think my Mom should now make this for me.  Have I ever mentioned how much I like sausage?! Look out lamb!!!

Slow-Cooker Sausage and Vegetable Risotto

Serves 6

Risotto usually requires endless stirring, but slow cookers can do a lot of the work, with surprisingly good results.

4 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

3/4 pound sweet Italian sausages, casings removed

3 tablespoons water

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 small onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice

1/2 cup dry white wine

2 cups arborio rice (14 ounces)

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 tablespoon kosher salt

5 cups baby spinach (5 ounces)

3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving

Freshly ground pepper

Turn a 6- to 7-quart slow cooker to high. In a saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer. In a skillet, cook the sausage with the water over moderately high heat, breaking it up with a spoon until the water has evaporated and the sausage is browned, 10 minutes. Transfer the sausage to the slow cooker.

In the same skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until translucent, 4 minutes. Add the wine and cook, scraping up any browned bits until the wine is reduced by half, 2 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook until all of the wine has been absorbed. Scrape the rice into the slow cooker. Add the hot broth, zucchini and salt and cover. Cook for 1 hour, stirring once halfway through. The risotto is done when the rice is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Turn off the slow cooker.

Stir the spinach into the risotto until just wilted. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the grated cheese, season with pepper and serve immediately, passing additional cheese at the table.

Wine Pairing Suggestions

• Terre d'Aleramo Piemonte Barbera 2005 - $7.99
• Terrazzo Esino Blanco 2006 - $7.99

Quiz Corner

Last Week's Quiz Question:  What is shinpaku?  (Hint:  if you're thinking Japanese, you're headed in the right direction!)

Answer:  Shinpaku is the starch component or 'white heart' concentrated in the center of the grain of rice used to make premium sake.

Since Quiz Master Bogart neglected to write down the names of the winners, winners will be published next week!  Sorry!!

This Week's Quiz Question:  Name two techniques utilized for cap management during fermentation.

Hint:  A cap occurs when red grapes are fermented, the skins and stems (if not destemmed in advance) rise to the surface of the fermentation vessel, lifted by their lighter weight and by the constant formation of carbon dioxide in the must, until a raftlike 'cap' forms on top of the juice.  (From North American Pinot Noir by John Winthrop Haeger).

Just as a reminder, you have until noon on Monday to submit your answers to this week's quiz question.  As always, Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and select up to three winners out of all the correct answers submitted.  If you'd like to play, submit your answer to Lucinda@thewineseller.com.  

Odds & Ends & Holiday Hours

Just a reminder for the holidays, we'll be open on the following upcoming Mondays:

• Monday, November 12^th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, November 19th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 3rd from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 10th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 17th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 24th from 10:00am to 3:00pm
• Monday, December 31^st from 10:00am to 5:00pm

That's it for this week!

Regards,

Lucinda, Vaughn, Dan, Nancy and Bogart

This Week's Tastings:

Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm

Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - Wine & Chocolate Tasting!!

304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA  20170  703-471-9649

Monday:  Closed
Tuesday through Friday:  11:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday:  10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday:  12:00pm to 4:00pm

http://www.thewineseller.com

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ISSUE DATE: October 25, 2007
WEEK OF: October 21, 2007

The Fabled Hound of The Wine Seller has a new moniker, courtesy of one of our customers who found (and cut out and delivered to Bogart) the perfect cartoon.  The cartoon is up behind the counter at the store but let's just say Bogart is quite pleased with his new alias of 'a Hairy Little God'!  A big 'Thank You' to Chef Eduardo and his team at Jasmine Café for yet another fantastico meal at our wine dinner last week!  When we planned the wine dinner a couple of months ago, who woulda thunk shorts and t-shirts would be the appropriate attire for the evening over sweaters?!  Warm weather aside, the fall menu and wine pairings were delicious so also, a big thank you to Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections for being an excellent Irish guide through Italy!  The heat's turning up in the kitchen as the temperatures are finally beginning to drop and Thanksgiving is creeping up on us faster than any of us would like to realize.  After all, it's almost 'Jerry Lewis' time with Beaujolais Nouveau - which will arrive three weeks from today.  So...we're lining up our Turkey Day wine picks not to mention we have wine tastings galore each week which will be featuring selections perfect for the big family holiday.  All sorts of new gift items will be arriving in the store over the next few weeks and you know us, we are always looking for that clever new find or gift with a humorous twist.  We also have another Oregon Pinot to offer you this week which is a year-in/year-out best seller but get your orders in quickly!  We can't get our hands on enough Pinots these days as the demand is so high.  Let's get to it as the winE-Letter this week is just packed with info!

 'Tastier Thursday' Burgundy Tasting is Tonight!!

If you've ever wanted to discover the wine gems from Burgundy or if you know what a treat it is to sample Burgundies from a heralded vintage, tonight is the night to come by the store and check out our big Burgundy Tasting!  We'll be pouring the five whites and five reds listed below and Olivier Lotterie, Sales Manager for Vineyard Brands, will be at the helm to answer any and all questions about the wondrous wines of Burgundy.  The 2005 vintage is one of the best in the last decade and several of the wines to be tasted tonight are from that vintage.  'Tastier Thursdays' are complimentary and here's what we will be tasting from 5:00pm to 7:00pm tonight at the store:

Matrot Bourgogne Blanc 2006

Boillot Montagny 2006

Boillot Meursault 1er Cru 'Les Charrons' Meursault 2005

Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Vielles Vignes 2006

Girardin 1er Cru 'Les Enseigners' Puligny Montrachet 2005

Girardin 'St. Vincent' Bourgogne Rouge 2005

Girardin 1er Cru 'Les Maladieres' Santenay 2005

Girardin Volnay Vielles Vignes 2005

Henri Gouges 'Chenes Cartaux' Nuits St. George 2004

Girardin 1er Cru 'Les Epenots' Pommard 2005

Pacific Northwest & California Wine Tasting on Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Al McCosh and his 'Nice Legs' will be here on Saturday afternoon tasting out some Turkey Day picks as well as some new wine additions to the store.  We'll be test driving the following wines this weekend and as always, wine tastings are complimentary.  Al has found many small production, artisan wineries to represent in Virginia and it is always fun to see what he's found lately.

Anam Cara Cellars Riesling (we got a wee bit more of this favorite just in time for Turkey Day!!)

Jezebel Blanc (an amazing Oregon white blend!)

Cass Grenache (boutique winery from Paso Robles)

Jezebel Pinot Noir (Oregon Pinot for the money doesn't get tastier!)

Jack Creek Pinot Noir (Westside Paso Robles territory)

Dusted Valley Vintners Syrah (only very small amts are made and most is available only at the winery!)

More Oregon Pinot Noir!

Domaine Serene is consistently regarded as one of the best Pinot Noir producers in Oregon and with the 2006 vintage being so spectacular, there 'Yamhill Cuvee' ought to be a rock star.  Like so many other Pinot Noirs, particularly from Oregon, this wine used to be readily available but due to demand for this high quality wine, it is now an allocated wine with a limited amount coming to us on the Pinot Noir spigot.  If you are interested in any of the 2006 'Yamhill Cuvee' from Domaine Serene, run, don't walk, to your computer or phone and place your order!  You can either email us at Lucinda@thewineseller.com or call us at 703-471-9649.  This would be an excellent bottle to buy this year and put away for a future Thanksgiving meal.  Price for the 2006 vintage is $44.99 per bottle.

Chocolate!

We are very excited to have found an excellent purveyor of fine chocolates and confectionaries locally!  Starting in the beginning of November, we will be carrying chocolates and other fine sweets from Wanders Chocolatiere located in Manassas.  Everything by Wanders is hand made and besides chocolates filled with all sorts of ganaches and other fillings, they also make Pate de Fruit made with Pearmund Cellars wines as well as dried fruits dipped in chocolate and caramelized almonds.  On Saturday, November 3^rd, the owners of Wanders, Wilhelm and Melanie Wanders, will be at the store from 12:00pm to 4:00pm sampling their wares.  We'll be having a wine tasting too so plan to join us and try some fantastic treats!  We'll also be putting up on our website the selections from Wanders which we will be carrying.

Gift Baskets for the Holidays

It's that time of year...time to start thinking gift baskets!  We'll start having pre-made gift baskets in the store at the beginning of November and we will also have menu sheet made up of different gift baskets which will be available.  All gift baskets will include wine and confectionaries from Wanders Chocolaterie.  Stay tuned for all of the pertinent details which will also be published on our website by the end of this month.

Upcoming Tastings

Saturday, November 3^rd from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - A Double Header!  Chocolate and Wine!!  How can you go wrong??!  Sandy Dickerson of Siema Imports will be here tasting out some wines perfect for the Day of the Big Bird.  Wanders Chocolaterie owners, Melanie and Wilhelm Wanders, will be here sampling the confectionaries.  Wilhelm is a Master Pastry Chef and his family has been in the sweets business for generations.  Melanie is CIA graduate and Chez Panisse alum.  I doubt anybody will be eating dinner after this tasting!  Complimentary. 

Saturday, November 10^th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - More food & wine to try!  Brian Forsgren of Potomac Selections will be showing off some of the best Alsatian wines in the market and some of the most interesting Rhone reds we've seen of late.  In addition, Brian also represents the gourmet specialties of Neal Rosenthal so we'll be trying some of the fine foods in their portfolio.  Some specialties include gourmet honey from Italy, French vinegars and mustards, specialty mushrooms from Italy and capers packed in salt.  Complimentary.

Thursday, November 15^th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm - '6^th Annual Turkey Day Wine Tasting' with Jason Bise of The Country Vintner.  A perennial favorite at tastings here at the store, Jason will be back again this year pouring several of his picks for Thanksgiving this year.  We promise great wines, good fun, tasty nibbles and a turkey free zone!  Complimentary.

Saturday, November 17^th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - 'Thanksgiving Day Wine Tasting' with Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing.  Make your holiday wine shopping more enjoyable and definitely easier as you get to try before you buy!  Jim, a veteran of the wine business in Northern Virginia, will be tasting out wine selections perfect for your holiday table.  Complimentary.

Wine Classes

We have a few seats left for the following upcoming classes:

Tuesday, 11/6 - Sail Into Porto:  Discovering Portugal's Gem (only 1 seat left)

Wednesday, 12/5 - Wine & Cheese:  Build a Cheese Platter to Work with Wine

Tuesday, 1/22 - It's Amore!  A Love Affair with Italian Wines...Come Discover Italy is more than Pinot Grigio & Chianti!

If you are interested in signing up for any of the remaining seats for any of these classes, please call (703-471-9649) or email (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) to sign up!

Our Picks for Turkey Day This Year...Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

I know it seems nearly impossible to be thinking about Thanksgiving with the warm temperatures we've had all October BUT....Thanksgiving is four weeks from today!!!  We've scoured all of our reps' books and think we have found some great wines at all price points this year for Thanksgiving.  Of course, our first measuring yardstick was that all the wines on the list had to pass our "two glass theory"....after all, a long weekend with family calls for at least two glasses!!  All of the wines will work terrifically with all the trimmings on the table so come on in, tell us what you're making, we'll try not to invite ourselves to your house for dinner and we will hook you up with some great wines, red or white (or both) from $5.99 on up.  And we'll be adding to our list each week!! 

Help!  My family size is a merger of The Waltons and Eight is Enough!

Domaine Lalanne Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne 2006 - This white blend of Gros Mensang, Petit Mensang and Ugni Blanc sure is tasty for the money!  Full of fruit showing notes of bosc pears and ripe apples, the wine retains a crisp, dry finish which makes you want more.  Definitely a 'two glass' wine!  $8.79 per bottle. 

Borsao Garnacha/Tempranillo 2006 - A true "no brainer"as they say.  Comprised of Tempranillo and Garnacha, this table red is fresh and juicy.  $6.99 per bottle

Bodega Torre Castillo Jumilla Monastrell 2006 - This is the tastiest red wine to come down the Kysela pipe for the price since Tres Ojos hit the market about four years ago.  Umm, umm good it is!  Made from 100% Mourvedre grapes in the eastern coastal region of Jumilla, this rich, opulent wine is full of body and flavor with round, supple tannins on the finish.  It's an excellent fall and winter red to be quaffing while pedaling around the house or would be excellent with the game dishes of fall.  We think this one is going to seduce you!  $9.99 per bottle.

Valle Martello Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006 - This the kind of Italian red wine which should be a glass pour at every Italian restaurant.  And it definitely fits our 'two glass' theory!  An excellent balance of fruit and earth which is silky and supple on the palate, this is a perfect fall red for any kind of meats, roasts or game as well as any kind of tomato based Italian dish.  Normally $10.99, specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.

Blue Jean Red Wine NV - This juicy little number from California is approximately 1/3 Zinfandel, 1/3 Merlot and 1/3 Syrah.  The Zinfandel and the Merlot are sourced from select vineyard sites in Sonoma County and the Syrah is from the mountains north of Santa Barbara in the Central Coast.  The result is a tasty red table wine that's perfect alone or with absolutely anything off the grill.  $9.99 per bottle.

Ok.  My family is only the size of the Brady Bunch so I have some extra Dead Presidents in my wallet...

Stevenot Sierra Foothills Zinfandel 2005 - This flavorful is one of the best tasting everyday priced Zinfandels I've tasted in awhile.  It's positively fantastic for the money!  It's got all the classic traits of Zinfandel - rich red and black fruits, a very pleasant briariness and fairly full bodied on the palate without being tannic.  This is an excellent wine for any meats off the Barbie, especially if they have strong spices or BBQ sauce.  $12.79 per bottle.

J. Lohr "Wildflower' Monterey Valdiguie 2006 - Valdiguie is an obscure southern French grape and in the case of California growers, it was mistakenly identified as "Napa Gamay"until it was correctly ID'd to be Valdiguie.  It is Gamay in style, however, with bright red fruits and a beautiful violet color.  It's a perfect red for fall as well as for the table with turkey and all the trimmings.  $11.59 per bottle

Lapis Luna Monterey Chardonnay 2005 - This unoaked Chardonnay was a very pleasant surprise upon tasting it.  It's clean and focused and hints only slightly at tropical fruits instead of being dominated by them which is often the case with Chardonnays from this region of California.  Pretty melon and apple notes abound in the glass and with its focused acidity, it works from appetizers to main menus.  Value priced at $10.99 per bottle.

Capolan Sonoma County Merlot 2004 - For the price, this Merlot shows some serious complexity in the glass.  It's definitely a darker style with notes of black currants, tobacco and dark chocolate on the palate.  A very satisfying drink for the price of $11.99 per bottle.

Just the Two of Us (or maybe four) and looking for a gorgeous bottle or two to enjoy

Bodegas Nais 'Naisdes' Rueda Verdejo 2005 - This unique gem is from the northern part of Spain and is made from 100+ year old Verdejo vines which were amazingly enough, left untouched by phylloxera.  It is a rich wine with amazing acidity and shows off notes of ripe pears, honeysuckle and a touch of vanilla spice.  In a blind tasting, one might mistake it for a terrific White Burgundy.  $32.99 per bottle.

Bogie's Recipe Board

It's time to start thumbing in the holiday cookbooks or in my case, 'pawing' through them.  I've got my marching orders from the head chef of the house (my Mom) so I've come up with an appetizer recipe this week which is perfect for fall and you may even want to make and serve for Turkey Day.  From Seriously Simple Holidays:

Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates

Makes 6 to 8 servings

18 large Medjool dates (or other dates)

18 pieces Parmesan Cheese, each about 1 inch by ¼ inch

6 slices apple cured bacon, each cut into thirds

1 bunch Parsley, stems removed, for garnish

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Slit each date along one side and carefully remove the pit.  Insert a piece of Parmesan into each slit.  Wrap a piece of bacon around each stuffed date and secure with a toothpick which has been soaked in water.  Place the dates on a baking sheet.

Bake for about 5 minutes or until the bacon on top is crisp.  Using tongs, turn the dates and bake for another 5 minutes or until the bacon on the other side is crisp.  Transfer the dates to a double layer of paper towels to drain.

Place the Parsley bunch in the center of a round serving platter and arrange the dates around the Parsley.  Serve immediately.

Wine Pairing Suggestions

• Bodega Lurton Mendoza Pinot Gris 2006 - $8.99
• Terrazzo Esino Blanco 2006 - $7.99

Quiz Corner

Last Week's Quiz Question:  Match the port term with the appropriate definition and read carefully:

1)   Colheita                             A)  selected lots of wine of a single year bottled after only 2 yrs wood aging and is very ageworthy

2)  Vintage Port                       B)  ruby nonvintage port aged in wood for approx 4 yrs and throws a deposit and is ageworthy

3)   Late Bottle Vintage Port     C)  ruby vintage port aged at least 4 yrs and max of 6 yrs which throws no deposit and is not ageworthy

4)   Crusted Port                       D)  tawny from a vintage and aged in wood for at least 7 years and ready to drink

Answer:  1=D; 2=A; 3=C; 4=B

Sorry, no quiz winners this week!

This Week's Quiz Question:  What is shinpaku?  (Hint:  if you're thinking Japanese, you're headed in the right direction!)

Just as a reminder, you have until noon on Monday to submit your answers to this week's quiz question.  As always, Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and select up to three winners out of all the correct answers submitted.  If you'd like to play, submit your answer to Lucinda@thewineseller.com.  

Odds & Ends

Just a reminder for the holidays, we'll be open on the following upcoming Mondays:

• Monday, November 12^th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, November 19th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 3rd from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 10th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 17th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 24th from 10:00am to 3:00pm
• Monday, December 31^st from 10:00am to 5:00pm

That's it for this week!

Regards,

Lucinda, Vaughn, Dan, Nancy and The Hairy Little God (aka Bogart)

This Week's Tastings:

'Tastier Thursday' featuring Burgundies from Vineyard Brands portfolio from 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm

Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm

304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA  20170  703-471-9649

Monday:  Closed     Tuesday through Friday:  11:00am to 8:00pm

Saturday:  10:00am to 6:00pm     Sunday:  12:00pm to 4:00pm

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ISSUE DATE: October 18, 2007
WEEK OF: October 14, 2007

I'm becoming a 'The Next Iron Chef' junkie.  I'm channel surfing last week as Comcast in Loudoun County just shuffled all the channels a few weeks ago and now I don't know where anything is on the telly.  (Of course, I received the new channel guide in the snail mailbox a week after the shuffling occurred!)  I happen upon the first episode of 'The Next Iron Chef' and I then remember that we have a local chef in the competition.  It's Chef Morou Ouattara of Farrah Olivia which is located in Old Town Alexandria next to Balduccis.  Go Chef Morou!!  If you're a foodie, you'll probably enjoy the show and it's kind of fun that we have someone from the home turf to cheer for each week.  Needless to say, Mr. Food Hound approved of my channel selection as well.  I think all he watches when he's at home is the Animal Planet channel and the Food Network channel.  It's a good think Bogart does his food research as he's got a new recipe (which involves cheese!) for us this week.  And, speaking of food, we've got our delicioso dinner at Jasmine Café tonight with Chef Eduardo.  I've saved my calorie allotment for this evening's dinner!!  Plus, we have some additions to our tasting schedule this fall which includes new foods to try.  If I didn't know better, I'd think that Bogart has taken over setting up the tasting schedule!!  We've got new chocolates arriving in the store at the end of the month and we'll have a gift basket order sheet put together by then as well.  Tastings galore are on the schedule each week for the remainder of the year and we're finalizing our Turkey wine picks as you're reading this newsletter!  Heck, Beaujolias Nouveau will be here before we know it!! (It'll be here the 3^rd Thursday in November)  No quiz winners from last week but we do have a new quiz question this week in honor of our upcoming Port class - which has one open seat left in it.  So, if you're a food and/or wine lover, read on for all that's going on in the store in the upcoming weeks.  We'll see you soon!

Chocolate!

We are very excited to have found an excellent purveyor of fine chocolates and confectionaries locally!  Starting in the beginning of November, we will be carrying chocolates and other fine sweets from Wanders Chocolatiere located in Manassas.  Everything by Wanders is hand made and besides chocolates filled with all sorts of ganaches and other fillings, they also make Pate de Fruit made with Pearmund Cellars wines as well as dried fruits dipped in chocolate and caramelized almonds.  On Saturday, November 3^rd, the owners of Wanders, Wilhelm and Melanie Wanders, will be at the store from 12:00pm to 4:00pm sampling their wares.  We'll be having a wine tasting too so plan to join us and try some fantastic treats!  We'll also be putting up on our website the selections from Wanders which we will be carrying.

Gift Baskets for the Holidays

It's that time of year...time to start thinking gift baskets!  We'll start having pre-made gift baskets in the store at the beginning of November and we will also have menu sheet made up of different gift baskets which will be available.  All gift baskets will include wine and confectionaries from Wanders Chocolaterie.  Stay tuned for all of the pertinent details which will also be published on our website by the end of this month.

Upcoming Tastings

Thursday, October 25^th f rom 5:00pm to 7:00pm - One of our favorite Burgundy purveyors, Olivier Lotterie of Vineyard Brands will be at the store pouring some of the fantastic wines of Burgundy including some from the 2005 vintage.  The tasting lineup will be posted on our website (http://www.thewineseller.com/calendar.htm) by the weekend.  As always, 'Tastier Thursdays' wine tastings are complimentary.

Saturday, October 27^th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - Al McCosh, Owner of Nice Legs, will be here showing off some of his new wares from the Pacific Northwest.  Al promises not to show off his legs, however J  The tasting lineup will be posted on our website (http://www.thewineseller.com/calendar.htm) by the weekend as well.  Complimentary.

Saturday, November 3^rd from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - A Double Header!  Chocolate and Wine!!  How can you go wrong??!  Sandy Dickerson of Siema Imports will be here tasting out some wines perfect for the Day of the Big Bird.  Wanders Chocolaterie owners, Melanie and Wilhelm Wanders, will be here sampling the confectionaries.  Wilhelm is a Master Pastry Chef and his family has been in the sweets business for generations.  Melanie is CIA graduate and Chez Panisse alum.  I doubt anybody will be eating dinner after this tasting!  Complimentary. 

Saturday, November 10^th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - More food & wine to try!  Brian Forsgren of Potomac Selections will be showing off some of the best Alsatian wines in the market and some of the most interesting Rhone reds we've seen of late.  In addition, Brian also represents the gourmet specialties of Neal Rosenthal so we'll be trying some of the fine foods in their portfolio.  Some specialties include gourmet honey from Italy, French vinegars and mustards, specialty mushrooms from Italy and capers packed in salt.  Complimentary.

Wine Classes

We have a couple of seats left for the following upcoming classes:

Tuesday, 11/6 - Sail Into Porto:  Discovering Portugal's Gem (only 1 seat left)

Wednesday, 12/5 - Wine & Cheese:  Build a Cheese Platter to Work with Wine

Tuesday, 1/22 - It's Amore!  A Love Affair with Italian Wines...Come Discover Italy is more than Pinot Grigio & Chianti!

If you are interested in signing up for any of the remaining seats for any of these classes, please call (703-471-9649) or email (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) to sign up!

New Vino Finds

Domaine Lalanne Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne 2006 - This white blend of Gros Mensang, Petit Mensang and Ugni Blanc sure is tasty for the money!  Full of fruit showing notes of bosc pears and ripe apples, the wine retains a crisp, dry finish which makes you want more.  Definitely a 'two glass' wine!  $8.79 per bottle.

Fall Wine Picks

Stevenot Sierra Foothills Zinfandel 2005 - This BBQ Red is one of the best tasting everyday priced Zinfandels I've tasted in awhile.  It's positively fantastic for the money!  It's got all the classic traits of Zinfandel - rich red and black fruits, a very pleasant briariness and fairly full bodied on the palate without being tannic.  This is an excellent wine for any meats off the Barbie, especially if they have strong spices or BBQ sauce.  $12.79 per bottle

Lapis Luna Monterey Chardonnay 2005 - This unoaked Chardonnay was a very pleasant surprise upon tasting it.  It's clean and focused and hints only slightly at tropical fruits instead of being dominated by them which is often the case with Chardonnays from this region of California.  Pretty melon and apple notes abound in the glass and value priced at $10.99 per bottle.

Capolan Sonoma County Merlot 2004 - For the price, this Merlot shows some serious complexity in the glass.  It's definitely a darker style with notes of black currants, tobacco and dark chocolate on the palate.  A very satisfying drink for the price of $11.99 per bottle.

Valle Martello Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006 - This the kind of Italian red wine which should be a glass pour at every Italian restaurant.  And it definitely fits our 'two glass' theory!  An excellent balance of fruit and earth which is silky and supple on the palate, this is a perfect fall red for any kind of meats, roasts or game as well as any kind of tomato based Italian dish.  Normally $10.99, specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.

Blue Jean Red Wine NV - This juicy little number from California is approximately 1/3 Zinfandel, 1/3 Merlot and 1/3 Syrah.  The Zinfandel and the Merlot are sourced from select vineyard sites in Sonoma County and the Syrah is from the mountains north of Santa Barbara in the Central Coast.  The result is a tasty red table wine that's perfect alone or with absolutely anything off the grill.  $9.79 per bottle.

J. Lohr 'Wildflower' Monterey Valdiguie 2006 - Valdiguie is an obscure southern French grape and in the case of California growers, it was mistakenly identified as "Napa Gamay"until it was correctly ID'd to be Valdiguie.  It is Gamay in style, however, with bright red fruits and a beautiful violet color.  It's a perfect red for fall as well as for the table with turkey and all the trimmings.  $11.59 per bottle

Bodega Torre Castillo Jumilla Monastrell 2006 - This is the tastiest red wine to come down the Kysela pipe for the price since Tres Ojos hit the market about four years ago.  Umm, umm good it is!  Made from 100% Mourvedre grapes in the eastern coastal region of Jumilla, this rich, opulent wine is full of body and flavor with round, supple tannins on the finish.  It's an excellent fall and winter red to be quaffing while pedaling around the house or would be excellent with the game dishes of fall.  We think this one is going to seduce you!  $9.99 per bottle.

Bogie's Recipe Board

If you don't know by know, I am The Original Cheese Hound.  I love cheese.  I live for cheese.  I beg (endlessly) for cheese.  And I vote for a cheese recipe this week!  Here's one from Kathy Casey's Northwest Table which makes for a tasty and easy appetizer.

Cheddar Ale Spread

Mades 6 to 8 servings

8 oz cream cheese

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2-1/2 cups (10 ozs) shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese

2 tbsp half and half

¼ tsp Tabasco sauce

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup flavorful Northwest (or other) beer

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

½ cup hazelnuts, lightly toasted, skinned and coarsely chopped (optional)

Fresh Rosemary sprigs for garnishing

Combine the cream cheese, mustard, Cheddar, half and half, Tabasco and salt in a food processor.  Process for about 30 seconds, add the beer, and continue processing until very smooth.  Pulse in the parsley and hazelnuts until just dispersed. 

Serve in a container with flat bread or crackers broken up around the dish and garnish with fresh Rosemary.

Wine Pairing Suggestions

• Marquee South Australia GSM 2005 - $9.99
• Domaine Lalanne Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne 2006 - $8.79
• Bodega Lurton Mendoza Pinot Gris 2006 - $8.99

 Quiz Corner

Last Week's Quiz Question:  What word is used to describe the type of soil based on limestone (think Burgundy) and occasionally includes chalk (think Champagne)?  Hey wait a minute, did Champagne Girl aka Pinot Queen come up with this question??!!!!!

Answer:  Calcareous

Sorry, no quiz winners this week!

This Week's Quiz Question:  Match the port term with the appropriate definition and read carefully:

1)   Colheita

2)  Vintage Port

3)   Late Bottle Vintage Port                                                   

4)   Crusted Port                      

A)  selected lots of wine of a single year bottled after only 2 yrs wood aging and is very ageworthy

B)  ruby nonvintage port aged in wood for approx 4 yrs and throws a deposit and is ageworthy

C)  ruby vintage port aged at least 4 yrs and max of 6 yrs which throws no deposit and is not ageworthy

D)  tawny from a vintage and aged in wood for at least 7 years and ready to drink

Just as a reminder, you have until noon on Monday to submit your answers to this week's quiz question.  As always, Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and select up to three winners out of all the correct answers submitted.  If you'd like to play, submit your answer to Lucinda@thewineseller.com.  

Odds & Ends

Just a reminder for the holidays, we'll be open on the following upcoming Mondays:

• Monday, November 12^th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, November 19th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 3rd from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 10th from 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Monday, December 17th from 10:00am to 8:00pm
• Monday, December 24th from 10:00am to 3:00pm
• Monday, December 31^st from 10:00am to 5:00pm

That's it for this week!

Regards,

Lucinda, Vaughn, Dan, Nancy and Bogart

This Week's Tastings:

Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm

Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm

304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA  20170  703-471-9649

Monday:  Closed     Tuesday through Friday:  11:00am to 8:00pm

Saturday:  10:00am to 6:00pm     Sunday:  12:00pm to 4:00pm

www.thewineseller.com

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ISSUE DATE: October 11, 2007
WEEK OF: October 7, 2007

Now, this resembles fall weather much more than what we’ve seen for the last couple of weeks.  Does this mean we can finally put away our bathing suits?!  Thank goodness it’s a tad cooler as it will be a superb evening to taste some of the fine red wines from the Foley Estate Winery and Lincourt Winery tonight for our ‘Tastier Thursday’ complimentary tasting.  The Foley Pinot Noir has always been a big hit around here and we’ll be tasting their Chardonnays and Syrahs as well so come on by after work!  And we seem to be on an Italian streak around here as John Grimsley of Grappoli Imports will be here pouring five Italian wines on Saturday afternoon including a knock-your-socks-off Barbaresco.  And I mean knock-your-socks-off.  It was the best tasting Italian red which I have had in some time when I tasted it many months back.  It seems all purveyors who peddle Italian wines are passionate Italian wine lovers and John definitely falls into the category.  So come on in and ask him anything you ever wanted to know about Italy!  And I’m already saving my calories for Chef Eduardo’s dinner next Thursday evening.  When I spoke to Eduardo last week, he said the dinner was filling up fast but he still had some seats left.  I’m not sure how many more reservations he’s taken since I spoke to him last week but if you’ve been thinking about coming to the dinner, don’t delay!  These dinners usually fill the place to the gills. And calling all Pinot Lovers!!!  The new vintage of the Evesham Wood Pinot hits our doors today and this won’t be around long….I’ll be surprised if we have it by the end of the weekend.  This is an Oregon Pinot which people ask for months after it’s all been sold.  The distributor literally had it all come in and all go out in just a day or two.  We’ve got some fall wine picks in this week’s newsletter and Bogie has a new recipe befitting the cooler temps.  And we have a new quiz question and quiz winners from last week.  So please peruse our offerings below and we hope to see you this evening at the wine tasting!

‘Tastier Thursday’ Tonight from 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Join us this evening as Mark Dirckson of Foley Estate Vineyards and Lincourt Vineyard tastes us through some of their Santa Barbara and Santa Rita Hills wines including their fantastic Pinot Noir.   This grape growing region has one of the coolest microclimates in all of California and thus, has some of the best wines made in the state.  As always, ‘Tastier Thursday’ wine tastings are complimentary.  Below are the wines we’ll be tasting this evening:

Lincourt Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2005

Foley “Rancho Santa Rosa” Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay 2005

Foley “Rancho Santa Rosa” Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2005

Lincourt Santa Barbara County Syrah 2005

Foley “Rancho Santa Rosa” Santa Rita Hills Syrah 2005

Italian Wine Tasting Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Join us this Saturday afternoon as John Grimsley, Sales Manager for Grappoli Imports, is here showing off some of their tasty Italian gems in their finely honed portfolio.  The tasting will include a Barbaresco which will make you sing!  Here’s what we’ll be tasting on Saturday:

Gemin Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze NV

Garofoli “Podium” Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2005

Inama “Vin Soave” Soave Classico 2006

Garofoli “Colle Ambro” Rosso Piceno 2004 

(a Montepulciano/Sangiovese blend)

Renzo Seghesio Barbera d’Alba 2004

Marchesi di Gresy “Martinenga” Barbaresco 2003

Incredible Oregon Pinot Noir Arrives Today!

One of our all time favorite more reasonably priced Oregon Pinot Noirs arrives today but as always, it won’t be around here for long!  The 2006 vintage of the Evesham Wood Willamette Valley arrives at our back door today and this Pinot is always one which customers are asking for six months from now.  The owner of Evesham Wood, Russ Raney, is described as being a gentle, unassuming, kind fellow and his fellow Oregon Pinot lovers consider him to be somewhat of a genius.  Avalon Wine, a wine outfit in the heart of Oregon wine country, describes his Willamette Valley Pinot Noir as one of the best Pinots for the price made anywhere and Russ Raney as one of Oregon’s treasures, making finely crafted, Burgundian style Pinot Noirs year after year.  Need I say more??!!!!  We are one of two retailers in Northern Virginia who sell this wine and sell it year after year.  That said, I probably won’t have any left by the end of the weekend.  If you are interested in any, please call (703-471-9649) or email (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) to secure your order.  Price is $21.99 per bottle with 10% off a case.

Jasmine Wine Dinner is next Thursday – One Week from Today!

And there are some, but not a lot, of seats left.  These dinners are always packed because they are so popular and Chef Eduardo will tantalize our tastebuds as we cruise through a four course meal accompanied by the Italian wines from the portfolio of Michael Downey Selections.  The price is $68 per person plus tax and gratuity and the full menu is posted on our website at www.thewineseller.com.  Click on ‘Wine Dinners’ on the right side of the home page and it will take you to the PDF of the menu.  For Reservations, please call Jasmine Café at 703-471-9114.

Wine Classes

We have a couple of seats left for the following upcoming classes:

Tuesday, 11/6 – Sail Into Porto:  Discovering Portugal’s Gem

Wednesday, 12/5 – Wine & Cheese:  Build a Cheese Platter to Work with Wine

Tuesday, 1/22 – It’s Amore!  A Love Affair with Italian Wines…Come Discover Italy is more than Pinot Grigio & Chianti!

If you are interested in signing up for any of the remaining seats for any of these classes, please call (703-471-9649) or email (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) to sign up!

Fall Wine Picks

Stevenot Sierra Foothills Zinfandel 2005 – This BBQ Red is one of the best tasting everyday priced Zinfandels I’ve tasted in awhile.  It’s positively fantastic for the money!  It’s got all the classic traits of Zinfandel – rich red and black fruits, a very pleasant briariness and fairly full bodied on the palate without being tannic.  This is an excellent wine for any meats off the Barbie, especially if they have strong spices or BBQ sauce.  $12.79 per bottle

Lapis Luna Monterey Chardonnay 2005 - This unoaked Chardonnay was a very pleasant surprise upon tasting it.  It's clean and focused and hints only slightly at tropical fruits instead of being dominated by them which is often the case with Chardonnays from this region of California.  Pretty melon and apple notes abound in the glass and value priced at $10.99 per bottle.

Capolan Sonoma County Merlot 2004 - For the price, this Merlot shows some serious complexity in the glass.  It's definitely a darker style with notes of black currants, tobacco and dark chocolate on the palate.  A very satisfying drink for the price of $11.99 per bottle.

Valle Martello Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006 - This the kind of Italian red wine which should be a glass pour at every Italian restaurant.  And it definitely fits our ‘two glass’ theory!  An excellent balance of fruit and earth which is silky and supple on the palate, this is a perfect fall red for any kind of meats, roasts or game as well as any kind of tomato based Italian dish.  Normally $10.99, specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.

Blue Jean Red Wine NV - This juicy little number from California is approximately 1/3 Zinfandel, 1/3 Merlot and 1/3 Syrah.  The Zinfandel and the Merlot are sourced from select vineyard sites in Sonoma County and the Syrah is from the mountains north of Santa Barbara in the Central Coast.  The result is a tasty red table wine that's perfect alone or with absolutely anything off the grill.  $9.79 per bottle.

Bodega Torre Castillo Jumilla Monastrell 2006 - This is the tastiest red wine to come down the Kysela pipe for the price since Tres Ojos hit the market about four years ago.  Umm, umm good it is!  Made from 100% Mourvedre grapes in the eastern coastal region of Jumilla, this rich, opulent wine is full of body and flavor with round, supple tannins on the finish.  It's an excellent fall and winter red to be quaffing while pedaling around the house or would be excellent with the game dishes of fall.  We think this one is going to seduce you!  $9.99 per bottle.

Bogie’s Recipe Board

I’m home again today (because there’s a tasting) and so I guess I’ll start finding a recipe for next week’s winE-Letter.  I like going to work better because I get to see all my friends!!  Here’s a recipe from one of my Mom’s favorite new cookbooks called Cooking with the Wines of Oregon.  Gee, I wonder why she likes this cookbook!  This is fast, easy and tasty.

Scallops with Wine and Brie

Serves 4

½ lb scallops

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 tsp olive oil

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1/3 cup Pinot Gris

3 oz Brie