Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:53:24 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/ Pearson's Wine en-us http://www.pearsonswine.com/images/logo.gif http://www.pearsonswine.com/ webmaster@pearsonswine.com http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1149 This is it. The kids are IN SCHOOL . . . time for an ALL ADULT WEEK. PEARSON'S HUGE ENTIRE WINE INVENTORY ON SALE SALE STARTS TODAY, AUGUST 25 AT 10 AM . . . THRU SATURDAY AUGUST 30 AT CLOSING . . . MANY OPEN FOR TASTING RULES OF THE SALE 100% OF OUR ''IN STOCK'' 750 ML wine and champagne inventory is included. ''IN STOCK'' ITEMS ONLY. . . NO SPECIAL ORDERS. SIX DAYS ONLY. MONDAY, AUGUST 25 THRU SATURDAY, AUGUST 30. FOR EMAIL CUSTOMERS ONLY. BRING FRIENDS . . . If they give us their EMAIL ADDRESS, they can have 30% OFF, too. 30% CASE DISCOUNT applies to the REGULAR WHITE TAG PRICES in any assortment of 12 OR MORE 750 ml wines that we have ''IN STOCK.'' RED TAG SALE wines ARE INCLUDED . . . TAKE 5% OFF RED TAG WINES when they are included in any assortment of 12 or more 750 ml wines. NO SPECIAL ORDERS. If we don't have it IN STOCK, it's not included. ALSO NOT INCLUDED: Special orders, future orders, previously ordered, and previously paid for wines. Wines are in limited supply. Many will be open for tasting. Come prepared to substitute. PLUS . . . OVER 4,000 BOTTLES AT SPECIAL ABSOLUTE LOWEST PRICES . . . 33% TO 70% OFF OUR REGULAR PRICES . . . no further discounts on these specially priced wines. FRANCE 1. GEORGES DUBOEUF JULIENAS 2005 . . . 4 cases Beyond Beaujolais Nouveau . . . the best wines of Beaujolais are called the "crus" (growths) of Beaujolais. All are made from the Gamay grape and all are picked by hand . . . made by a process that extracts the juice with an absolute minimum of tannin . . . each is distinguished by the individual hillsides where they are grown . . . all with beautiful, romantic names like Julienas . . . a medium bodied wine made from the Gamay grape . . . now at its peak several years after the vintage. Reg 16.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 70% OFF . . . $4.99 2. CHATEAU MONTROCHE COSTIERES DE NIMES ROUGE 2005 . . . 10 cases Robert Kacher's notes: This small château is located near the town of Saint-Gilles, 15 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and just west of the Rhône River. It is owned by Antoine Dufoix and his family. Details of vineyard management and vinification are overseen by Sylvia & François Cornut, owners of Mas Guiot, a neighboring estate. Sylvia is an oenologist, and François helps Antoine in the tending of the vineyards. The rocky soils here are reminiscent of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the vine plants range in age from 30 to 50 years old. Both varietals are grown at very low yields, and always picked late, ensuring very deep, profound wines, with amazingly soft tannins. The blend for this bottling is typically 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah, but will vary slightly depending on the vintage. The fruit is hand-harvested, vinified in tank, and bottled unfiltered. Reg 9.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 40% OFF . . . $5.99 3. DOMAINE ANDRE BRUNEL GRENACHE 2005 . . . 10 cases Robert Kacher's notes: André Brunel, the renowned producer in Châteauneuf-du-Pape of Les Cailloux has produced this wonderfully, juicy wine for us. This is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Carignan. 60% of the fruit is declassified Côtes-du-Rhône from vineyards in Travaillon, just east of Gigondas and northeast of Vacqueyras. All of the grapes are destemmed to allow the easy fruit to shine through. The wine is fermented and aged in tank to retain the freshness. In the glass this wine is grapy and easy drinking with very primary notes of cherry and blackberry along side of cracked black pepper. This is the perfect everyday red! Reg 10.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 45% OFF . . . $5.99 4. DOMAINE GOURNIER MERLOT 2005 . . . 8 cases Robert Kacher's notes: Domaine de Gournier is located in Provence, above the Mediterranean, between Avignon and Nîmes, near the town of Uzes and the famous Pont du Gard. The vineyards, planted along low limestone hills studded with calcareous rock and sparse clumps of wind-beaten vegetation, benefit from the southern exposition to the provençal sun. Domaine de Gournier is owned by Maurice Barnouin. Barnouin is a pepinierist, a vine clone and rootstock expert. His father was a pioneer in the region's re-planting with low yielding, intensely flavored varietals. The Merlot clone planted here is sourced from vineyards on the right bank of Bordeaux. The grapes are hand-harvested and vinified in stainless steel tanks in order to focus on the fresh fruit. This Merlot exhibits a saturated purple color and a spicy, blackberry nose and flavors. This beautifully made chunky little Merlot has long been recognized as a great value. Reg 11.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 42% OFF . . . $6.99 5. DOMAINE GOURNIER CHARDONNAY 2006 . . . 10 cases Robert Kacher's notes: This beautiful estate, owned by Maurice Barnouin, is located in the hills northwest of Nîmes, in the western Rhône Valley near the town of Uzes and the famous Pont du Gard. The viticultural area lies just outside the Costières de Nîmes appellation and is only entitled to label its wines as Vin de Pays des Cévennes. The wines of Domaine de Gournier however, aspire to greater stature than this simple designation. Being up in the hills, the microclimate is cool. The Barnouin family were pepinierists by trade (vine rootstock and clone experts), and Maurice's father was a pioneer in the regions re-planting with low-yielding, intensely flavored varietals like Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Merlot. The Chardonnay vines at Gournier are pruned for hand-harvesting to ensure the most stringent selection of grapes for the best wine possible. Fermentation takes place both in barrel (60% in new oak) and in stainless steel tank, with the wine aged on the lees for six months before bottling. The flavors are rich and complex. Notes of fresh pear and a hint of butter fat mingle with scents of vanilla and smoke. This lovely, medium-bodied wine has a richness that is balanced by the clean, pure finish. Reg 11.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 42% OFF . . . $6.99 6. DOMAINE DE LA PETITE CASSAGNE ROUGE 2004 . . . 10 cases Robert Kacher's notes: Domaine de la Petite Cassagne is located four kilometers from the village of St Gilles on south/south-eastern exposed slopes of the Costières de Nîmes. The soils here are characterized by cailloux deposited by the Rhône River centuries ago. Diane de Puymorin is the dynamic young owner of this super property, which she purchased in 1998. Diane's goal was to craft unique wines within the Costières de Nîmes appellation. She uses only organic farming methods and believes in strictly limiting yields. Unique pruning and leaf pulling techniques help her to optimize the maturity of fruit in her vineyards, and allow her to harvest before the autumnal weather changes. The Petite Cassagne Rouge is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and old-vine Carignan. This is a medium-bodied wine, packed with black cherry flavors, layered with earth tones and wonderful notes of indigenous herbs such as lavender and rosemary. The tannins are very soft, and the finish is very long. Reg 12.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 39% OFF . . . $7.99 7. CHATEAU VALCOMBE TRADITION SYRAH-GRENACHE 2005 . . . 10 cases Robert Kacher's notes: Located on a rocky plateau at the western edge of the Rhône River, the estate of Valcombe is owned and managed by Dominique and Bénédicte Ricome. The first vines were planted here in 1750, and today the property totals nearly 70 hectares. After five generations in the same family, the Ricomes are producing very fine wine. Everything here is done by hand and our selection is severe. The Tradition cuvée (Appellation Costières de Nîmes Contrôlée) is made from a fine selection of old-vines Syrah and 30% Grenache. We ferment and age this wine in stainless steel tank to retain the fresh qualities of the fruit and bottle it unfiltered. Reg 11.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $7.99 8. DOMAINE MONTPEZAT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2006 . . . 10 cases Robert Kacher's notes: Young Christophe Blanc is the owner and winemaker of this small domaine, which is located in the heart of the Languedoc near the Mediterranean Sea. The 40-hectare estate has been in Blanc's family for three generations. There are only 6 hectares of Sauvignon planted. The vineyards are planted on the gravelly hillsides behind the village of Pèzenas, this is one of the warmest microclimate in the Languedoc. Picking takes place at night. Maceration of skins lasts 6-12 hours and fermentation is temperature-controlled. Montpezat Sauvignon is characterized by its tropical and citrus fruit aromas. It is a full-bodied wine with a long finish. As with all of the wines at Montpezat, this is bottled without filtration. Reg 11.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $7.99 9. CHATEAU VALCOMBE PRESTIGE 2004 . . . 10 cases Robert Kacher's notes: Located on a rocky plateau at the western edge of the Rhône River, the estate of Valcombe is owned and managed by Dominique and Bénédicte Ricome. The first vines were planted here in 1750, and today the property totals nearly 70 hectares. After five generations in the same family, the Ricomes are producing very fine wine. Everything here is done by hand and our selection is severe. The Prestige cuvée (Appellation Costières de Nîmes Contrôlée) is made from primarily the finest old-vine Syrah on the property blended with up to 30% Grenache, depending on vintage. We aged this wine in oak barrels (new/1&2 years) for one year and drain it unfiltered into bottle. This wine is one of the treasures of Nîmes, displaying deep blue and red fruits, spice with a jammy texture and rich finish. Although this deep dark red tastes great now, three years time will show you even more complexity. Reg 15.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 50% OFF . . . $7.99 10. MAS DES BRESSADES SYRAH-GRENACHE 2006 . . . 10 cases Robert Kacher's notes: Mas des Bressades is considered by many as the top estate in Costières de Nîmes, located 35 miles southwest of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on the western side of the Rhône. It is run by Cyril Marès and his lovely wife Natalie Blanc, who owns the adjacent estate, Mas Carlot. The Grenache-Syrah is a unoaked wine that consists of roughly equal parts of the two varietals. This wine always shows extraordinary fruit and spice and a wonderful finish of cracked black pepper. The Grenache vines are 25-60+ years old. The yields for this wine are between 35 and 40 hectoliter per hectare. Reg 11.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $7.99 11. DOMAINE MONTPEZAT LES ENCLOS MERLOT PRESTIGE 2004 . . . 10 cases Robert Kacher's notes: Young Christophe Blanc is the third generation of winemakers in the family. He is the owner of this small domaine, which is located in the heart of the Languedoc near the Mediterranean Sea. Only about 7 acres of Merlot are produced here. Planted on the gravelly hillsides behind the village of Pèzenas, this warm microclimate is capable of ripening Merlot to perfection. Christophe keeps yields low and the wine is matured in barrels for a year. It is a full wine with a long finish and dark berry aromas with a hint of vanilla. Bottled without filtration, the wines of Montpezat represent terrific value. Reg 14.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 40% OFF . . . $8.99 12. JAYER-GILLES BOURGOGNE ALIGOTE 2005 . . . 13 cases Robert Kacher's notes: Domaine Jayer-Gilles is run by the very talented Gilles Jayer who took over for his father Robert Jayer in 1998. The estate is collected around the world and very scarce. The total allocation for the United States of this wine is around 350 cases. Gilles take the same care for his Aligoté as he does for his more famous appellations. Most growers' yields for Aligoté are around 3 tons per acre while Gilles prunes so severely that he never harvests more than 2.2 tons per acre. The astounding quality of this wine is proof of the commitment to quality of the entire estate. This wine expresses the full potential of the grape with well defined mineral and spicy orchard fruit and touches of creamy oak. The wine is bright and fresh and can be enjoyed with all foods the pair well with Chardonnay. Reg 25.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 50% OFF . . . $12.99 13. PRIEURE DE MONTEZARGUES TAVEL ROSE 2006 . . . 5 cases This bone-dry rose is made in the "saignee" method . . . where the juice remains in contact with the skins for a day or so, then bled off for color and texture. Made from red grapes Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Clairette blended with Picpoul and Bourboulenc whites. The 2006 is brilliant pink . . . red fruit aromas, predominantly strawberry, raspberry and cherry with bright, well balanced acidity . . . a dry, clean finish. An elegant, full-bodied rose for any summer time foods . . . particularly good with spicy chicken dishes, sausage and aggressive farmers' cheese. They produce about 13,000 cases annually . . . almost all in France. Enjoy. Reg 29.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 44% OFF . . . $16.99 14. CHATEAU LAROQUE GRAND CRU ST EMILION 2000 . . . 45 cases Producing about 10,000 cases . . . small, actually, compared to many. Like most wines of Bordeaux' right bank, it's predominantly Merlot . . . that special ingredient that connoisseurs crave for its soft and supple texture. At Laroque they hand harvest, then blend with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon . . . age in barrel, 50% new, for a year or more . . . bottled and finally aged in the cellar to the brink of maturity. The wine is stunning. Perfectly colored dark crimson. The nose is generous cocoa and coffee beans. Its young berriness has given away to mature, full flavored fruit with a delicate touch of sweetness . . . completely smooth and supple . . . a Saint-Emilion dream come true. Reg 59.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 50% OFF . . . $29.99 15. VINCENT GIRARDIN SANTENAY 1ER CRU LES GRAVIERES 2005 . . . 3 cases Danny Haas 94 Points: "Even deeper in color than the Maladière. a riper and more foxy nose of woods and meaty bacon, too. Toasty, smoky fruit with some oak present but the wine has more power than the Maladière and is juicier, more intense and classier. racier, with juicier acids that are long on the palate. Quite classy, very typical Pinot with a beautifully balance mint chocolate finish." Reg 49.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 40% OFF . . . $29.99 16. DOMAINE VINCENT GIRARDIN POMMARD LES VIGNOTS 2005 . . . 3 cases Danny Haas 94.5 Points: "Very rustic on the nose, foxy like a Pommard should be, along with bananas and nuts. Very spicy on the palate, with milk chocolate and café au lait. lots of thick texture with no tannins and a little bit of side acids. an opulent, juicy, raisinette finish." Reg 59.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $39.99 17. DOMAINE VINCENT GIRARDIN POMMARD LES GRAND EPENOTS 2005 . . . 2 cases Danny Haas 96.5 Points: "The deepest color so far, so deep you can't see through it. Smoky tobacco, very bacony nose. you can sense the depth of fruit. Very penetrating on the palate; it's massive, with lots of oily, powerful multi layered fruit; smoky and multidimensional. long, long flavors and sweet ripe tannins; candy-like with jammy raisins. So concentrated it's incredible; powerful, like a grand cru." Reg 99.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $66.99 AUSTRALIA 18. YELLOW TAIL THE RESERVE SHIRAZ 2006 . . . 14 cases Winery notes: "Cherry, blackberry, and chocolate aromas tickle the tongue, while pepper and spice linger on the palate. Seamless tannins balance this full-bodied wine. Bring out The Reserve Shiraz at a dinner party with friends or before a big night out." Reg 12.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 39% OFF . . . $7.99 19. YELLOW TAIL THE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 . . . 5 cases Winery notes: "Flavors of cherries and mint upfront, with blackberry, cassis, and vanilla lingering on the palate. A bottle of The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon wine is the perfect way to say "thank you," "welcome," or "bon voyage" to a friend. Reg 12.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 39% OFF . . . $7.99 20. GREG NORMAN LIMESTONE COAST SHIRAZ 2005 . . . 10 cases Winemaker notes: The 2005 vintage was very good, remembered for its very dry summer and Autumn, the warm, dry conditions prevailing from April through to May. There was the occasional short overnight shower to maintain the vines, but these did not cause any disease. The warmth caused the fruit to ripen more quickly, subsequent harvesting beginning two weeks earlier, and this allowed the winemakers to pursue riper fruit flavors, generous tannins and bigger structured wines; particularly from Padthaway and Coonawarra, albeit with higher alcohols than normally expected. Wine Spectator 88 points: "A strong leaf character runs through the currant and spice aromas and flavors of this lively, open-textured Shiraz. Not for everyone, but distinctive. Drink now through 2010. " Reg 15.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 38% OFF . . . $9.99 21. CULLEN MARGARET RIVER, ELLEN BUSSELL 2003 . . . 2 cases Winery notes: "This wine celebrates the life of Ellen Bussell, one of Margaret River's most remarkable pioneering women. In 1855, while still a teenager, Ellen and her new husband Alfred became the first white settlers in the area. The fruit for this wine comes predominantly from the Ellens Ridge vineyard which was established in 1996. The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. Lovely rich red with strong crimson meniscus. The intense and rich black cherry flavours which fill out the middle palate are back by just the right amount of fine tannins. Mild Asian food, but has the depth of flavor to accompany a good steak." Reg 26.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $17.99 SPAIN 22. GRAMONA GESSAMI 2006 . . . 14 cases Dozens of aromas are found in this luscious wine . . . jasmine, pear, ginger, lavender, lychees, peaches . . . depending on who's doing the tasting. Some compare it to a spicy Alsatian . . . others to Albarino. I say it's somewhere in between. A wonderful, fresh, subtle aperitif wine . . . enjoy with a spicy Asian or a luscious Spaniard. Reg 18.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 63% OFF . . . $6.99 23. EARTH TEMPRANILLO-CABERNET 2006 . . . 7 cases Organically grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo . . . from Navarra, Spain between Rioja and Bordeaux . . . the Cabernet gives the wine Bordeaux-like structure . . . the Tempranillo gives it youth and freshness . . . six months in oak barrels for a bit of toast. Wonderful cherry color. The nose is an intensive bouquet of black fruits and licorice. This wine is elegantly toasty. On the palate it is smooth, round and full with a long finish. Delicious. Reg 15.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 38% OFF . . . $9.99 24. MARQUES DE CACERES RESERVA RIOJA 2001 . . . 6 cases Wine & Spirits 94 points: "A remarkable performance from Caceres, this riserva shows just how great the 2001 vintage turned out to be. The wine shimmers with juiciness then explodes into detailed flavors as it trails off past cherry, cranberry, orange zest and herbs. Old-vine fruit contributes to the power and elegance of this blend, and provides the stamina to last ten years or more." Wine Spectator 90 points: "This well-structured red delivers deep flavors of plum, tobacco, mineral and spice over firm tannins. A bit austere, but shows complexity and harmony, with a spicy, floral finish. Drink now through 2012. 2,500 cases imported. Smart buy." Reg 27.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $18.99 CALIFORNIA 25. CHALONE VINEYARD MONTEREY CHARDONNAY 2007 . . . 7 cases Winemaker notes: "Elegant and fruit-focused, Chalone 2006 Monterey County Chardonnay captures the bright pear, apple, citrus and stone fruit character of grapes grown in Monterey County along California's Central Coast. Hints of floral and spice highlight the aromas and echo on the palate. The wine's vibrant fruit expression reflects the cool marine fog and winds that caress these foothill and benchland vineyards. The perfectly balanced flavors mingle crisp, natural acidity with a rich, creamy texture from sur lie aging. Enjoy our Chardonnay with flavors from the ocean, such as crab cakes, grilled fish, prawns sautéed in butter and garlic, or scallops and angel hair pasta tossed with a cream sauce. Or pour with grilled chicken or pork, creamy chowders and mushroom risotto." Reg 16.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 41% OFF . . . $9.99 26. CHALONE VINEYARD MONTEREY PINOT NOIR 2006 . . . 8 cases Winemaker notes: "Our 2006 Monterey County Pinot Noir displays silky layers of dark cherry and raspberry character with enticing nuances of floral and spice. These bright, expressive aromas and flavors come from grapes grown in Monterey County in California's Central Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA). Here, cool winds slow ripening and provide the grapes with long hangtime, resulting in ripe flavors and supple tannins. Pinot Noir is considered the most versatile red wine because it matches with meat, poultry (great with turkey!), grilled veggies and even some seafood, such as salmon, ahi tuna and shellfish-laden cioppino." Reg 16.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 41% OFF . . . $9.99 27. RUTHERFORD HILL NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2006 . . . 3 cases Winery notes: "Expect this 2006 bottling to show refined aromas of citrus and nutmeg lifted by pretty floral tones. The weight is just right; round and soft with a welcome beam of bright acidity binding the wine together." Reg 25.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 35% OFF . . . $16.99 28. CARPE DIEM NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 . . . 3 cases Made at Dominus Estate by Christian Mouiex (Chat Petrus) crack winemaking team. Winemaker notes: "Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon is made in a classic winemaking style, respecting the characteristics of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. The wine is fruity, elegant, and exhibits soft tannins. This is a very pleasant wine to drink in its youth. Oak is used sparingly to keep Carpe Diem fresh with vibrant fruit. Grapes for the Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon have been selected exclusively from the best vineyards in world renowned Napa Valley. Vinified under the strict supervision of Christian Moueix's winemaking team in Yountville, California, Carpe Diem embodies the essence of Napa Valley classic Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a fresh and straightforward wine, expressing its bountiful fruit with aromas of wild strawberries and soft tannins." Reg 26.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 37% OFF . . . $16.99 29. B.R. COHN SONOMA MERLOT 2004 . . . 2 cases Winery notes:" "The 2004 Sonoma Valley Merlot is a blend of the finest Merlot vineyards in the Sonoma Valley. These grapes provide wonderful aromas and flavors of ripe blackberry, bright cherry and a hint of anise. Aging in the best tight grain French oak barrels adds complexity, toasty vanilla and supple tannins for a long, smooth finish." Reg 34.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 35% OFF . . . $22.99 30. FOUR VINES DUSI VINEYARD ZINFANDEL . . . 3 cases In the 1920s, the first famous names appeared on the Paso Robles scene . . . the Dusi and Pesenti families bought ranches in the western portion of the region, closest to the Pacific Ocean, in what is now considered the best part of Paso Robles . . . their Zinfandel grapes flourished. Today the Dusi and Pesenti Vineyards are among the most revered of Paso Robles' vineyards. The most serious Zinfandel growers insist on using a piece of these 60 to 80 year old vine plots . . . Turley, Ridge, Peachy Canyon, Four Winds . . . all have long term arrangements with the Dusi and Pesenti families. Wine Spectator: "Untamed, with no apologies, this Zinfandel is full of personality, offering wild berry, spice and loam aromas and intense, zesty dried cherry, fresh earth and licorice flavors that finish with ripe but rustic tannins. Drink now through 2011." Reg 39.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 40% OFF . . . $23.99 31. SEBASTIANI SECOLO RED 2004 . . . 2 cases Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines 92 points: "68% Cabernet Sauvignon; 16% Petit Verdot; 8% Malbec; 7% Merlot; 1% Petite Sirah. Sebastiani's Secolo bottlings have lately been among our top picks when it comes to out and out value, and this latest lovely again stands with the best Cabernet buys to be had. Its deep aromas of currants, berries and cherries are sweetened with carefully placed oak, and its generously filled, ripe-fruit flavors show both layering and a good sense of polish. Its fine-grained tannins firm without toughening, and, while it is bound to tempt early drinking, it is sure to develop beautifully over the next five or six years. GOOD VALUE." Reg 37.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 34% OFF . . . $24.99 32. NEYERS SYRAH LAKEVILLE ROAD 2006 . . . 2 cases 1190 cases produced Robert Parker 90 points: "The 2006 Syrah Old Lakeville is deep ruby/purple, offering hints of charcoal, blackberry, raspberry, and cherry notes. It has impressive ripeness and density, richness, and more tannin and structure than the Hudson Vineyard. This particular cuvee will benefit from 1-2 years of cellaring and should last for up to a decade." Wine Spectator 93 points: "Ripe and grapey, with rich, elegant spice, pepper and juicy, dusty wild berry flavors that are sleek and focused, ending with a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2012." Reg 37.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $25.99 33. NEYERS ZINFANDEL HIGH VALLEY VINEYARD 2005 . . . 3 cases 1036 cases produced Robert Parker 91 points: "The finest of this trio is the 2005 Zinfandel High Valley, a high elevation (1,600 feet) site in the Chiles Valley. This effort exhibits the tell-tale elegance, high acids, and lower alcohol of the vintage along with abundant quantities of raspberry and black cherry fruit in its more complete, concentrated personality. Displaying both elegance and power, this beauty can be drunk over the next 5-7 years." Reg 37.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $25.99 34. NEYERS MOURVEDRE PATO VINEYARD 2006 . . . 2 cases 353 cases produced Robert Parker 90 points: "The 2006 Mourvedre Pato Vineyard is relatively stylish for a wine that can often be rustic and animal. The wine displays civilized blueberry and raspberry fruit with earth and spice. It is well-made, medium to full-bodied, with excellent ripeness and sweet tannin. Drink it over the next 5-6 years." Reg 39.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $26.99 ITALY 35. MEZZA CORONA PINOT GRIGIO 2007 . . . 20 cases You'll find MezzaCorona on just about every Italian Bistro wine by the glass list. The is a bright, crisp, easy drinking white. Reg 9.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 40% OFF . . . $5.99 36. ANSELMI CAPITEL CROCE VENETO BIANCO 2003 . . . 2 cases International Wine Cellar 90 points: "Pretty aromas of apricot, white flowers, almond and hazelnut. Dense and ripe on the palate, with flavors of soft citrus fruits, pineapple, hazelnut and almond... An impressively concentrated example of garganega. The name Soave doesn't appear on the label as Anselmi opted out of the association of Soave producers years ago, choosing to make wines of much greater concentration and richer mouth feel-very different in style from most other Soaves on the market." Reg 21.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 40% OFF . . . $12.99 37. FATTORIA LA LECCIAIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2003 . . . 4 cases Wine Spectator 91 points: "Raspberry, flowers and citrus fruits on the nose lead to a full-bodied palate, with lots of fruit. Almost jammy, but fresh and dense. Generous. Best after 2010." Reg 49.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 40% OFF . . . $29.99 SOUTH AMERICA 38. LA BAMBA CHENIN BLANC-RIESLING ARGENTINA 2007 . . . 23 cases Here's what they did with this wine . . . blended Chenin Blanc, an aromatic white grape which gives off hints of pear, melon and honeysuckle, best known for the French classic Vouvray . . . and blended it with Riesling, full of raciness and minerality. The final product is off-dry . . . bright and fresh and crisp. Drink as an aperitif, with light, creamy cheeses or with anything picnic. Reg 8.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 44% OFF . . . $4.99 39. CASA LAPOSTOLLE SAUVIGNON BLANC CHILE 2007 . . . 5 cases Winery notes: "Color is bright and attractive light yellow with hints of straw and green. Nose has expressive fresh citrus fruit on entry, followed by sweet hints of white flowers and delicate notes of lychee and fig. Palate is young and pleasant, with fresh acidity followed by a delicate sweetness and abundant citrus aromas that persist in the palate. Light and elegant. Serve chilled as an aperitif. Always the ideal companion for appetizers and seafood, also compliments spicy cuisine." Reg 11.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $7.99 PORTUGAL 40. QUINTA DE ALQUEVE 2 WORLDS RESERVA 2003 . . . 4 cases Robert Kacher's notes: "The 2003 is the first release of 2 Worlds and is an equal blend of Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon which is aged in new and one year old barrels for 12 months, then bottled unfiltered. This wine is big, rich with loads of fruit and spice, well defined structure which will allow for aging up to 6-10 years." Reg 22.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 48% OFF . . . $11.99 41. SMITH WOODHOUSE 1984 LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT . . . 12 cases The Smith Woodhouse Late Bottled Vintage is unlike the vast majority of all LBV's produced . . . aged in barrel for an extended period . . . fifteen to seventeen years . . . then bottled without any fining or filtration whatsoever . . . aged in bottle for another six years before offered for sale. Most LBV's see limited bottle aging . . . but It is the bottle-maturation of this Port which allows the wine to develop outstanding style and complexity . . . resulting in a deep garnet Port with rich mouth-filling flavors of ripe fruit, balanced by notes of black chocolate and peppery tannins. Reg 39.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 33% OFF . . . $26.99 ISRAEL 42. ELLA VALLEY VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2004/2005 . . . 2 cases Daniel Rogov, Rogov's Guide to Israeli Wines: "Soft in texture but generous with pear, citrus and mineral flavors that develop a very appealing creamy note on the finish. Light wood, just the right amount of zingy acidity make this a solid wine with a load of complexity and long, lingering flavors." Reg 29.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 50% OFF . . . $14.99 CHAMPAGNE & SPARKLING WINE 43. INNOCENT BYSTANDER SPARKLING MOSCATO 2008 . . . 5 cases, 375 ml Blend of two Muscat grapes, Gordo and Black Muscat. Six hours of skin contact for color and aroma. Fermented in stainless steel. 5.5% alcohol. It comes in a beer sized bottle with a pop top. I put a bunch of it in the beer cooler up front so you can get it chilled on your way to the beach . . . golf course . . . tennis court . . . pool . . . mowing the lawn . . . watching fireworks. Reg 15.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 44% OFF . . . $8.99 44. WILLM CREMANT D'ALSACE BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT . . . 9 cases A delightful, dry sparkling wine made in the traditional Champagne method. Reg 15.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 38% OFF . . . $9.99 45. FRANCOIS BILLION ROSE . . . 10 cases The Pinot Noir that is added to the Grand Cru Chardonnay makes it a lush, colorful, fuller bodied Champagne than the GRAND CRU CUVEE . . . do not be afraid to serve this robust rose with red meat or game. Reg 49.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 34% OFF . . . $32.99 46. FRANCOIS BILLION BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT GRAND CRU . . . 6 cases Billion is a rich, lush, bright and crisp, full flavored Champagne.100% Chardonnay from Clos de Mesnil . . . Champagne's most prestigious growing area. It reminds me more of fine white Burgundy with tiny delicate bubbles. Reg 49.99 . . . PEARSON'S LABOR DAY PRICE 34% OFF . . . $32.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call us at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE (we may be sold out) email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:53:24 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1148 I shot the wine from this angle because I want you to see its gorgeous, purple edge. The color is deep ruby . . . the nose is spicy, cedar . . . on the palate dark black cherry . . . thick, long legs on the glass . . . a soft, silky texture with underlying tannins that predict a life span of another 5 to 10 years. Chateau Fombrauge dates back to the 16th century . . . one of the oldest estates in St Emilion. Some 500 years later, it is now an up and comer . . . operated by Bernard Magrez, who also owns Chateau Pape Clement . . . Magrez brought in Bordeaux' most illustrious oenologist, Michel Rolland, to make the modern version of Fombrauge. I last tasted this wine six months ago when it was in its oak and fruit stage . . . now its complexities are blossoming . . . this medium bodied wine has everything and is the perfect example of why you wait for Bordeaux to develop. I have once again pulled off an amazing buy . . . six months ago we sold all we could at $36.99 a bottle . . . TODAY ONLY THE LAST 25 CASES OF THIS AMAZING SLEEPER OF THE VINTAGE AT $13.00 OFF OUR PREVIOUS LOWEST PRICE. open for tasting while they last . . . CHATEAU FOMBRAUGE ST EMILION 2004 Robert Parker Wine Advocate 89 points: "A dark plum/ruby color is accompanied by a big, sweet black raspberry, cherry, lead pencil shavings, crushed rock, and spring flower-scented bouquet. Supple tannin, low acidity, and excellent ripeness characterize this hedonistic, well-made St.-Emilion. It should drink beautifully for 10-12 years." Reg $36.99 . . . PEARSON'S ONE DAY PRICE 35% OFF . . . $23.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call us at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE (we may be sold out) email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:37:03 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1147 On that date, Grateful Palate importer/emprasario, Dan Philips, and Chris Ringland, perhaps Australia's greatest winemaker . . . the same guys I just spent 12 days in Australia with . . . will be tasting their extraordinary Aussie portfolio with international Wine Advocate, Robert Parker. At the moment the tasting ends, some hundred or more of the judged wines will be packed up and driven straight to our store for you to taste. Dan and Chris will be here to comment, and yes, emailees, the same wines from the same bottles that Robert Parker has just rated, will be here for you to assess. FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 5, BETWEEN 5 and 8 PM PEARSON'S WINE & LIQUOR 2436 Wisconsin Avenue NW There is no charge for the tasting . . . however we must be prepared. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to steve@PearsonsWine.com ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:01:04 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1146 Every year Thierry and Pascale Matrot make the investment in a small supply of the finest French oak barrels . . . which they don't even use for several years. The Matrots . . . following the tradition of the family domaine, one of the oldest estate-bottlers in Burgundy . . . do not use brand new oak barrels to ferment or age their wines. Instead . . . they lend them to a friend who seasons them on his own wines before returning them after the first year or two of use. Until recently. The Matrots have been experimenting with a special cuvee which makes use of some of the new oak they have been investing in. You might expect that these expensive new barrels would be used in their finest Premier Cru wines from Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet . Fortunately for you that is not the case. Instead they are using the new oak barrels for their basic Bourgogne Blanc . . . a blend of Chardonnay sourced for ripeness and succulence from the Cote Chalonaise in Southern Burgundy . . . and others for texture and elegance from just outside Meursault and Puligny. The oak is used very judiciously . . . married with the plump Chardonnay fruit so that it is evident only by its texture and weight on the palate. Fermented and aged in only 25% new oak and released after two years of aging. The wine is deliciously round and opulent. Once you taste it you will find it hard to believe that this bottling could be described as anyone's "basic" wine. THIERRY & PASCALE MATROT BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY 2006 Round and opulent. The wine has beautiful minerality balanced with fresh, citrusy acidity. The nose shows ripe melon and pears. On the palate it is quite minerally and lemony. More perfume than you'd ever expect from a simple Bourgogne. Importer Danny Haas describes the experience as "very much like biting into the skin of a grape." This wine pops! Reg 23.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $17.99 . . . case price 199.00 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call us at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE (we may be sold out) email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:58:40 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1144 I'd like to share a note I received from a longtime customer about a previous AWS wine . . . "Hi Steve, I just cracked the first bottle of the '03 AWS Stag's Leap Merlot. Absolutely spectacular - the typical Stag's Leap rich aroma (roasted strawberries?), elegant texture, round flavors, great depth of fruit. About the best bottle of wine for under $13 that I can remember. Every year I automatically buy one or two cases of the AWS as soon as it comes in. Will do the same this year. I let the wine age in the bottle for 6-12 months. Thanks for getting it for your clients. Best, Louis" I couldn't have said it better myself . . . in fact I don't think I have ever emphasized what Louis is recommending . . . putting the latest AWS away for a year or so . . . to drink it at its most enjoyable. The latest AWS release is a measly 336 cases of delicious Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Sonoma Valley covers 200,000 acres accessible only 49 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge . . . from the Pacific to the Mayacamas mountains . . . 49,000 vine acres planted . . . Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading red varietal. AWS wines are always unique. . . it is not a brand that produces the same wine vintage after vintage. Each wine is the product of a premium small lot purchase from a different grower . . . each time from a different Viticultural Area . . . made in small quantities . . . never more than 700 or 800 cases. Three of the final blends are brought to me . . . a small committee tastes them blind and decides which one to bottle . . . to be sold under the AWS label at a fraction of the price if the famous grower's label were attached. Pearson's always gets first choice. Past overwhelming AWS successes . . . each sold out in no time. AWS 2005 OAKVILLE DISTRICT MERLOT AWS 2003 STAG'S LEAP DISTRICT MERLOT AWS 2003 MOUNT VEEDER CABERNET SAUVIGNON AWS 2003 LOS CARNEROS PINOT NOIR 2003 AWS 2003 OREGON PINOT NOIR AWS 2002 OAKVILLE MERLOT AWS 2002 MOUNT VEEDER CABERNET SAUVIGNON AWS 2001 STAG'S LEAP DISTRICT MERLOT AWS 2001 OREGON PINOT NOIR AWS 2000 STAG'S LEAP CABERNET AMERICAN WINETASTERS SOCIETY SONOMA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 2005 was an outstanding year for Sonoma Cabernet. The wine is deep ruby colored with a broad nose of black berry fruit and a touch of vanilla. The mouth feel is creamy smooth and silky with just a touch of tannin and a mouthful of fermented berries. Medium length on the palate and such a pleasure to drink. Only 336 cases bottled . . . we have 200 of them. Reg price . . . there is no such thing . . . I would peg it at $25-$30. PEARSON'S PRICE $13.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call us at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE (we may be sold out) email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:27:51 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1143 Adjectives often applied to Australian Shiraz. Sometimes even meant to be negative . . . as in too powerful, too potent, too flamboyant . . . too decadent? Sometimes I agree . . . like when I am in the company of a Bordeaux producer whose grapes do not achieve the same ripeness as those of South Australia. And sometimes I disagree . . . like when I'm drinking the plush, rich, powerful, flamboyant, decadent Barossa Valley wines of Thorn-Clarke. David and Cheryl Clarke's families (she's the Thorn), have been growing Barossa grapes since 1870. Barossa, in South Australia, an hour northeast of Adelaide, is Australia's largest wine producing region . . . Mediterranean climate . . . thirty-some wineries in a 25 mile stretch. They planted their now famous Kabininge vineyard more than twenty years ago and each year their Shotfire Shiraz seems to get sweeter and more opulent. The demand for this wine is now automatic . . . for WAY UNDER TWENTY BUCKS you get a luscious bottle of chewy, deep purple, intense, palate-coating, aromatic, room-filling wine. How do they do it, you ask? Their stock answer . . . "we over-deliver" . . . everyone at the tasting table agrees. open today for tasting, naturally. THORN-CLARKE SHOTFIRE RIDGE BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2007 You can call it Syrah or you can call it Shiraz. The same grape . . . whose origins were originally known as the main ingredient of Cote Rotie in France's northern Rhone. Every Aussie winemaker aspires to Cote Rotie-like Syrah . . . with that Barossa Valley punch . . . you don't have to analyze to love. Steve's impression: "What you get from this year's Shotfire is a meaty, inky, brambly, mouth watering, deep purple wine, seemingly engorged with blue and black berries and finished off with a dash of vanilla extract . . . if you buy it now you can enjoy it over the next five years or more . . . if you wait for the "official" ratings to be published you can forget about it. Reg 21.99 . . . PEARSON'S ONE DAY PRICE 32% OFF . . . $15.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call us at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE (we may be sold out) email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:08:20 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1141 the absolutely coolest gift handbag . . . vanity case . . . weekend tote . . . ever. This beautifully designed handbag . . . leather straps and leather handle . . . comes with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and two Champagne Flutes . . . the insulation keeps your Veuve chilled for several hours . . . once consumed you can remove the neoprene moulding for a future celebration . . . then repack your eye-catching handbag for an overnight to New York or an afternoon at the gym. comes in a gift box . . . $99. in stock and ready to party HOW TO GET IT: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE (we may be sold out) email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:28:57 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1140 G'day, mates. Five hours to Los Angeles . . . an all day wait for Qantas' midnight ride to Melbourne . . . fifteen hours over the Pacific and just when the onflight GPS had us heading to Melbourne the pilot announced that the headwinds we'd been bucking would force us to refuel in Sydney . . . that adds 5 hours to the journey and when we finally reach our destination it's been 40 hours and about 15,000 miles. Because of the delays we missed our first stop in Yarra Valley, in Victoria, only an hour outside of Melbourne, but winemaker Bill Downie, a non-interventionalist producer came to us for dinner at Gerald's Bar in Melbourne to show us his Permutations of Pinot Noir, Edelzwicker and Gamay. Bill's presentation was so early in the trip and we were so fogged with jetlag that the evening was almost impossible to recall without notes. But once my refreshed mind reviewed the evening, I remembered that Downie's tiny 500 case production wines were among the most unique we tasted during this entire twelve day excursion. We started our first full day with two warnings: of the ten most poisonous spiders in the world, nine of them reside here . . . an inspection of your shoes each morning is as much a part of your daily routine as using the toilet . . . and don't forget to check under the lid. The second, and more important, rule concerned the food that would be forced on us at every winery . . . starting with a full breakfast and Sparkling Shiraz . . . cheese and pate at an 11 o'clock tasting . . . 2 o'clock full course lunch . . . 4 o'clock tasting and 8 o'clock dinner. "Do not, under any circumstances, turn down a meal or a bite of food," our host, importer Dan Philips, sternly warned, "push it around your plate if necessary." We obeyed. I can't say that Dan Philips is responsible for single handedly bringing Australian wines to America, but in the ten short years since Dan imported his first container, he has put together a portfolio of wines that almost everyone concedes fall into the WOW category. He travels the countryside making friends of growers who specialize in dense, chewy Shiraz and bright, fruit driven Grenache . . . he also brings us several dozen tiny production winemakers whose world-class wines are little known . . . until now. Almost the entire trip was spent in South Australia, a state which takes up about one sixth of the country. The wine regions we visited . . . Coonawarra, McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley . . . hug the southern coast where there is nothing between there and the bottom of the world except Antarctica But, even in July (their January) the climate is temperate . . . sometimes frost in the morning . . . warming to 55 or 60 bright sunny afternoons. Quite brisk at night with a big sky that accentuated the billions of stars above us. This is a very small corner of South Australia, but even so, the region is vast and most every night was spent in a different hotel, at least four to six hours from our previous resting place. There were 23 wine professionals . . . distributors, importers, restauranteurs and retailers on the bus . . . when we weren't catching up on our sleep we watched for Kangaroos . . . "Roos to the left!" . . . which appeared about as often as they do here in Georgetown . . . but the source of Australian lamb covered the landscape . . . at least a million sheep for each marsupial. Winemakers Dan Hickinbotham, Trevor Jones, Steve and Dan Philips cruising down the Murray River. Six hours west of Melbourne is Coonawarra . . . as far south as you can be in South Australia . . . this is cool climate Cabernet country. Australians consider Coonawara the greatest wine district in Australia . . . Cabernet is king . . . the wines here are Bordeaux like and cool climate Riesling and a leaner style Shiraz does very well here. We had our first before-breakfast wine tasting at the Majella Winery . . . followed with scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon prepared in a specially made four foot skillet served with plate size biscuits, fresh fruit and pastries and Sparkling Shiraz. We recalled Dan's orders . . . plates were cleaned . . . then they poured us back onto the bus for a five hour drive up the coast to McLaren Vale. Then we got serious. Two days in McLaren Vale . . . we stayed in a sprawling hotel called McLaren on the Lake. But the ten year Australian drought had turned this fine lake into pretty much of a pond. The hotel staff takes leave at 5 pm, so when the heat didn't work we bundled up and got it fixed in the morning. Bright, exotic birds are everywhere. Big, black crow-like birds with a bright splash of white on their back, called Magpies, are everywhere. Tonight was Grenache night and dinner was at Dan Philip's favorite pizza joint, Russell's . . . not exactly a joint . . . Russell makes some of the most exotic pizzas on the face of the earth in his wood burning oven. We tasted (partied) all night with Dan and two of Australia's most prominent winemakers . . . Chris Ringland and Lisa Wetherall . . . washing the pizza down with Grenache based wines from the R (Ringland) Wines portfolio. The evening wound down with more Grenache, a roaring fire and Sonya, a New Jersey wine rep, getting down with some serious blues on her harmonica. Breakfast tasting at Kay Brothers . . . including 113 year old vines Shiraz and a 1992 Rare Muscat, thick butterscotch, citrus and fine acidity which I can taste still. Then a tasting at tiny production Noon Winery, a one man and his artistic wife, organic operation featuring vines planted in 1934. Entrance sign reads "Sorry, Cellar Door Closed, Out of Wine." Lunch at Samuel's Gorge where winemaker Justin McNamee told us about his epiphany when he was led through a soil tasting of the property. I had my first taste of kangaroo and ate my body weight for lunch . . . dinner to follow. Then sunset on the beach at Blanche Point, overlooking the Ocean . . . breathtaking. Dinner at the Victory Hotel where I swore I wouldn't consume another mouthful . . . until I tasted the lightest, flakiest King George Whiting (fish and chips). Four days in Barossa Valley . . . began with a four hour cruise of the Murray River with Dan and winemakers Trevor Jones and David Hickinbotham. The Murray was once the broad, raging source of water for farmers and drinking water in the region. The ten year drought has reduced the water levels substantially and the government has installed locks which control the flow. This is an environmental crisis. Growers must buy water rights and every gallon pumped from the river is metered and paid for. Steve and Chris Ringland after a serious day in vineyards. Chris Ringland's 1910 vineyards . . . Chris is considered by many to be the best winemaker in Australia . . . he rescued this dormant, 5 acre vineyard in 1994 and spent the next six years clearing and re-trellising the vines by himself. It is a wondrous, amphitheater shaped property, 1,500 feet elevation (the highest in the region) east facing and sheltered from the worst storms that come in from the north. Chris believes that with proper sustainable vineyard practices, vineyards like this can be nurtured for centuries. Maximum yields are 1 to 1.5 tons of grapes per acre (extremely low). This site is the source of Chris's most famous wines called Chris Ringland (formerly Three Rivers) Shiraz which Robert Parker rated 99, 95, 99, 100, 100, 98, 96, 100 and 100 from vintages 1993 to 2002. What about the drought, you ask? These are dry farmed vineyards that rely only on tiny amounts of rainfall, forcing the vines to dig deep for their strength and sustenance. Loan Vineyard . . . I hope I can get some of these special certified organic wines for you. Rick Loan is a local Aussie who married Jessie, a Severna Park, Maryland native who, as a girl, had an obsession with all things Australian. After college she moved here, met Rick, and they now have two girls and this heavenly piece of Barossa that produces 1,200 cases of superb Alicante Rose, Semillon and Shiraz. Rick and Jessie grow the grapes. Chris Ringland makes the wine. Trevor Jones . . . it was a huge pleasure to catch up with Trevor again at his family Winery in Barossa. You remember Trevor . . . he's the bloke with the giant mustache who did a tasting at Pearson's last May . . . Boots Shiraz, Virgin Chardonnay, Boots Sparkling Red, Jonesy Port. Surprise . . . while roaming Trevor Jones' Winery I heard the helicopters approaching . . . framing them with my trusty Nikon digital, they put down not fifty yards in front of me. OK, let's go, they yelled and packed us, four per whirlybird, for a surprise tour of the Barossa Valley and on to our next tasting some twenty miles away . . . where we ate, drank Shiraz and Victoria Bitter and played cricket (baseball rules) and Aussie football all afternoon. What a glorious day! Paringa Winery . . . next morning another three hour drive took us outside of Barossa to Paringa in Victoria. When we arrived, the bus was required to drive through a solution of water and chlorine and each of us was also required to cleanse our shoes in the solution to assure that no diseases are brought into the vineyards. Australia vineyards have never been been infected with deadly phylloxera which has claimed vineyards in Europe and the U.S. This is a part of a stringent government program to assure it never does. At 1,700 acres, Paringa is by far the largest winery on the tour. David Hickinbotham bought it in 1995. Metered water from the Murray River irrigates the vineyards and David uses sustainable, organic methods along with modern farming techniques to produce some of the most succulent $10 wines on the continent. That night, dinner at the Grand Hotel in Mildura, a mere two hours down the road . . . where we drank these fabulous $10 Paringa wines with another specially prepared 5 course meal. At Paringa they dedicated Row 35 to me . . . we're expected to sell all the wine from Row 35 . . . it's five miles long. David also owns Clarendon Vineyard in McLaren Vale. Hickinbotham's Clarendon vineyard is considered one of the two best vineyards in McLaren Vale . . . consistently selected for use in Penfold's Grange ten out of the last ten years. Back to Barossa . . . three spectacular vineards . . . Hare's Chase, Greenock Creek and Kalleske . . . all sustainably farmed . . . all tiny production Shiraz specialists. Kalleske, especially, is noteworthy . . . Dan relayed a conversation he had with International Winemaker of the Year, Philip Shaw, who named this organic and biodynamic vineyard as one of the two best properties in Barossa. Final day . . . drive to Adelaide and spent the morning at the Cleland Wildlife Preserve where . . . FINALLY . . . we walked among kangaroos, koalas, tasmanian devils, dingos and every type of Aussie wildlife we missed seeing in the vineyards. Coming home we had tailwinds, missed my connection in L.A. anyway . . . a mere thirty hours back to the east coast. Glad to be home. Steve ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:48:27 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1139 I knew nothing of the estate . . . only that it is a medium sized property in the satellite appellation of Saint Emilion, known as Lussac . . . Gaury Dubos is the proprietor and as is the custom on Bordeaux' right bank, he plants mostly Merlot and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. We were doing a tasting of eight of Dubos' recent vintages . . . 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. 2003, 2004, 2005 . . . all open and ready for analysis. You read it right . . . eight vintages. Outside of the Chateau a lineup like this is almost unheard of. Here's the other half of the equation that got me drooling like an amateur . . . the proposed prices were dirt cheap. We tasted them all in order, starting with oldest . . . then went back to each wine six or seven times over an hour's time. The results were impressive. Although all were young and vibrant and I was ready to buy them all, I decided to do some pruning. These are not big, aggressive wines . . . they are wines of fruit and pleasure . . . all with a similar style, but each with individual character . . . light to medium bodied with a familiar raspberry tone running through all of them . . . wines to drink, not cellar. The final verdict . . . four very pretty vintages with that magical Saint Emilion designation . . . all greatly enjoyable at UNHEARD OF SAINT EMILION PRICES. open for tasting while they last FOUR VINTAGES FROM CHATEAU VERDU LUSSAC SAINT EMILION 1998 . . . a superb right bank vintage. bursting with raspberry. medium body. light tannins. 1999 . . . earthy, gamey nose. light body and light tannins. flavor persists on the palate. 2001 . . . dark garnet, raspberry aromas. light tannins. persistant flavor and spice. 2003 . . . another superb right bank vintage. dark ruby color. the nose has an exotic blood orange/citrusy aroma. medium tannins. medium length on the palate. PEARSON'S PRICE . . . $11.99 A BOTTLE or . . . BUY A 12 BOTTLE CASE . . . 3 BOTTLES OF EACH VINTAGE . . . $131.88 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:50:46 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1138 Beaujolais . . . those beautiful, rolling hills located between Burgundy and the Northern Rhone . . . once you have seen Beaujolais with your own eyes you understand what is meant by "la belle France." Gamay is the grape . . . producing light purple wines balanced between sweet fruit, supple texture and bright acidity . . . you can chill it down and enjoy a bottle of Beaujolais with just about anything. Georges DuBoeuf is the guy responsible for producing the most recognizable Beaujolais in the world . . . he started out in the 1950s peddling the local wines to local restaurants . . . he is responsible for promoting Beaujolais Nouveau into the most instantly recognized wine in the world . . . he and his son, Franck, now work with at least 20 cooperatives and 400 growers. Beyond Beaujolais Nouveau . . . the best wines of Beaujolais are called the "crus" (growths) of Beaujolais. All are made from the Gamay grape and all are picked by hand . . . made by a process that extracts the juice with an absolute minimum of tannin . . . each is distinguished by the individual hillsides where they are grown . . . all with beautiful, romantic names like Fleurie, Saint Amour, Moulin-a-Vent . . . some are lighter, some are bolder . . . now . . . several years after the vintage . . . they are at their best. AT HUGE SAVINGS. All open for tasting while they last. reds . . . the Flower Label Crus of Beaujolais SOLD OUTGEORGES DUBOEUF SAINT AMOUR 2005 . . . 5 cases at this price Reg 16.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $11.99 PEARSON'S ONE DAY SALE $6.99 GEORGES DUBOEUF JULIENAS 2005 . . . 7 cases at this price Reg 14.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $10.99 PEARSON'S ONE DAY SALE $6.99 SOLD OUTGEORGES DUBOEUF BROUILLY 2005 . . . 4 cases at this price Reg 13.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $9.99 PEARSON'S ONE DAY SALE $6.99 SOLD OUTGEORGES DUBOEUF MOULIN-A-VENT 2005 . . . 10 cases at this price Reg 18.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $12.99 PEARSON'S ONE DAY SALE $6.99 GEORGES DUBOEUF MORGON 2005 . . . 2 cases at this price Reg 13.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $9.99 PEARSON'S ONE DAY SALE $6.99 SOLD OUTGEORGES DUBOEUF REGNIE 2005 . . . 5 cases at this price Reg 13.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $9.99 PEARSON'S ONE DAY SALE $6.99 SOLD OUTGEORGES DUBOEUF COTE DE BROUILLY 2005 . . . 5 cases at this price Reg 13.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $9.99 PEARSON'S ONE DAY SALE $6.99 GEORGES DUBOEUF FLEURIE 2005 . . . 2 cases at this price Reg 16.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $11.99 PEARSON'S ONE DAY SALE $6.99 white . . . Pouilly Fuisse is not red . . . it is 100% Chardonnay SOLD OUTGEORGES DUBOEUF POUILLY FUISSE 2005 . . . 7 cases at this price Reg 23.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $15.99 PEARSON'S ONE DAY SALE $11.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:47:42 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1137 Winery release August 2 . . . Others have sold this wine as a pre-release . . . but I always like to taste it first . . . it's so much more fun to sell a wine I've tasted and can really get excited about. I opened it yesterday at 10 am. The Alexander is dark ruby and to me, its cedar and eucalyptus aromas immediately identified it as Silver Oak . . . followed by blackberry/blueberry fruits and a touch of vanilla tapioca. The nose was there . . . the wine is medium bodied and at first opening it was a bit reticent . . . I was disappointed that I didn't have the urge to consume the entire bottle. So I put it aside for twenty four hours. WOW . . . that's exactly what it needed . . . oxygen . . . which softened up some of those harsh tannins, put some meat on the fruit and brought out the florals. 2004 was an early riser from start to finish . . . the budbreak was earliest ever and the harvest was way ahead of schedule . . . much of the fruit was discarded during the growing season to encourage sunlight on the vines, keep yields low and to assure flavor . . . the result is classic, elegant Silver Oak . . . but a lot less wine was produced this year. 2004 is a Silver Oak to drink over time . . . I'd give it another year or two and then watch it shine for the next ten. Most of Silver Oak's production is sold only to the finest restaurants . . . mostly steak houses for obvious reasons. Very little makes its way to retail stores. Do not delay . . . our allocation is very limited. SILVER OAK ALEXANDER VALLEY 2004 Winemaker notes: Our 2004 Alexander Valley, a blend of wine from several different vineyards, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. We blended the vineyard lots in early 2005 and transferred the wine to 50% new and 50% once-used American oak barrels for aging. Blending prior to barreling allows us to achieve a balance of the wine's natural elements, such as fruit and tannin, before they are influenced by oak. The wine was then aged in barrel for approximately 25 months and another 15 months in bottle to harmonize its components before release. The 2004 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a refined and complex wine that combines subtlety and depth. It has a dark ruby color with a deep red edge and displays aromas of fresh blackberries, violets, cola, nutmeg and licorice. In the mouth, the wine has a juicy attack and offers great expression of fruit and spice on the mid-palate. Its fruit-driven finish is long and elegant. Properly cellared, this wine should give drinking pleasure through 2023. Winery Price $75.00 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $59.99 a bottle . . . $699 a case HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:25:15 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1134 I buy his wines every year . . . he makes some of the best white Burgundies you've ever tasted . . . the guy is a character. Like the time his first words to me were, "These [2002] are the worst wines I've ever made." I rolled my eyes. I tasted them. They weren't dreadful. Not even close. Everyone loved them. Jean-Marie Guffens and his wife own MAISON VERGET in Burgundy. They make only white wines. In Burgundy, that means Chardonnay. His devoted customers follow his "cult" wines every year . . . super-concentrated, low yield, high extract whites from the best villages of Burgundy. His social skills are questionable. He says the most outrageous things. I heard him scold a devoted follower by instructing him to read several volumes on some arcane winemaking detail before bothering him with such drivel. But his winemaking is genius . . . like a new method to stir the lees (the solids left at the bottom of a fermentation tank which generate more flavor) . . . which includes funnels and levers to stir the lees from the outside of the tank while keeping the wine fresh and oxidation free. Guffens was the first to employ this method. Now many have followed. His 2006s are heavenly. Golden and concentrated . . . the product of super-ripe, late harvested grapes . . . extended time stirred on the lees which gives the wine extra weight . . . then limited aging in one and two year old French oak barrels which add texture and a certain French subtleness. Taste with us . . . VERGET BOURGOGNE "TERROIRS DE COTE d'OR" 2006 Guffens' "Terroir" has been called a poor man's Meursault . . . to which I'll add Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet . . . the three sources for the grapes in this bottle. To my way of thinking, that makes it a rich man's wine for a pittance. It is golden-green in color . . . ripe and minerally at the same time . . . the essence of anise, almond, citrus and quite flowery . . . the entry is sweet, the middle is lush and at the end it clings to the palate for a minute or more. I'd recommend this delicious white Burgundy to any member of the Forbes 500 . . . save yourself $500 a case over the Premier Cru version and start on your next billion today. PEARSON'S PRICE $15.99 a bottle . . . buy the case for $179.88 ($14.99) HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:29:49 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1133 I discovered this gem-of-a-white-burgundy subsitute in the '04 vintage . . . '05 and '06 have been staples ever since. Suddenly I receive notice the winery is shipping the '07's . . . Is it necessary to beg you to buy the last 25 cases of the still-current '06 for half price? I didn't think so. FINCA LA ESCONDIDA RESERVA 2006 CHARDONNAY Grown in Argentina's San Juan appellation . . . in this case 100% Chardonnay . . . grown in cool climate, high elevation wine country . . . where they are able to produce Burgundian-like white wines. Aged for 12 months in lightly toasted, French Oak. It turns out opulent and crisp at the same time . . . Meursault-like, if you'll allow me. Drink it with creamy dishes . . . like the Chicken Alfredo I had last night. You could age this wine for two or three years. Reg 16.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE 47% OFF . . . $8.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:43:13 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1132 This is one of those "omigod" wines. Solaia . . . one of the original Super Tuscans . . . along with Sassacaia, Tignanello, and Ornellaia . . . wines that changed Tuscany forever when they altered the emphasis from Sangiovese grapes to Cabernet Sauvignon . . . then finished them in new French oak in the style of Bordeaux First Growths. The color is dark garnet with a tint of royal blue at the edge. The nose has so many components that it's hardly necessary to drink . . . blueberry . . . blackberry . . . flint . . . mineral . . . minty eucalyptus . . . maraschino cherry . . . anise . . . a vineyard's worth of complexity before touching your lips. Once on your palate the wine is medium bodied with a silky texture that is oh so elegant . . . roundly seductive with hints of the embedded tannins which are sure to stake this wine through another full decade in the cellar . . . if not more. The longer this masterpiece airs in the glass the more it shows its minerality, anise and maraschino cherry . . . with a persistant finish that goes on for a minute . . . make that two minutes . . . or more. Nine years after the vintage . . . this wine is the reason to cellar classic wines. You can find this wine on the internet for anywhere from $185 to $300 a bottle . . . I have 17 bottles (the eighteenth is described above) which have been immaculately stored at Pearson's from first release . . . my gift to a few lucky emailees for $149 a bottle. Robert Parker's earliest notes follow . . . six years later his assessment has proved to be dead on. SOLAIA PIERO ANTINORI 1999 Robert Parker 94 points, December 2002: "The first two bottles I tasted of the 1999 Solaia were corked, but the third was brilliant. Its black/purple color is followed by a sumptuous bouquet of licorice, blackberries, mint, and cassis, all presented in a concentrated, medium to full-bodied, dense yet elegant style. Although still young, it is undoubtedly the qualitative equivalent of a Bordeaux first or second growth. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2016." PEARSON'S ONE DAY PRICE . . . $149.00 a bottle HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:48:10 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1131 I couldn't make this up. Jerry's Restaurant is at a truck stop in Indiana. On our way back from St. Louis we stopped at a Howard Johnson's for the night and Jerry's was recommended as the best in town. The place was crowded. No travelers here but us. All local people. Farmers, they seemed. Everyone knew each other. Plenty of solid food to choose from. Nothing over $7.00. The turkey looked good to Rae. Hoping for an enthusiastic description of the specialty, she asked, ''Is the Turkey roasted here? Is it home made?'' ''Oh, I don't know about that,'' was the honest Indiana answer, ''I only work here at night. I don't know what they do to it during the day.'' That reminded me of Frederic Esmonin's Gevrey-Chambertin. I don't know what they do to this delicious Gevrey-Chambertin, either. I'm not there when they grow it or make it . . . we just buy it and drink it and go back for more. Our first vintage with this wine was 1999 . . . followed almost every year since. 2006 is a beautiful vintage for the northern part of Burgundy, known as Cotes de Nuits . . . soft, round wines with low acidity and plenty of fruit . . . every other Burgundy producer is bucking the weak dollar and trying to position his wine with Michelin luxury restaurants. I wouldn't compare Esmonin's Gevrey to MacDonald's . . . it's so much more than that . . . I'd rate it Bistro plus . . . and it's the only Gevrey out there in the low $20's. Delicious . . . come taste with us. GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN, CLOS PRIEUR, FREDERIC ESMONIN, 2006 This is not gamey, earthy, chewy Gevrey-Chambertin. It is light with delicate Pinot flavors . . . spice and orange cloves on the nose . . . bright strawberry-raspberry fruit on the palate . . . the longer in your glass, the broader and more delicious it becomes. Reg 29.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $22.49 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:49:53 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1130 Tavel . . . a small appellation just across the Rhone River west of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Tavel is known as the source for France's best rose wines. In fact, rose wines are the only wines made in Tavel. Why, you ask, would a wine growing region a stone's throw from the Rhone Valley's best red wine vineyards produce rose wines exclusively? It's the soil . . . the most plausible explanation has to do with the calcerous, sandy soils first cultivated here . . . they produced wines which were light, at best, compared with the dark, red wines of nearby Chateauneuf and Gigondas. The early growers went with their own, lighter style rather than compete with the dark wines from across the Rhone River . . . the locals were more than satisfied. New and improved . . . sometime after World War II, a farmer clearing a baren hillside accidentally uncovered a chalky undersoil known to be superior to the sandy, calcerious soil they were used to farming. This discovery led to further exploration of neighboring hillsides where more of the same chalky soil was uncovered . . . these previously "unfit" sites became the vineyards for Tavel's superior rose wines. Best of the best . . . there are at most a dozen or so domaines in Tavel. Ask around and you'll hear, "Montezargues is simply the best" . . . that makes it best of the best. PRIEURE DE MONTEZARGUES TAVEL ROSE 2006 This bone-dry rose is made in the "saignee" method . . . where the juice remains in contact with the skins for a day or so, then bled off for color and texture. Made from red grapes Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Clairette blended with Picpoul and Bourboulenc whites. The 2006 is brilliant pink . . . red fruit aromas, predominantly strawberry, raspberry and cherry with bright, well balanced acidity . . . a dry, clean finish. An elegant, full-bodied rose for any summer time foods . . . particularly good with spicy chicken dishes, sausage and aggressive farmers' cheese. They produce about 13,000 cases annually . . . almost all in France. Enjoy. Reg 29.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE 44% OFF . . . $16.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:56:29 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1129 The grape is called Cencibel in this part of Spain . . . everywhere else it's Tempranillo. The Bodega is located in La Mancha . . . Spain's largest growing region . . . until recently La Mancha's wines were known for quantity over quality. Now a number of serious winemakers . . . like the three friends who renovated this old family Bodega that dates back to 1851. . . have arrived to harness the Continental climate's extremes . . . very cold winters and ultra hot summers . . . cool nights and hot, arid days . . . high altitudes with clay, limestone and granite soils . . . perfect for conscientious growers. God this wine is gorgeous. Dark purple . . . almost blue . . . aromas of blueberry and violets gush from the glass. Aged in French and American oak . . . the texture is rich and velvety. The fresh blueberry/blackberry flavors that coat your palate are true to your first sense of it . . . almost liqueur like . . . firm, plush and silky . . . if it hadn't been for a customer who placed an order for six cases of this unknown gem we may have missed it entirely. ONLY 25 CASES OF THIS TEN DOLLAR SENSATION ARE AVAILABLE . . . taste with us. BODEGAS ERCAVIO MAS QUE VINOS 2006 The Wine Advocate's Jay Miller rated this wine 91 points but included no tasting notes . . . must have left him speechless. Here are the WA notes for the 2005 . . . for me the '06 is a carbon copy . . . Wine Advocate 90 points (2005 vintage): "Produced from 100% Cencibel (Tempranillo) it was aged for 5 months in French and American oak. Purple colored with fragrant spice box tobacco blueberry and blackberry aromas this full-bodied effort has gobs of ripe fruit a firm structure and a 40-second finish not bad value for a sawbuck. Although this well-made wine will surely evolve for 2-3 years who will have the patience? This is one to purchase by the case." Reg 13.99 . . . ONE DAY ONLY 29% OFF . . . $9.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:00:00 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1128 Today's the day . . . I've prepared my palate for a two week Shiraz marathon. Never mind that July is actually the January of the southern hemisphere . . . or that the 12 1/2 hour (where did that half hour come from?) time difference will make Rae crazy when I call her at 3 am . . . I can't wait to get this 22 hour flight off the ground. I'll be guided by Dan (Marquis-Philips) Philips . . . the guy who just ten years ago invested his last dime in a container of Shiraz and today is the most exciting/influential winemaker/marketer Australia has yet produced . . . responsible for some of the most exciting Australian wines on the planet. We're talking producers like Chris Ringland (the 100 point man) and Trevor Jones (you remember Jonesy, the world's greatest port value) . . . both winemakers have made appearances at Pearson's . . . plus a couple dozen other world class wineries. In ten short years Dan Philips has built a huge reputation as THE Australian wine importer . . . a Robert Parker WINE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: "No one has done more to bring the great treasures of South Australia, particularly the old vine Grenache and Shiraz cuvees, to the American public than Dan Philips. Moreover, he has paved the road for other innovative Australian importers to do similar high quality work." Every Dan Philips new release causes huge excitement in the world of wine . . . remember Mollydooker? Boarding Pass? Bitch? Sarah's Blend? Henry's Drive? Pure Evil? . . . WOW WINES ALL WITHOUT EXCEPTION. That's why I'm making this trip . . . to see Adelaide, Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek, Padthaway up close . . . so I can share it all with you when I return. Advance thrill . . . three new Dan Philips WOW releases . . . all three are Shiraz . . . each distinctively different . . . a taste of what I'll be tasting for the next two weeks . . . CHRIS RINGLAND EBENEZER SHIRAZ 2006 Dan Philips notes: "Ebenezer is the choicest, finest wine producing location in Australia. And made by Chris Ringland. This is the first wine Chris has put his name on since his eponymous wine, Chris Ringland Shiraz (that's the $350 per bottle one). I've tasted the CR Ebenezer Shiraz a dozen times or more since bottling and each time it has solicited a "wow" response. And, 93 points from The Wine Advocate. Maybe the best way to describe this wine is from a wine trade point of view: A No-Brainer-Liquid-Order-Maker." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 93 points: "For Shiraz fans, the great news is that there are 20,000 cases of the 2006 Chris Ringland Shiraz, sourced from Ringland's favorite sub-region of Barossa, Ebenezer. It was aged for 20 months in seasoned French and American oak hogsheads. Purple/black, it delivers a brooding nose of cedar, tar, smoke, licorice, blueberry, and blackberry. Full-bodied and massive, particularly for a wine in this price category, it offers succulent, savory fruit, great depth, and a 60-second finish. Seamless and complete, it should have a 15 year lifespan. Smart consumers will load up on this amazing value." PEARSON'S PRICE $19.99 LUCHADOR SHIRAZ 2006 Dan Philips notes: "For those of you who don't know, a Luchador (think matador, one who fights bulls) is a wrestler in Mexico. I'm not sure what inspired me to put a Luchador on a Barossa Valley Australian Shiraz label, but I did. I love it. Here's the real story about the origin of Luchador. My longest term employee (a warehouse manager who has worked for me for ten years, since he was twenty-one), came into my office and said, "My friends and I usually drink beer whenever we watch the Lakers, but now we're drinking wine. Why don't you make a wine for us?" . . . "Big." "Big . . . About 15 bucks." So I made it." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 92 points: "The 2006 Shiraz contains 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sixty percent of the fruit was sourced from Barossa Valley and 40% from McLaren Vale. It was aged for 12 months in seasoned French and American oak. A glass-coating opaque purple, it features first-class aromas of spice box, cedar, mocha, lavender, and blueberry. Velvety-textured, fruit-driven, and intense, the wine has excellent depth of flavor and a long finish. It is a fabulous value." PEARSON'S PRICE $15.99 STRONG ARMS SHIRAZ 2006 Dan Philips notes: "Strong Arms is a McLaren Vale Shiraz. Chris Ringland made the wine and had this to say about the wine and vintage: "moderate ripeness, vineyards selected from various soil-types and sub-regions across the McLaren vale area. Typical R Wine vinification, fermentation on skins for 5-7 days. Gentle pressing. The pressings matured separately from the free run. Maturation in seasoned American and French oak for 1 year." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 91 points: "The 2006 Shiraz is composed of 46% McLaren Vale, 44% Riverland, and 10% Barossa Valley fruit. It was aged in seasoned French and American oak for 12 months. Opaque purple-colored, it has a nose of cedar, spice box, and blueberry. Fruit-driven, supple-textured, rich, and easygoing, the wine has remarkable class for its giveaway price. It actually has 2-3 years of aging potential but no one that I know is going to defer their gratification. Strong Arms has been bottled with 6 different but similarly themed labels. Collect them all and Dan Philips will send you a free Bacon of the Month Club catalog. There are 12,000 cases of this remarkable value." PEARSON'S PRICE $10.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:10:34 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1127 Educated guess . . . we've all been there . . . standing in a midst of a thousand computers . . . a thousand tv sets . . . a thousand cars . . . a thousand wines . . . obsessing over the right choice when all we can really do is make an educated guess. I spend all my tasting time searching for wines like this Cabernet Sauvignon . . . from the finest vineyards in Rutherford and Oakville . . . like the renowned Beckstoffer Vineyards . . . 100% organically grown . . . made by Barry Gnekow, a pioneer in innovative techniques which produce amazing levels of concentration and aromatics . . . he was described by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of the best consulting winemakers in the industry. Then he prices it at half the competition's. Drink this wine . . . they recommend it . . . I recommend it . . . a twenty dollar wine that tastes like forty. No guesswork . . . open for tasting . . . enjoy. EDUCATED GUESS NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Educated Guess is a distinctly ripe Cabernet . . . medium to full bodied, rich on the palate, with a black cherry nose filtered through cocoa, caramel and toasty oak. Good choice for a mid-week grilled rib eye. Winery notes: "The Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from grapes grown in the prestigious Napa Valley wine districts of Yountville, Oakville, and Rutherford. Two primary sources for the Educated Guess Cabernet are Beckstoffer Vineyards in Rutherford, and the Napa Wine Company in Yountville and Oakville-whose grapes are 100% organically grown. The wine is made in Oakville, California at the Napa Wine Company. Created with the philosophy that superb Napa Valley Cabernet can be affordable, this wine is indistinguishable in quality from its higher-priced Napa Valley competitors. " Reg 21.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $15.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:27:56 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1126 You don't see this on many wines . . . the lot number on every label. The winemaking team tastes through every lot . . . carefully assessing each lot's fruit, balance and texture. The final lot is chosen only when every member of the team agrees . . . that lot number becomes a permanent record on every label . . . indicating that the bottle you've chosen is the very best of the vintage. This is another process in the "educated guess" process you go through when choosing a wine . . . and it works . . . from the first day we opened it at the tasting table Tangley Oaks has become our best selling Chardonnay . . . which is saying a lot . . . since Chardonnay is our best selling varietal . . . follow the logic . . . that makes Tangley Oaks Chardonnay our best selling wine. The vineyards are in Santa Barbara . . . in the Central Coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles . . . where the cool nights from the Pacific breezes and the morning fog followed by the afternoon heat combine to produce some of California's best Chardonnay . . . tropical aromas, a lush mouth feel and crisp acidity . . . Burgundian styled . . . but definitely California. Need more convincing? Each year renowned DC restaurant, Kinkeads, puts dozens of Chardonnays to the test in a blind competition to choose its "by the glass" wine for the year . . . Tangley Oaks Chardonnay 2005 won that spot for the year 2008. Taste with us . . . my under $20 Chardonnay of the year . . . enjoy. TANGLEY OAKS SANTA BARBARA CHARDONNAY 2005 Lot #3 Winery notes: "This Chardonnay exhibits flavors of baked apples accented with Meyer lemon, nutmeg and vanilla. It is refreshing with bright acidity. This will pair well with roasted chicken, pork loin or veal." Reg 19.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $14.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:25:28 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1125 I love jasmine . . . that gentle, lyrical scent that settles in over a portion of spring rolls at my favorite Chinese restaurant, Moon Gate, in Bethesda. Gessami (Catalan for Jasmine) is not tea, of course, it's wine . . . the name is derived from the Persian word yasamin, Greek iasminon, Italian gelsomino, French jensemie and finally the Catalan version, gessami . . . and no, Gessami is not served at Moon Gate, but it should be. And it's not made from jasmine . . . although it could easily fool you. It's a blend of Muscat d'Alexandria and Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Gewurztraminer . . . the chalky soil's minerality, fermentation on the grape skins and stainless steel aging produce a wine of pure fruit, intense aromatics and bright crispness. Made at the Gramona family winery in the Penedes of Spain, near Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast. This is another case where the new vintage is on its way and I was able to score the last 56 cases of the '06 at a huge savings. open for tasting . . . 58% Off . . . enjoy. GRAMONA GESSAMI 2006 Dozens of aromas are found in this luscious wine . . . jasmine, pear, ginger, lavender, lychees, peaches . . . depending on who's doing the tasting. Some compare it to a spicy Alsatian . . . others to Albarino. I say it's somewhere in between. A wonderful, fresh, subtle aperitif wine . . . enjoy with a spicy Asian or a luscious Spaniard. Reg 18.99 . . . PEARSON'S HUGE PRICE REDUCTION PRICE $7.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@Pe arsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:01:28 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1124 All you hardened-Pearson's-email-veterans know where to find the best wines in Washington . . . in the back of the store . . . behind the tasting table . . . where Michael hides his best-of-the-best small-production wines. Michael's discoveries . . . almost never enough wine to put into an email . . . but always enough for a small taste and a few bottles . . . to satisfy a few of you . . . who know the secret words . . . "Hey, Michael, what's in your stash today?" ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:59:40 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1123 Coincidence . . . or fate? . . . just meant to be. Just as I was putting the finishing touches on this morning's email, yesterday's Washington Post ran two intriguing articles . . . "The Tastemakers" . . . one featured local importer Terry Theise, champion of small growers . . . the other, his wife, chef Odessa Piper, champion of regional foods. Take a few minutes to read them at this link . . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/08/AR2008070800730.html Wine importer Terry Theise has been preaching the German Riesling gospel to me for at least . . . well, I don't recall his first vintage . . . back with Robert Kacher's and Robert Parker's firsts . . . I knew them all "when." Terry is the U.S.'s leading "fine German wine selector" and is considered the world's leading expert on German wines . . . period. Robert Parker has described Terry as "one of our wine industry heroes . . . it is his portfolio of German wines that made Terry a superstar in the wine world." This year he was awarded this year's James Beard Foundation award for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional. Terry spends an extraordinary amount of time in the vineyards and with each vintage he returns with a close-to-phone-book-sized catalogue . . . which isn't exactly a catalogue but a running commentary on the wines, the growers and every single thought that has ever entered his mind. The guy is erudite, homey, prolific, funny, articulate, well read . . . and writes like the wind. You can download a copy at skurnikwines.com (Terry is the selector, Michael Skurnik the importer). Why Riesling? I could never begin to convince you like Terry . . . so with his permission I am reprinting a portion of his GERMANY 2006 catalogue which includes an essay of the same name. WHY RIESLING? A) Because if you grow it where it's at home, Riesling comes out of the ground already perfect. Don't need no face-lift, depilating, tummy-tucks or pancake makeup. Not like some other grape varieties we could name that rhymes with "hard-on-YAY." B) Because Riesling exists to make food taste better. Compare with adolescent narccisistic grape varieties that only want to draw attention to their adorable SELF. C) Because Riesling knows soil more intimately than any other grape, and because Riesling is more articulate than any other grape in conveying soil right into your palpitating palate. Go on, SOIL YOUR PALATE with Riesling. D) Because Riesling attracts the kinds of vintners who do NOT need to prove to you what throbbing hot-shots they are by how neatly they can diddle technology. With Riesling, nature RULES. In the cellar, less is more. E) Because Riesling is genuine, organically linked to the ground, whole in itself, resistant to fancy-pants machines, because it survives frost, because it ripens late in the Fall when everything is taut and crisp and golden, because Riesling wines are the afterglow fo the contented world. F) Because YOU will be a deeper, happier person when you drink these wines. There's no ego and no affect between them and you. They simply display their uncanny complexities in a manner so infectious you can't HELP responding with your OWN complexity; suddenly your mind-heart-soul expands and the world seems like a far more intricate and fascinating place than it was just moments before. G) Because, take it from me, a lifetime of Riesling drinking will make you a nicer person, a better-informed citizen, a finer lead guitarist, a better hitter with an 0-2 count, MUCH better lover; you'll balance your checkbook, avoid jury duty, change the oil on your car every 3000 miles, never dawdle in the left lane, root for the home team and make bread from scratch. The real question isn't "WHY Riesling?" It's WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR???? Sincerely, Terry Theise All notes and descriptions are Terry's. Each wine description is wordy . . . which I edited waaaay down . . . but still necessary for you to begin to understand the wines, the growers, the terroir . . . and Terry's devotion. SELBACH-OSTER ZELTINGER SCHLOSSBERG RIESLING AUSLESE 2005 MOSEL/ZELTINGEN I imagined walking into ever-deeper woods, on a sunny day, the new-leaf green getting deeper and still deeper until it was almost liquid and then at last was liquid, and I floated along its clorophyl-y currents, safe and amazed, gliding in the silvery green. (drink 11-28 years) SELBACH-OSTER: There is a striking conciliation between brilliant acids and a kind of leesy plushness. There's plenty of minerality, but it seems somehow deeper than a literal depiction of the soil. There can be fruit of almost unbearable purity and loveliness. Finally, they are often among the most charming wines on the Mosel, yet they are never frivolous. ZELTINGER SCHLOSSBERG: is mineral to the MAX! Now back in production after the catastrophic hail of 1996, I think it's time to give this vineyard its due: I think it's a great Grand Cru site, fully deserving the status of a Wehlener Sonnenuhr or Erdener Pralat. The pity is most of it is worked by sthe small growers of Zeltingen, among whom standards aren't particularly high. Selbachs have shown time and again the potential of the site. Flavors are a borealis of slate, buttressed by lime and grassy aspects. Mosel-apple is present but discreet. Medium bodied. If you love Mosels for their Mosel-ness, grab these wines and hang on for dear life. Reg 39.99 . . . EMAIL PRICE $29.99 WEINGUT GYSLER WEINHEIMER MANDELBERG RIESLING AUSLESE 2005 RHEINHESSEN/WEINHEIM A very flowery Auslese, plum and cherry blossom; more berry than fruit; uncomplicated and tasty. (drink 8-18 years) GYSLER: Big changes afoot as son Alexander Gysler takes control. The new wines are slimmed down, streamlined and modernized, jazzy and full of crispy, primary fruit. Prices, though, remain un-real for the time being. MANDELBERG: These are south-facing slopes on a melange of soils, most prominent the red soil that makes Nierstein famous . . . if there weren't any vineyards on that great wide bowl, you'd look at it and think, "grapes should grow there." Reg 33.99 . . . EMAIL PRICE $25.49 HERBERT MESSMER BURRWEILER SCHLOSSGARTEN RIESLING KABINETT 2005 PFALZ/BURRWEILER Tangelo and malt aromas; bright, citric and zingy but it's in no way green, but rather yellow-orange, as if an orange-blossom honey had most of its sweetness removed. We're contemplating this a a CORE-LIST wine but have to determine whether he can produce it every year for us. Know why? He can't sell such a wine at home! It has the dreaded sweetness you see . . . (drink 5-14 years) MESSMER: Superbly made wines, exceptional clarity and polish in a keenly etched and chiseled style. He has soared ahead to take its place among the best estates in the Pfalz the last few years. Sure-handed with a multitude of grape varieties. What unites them is CLARITY and SPECIFICITY. Gregor's careful, diligent style seems to allow us to examine the fruit of his wines as though under a microscope. This must be the most honorable way to make wine. Everyone knows how to make bombshells--it's facile and plausible--but the tender, delicate rendering of varietal fruit denotes a respect for the grape which only shows when you're nature's humble servant and not concerned with being a hot-shot. Gregor's wines have an exactitude that satisfies my desire for seeing things clearly. BURWEILER: Messmer owns the best and largest parcel of the best vineyard around, the Burrweiler Schawer. It's pronounced like (electric) shaver. It's a unique site, the only pure slate slope in the Pfalz; practically the only slate vineyard between the Nahe and Andlau in Alsace. Reg 24.99 . . . EMAIL PRICE $18.74 HERBERT MESSMER RIESLANER AUSLESE 2005 PFALZ/BURRWEILER This is quite a critter here! It tastes like a bunch of clotted cream poured over a Sherman tank; penetrating lime-grass spice and wintergreen leads to an amazing palate at once poundingly intense yet bubble-bath voluptuous, and the fruit is as astoundingly clear and candid; the botrytis was pristine. I mean, YOW; one of the great wines of the vintatge. (drink 8-22 years) Reg 49.99 . . . EMAIL PRICE $37.49 KURT DARTING DURKHEIMER NONNENGARTEN RIESLANER AUSLESE 2005 PFALZ/BAD-DURKHEIM You need two mouths to taste this wine; it's too huge to fit into one. I checked carefully for V.A. (a sometimes-issue with '05 Rieslaners) and found none. Cherry and toasted brioche; gigantic, implacable mass and force; clashing cymbals of ginger and pepper and yet it rumbles like an 18-wheeler over the palate; the finish is like one of those wild skies dotted with angry clouds but sunny with crepuscular beams. Oh man, Rieslaner. (drink 3-16 years) DARTING: The numero uno sales success story in my portfolio. Extraordinary VALUE FOR MONEY for superbly made reductively brilliant wines. Depending on the vintage, either spicy-gingery and firmly bracing, or flowery-polleny with a candied spice and more talc and malt. Basically reductive, as indicated above, yet with the acquisition of cetain Grand Cru sites purchased from Basserman Jordan, one sees how classical Darting's wines can be from outstanding vineyards. All wines intensely, fundamentally varietal. Reg 41.99 . . . EMAIL PRICE $31.49 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:24:49 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1122 Both experienced and inexperienced wine drinkers have made this mistake . . . waiting too long to drink their wine. I started thinking about this problem when a customer asked me to tell her when to drink the wines on her wine rack. Unfortunately, most of the wines she had collected over the past ten years or so were way past their peak . . . I had to tell her that I would have put most of them in my closeout bin a long time ago. But how was she to know? All wines look the same on the outside. The average wine drinker has absolutely no chance of knowing which wine to drink and which wine to cellar . . . without a little help. General rules . . . PRICE & VINTAGE . . . most under $10 wines are made to be drunk in their current vintage. Don't put them on your wine rack for ten years. COMMERCIAL BRANDS . . . same thing applies. If you see them in grocery stores, drink them in their current vintage. WHITE WINES . . . most are best in their current vintage. RED WINES . . . may age better than white wines (usually, but not necessarily). EXPENSIVE WINES . . . have a better chance of aging than inexpensive wines. Why? Because they are made to age . . . low yields (which means more grapes per bottle), expensive barrel aging (adds complexity which takes a number of years to develop), and harsh tannins from red grape skins (which take time to mellow) . . . and other sophisticated methods too extensive to discuss in this paltry paragraph. Sales pitch follows . . . WINE STAFF . . . we are the ones who know what's in the bottle. That's what we do . . . tasting and researching and accumulating the knowledge you would rather not concern yourself with. This is your fall back position . . . and why we stand around all day waiting for you to come through the front door. REMEMBER: WINE RULES ARE ALMOST ALWAYS BROKEN . . . wine aging is the most inexact of sciences. There are so many variables . . . most of which have to do with the winemaker's ability and what he intended for the wine . . . and storage conditions, which can vary dramatically from one wine drinker to the next. THAT'S WHY . . . wine lovers love to tell me about the wine they "found" at the bottom of their cellar . . . accidentally neglected for years . . . assumed to be over-the-hill . . . which turned out to be an unexpected pleasure. OK, Steve, so what, exactly, is the "drink by" date? That's what I'm trying to tell you. There is no such thing . . . you will have to be satisfied with "enjoy over a period of time" date. Here are a number of really good wines . . . some commercial and relatively inexpensive and a few at the opposite end . . . all of which can be enjoyed now and over some longer period of time. ALL OPEN FOR TASTING WHILE THEY LAST Sparkling Rose . . . drink now and enjoy this summer . . . INNOCENT BYSTANDER SPARKLING MOSCATO 2008 Blend of two Muscat grapes, Gordo and Black Muscat. Six hours of skin contact for color and aroma. Fermented in stainless steel. 5.5% alcohol. It comes in a beer sized bottle with a pop top. I put a bunch of it in the beer cooler up front so you can get it chilled on your way to the beach . . . golf course . . . tennis court . . . pool . . . mowing the lawn . . . watching fireworks. PEARSON'S PRICE $11.99 375 ml . . . by the case for $9.99 each Off-dry white . . . drink now and enjoy for a year or so . . . LA BAMBA CHENIN-RIELSING 2007 Here's what they did with this wine . . . blended Chenin Blanc, an aromatic white grape which gives off hints of pear, melon and honeysuckle, best known for the French classic Vouvray . . . and blended it with Riesling, full of raciness and minerality. The final product is off-dry . . . bright and fresh and crisp. Drink as an aperitif, with light, creamy cheeses or with anything picnic. Reg 8.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $5.99 . . . $4.99 by the case Medium bodied red . . . drink now and enjoy over the next two or three years . . . EARTH 2.0 2006 Organically grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo . . . from Navarra, Spain between Rioja and Bordeaux . . . the Cabernet gives the wine Bordeaux-like structure . . . the Tempranillo gives it youth and freshness . . . six months in oak barrels for a bit of toast. Wonderful cherry color. The nose is an intensive bouquet of black fruits and licorice. This wine is elegantly toasty. On the palate it is smooth, round and full with a long finish. Delicious. Reg 15.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $11.99 Light to medium bodied red . . . drink now and enjoy over the next five years . . . VINCENT GIRARDIN EMOTION DE TERROIRS PINOT NOIR 2005 Danny Haas 91 Points: "75% Marsannay, all hillside vineyards. 10% gevrey, 15% Bourgogne old vines, next to Chambolle and Vosne-romanée. all purchased grapes. Deeper color; more vinous, with more depth and class. on the nose, smoky and rustic. on the palate, some black licorice and silky acidity. easy, lush, minty chocolate; has more tannins but they are ripe. Very easy and grapey, very pure and elegant for a Bourgogne." PEARSON'S PRICE $23.99 Medium bodied red . . . drink now and enjoy over the next three or four years . . . BIG NOSE 2006 This is unique, northern climate Washington State wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon is intense . . . the Syrah gives it a touch of sweetness and luxury . . . the Cabernet Franc brings out the brashness . . . aged in 20% new French oak. Quite different than many syrupy Calfifornia reds. A solid beef wine for sure. PEARSON'S PRICE $21.99 . . . 19.99 by the case Medium to full bodied red . . . drink now and enjoy over the next four or five years . . . CARPE DIEM NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Made at Dominus Estate by Christian Mouiex (Chat Petrus) crack winemaking team. Winemaker notes: "Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon is made in a classic winemaking style, respecting the characteristics of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. The wine is fruity, elegant, and exhibits soft tannins. This is a very pleasant wine to drink in its youth. Oak is used sparingly to keep Carpe Diem fresh with vibrant fruit. Grapes for the Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon have been selected exclusively from the best vineyards in world renowned Napa Valley. Vinified under the strict supervision of Christian Moueix's winemaking team in Yountville, California, Carpe Diem embodies the essence of Napa Valley classic Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a fresh and straightforward wine, expressing its bountiful fruit with aromas of wild strawberries and soft tannins." Reg 26.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $18.99 Medium to full bodied red . . . drink now and over the next three to five years . . . CHATEAU LAROQUE SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU CLASSE 2000 Chateau Laroque is the largest estate in Saint Emilion. Large, but not enormous . . . 58 hectares of vineyards producing about 10,000 cases . . . small, actually, compared to many. Like most wines of Bordeaux' right bank, it's predominantly Merlot . . . that special ingredient that connoisseurs crave for its soft and supple texture. At Laroque they hand harvest, then blend with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon . . . age in barrel, 50% new, for a year or more . . . bottled and finally aged in the cellar to the brink of maturity. The wine is stunning. Perfectly colored dark crimson. The nose is generous cocoa and coffee beans. Its young berriness has given away to mature, full flavored fruit with a delicate touch of sweetness . . . completely smooth and supple . . . a Saint-Emilion dream come true. Reg 59.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $39.99 . . . $29.99 by the case Full bodied red . . . drink now and enjoy over the next seven or eight years . . . ESTATE CARAVAN SHIRAZ NAPA VALLEY 2005 Caravan is Darioush's second label Shiraz and it's stunning . . . a mere 900 cases produced . . . practically unknown even to industry insiders . . . absolute first label quality. The concept was to make a velvety, Rhone-style Syrah . . . grown only from Rhone Valley clones . . . that could sell for half the price of their $70 Signature wine. What they've done with this Shiraz is assemble grapes from the Darioush Estate and the nearby Ashley Estate . . . both Napa Valley Oak Knoll appellation. Everything is hand harvested and hand sorted . . . aged 24 months in Burgundy barrels . . . resulting in an ultra dense yet very round and supple Syrah (which he calls Shiraz in honor of his Persian birthplace) . . . ready for early drinking with roast lamb, filet mignon or shish-kebob. Winemaker notes: A distinctive Shiraz bearing the hallmarks of Northern Rhone Syrah including white pepper spice, orange rind and blackberry liquor with accessible structure. Its layers are a decadent blend of espresso notes with both ripe red fruits and rich jammy black fruits. Anise notes spice up the palate and linger with elements of earth into a long finish. Reg 39.99 . . . PEARSON'S PRICE $29.99 HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:02:47 +0100 http://www.pearsonswine.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1121 I can't taste everything (although I've never been accused of not trying) . . . so I rely on my best friends and customers for tips. Where Tim first tasted this wine I am not sure . . . but I know from experience that when he asks me to order a case he didn't find here . . . I pay attention. It's made at Darioush, the Napa Valley winery owned by Darioush Khaledi, who grew up in Iran's Shiraz region . . . a renowned wine-growing region before the Islamic revolution . . . where his father made wine and young Darioush sneaked sips from the barrel. Once in the United States, Darioush built a successful grocery distribution business and eventually founded The Darioush Estate . . . a stunning property on the Silverado trail . . . fastidiously built to honor the owner's Persian heritage. Tim's discovery is Darioush's second label Shiraz and it's stunning . . . a mere 900 cases . . . practically unknown even to industry insiders . . . absolute first label quality. The concept was to make a velvety, Rhone-style Syrah . . . grown only from Rhone Valley clones . . . that could sell for half the price of their $70 Signature wine. What they've done with this Shiraz is assemble grapes from the Darioush Estate and the nearby Ashley Estate . . . both Napa Valley Oak Knoll appellation. Everything is hand harvested and hand sorted . . . aged 24 months in Burgundy barrels . . . resulting in an ultra dense yet very round and supple Syrah (which he calls Shiraz in honor of his Persian birthplace) . . . ready for early drinking with roast lamb, filet mignon or shish-kebob. Did they make a wine of outstanding quality? Unequivocally. What about their half price goal? . . . at well under $30 I should say so. Taste with us today . . . less than twenty cases available. Thanks, Tim, for sharing this unknown gem with us. ESTATE CARAVAN SHIRAZ NAPA VALLEY 2005 Winermaker notes: A distinctive Shiraz bearing the hallmarks of Northern Rhone Syrah including white pepper spice, orange rind and blackberry liquor with accessible structure. Its layers are a decadent blend of espresso notes with both ripe red fruits and rich jammy black fruits. Anise notes spice up the palate and linger with elements of earth into a long finish. Reg 39.99 . . . PEARSON'S ONE DAY PRICE $27.99 a bottle . . . $25.99 by the case HOW TO GET SOME: For SAME DAY SERVICE visit us at 2436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Wash DC or call the store at 202 333 6666 . . . for NEXT DAY SERVICE you can take a chance that we are not sold out and email your order to Steve@PearsonsWine.com with your name & phone number. We will call you the next day to confirm availability and hold your order with payment in full. THE BEST WAY . . . HAVE SOME FUN . . . COME INTO THE STORE AND TASTE BEFORE YOU BUY. Numerous wines are always open for tasting. ================== Steve Silver, Proprietor Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:46:02 +0100