NewsletterDecember, 2007
TASTING CALENDARLAST TASTING OF 2007TOP SHELF BOURBON TASTING AT THE WAREHOUSEMonday, December 17th, 6pm This will be fabulous! We have just acquired access to some of the rarest and finest bourbons in existence. In the line-up will be the 10 and 17 year old Eagle Rares. Rare birds indeed. Among the other rarities will be Buffalo Trace, Van Winkel 12 year old, George T. Stagg (cask strength), Sazerac Rye 18 year old, Weller 12 year old and the old "benchmark," Blantons. We have enlisted the "Whiskey Professor", Buz Dabkowski, to shepherd us through these sublime spirits. Buz has conducted whiskey tastings and seminars around the world. This tasting/seminar will take place at The Warehouse on Monday, December 17th. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. The cost per participant is $30 (plus tax and tip). As usual, call us (475-9700) to secure your places. Just a few openings are left. SEGHESIO FAMILY VINEYARDS WINEMAKER DINNERMonday, January 14, 2008 at 6 p.m. The Seghesio family (four generations and counting) has been making wine in Sonoma County since 1895. They make a number of varietals, zinfandel being the most prevalent. The winery has had a wine selected as one of The Wine Spectator’s TOP 100 Wines five different times. They are certainly known as one of the best of California’a Zinfandel producers. Pete Seghesio will host the dinner with us at The Blue Star on Monday, January 14, 2008 at 6 p.m. The cost is $70 plus tax and tip. Please call the Blue Star for reservations…632-1086. A CLASSIC CABERNET TASTING… ROBERT MONDAVI RESERVE AND DOMINUS ESTATEThursday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. Two classic Napa Valley wineries going mano y mano. 2004 Dominus received 94 points from Robert Parker…2004 Mondavi Reserve Cabernet was awarded 95 points from the Wine Spectator. The 2004 vintage is considered an excellent vintage but these wines obviously need to age. So, we will try some older vintages of both these Cabernets to give us a benchmark on how they will mature. We will have a few bottles of these older vintages for sale. In addition, we will try the regular Mondavi Napa Valley Cab and the Mondavi Oakville Cab (W.S.- 93 points) What fun! The tasting will occur on Thursday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the private wine room at The Warehouse Restaurant. Seating will be extremely limited so reserve your spots soon. The cost is $75 per person.
Christmas Sale WinesAMERICAN WINES2006 Taft Street Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, $18.99/Sale $17.99: In the widening spectrum of styles of Pinot Noirs, this wine settles gracefully in the middle showing both bright and dark fruit aspects. We are always in pursuit of what has become the overused term "balanced" wines and this one actually fits the bill. 2005 Cristom Pinot Noir, Sommers Reserve, Willamette Valley, $24.99/Sale $21.99- 375 ml: We love wines from Cristom. Steve Doerner, the winemaker, is one of the shining stars in Oregon. He puts great emphasis on individual vineyard sites. This wine has soft dark fruit without being too fruity. As it is opened longer, its complexity evolves revealing a Burgundian style of earthiness which is delicious. 2005 Brick House Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $39.99/Sale $34.99: From reformed CBS News foreign correspondent, Doug Tunnell. Doug took a liking to red Burgundy while performing his labors abroad and this shows it. It has lots of bright raspberry and cherry fruit with good structure and acidity. 2005 Brick House Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $27.99/Sale $23.99: Doug Tunnell also has a fondness for white Burgundy. This demonstrates that. It’s refined, not crazy oaky, but with a distinctive smoky character. Toasty, spiced pear aromas and spiced apple flavors. Made from certified, biodynamic grapes. Parker describes Doug’s chardonnays as "reminiscent of a top notch premier cru from Chassagne-Montrachet". 2005 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay, Robert Young Vineyard, Alexander Valley, $25.99/Sale $22.99: Chateau St. Jean has been known for their chardonnays for decades. This is their best one. The grapes come from the historic Robert Young Vineyard which has been farmed by the Young family since1861. Fermentation and aging sur lie in small oak barrels adds a toasty note to the honeysuckle, apple and citrus flavors. Quite an elegant wine. 2004 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville-Napa Valley, $24.99/Sale $22.99: Charles Krug is the oldest winery in Napa Valley, established in 1861and owned and operated by the Peter Mondavi family for three generations. Aromas of coffee, cedar and dark cherry are reflected in the flavors. This medium bodied wine has complexity and is not overloaded with fruit. 2005 Michael Pozzan Napa Cuvee #11, Napa Valley, $18.99/Sale $14.99: This is the big brother to our very popular Annabella Cabernet. Cassis and berry flavors highlighted by mocha and a touch of cedar make this a great example of Napa Valley Cabernet …in a mighty fine price range. 2006 Seghesio Arneis, Sonoma, $19.99/Sale $16.99: Peter Seghesio has been obsessed with creating an Arneis equal to the best from Piemonte in Italy. He has succeeded here. It gives the light and ethereal qualities of the grape. Bruno Giacosa (the magister Arneis maker) might give Seghesio a compliment. Well, knowing Giacosa for decades, we doubt it, but we certainly would. 2006 Seghesio Zinfandel, Sonoma, $18.99/Sale $14.99: The Seghesio family really seems to have Zin dialed in. They should, they’ve been making wine since 1895 and Zinfandel has been their focus. Red fruit, spice and all things nice in this bottling. Note the unbelievable sale price. 90 points from Wine Spectator. 2006 Dashe Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, $22.99/19.99: This wine has been a favorite of ours for years. The two wine makers both studied enology...Anne at the University of Bordeaux and Michael at UC Davis. Their combined effort gives us a Zinfandel of complexity and style with a backbone of acidity that makes it able to complement food. 2006 Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc, Sonoma, $16.99/Sale $13.99: This is not a grapefruity sauvignon blanc …instead it has melon, fig and honeysuckle flavors. There is still a refreshing crispness to it but it is not as acidic as Sauv Blancs from New Zealand or Loire. A very quaffable wine that is delicious on its own and pairs well with most seafood. 2005 Waterbrook Melange, Columbia Valley, Washington, $13.99/ Sale $11.99: This blend of Merlot, Cabernet, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Syrah is a pleasant medium bodied wine with enticing plum and dark cherry flavors. Easy to drink...a great wine for your Christmas party. The Wine Enthusiast gave it 89 points. 2004 Renwood Old Vine Zinfandel, Amador, $17.99/Sale $13.99: Old vines give wines depth and intensity which is very apparent in this zinfandel. The nice thing about this wine is that it has a little earthiness as well which gives it balance and keeps it from being "gushy". Great value! 2005 La Crema Chardonnay, Sonoma, $17.99/Sale $15.99: We rarely feature big name popular wines because we find wines from smaller producers which we think are better values. However, La Crema’s Chardonnay is hard to beat for the price. It has a nice creaminess while retaining good acidity and just the right amount of oak. It’s a very nice Chardonnay. 2006 Chehalem Inox Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $19.99/$16.99: We discovered this wine a few years while having dinner in Oregon with the winemaker, Harry Peterson-Nedry. Inox ( French for stainless steel) is pure essence of chardonnay with no oak. Food and Wine recently called it the top "under $20 chardonnay paired with food". Glad they agree with us. 2003 Vina Robles Syrah, Paso Robles, California, $14.99/$12.99: Aromas and flavors of blackberry and boysenberry interlaced with baking spices and vanilla abound in this syrah. This lies in between Australian Shiraz and French Syrah…not as extracted as Australian and not as gamey/smoky as French. It drinks well and it’s a good value. FRENCH WINES2005 Louis Latour Chassagne-Montrachet, 1er Cru, Cailleret, $77.99/Sale $69.99: From the "super extra" 2005 vintage of Burgundy. It has the fleshy body, characteristic of the vintage, along with appetizing pear and apple essences. Not as lean as Puligny. Superbly tasty. Wine Spectator...91 points. 2005 Louis Latour Chassagne-Montrachet, $39.99/Sale $35.99: Well, if the above Chassagne gives you "sticker shock," check this out. It gives you the 2005 experience, but without the profundity of the 1er Cru. It will demonstrate why Burgundy is the world’s top locale for the Chardonnay grape. 2004 Louis Boillot Beaune, Les Epenottes, $36.99/Sale $33.99: This red Burgundy has more charm and finesse than the sometimes oafish Beaune reds. Red fruits, some spice, and a bit of earth in a delicate, beautiful fashion. Reasonably priced, too. 2005 Juliette Avril, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, $35.99/Sale $29.99: As most everyone knows, 2005 was a profound vintage in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This wine certainly reflects that. But, it’s a little different than most of its peers as it is so open and drinkable now. Most 2005 Chateauneufs need more time. 2005 Mas de Guiot, Vin de Pays Gard, Cabernet-Syrah, $14.99/Sale $12.99: You can see that we like these reds from southern France. This has astounding complexity with forward dark fruit from the cabernet and smokiness provided by the syrah. It’s not a rustic "paysan," but a well tutored seigneur. We think, also, that the full flavors could be appreciated by California and Australia wine drinkers. 2004 Domaine Petite Cassagne, Costieres de Nimes, $9.99/Sale $8.99: Costieres de Nimes is kind of the buffer between the Rhone and Languedoc. A pretty big red with earth, herb and what the French call "garrigue." Give it air and it opens beautifully. 2005 Domaine Cassan, Beaumes de Venise, $12.99/Sale $10.99: We love everything this maker, Domaine Cassan, bottles. This one may be their best value. It’s a big, busty glass of red wine made mainly from Grenache. In many ways, it’s like Chateauneuf-du-Pape. By the way, this is the first year the Beaumes de Venise has had its own appellation. Congrats! 2006 Domaine de la Jardinière, Cotes du Rhone, $14.99/Sale $12.99: One more Rhone Valley wine. Why? Because they’re hearty, rich, have good fruit and structure in a classic "Old World" style, and they are priced reasonably. This is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Carignan, maybe more. 2000 Chateau Piney, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, $22.99/Sale $18.99: Wow! From the highly acclaimed 2000 vintage, a Bordeaux at this price that is utterly delicious. Soft black fruit anchored in earth in a truly traditional Bordeaux style. It’s almost impossible to find 2000 Bordeaux. Snag this before it’s gone. 2003 Chateau Prieure Lichine, Margaux, $49.99/$44.99: The 2003 vintage in Bordeaux was hot which resulted in riper grapes than usual…and in Bordeaux, that can be a plus. Most of 2003s are drinking remarkably well now and will continue to improve for the next five to ten years. This is a rich and seamless wine with blackberry and smoke and hints of toasted oak. Delicious! The Wine Spectator anointed it with 92 points. 2006 Verget du Sud Roussane, $11.99/Sale $10.99: This medium-weight white Rhone varietal wine is appealing for its exotic ginger and spice aroma and its round fruit flavors. The wine has nice acidity on the finish and would pair would pair beautifully with Asian foods. 2006 Laurent Miguel Chardonnay/Viognier, $11.99/Sale $10.99: Superlative blend of Chardonnay and Viognier coming from southern France. There are actually some unexpected mineral aspects with the expected peach and apricot aspects. Laurent Miguel knows what he’s doing. SPANISH WINES2004 Callejo Ribera del Duero, $28.99/Sale $25.99: A 25 buck wine that is really better than many $100 wines. Bewitching blackberry and cassis aspects. Silken mouthfeel. We could hardly recommend a wine more heartily. Very little of this Spanish gem is available…we scooped up all we could, but we will run out. 2004 Urban Oak Ribera del Duero, $14.99/Sale $13.99: It boggles one’s mind to find a Ribera del Duero (fashionable Spanish wine zone) this good and this cheap. The grape is Tempranillo, which the locals call either Tinto Fino or Tinta del Pais. Formidable, red and dark berry flavors in a tasteful frame of oak. "Sabrosa!" 2005 Saludo Tinto, Bodega Luis Gurpegui Muga, Navarra, $12.99/Sale $10.99: With a name like Luis Gurpegui Muga, we would bet that this is made by a Basque gentleman. It comes from Navarra province, where many Basques hang-out. Anyway, the wine is round and fetching. The fruit is upfront, but not jammy. Very quaffable. GERMAN WINES2006 Leitz Magdalenenkreuz Riesling Spatlese, $23.99/Sale $20.99: Leitz is one of the most esteemed makers in Germany’s Rheingau. He’s never let us down. He gives exact acid/sugar balance in this racy white wine. The complexity is a complete amazement. 2006 Monchhof Estate Riesling, Robert Eymael, $14.99/Sale $13.49: "Old Faithful" here. We’ve carried this wine for the last five or six vintages. The satisfaction is always there. It’s lively with bracing acidity to balance the slight sweetness. SPARKLERSPiper-Heidsieck NV Brut, $38.99/Sale $30.99: Utterly amazing Champagne from a big producer. It’s contemporary, convivial and vivacious. The aromas give spring-time apple blossom and citrus notes. Piper-Heidsieck rounds this out by adding reserve wines to the blend. It’s far more than a misty minded quaffer. The chef de cave (the person who blends the Champagne) here, Regis Camus, is an absolute genius. Get this quick! Rene Mure Cremant d’Alsace, $16.99/Sale $14.99: Equal to many a bottle of "real" Champagne, at a third of the cost. We say this because there is some weight and toasty aspects in the nose that hint of "real" Champagne. We intend to drink copious amounts of this over Christmas and New Years. 2002 Gruet Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine, $25.99/Sale $23.99: We’ve sold tons of the non-vintage bottling of this New Mexico bubbly over the years. It’s good. But this is extraordinary. The owners are French and this tastes much like real French Champagne in that there is yeast and toast presented in Gallic style. Terry Thiese "Grower Champagnes" These are champagnes made by the land owners/growers of the grapes. They are clean and pure and provide us with what all marketers claim to have, the nuances of the soil and region. The quality of these champagnes can be obtained only at multiples of their cost. We currently have champagnes from five of these growers…with a purchase of any three, we will give you a 10% discount. Supply is very limited and the quality is superb! SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR2006 Sequillo White, South Africa, $31.99/Sale $27.99: Most likely the finest South African white wine we have run into. It’s a blend of Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc and Viognier. The nose gives tangerine and honeysuckle. On the tongue it’s pretty rich, but proper acidity balances everything. Only seven cases came to Colorado...buy this now before it’s gone. 2004 Westerland Shiraz, South Africa, $10.99/$9.99: We have found a number of great values from South Africa in the past year. This is one. It’s smoky and spicy with underlying black fruit. Has a touch of Old World character. We like it! 2004 Felino Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, $19.99/Sale $17.99: Made by the highly regarded Napa Valley winemaker, Paul Hobbs, who now makes wine in Argentina as well. This Malbec is different than many you might have tasted …it is more Old World in style which means the fruit is more toned down allowing subsidiary flavors of earth and garrigue to come through. It has less power but more grace than many of its counterparts. A great alternative in Malbec. 2004 Tomero Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina, $15.99/Sale $13.99: No, Argentina is not exclusively a Malbec country…they make many formidable wines like this Cabernet Sauvignon. Classy berry aromas and flavors. Honest, not tricked-up with oak. Made by one of Argentina’s top winemakers, Carlos Pulenta, of Vistalba renown. 2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, $15.99/Sale $13.99: Kim Crawford is money in the bank from vintage to vintage, i.e., consistent. Thus you get the vigorous grapefruit and gooseberry aspects that we all so adore in New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. Particularly airy and fine. 2006 Red Wire Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. $11.99/Sale $9.99: A smashing wine from New Zealand. It has intense berry and cassis flavors with a touch of herbaceousness and a bright dollop of oak. Good on ya’, mate. 2005 Glaetzer Wallace Shiraz Grenache, Barossa, Australia, $22.99/Sale $19.99: Ben Glaetzer is the winemaker for the highly acclaimed Amon Ra and Mitolo wines. Now that young Ben has become more involved in his family’s winery, we are seeing some amazing developments there. The grapes for this blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Grenache are picked at full ripeness providing vibrant color and an abundance of juicy berry flavors and spice. The wine also show the elegance and finess which underpins the Glaetzer style and keeps his wines from being "over the top". This is one of our favorite Australian wines…it received 92 points from Robert Parker. 2002 Carlei Green Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Victoria, Australia, $21.99/Sale $16.99: Sergio Carlei was in town last summer hosting a tasting and winemaker dinner with us. We knew he made very nice Pinot Noirs but didn’t know about this great cabernet. It’s from the cooler growing region of Victoria which keeps the grapes from being overripe. The flavors are a complex blend of dark fruit and earth, with nuances of tobacco, mint, and tar. We bought all they had left and consequently received a substantial discount which we are passing on to you. Don’t miss out! Argentine "parilla." The lush fruit of Malbec seduces many of our customers. If you haven’t tried one, take a virgin voyage. ITALIAN WINES1996 Pelissero Barbaresco, $65.99/Sale $56.99: A Barbaresco approaching its apogee, born from the fat and sassy 1997 Barbaresco vintage. There is dried fruit, tar and the ineffable sensations that make Nebbiolo, the grape of Barbaresco, one of the world’s most fascinating things to drink from a bottle. Pure hedonism. 2004 Icardi Nebbiolo Langhe, $24.99/Sale $21.99: So, if you want to take in the Nebbiolo sensation without the Barolo or Barbaresco price tag, here is your baby. It gives the characteristic dried rose and violet aromas of the grape. On the tongue, there is that alluring cherry compote aspect. We’re getting thirsty. 2005 Quinto Chionetti Dolcetto di Dogliani, Briccolero, $21.99/Sale $18.99: Quinto Chionetti could be dubbed "the father of Dogliani Dolcetto" because he was making the best Dolcettos of the region before the appellation existed. Today the Dolcettos from Dogliani are thought to be the best of Italy. This Chionetti Dolcetto, as usual, has broader shoulders than the norm. It could even age for a bit. 2005 Langhe Rosso, Cascina Ballarin, $14.99/Sale $12.99: Langhe is the hilly region where Barolo and Barbaresco are made. This red is a blend of the principle grapes of the region—Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. It’s a gentle wine with cherry aspects that reminds one of a Pinot Noir. 2006 Taburno Falanghina, Cantina Taburno, $15.99/Sale $14.99: Made by the world renowned Falanghina grape that is thought to have come to Italy from Greece. This is the finest Falanghina we have tasted in the U.S. It’s a medium bodied white with mesmerizing layers of flavor, and a nose of flowers. 2006 Terre Nuove Nero d’Avola, IGT Sicilia, $10.99/Sale $8.99: Nero d’Avola is the red workhorse of Sicilian wine. It varies in flavor around the island, naturally. But all Nero d’Avolas share a volcanic aspect that comes from the volcanic soil. This has resounding ripe fruit and some spice. A remarkable value. AFTER DINNERDow’s 10 Year Tawny Port, $32.99/Sale $28.99 and 20 Year Tawny Port $54.99/Sale 46.99: Aged tawny ports are a great treat created by leaving the "fortified" wine in oak casks for the period indicated on the label. This creates a mellow, slightly sweet, nutty, dried fruit flavored wine that is wonderful as a dessert on its own, or as a partner to other desserts. The 20 year old tawnies are much more evolved than the 10 year olds...nuttier, smoother and much more complex. 2004 Alvear Pedro Ximenez, Montilla Moriles, $17.99/Sale $16.99(375 ml): Wow, what a sublime bottle of wine here. There is a scent of raisins coming from the dried Pedro Ximenez grapes that make the wine. Though sweet, it’s not sticky. Quaff it after dinner or after breakfast, as the makers suggest. We always thought the Alvears were wise people. FROM OUR RARE CLOSETA.H. Hirsch Reserve 16 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, $199.99/Sale $169.99: This extraordinary bourbon comes from the now closed Michter’s Distillery in Pennsylvania, a distillery that supplied George Washington’s troops with provisions during the Revolutionary War. This whisky was distilled in 1974 and spent 16 peaceful years aging in oak barrels before being purchased, moved to Kentucky, stored and eventually bottled. There are only 200 cases left in the world and we’ve got one! It is unbelievably mellow and smooth, yet very complex. Savor the sweet oak, maple and spice flavors. This would make a very special Christmas present for someone special, or for you!
SIMPLY THE FINESTPRICELESS GEMS2003 Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, $499.99: Here, Bill Harlan has crafted the wondrous model for all California red wine. Absolute Eros in a bottle. Worthy of the astronomical price tag, with its perfect balance yielding beautiful depth and elegance. Four of the last ten vintages have received 100 points from Robert Parker. Wine Spectator gave this one 97 points. 2004 Pahlmeyer, Napa Valley, $125.99: Owned by Jason Pahlmeyer and made by the Napa legend, Randy Dunn, this is an amazement. It’s a Bordeaux grape blend coming from the relatively cool (compared to other spots in Napa) Coombsville area. Its fine Bordeaux style blends earth, cedar and fruit perfectly. This has always been one of our favorite Cabernet based wines. Wine Spectator, 93 points. 2004 Dominus Estate, Napa Valley, $124.99/ Sale $109.99: This is a big, rich darkly colored Cabernet with mocha and black cherry flavors. This wine show strength with finesse with well integrated tannins. Decant it now or ideally, cellar it for 10-15 years. Parker loved this wine giving it 94 points. 2000 Aldo Conterno Barolo, Gran Busia, $252.99: We believe this to be the best wine from what the WINE SPECTATOR called its first 100 point vintage. Conterno and Giacosa always seem to provide the ultimate Barolo experience. Superb! 2003 Morey St Denis 1er Cru, Les Chaffots, Hubert Lignier, $115.99: One of the finest Burgundies we’ve tasted from the 2003 vintage. There is the balance and smoothness of the appellation with good depth of flavor and some earth and minerality too. Drinking "fantastique" now. 2001 Brunello Riserva, Vigna Pian Rosso, Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona, $119.99: The name here is almost as big a mouthful as the wine in the bottle. As you would expect from the great 2001 vintage in Tuscany, this is a brawny, big boy. Lots of extract with ample alcohol. It easily has ten years of wanton delight ahead. Wine Spectator, 98 points. 2004 Stefan Gerhard Ice Wine, Rheingau, $75.99: Gerhard got his buddies up at two in the morning to pick this dazzler. That’s the deal with Ice Wine…you gotta pick the grapes when they’re frozen. Though the wine is intensely sweet, the acid is so high that it doesn’t cloy for a second. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Burgundies: Coaltrain is proud to be back representing these very exclusive wines. Availability is extremely limited but there will be more in the years to follow. Listed by bottle price. Did we mention "exclusive"? 2004 Echezeaux—$499 2004 Grand Echezeaux—$599 2004 Romanee-St-Vivant—$799 2004 La Tache—$1199 AFFORDABLE GEMS2004 Stags Leap Artemis, Napa Valley, $52.99/Sale $46.99: This out performs most California directed Bordeaux style wines because it is not all about the fruit. There is tobacco and cedar here that lift it to another level. Looking at Bordeaux prices, this is a reasonable deal. This showed beautifully at our Christmas tasting. 2005 La Rosine, Michel Ogier, $33.99: Here the hallowed Cote Rotie maker, Michel Ogier, gives us an utterly urbane Syrah. It comes from vineyards composed of cracked granite, south of the Cote Rotie village of Ampuis. This soil gives the wine elegance similar to what you find in Cote Rotie. No, it’s no blustery Aussie Shiraz. 2005 Le Vieux Donjon, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, $69.99: We’ve been a fan of this previously obscure CNDP since their first notoriety came with the 1998 vintage and a Wine Spectator selection of #5 on the Top 100 List. We rely on our own experience not the Spectator ratings, however, we do want to acknowledge that this one was given 95 points and was #3 on the current list and the ’04 received a #31 last year. Most importantly, we find CNDPs to be among the best values in premium wines and wines which mature more quickly and, thus, drink well sooner. Our apologies, but we must limit the ‘05’s to 2 per customer. 2002 San Vincente Rioja, $49.99: This could well be one of the top wines of the 2002 vintage which was just a "normal" vintage in Rioja. The reason for its success is its superb vineyard site, San Vincente, which has old vines that can withstand meteorological vagaries. It’s an urbane wine, not a wild beast, with red fruits, leather and whiffs of toast. A wine for grand and immediate enjoyment.
featured beer2007 Corsendonk Christmas Ale, Oud-Turnhout, Belgium, $8.99: This reddish-brown Winter beer is brewed with special roasted malts and coriander seeds. Extremely well balanced with a silky, smooth palate. Strong malt flavors with smoky, spicy, and citrusy notes. Perfect for the Christmas holiday! featured breweryAvery Brewing Company, Boulder, CO was started in 1993 by homebrewer Adam Avery. The first beers made were Redpoint Amber Ale, Out of Bounds Stout, and Elle’s Brown Ale. It has since expanded, and now brews 8 year-round selections and over 11 seasonal and limited release beers. Choose from one of the 16 Avery beers we currently have in stock. Ask about the 6-Pack Sampler! featured beer styleWinter Warmers are traditional English-Style beers that tend to have a big malt presence with colors ranging from brownish reds to nearly pitch black. Traditional English warmers were not spiced and had low hop bitterness. American brewers tend to throw caution to the wind and incorporate spices and plenty of hops. We have over two dozen different winter beers to choose from, come and check ‘em out! |
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COALTRAIN
Wine & Spirits
330 W. Uintah
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
719-475-9700