Sorry for the delay in sending this email.....I have been playing catch
up all week.
We spent Monday and Tuesday of
this week in San Francisco tasting the soon-to-be released new 2002
vintage of Austrian and German wines. Although we "worked' our way
through approximately 200 wines....the majority of them being Riesling,
we emerged "unscathed" as the wines are more forgiving (than we are
accustom) with their lower alcohol by volume (9-11%). The press and trade have rightfully
bannered the 2001 vintage as the best since 1971. If you missed out,
do not fret! The 2002 vintage may be just as spectacular. We may have
a rare great "back-to-back" vintages or "Twin Peaks" as one
importer aptly described. Not to dwell on this now, but do not dismiss
these wines for the sweet, cloyingly low acid wines that most naive
Americans believe the Riesling grape produces. On the contrary, these
are diverse wines ranging in dryness to degrees of acid balanced
sweetness that the most educated wine drinker/collector will
absolutely demand for the cellar. Enough for now...... On
another note, each time I have been able to obtain and offer the very
limited 3 bottle set of 2001 Emrich-Schonleber Riesling it has sold out
immediately. I have a few people on a waiting list if anymore becomes
available. Let me know, and keep your fingers crossed!
Charity!
Barons Ball on Safari, a fund raiser benefiting The
American Cancer Society will be held on June 28th. at the
Sheraton Grand Hotel in downtown Sacramento. For more
information about this event please telephone (916) 446-7933 (press
option 3 ext 329). Organizers are hoping you can help by donating
bottles of wine for the "bottle toss" game. Participant attempt to
toss rings around a bottle's neck. Successful "ringers" win the
bottle.) A total of ten cases of assorted wines are needed. Of
course, all donations are tax deductible. Please contact Nancy at npfoley@aol.com
TWC's
Tasting Bar -
Beginning next week, the Tasting Bar
will focus on a special tasting theme each week. At least 12 wines are
always available to sample by the ounce or 2.5 ounce pour.
Wines selected for the weekly tasting
theme will be a subgroup from the 12 wines presented daily and offered
at special discounted pricing.
June 10-14th - Alsatian Whites - France
June 17-21st - Willamette Valley
(#172-3876) Pinot Noir - Oregon
June 24-28th - Columbia Valley/Walla
Walla Valley Appellations - Washington State
Remember, the Tasting Bar is ALWAYS
OPEN!
A tiny
bubble......
Just received 3 cases of Giorgio
Rivetti's 2002 Moscato d' Asti! Italians consider this wine to be the
very best example of the light and frothy frizzante style muscats they
love to quaff during the hot months in Piedmonte. Served nicely
chilled, it is a fruity (yes, a little sweet!.....no harm! no foul!),
but low alcohol (5.5%) wine that refreshes like the cool Delta breeze
coming up from the south on a hot summer night in Sacramento. Perfect
by itself, or with cream puffs filled with gelato or a simple fruit
tart. When I was a bachelor, I always kept a bottle chilled to insure
the end of a perfect date! $17.95 a bottle (Discounts to $15.26).
Gulpable!
Last night Renee was pulling a large
squashed Chicken off the grill when I finally arrived home. First, she
had brined it. Then she removed the backbone and flatten it (looked
like it had been run over by car!). She grilled it on the bbq and then
lowered the heat to finish it slowly. After jointing and carving it,
she set it on a large platter and drizzled a high quality olive oil she
had infused with red pepper flakes, different coarse ground
peppercorns, minced garlic and spices all over it. Finally,
she sprinkled fresh chopped herbs from the garden over the chicken and
served it with a homemade pesto on angel hair pasta and some
grilled zucchini she had halved and sprinkled with balsamic. I knew
just what wine to open.....as it had just arrived at the store! The
2001 Marotti Campi "Rubico" Lacrima di Morro d' Alba from Marche is a
mouthful to say! A red wine (Lacrima is the grape) that exudes a fresh
zesty berry (raspberry and ripe strawberry) quality from partial carbonic maceration (think
Beaujolais). Although an Italian wine, the overall impression is a
Southern Rhone Grenache-like fruitiness with a white peppercorn
spiciness. Especially great with the dark meat, the wine's core of
fruitiness is refreshingly combatant with the diablo heat of the olive
oil but not overpowering. You know it works well when you find
yourself gulping! $11.95 a bottle (Discounts to $10.16)
Priority Member will win a $50 Gift
Certificate if response is within 48 hours of this email's time stamp.
Hope to see you soon!
Passionately yours about wine!
Eric Stumpf
The Wine Consultant
8039 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 721-WINE (9463)
Tuesday through Friday - 11 am to 7 pm
Saturday - 10 am to 6 pm
CLOSED SUNDAY & MONDAY
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