Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Skurnik Tasting with Scott Lawrence and Mike DePue

Thursday, June 25 Scott Lawrence from Skurnik was in town and showed us some awesome California wines here at Georgetown. We tasted through the lineup and are making all of the wines available for pre-sale for a limited time and are a great deal! We’re not going to get all of these wines into the store so we strongly suggest picking some up on presale! All of them are going to go fast. Here are our tasting notes, this is a combined effort of Ryan, and our new addition Stephanie, please email or call with any questions;

Continuum Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 – This wine is part of the Michael Mondavi family of wines. If you’re a fan of Caymus Special Select, Continuum is going to be right in your wheelhouse! It’s not overly oaky on the nose and you definitely get a gorgeous bouquet of jammy, concentrated dark fruit. This is a powerful fruit bomb in the modern Napa Cabernet style, it has a decent amount of heat to it but with some time it should cool down a bit and still keep it’s powerful structure. The fruit for Continuum comes from a small plot in the heart of the famed ToKalon Vineyard in Napa, and is quickly gaining a “cult” status. Only the second vintage of this wine! $720/6pk or $120/bottle

Etude Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 – This wine was one of the favorites of the show! The 2005 Etude Cabernet has strong notes of dark intense fruit with rich viscosity, and a beautiful lift on the finish. This is one of those powerful wines that manages to keep great focus and intensity throughout. The aromas and flavors are luscious and seamless, just an incredibly harmonious full-bodied, intense wine. This is also the lowest price you will ever see on Etude Cabernet! The presale price is only $360 a sixpack or $60/bottle! Buy a couple cases now, cause it will cost about $85 once it hits the floor!

Etude Los Carneros Pinot Noir – For those of you that like California Pinot Noir, you will love this wine. It has beautiful aromas of cloves, sweet spices, and dark fruit reminiscent of Russian River Pinots. This is a rich and spicy pinot with a soft finish. A great “meditation” Pinot, can be drank on its own. $228/6pk , $38/bottle

Hendry Zinfandel, 2006 – This wine was an interesting and pleasantly surprising display of Zinfandel. Atypical of most fruit-forward Zinfandels this wine has some great notes of mild pepper and earthiness. It has wonderful finesse and lift, overall it was a very elegant and refined. $162/6pk, $27/bottle

Myuge Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 This wine is an amazing example of California Cabernet. With rich aromas and rich flavors this wine will be a favorite of California Cabernet drinkers, and it’s a STEAL for the price. This wine has great fruit aromas as well as a pleasant freshness. The tannins in this wine are a bit chalky and will allow this wine to have a long shelf life. This wine will pair really well with grilled or roasted meats but will also be delicious on its own. A great everyday Napa Cab! $192/6pk or $32/bottle

Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Ramey is probably one of the most well known of the California Cabernet producers, and for good reason. David Ramey has been making incredible Cabernets and Chardonnays for over 20 years! This wine shows aromas of caramel, butterscotch as well as ripe jammy fruit. It also had a hint of animal or earthy aromas. This wine will pair really well with steak on the grill. $264/6pk or $44/bottle

Tablas Creek Esprit Beaucastel Rouge, 2006 – This wine showed the most amount of red fruit out of the bunch. It has beautiful aromas of raspberry, strawberry, as well as some spice. It was lighter in color than the other wines and was very reminiscent of Rhone Valley Grenache. This is a wonderfully pleasant wine and has a great price. $216/6pk, $36/bottle

Tablas Creek Cote du Tablas Blanc, 2007 This wine was the only white wine of the group and was a great way to start of the tasting! It’s tropical, spicy, and has exciting lychee aromas. This white has a good texture with a nice freshness on the palate. A very well constructed wine reminiscent of a “rhone-style” white. If you’re a fan of Conundrum or Vionier, try this! $126/6pk, $21/bottle

Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 This wine is really fantastic!! It’s a great example of true Cabernet. An elegant and harmonious wine that has nice fruit and a herbal element on the nose and the palate. Also, this is the first time this wine has ever been available outside of New York City!! This is one of those wines that not many people know about, and it’s a pretty good price too. Do not miss your chance to grab Karl Lawrence! $366/6pk, $66/bottle

Capiaux Pisoni Vineyard 2006 This is a much different Pinot style than the Etude. It has more red fruit like raspberry and strawberry as well as some earthy notes. One of the least expensive and most reserved of the Pisoni vineyard wines on the market, it is always a unique experience tasting Pisoni Vineyard. $252/6pk, $42/bottle

Breggo Anderson Value Pinot Noir 2007 – Breggo is one of our favorite Pinot Noir producers in California, and their entry level 2007 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir reminded us why. It has an elegance one rarely finds in West Coast Pinot Noirs showing a bright brilliant ruby color, red fruit, amazing focus, subtle forest floor notes and a touch of spice. Finished with focused refreshing acidity and amazing lift. Seriously delicious stuff. Presale price $220/6pk or $36.66/bottle.

Click here for the presale forms…get back to us quickly, you do not want to miss these special offers!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Raventos I Blanc Brut 'L'Hereu'

The best Cava produced!

A blend of 60% Macabeo, 20% Xarel-lo and 20% Parellada from 100% estate-bottled fruit, the Brut “L’Hereu” from Raventos is simply one of the best examples of Cava we have tried at any price point! The wine is bright and lively with fruity aromas of lemon and green apple and more complex notes of fresh baked bread. The palate is well structured with tiny bubbles that dance across the palate.

Regular price is $17.99, on sale June 22nd to 28th for $14.99

To buy this wine, send us an email.

Chateau La. Bienfaisance Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005


An amazing buy in a 2005 Bordeaux, just tasted this again last week…a very silky, sexy Right Bank Bordeaux. Drink now, or hold for a decade!

92pts Robert parker

“A stunning effort from this property in St.-Christophe des Bardes, this 25-acre vineyard is planted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Made in a flamboyant style for the vintage, it reveals a dense purple color along with an expressive, ostentatious nose of sweet cherry liqueur intermixed with creme de cassis, toast, spring flowers, incense, melted licorice, and chocolate. Full-bodied with high but sweet, velvety tannins, it is already approachable, but promises to develop more nuances over the next decade. It should last for 20+ years. Kudos to the proprietor and his wine consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt.

Regular price is $40, on sale June 22nd to 28th for $33.99

To buy this wine, send us an email.

Why Drink Grower Champagne?

"You should drink grower Champagne if you've forgotten that Champagne is WINE."

You should drink "farmer-fizz" if you'd rather buy Champagne from a farmer than a factory.

You should drink it if you'd rather have a wine expressive of vineyard, and the grower's own connection to vineyard.

You should drink grower Champagne if the individually distinctive flavors of terroir-driven wines matter more than the lowest-common denominator pap served up by the mega conglomerates in the "luxury goods" business.

You should drink it because it's honest REAL wine grown and made by a vintner—by a FAMILY just like yours—by a "him," not by an "it."

You should drink it because its price is honestly based on what it costs to produce, not manipulated to account for massive PR and ad budgets." - Terry Thiese

We are proud to support Grower Champagne, and have one of our favorites on sale this week!

Pierre Gimmonet 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs

This 100% Chardonnay is amazingly bright and explosive, like biting into a Granny Smith apple! Crisp, refreshing and alive...one of the most delicious and refreshing Champagnes I have ever tasted. Once paired with a seared scallop on a bed of apple slaw...perfect! One of the best Champagne's you will ever find at this price.

Regular price is $47.99, on sale June 22nd to 28th for $39.99

To buy this wine, send us an email.

(Keep your eyes open for this year's Grower Champagne dinner...five courses, all paired with Champagne!)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Tasting on Friday July 10, 2009

I am very excited to announce that this Friday’s wine tasting is going to answer one of the most common questions I hear at Georgetown…”Is it worth the price?”


Do you think you can tell the difference between a $10 California Chardonnay and a $65 California Chardonnay?


Is a French Champagne worth the $50+ price tag…or is a $10 Sparkler from New Mexico just as good?


Is a $70 Napa Cabernet that much better than a $12 bottle of Cabernet from Napa?


Can you decipher between a $65 Brunello(100% Sangiovese) and a $9 Sangiovese from Molise?


If you want to know the answer to all these questions, and see how many others know, then stop by Friday night! The tasting costs $30/person and starts at 7PM. All wines will be served blind and we will truly find out if wine is worth the price tag! There will be limited seats to this tasting, so call today to reserve yours!


Hope to see you Friday!


Ryan

Il Cascinone Rive Barbera 2006

One of our perennial rock stars at Georgetown. The 2006 Rive Barbera delivers all the same ripe and delicious fruit that we have grown to love. This silky ripe Barbera is barrique aged (aged in small French Oak barrels that add a sweet vanilla element), and has well balanced subtle acid on the finish. You have to be crazy to not like this wine!

Regular price is $20.99, on sale June 22nd to 28th for $17.99

To buy this wine, send us an email.

Albert Bichot Vieilles Vignes Bourgogne Rouge 2006

I have fallen in love with the wines from Albert Bichot, who represents some of the unknown stars in Burgundy. The 2006 Bourgogne Rouge is the base level from Bichot, and shows how amazing his wine’s are! This Pinot Noir really tastes like at least a village level quality wine, it has gorgeous juicy fruit, a nice mouthfeel and great balanced acid. A really well made wine, and a wonderful introduction to Burgundy!

Regular price is $16.99, on sale June 22nd to 28th for $14.99

To buy this wine, send us an email.

Cloudy Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008

The legend! The first big time Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is back to making some of the best SB’s in the world!

91Points Wine Spectator

“Light and tart, with a zip to the acidity that carries the vivid, celery-tinged gooseberry and lime flavors, lingering impressively on the sharply focused finish.”

Regular price is $27.77, on sale June 22nd to 28th for $23.99.

To buy this wine, send us an email.

Chateau Grand Cassagne Rosé 2008


A brand new wine to Georgetown, and our best Rosé for under $10 by far! It has a rich nose of ripe strawberry and spice, with a subtle floral element, a nice texture and a great finish with subtle acidity that pulls everything together! This has all the elements that I look for in a Rosé, and at a wonderful price!

Cantina del Taburno Aglianico del Taburno Fidelis 2005

90Pts Robert Parker

“Readers looking for a delicious Campanian red that is ready to drink today should consider Cantina del Taburno’s 2005 Aglianico del Taburno Fidelis. Black cherries, spices, juniper berries and worn-in leather jump out of the glass as this full-bodied, sumptuous wine reveals the multiple dimensions of its expressiveness. Soft and caressing on the palate, the Fidelis reveals tons of persistence and a long, satisfying finish. The Fidelis is 90% Aglianico and 10% Sangiovese aged in cask. It is a great value. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013.”

Regular price is $14.99, on sale June 22nd to 28th for $12.99.

To buy this wine, send us an email.