Friday, October 9, 2009

New Chateauneuf du Pape and New Zinfandel

Hello fellow wine enthusiasts! We have another really exciting wine to introduce to all of you! We have just received a limited amount of Paul Autard 2007 Chateauneuf de Pape. This wine is absolutely stunning. It’s classic Chateauneuf du Pape with lush, bold flavors. Wine Spectator and Robert Parker both gave this wine stellar ratings, here what they both have to say:

“This delivers a very large core of crushed currant, plum and blackberry fruit, all held in check by hints of maduro tobacco, bittersweet ganache, black tea and graphite. The long finish has ample grip, lending further length and definition to the impressive range of fruit. Best from 2010 through 2025”. – 93 points Wine Spectator

Robert Parker gave this wine between 90-93 points over the course of the wine’s life; he thinks this wine “offers up beautiful, sweet black raspberry and kirsch fruit, tremendous opulence, and a sexy, gamy character”.

As you can probably tell, we are really pumped about this wine! So, we’re going to pop this open TODAY at the tasting bar from 3-6pm!! This is a must try wine, and not to mention, the price is pretty great for this caliber Chateauneuf.

We’re going to be retailing this wine at $39.99, BUT for today and tomorrow ONLY we’re going to have it on sale for $34.99!!!

******

We have also received a HOT new Zinfandel for all of you lovers of this grape. Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain 2007; Outpost is a super cult producer from Howell Mountain MADE by the infamous Thomas Brown (Schrader, etc...) Thomas makes Cab, Grenache, and Petite Sirah for Outpost as well, but we think the Zin is probably the most pure wine being made there. Elegance defines it... this is not bomber Zin, it has structure and acid and balance. Finally!

HERE'S WHAT TANZER WROTE ABOUT IT:

(92-94) Tanzer, "Bright ruby-red. Knockout nose offers red and darker berries lifted by ginger, flowers and pepper. Juicy and intense; a real essence of zinfandel fruit, with superb clarity and spicy lift to the crushed berry flavors. This really coats the mouth without leaving any impression of weight. The very long, juicy, bright finish features a fine dusting of tannins and resounding fruit. Aged entirely in Burgundy barrels, 25% new. This sample was enough to restore my faith in zinfandel."

This wine is definitely big and lush but refined, like Turley and Carlisle

Only 1 case available!!! $48.99/bottle

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Owen Roe ‘The Sinister Hand’ 2008

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Fall! Now I know it’s October, but we’re officially getting that fall chill and changing leaves, and that means that everyone is cracking open more red wines! Halloween (believe it or not) is also right around the corner, and Georgetown has the best Halloween wine EVER!!

Once a year, just before Halloween, Polaner imports releases a small amount of Owen's Sinister Hand, David O'Reilly's ode to Chateauneuf du Pape from the Columbia Valley in Washington. This year the varietal breakdown is 62% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 3% Mourvedre. The wine is excellent, but that label and the mythic story behind it are singular:

Once upon a time in Northern Ireland there were two warring clans: the O'Neills and the O'Reillys. Even though they controlled much of the land, there was a small tract that was yet unclaimed, and the two families battled fiercely over it....(there is also a side story about an upstart clan called Congel who were sharpening their swords & eyeing the parcel for future development, but we won't go there today..)

Anyway, in an effort toward civility they managed to agree that possession of the parcel would be decided by a rowing race. Whichever clan's team was first to touch the land could claim it as their own, and effectively finish the War. The body of water was long and wide and it was quite a race. The teams rowed hard and they were neck and neck approaching the land. The O'Neills, though, started to slip, and realized that they were going to lose.... So, in a last ditch effort, a rower from the O'Neill team puts down his oar, takes out his sword, severs his hand, and heaves it ahead of the other boat, onto the shore...claiming the land for the O'Neills and ending the war. And thus...The Sinister Hand.

BLOODY COOL, HUH?
skip the snickers bars-- I know what I want in my bag this year...

Stop by and pick up you stock of this limited Halloween sipper – this wine’s going to go fast!

Owen Roe ‘The Sinister Hand’ 2008
ONLY 5 CASES OF the 1.5 Liters for all of NYS! (Georgetown received 1 of them!)

We only have 2 cases of the 750ml bottles ($26.99) and 1 case of the 1.5 Liter bottles ($64.99).

We’re going to have this wine, as well as the hot new Chasing Lions Napa Blend (the next Menage a Trois?), open at the Tasting Bar tomorrow, Thursday, October 8th after 4pm.