Cono Sur Sparkling, Brut  $19.79

Elk Cove Pinot Gris, $16.79

La Linda Torrontes, $11.99

Torre dei Beati Rose’, $14.99

Hahn Pinot Noir, $16.99

Flinder’s Bay Shiraz, $17.79

Ampakama Malbec / Merlot, $17.99

Juan Gil Monastrell, $19.99

Here are the tasting notes on the La Tache compiled by me and several of my sommelier friends.  I will publish more details of this incredible tasting soon!

Domaine de la Romanee Conti, La Tache, 1957

This vintage was still under the ownership of Madame Bize Leroy.  The wine evolved over the approximately 40 minutes that we reveled in it, but at first the nose showed iron and violets with iron, brine and black cherry on the palate.  Next, the wine began to show dried strawberry and its spice notes of clove, cinnamon, and allspice.  Remarkably, we noted very fine tannins still present on this old Pinot Noir.  And finally, the wine really started to show its stuff as we noticed dill, tobacco leaf, tea, and tangerine oil.  Sure hope I get to taste this wine again someday soon!

I bought twenty cases of his 2006 vintage Santa Barbara Chardonnay.  It is just now beginning to show its stuff and will easily cellar for another 6 – 8 years.  I also bought 15 cases of his 2004 vintage Syrah which, I have to say, is a dead ringer for a much more expensive Crozes-Hermitage.  Both of these wines are stunning!  And, we are able to offer each of these wines at a stunning price – $18.99!  Hurry before it’s gone.

Here are the recipes:

Vodka

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

• 1 ¼ ounce Vodka
• ½ ounce Triple Sec
• ¼ ounce lime juice
• 2 ounces Cranberry juice

Shake over ice and serve up.

Lemon Drop

• 1 ¼ ounce Vodka
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• ¾ ounce lemon juice

Shake over ice and serve up.

Gin

The Original Martini

• 1 ½ ounces Gin
• ½ ounce dry vermouth

Stir, don’t shake,serve up
Garnish with a lemon twist

Abbey Cocktail

• 1 ½ ounces Gin
• 1 dash of Orange Bitters
• Juice of ¼ orange

Shake over ice and serve up
Garnish with a cherry

Rum

Caipirinha

• 2 ounces of Cachaca or Rum
• 1 lime
• 4 tsp natural sugar (not brown, it is khaki  in color)

Slice the limes into wheels and muddle with the sugar and rum until sugar is dissolved.  Add ice and stir or shake and serve over ice.

Mojito

• 2 ½ ounces Rum
• Juice of ½ lime
• 4 mint leaves
• 4 tsp natural sugar

Muddle lime and mint leaves with rum and sugar.  Add ice and club soda.  Stir and strain into glass.

Whiskey

Mint Julep

• 2 ounces whiskey
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 4 mint leaves

Muddle mint leaves and simple syrup in shaker. Fill the shaker with shaved or crushed ice and add bourbon. Stir and serve over ice.  Garnish with mint leaves if desired.

Old Fashioned

• 2 ounces whiskey
• 2 dashes of bitters
• 2 tsp simple syrup
• one cherry
• one orange slice

Mix sugar, water and angostura bitters in shaker. Drop in a cherry and an orange wedge. Muddle into a paste using a muddler or the back end of a spoon. Pour in bourbon, fill with ice cubes, and stir.  Do not shake.  Pour into cocktail glass.

Manhattan

• 2 ½ ounces whiskey
• ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
• 1 dash bitters
• 1 cherry
• 1 orange

Combine the vermouth, bourbon whiskey, and bitters with 2 – 3 ice cubes in a mixing glass. Stir gently, don’t bruise the spirits and cloud the drink. Place the cherry in a chilled cocktail glass and strain the whiskey mixture over the cherry. Rub the cut edge of the orange peel over the rim of the glass and twist it over the drink to release the oils but don’t drop it in.

Tasting:  Altivo Torrontes $11.79, Weinert Carascal White $13.79, Felino Chardonnay $21.79, Crios Rose’ of Malbec $11.79, Tikal Patriota $22.99, Crios Malbec $14.99, Dona Paula Malbec $15.99, Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon $23.79

Heat Index before it started raining today – 105!  My remedy for the heat – summer friendly cocktails!

Come by the store this weekend and ask us about a Gin Julep, a Vodka Bellini, a Pama Royale or a Caiparinha.  We’ve got many more and certainly a cool cocktail recipe to fit your taste on a hot day.

Crios Rose' of Malbec, Parker 89 Pts

On Thursday night of this week, July 15, I will be at The Parker House as we will taste some phenomenal wines from Argentina.  With a strong dollar in Argentina, we get wines from there that rival California wines that are double the price!

Call Tim now at 601-856-0043 to reserve a seat.  Tickets are $40 and include hors d’oeuvres.

Here’s what we tasted:  Finca La Linda Torrontes, Argentina ($11.99);  Aresti Sauvignon Blanc, Chile ($9.79);  Kung Fu Girl Riesling, Washington ($12.99);  Pedroncelli Rose’ of Zinfandel, California ($9.99);  Isabel Pinot Noir, New Zealand ($22.99);  Rocky Gully Shiraz / Viognier, Western Australia ($15.79);  Crios Malbec, Argentina ($14.99).

Wines made from Zinfandel can range in style from a dry rose’ to a big, dark, zesty red.  They can exhibit all sorts of heady aromas and flavors like plum, raspberry, blackberry liqueur, chocolate, and various baking spices.  It can be bold and zesty or light and fruity, but it is always the wine to drink with anything you decide to slather with BBQ sauce!

One of my absolute favorite pairings is Karly’s Pokerville Zinfandel, Amador County ($12.99) with slow-smoked wet ribs.  Karly makes four different Zins and all but one of them sees no time in oak barrel.  So, what you get is a wine that shows pure raspberry and plum flavors with no oak spice.  It is a perfect match with the sweet, tangy flavors of a tomato based barbeque sauce.

And because Zinfandel can be quite high in alcohol, it is even more important to serve them, as you should any red wine, at ambient cellar temperature (55 to 59 degrees) rather than room temperature.

Happy Birthday America!