Anthony Quinn's Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits' Store Email Written & Posted Tuesday September 3rd, 2013

Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits

IT'S THE HARD WEEK AFTER LABOR DAY WEEKEND  IT'S ALWAYS SO HARD FOR EVERYONE MENTALLY on this week that follows our Labor Day weekend as many take their last swim in their neighborhood pools, lifeguards return to school or go off to college and for many students to start school whatever grade they may be in. I was witness this weekend to this spectacle and even with a grayer day many young children were playing merrily to their hearts' content in our pool, even waiting patiently, feet dangling over the edge of the two diving boards for the bell to ring letting them know that they could once again dive and jump into the pool water on this last day. As I said in last week's email : everyone was squeezing the last drops of joy and relaxation and summer that they could before this Tuesday morning! THE ABOVE is from the store email that I wrote and posted the first week of September 2012! Wow, seems like such a long time ago. How have things changed since then? How was that summer versus this year's summer? Do you all have fond memories from both? LET'S KEEP SUMMER and OUR VACATIONS ALIVE as long as possible. I am going to do my best to try. So far so good. Even while this Labor Day weekend while I labored to water-blast our back wooden deck ( that's very large by the way ) I would take breaks to write my poems and also to type my old " Dinner Party " story - written by my own hand-writing from 1998-2001 : before " 50 Shades of Gray " onto my blogs. Great exercises both. LADIES, what do you all think of the two lead characters picked to play the roles in the 3-book trilogy " 50 Shades Of Gray "? What beer, liquor , cider or wine did you drink while reading each book? Do you all know any men that read the three books? If so, what did they think? What beer, cider, liquor or wine did they drink while reading the books? SPEAK UP MEN, here's your chance! I thought to myself this morning that reading the books might be a good idea so that I understand better what women want/ need/ are fascinated by? All us men should read these three books. But from what I have heard so far it just doesn't seem like I would really enjoy them? What do you ladies think? Let me know? NOW WITH THE MOVIE in the works we need to put our heads together and see what beer. cider, liquor. liqueur and wine are appropriate for watching the movie, for any trial-runs before to see what might work best? WE CAN DISCUSS this perhaps at one of our next weekend tastings? We may have dropped the ball already here on numerous occasions for not picking it up " and running with it " as the books were released and read voraciously by you?! Our loss, will have to try and make up for lost ground as we also try and keep ... WHATEVER VESTIGES of SUMMER that we can wrangle and hold onto as, hopefully we wind into a lovely Indian Summer with low Humidity and baby blue skies and fall leaf foliage that has us ' oohing and wowing ' and pursing our lips to make one continuous " O " out of our mouths. TAKE THE TIME to go outside and sit still and look up all around you. Sip some of the ST. GEORGE  " Botanivore " California GIN ( On Special for $34.99 a 750ml bottle, 45% alcohol by volume,www.stgeorgespirits.com , Alameda, CA., since 1982 ) : handcrafted, " a botanical balancing act of the highest order, pot distilled from wildcrafted juniper and an array of choice herbs, spices and citrus." THIS MAY HELP you all - give you a bit of grounding, a bit of focus, an attachment to the outdoors that is so much larger than us, especially as the gin works it's way past the portals of your lips and down the central trail of your throat and snakes it ways into every nook and cranny and spreads a warmth and a " charge ! ", and a " start! " and a " giddy-up! ", and a release from life's many unwanted pressures that distract you from your main purpose of just " being gloriously ". Feel the gentle purr, the slap of a whip-like burn that will light your guts and be like an internal bonfire all of your own making. Who will you share it with, that's the question now? BUT HEY, YOU may rather have an IRON FIST " Velvet Glove " Stout instead from IRON FIST Brewing Company, whether you are in Vista, California or not?!? We have it On Special for $11.99 a 750ml bottle, 9% alcohol by volume, www.IronFistBrewing.com. They write on the back label : " You know the expression, ' A Velvet Glove and an Iron Fist'? It was coined to refer to a regime that used a soft exterior to hide it's punishingly unforgiving nature. This seems an apt description to our Velvet Glove. It's placid appearance and unparalleled smoothness hide the truth, this is one fiendishly unrelenting stout. Rich chocolaty espresso dominates the flavor profile, with a velvety smooth texture that will haunt your senses... " WONDER IF A WOMAN wrote this text above for the IRON FIST Brewing Stout? If so, do you think that she might have been reading or read " 50 Shades Of Gray "? WHAT PART of the 3-books might this IRON FIST Stout be truly appropriate? You all have to weigh-in on this as I have not read the book yet, but do plan to do so soon. HELP! I KNOW, ENOUGH'S ENOUGH, or maybe not nearly enough! That's the conundrum facing us. I JUST SPOKE TO TWO OF OUR delivery men that brought us more of the delicious dry white Veneto white Lugana  2012 from the southern tip of Lake Garda from  AZIENDA AGRICOLLA OTTELLA, $14.99 a bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume,  ) , and I asked them if either of them had read " " 50 Shades of Gray "? They both said : " no ", one added : " But the movie's coming out, that's when I'll get a chance to see what it's all about." SO : when and if you do read one of the three books : have a glass or more of this deliciously refreshing Lugana white. You will like it. IT'S ALSO a great reminder that you are still basking in the supreme pleasures and glories that are summer, being outside, having a grill, sitting in the shade and listening to the summer's wild and frivolous and mischievous-at-times-too escapades. Where and when day's melt into eventful evenings and that wind their ways into long and soulful, heartfelt and soul-bearing conversations, both public and some private over cigars and brandies, or BAILEY'S Irish Cream ( On Special for $25.99 ),  or  DOMAINE DE CANTON Ginger-saturated VSOP French cognac ( $31.99 ), too. RAGE AGAINST THE COMING OF THE LIGHT! Do you think that Dylan Thomas might have said that ever in his life? How did he feel about those long nights that had to come to an end eventually with the dawn and the sun's poking it's round head over our horizon?!? THEN, AS WE PUT TOGETHER A CASE of wines for the beach I asked our good male customer : " Have you ever read " 50 Shades Of Gray? " He responded : " No but that was not written for us to read ". I immediately said : " What! Why? " and we continued to talk about it and put together his case of a Baker's Dozen for his " Last Hurrah " at the beach. He's got some of the really fine Spanish Gran Reserva 2005 from Valencia, $13.99 a bottle. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE deal and wine, both, amazing for this price : Spain's highest quality level from a great year and under $15 a bottle - impressive all around. I convinced him to buy 2 bottles of this. BUT HEY :  LET US HELP YOU make this process of an eventually disappearing summer be  less painful than it has to be. You simply have to see it as another opportunity, a chance, a challenge and something to look forward to as hard as it may seem now.  AS YOU KNOW NOW, we have our " weekly Wednesday 3-Part Still-Non-Sparkling-Wine SALE again tomorrow . September 5th, 2012 : IT'S ALSO , In Fact, A PORT, SHERRY, MARSALA, MADEIRA & SAKE SALE 2 : Mix these up with the non-sparkling wines and SAVE BIG :      1) BUY ANY 6 Or More Still Wine Bottles ( whether On Sale or not ) and SAVE another 15% OFF the marked sticker prices.      2) BUY ANY  Still-Wine BOTTLE over $20 and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price.      3) BUY ANY 12 Or More Still-Wine Bottles and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices, whether On Special already or not.      SAVE BIG @ Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits      IF YOU CANNOT COME call us and we will take your order over the phone.CALL : 202-363-4265, ask for Michel or Tony.      YOU CAN ALSO respond to this store email and give us your order over the phone. Include a phone number and we will call you if you like?      WE DELIVER for free here in Washington D.C. if your order is over $30. WITH THIS SALE IN MIND I will continue to mention some of the GREAT DEALS that we have for you all here now:        1) MEURSAULT  dry white Burgundy 2009  ( On Special for $44.99, regularly $53.99 a bottle, a great vintage, 13% alcohol by volume ) from  PIERRE ANDRE au Chateau de Corton Andre is another steal for you all to consider when you want to really treat yourselves or a friend . With tomorrow's still-wine sale of any bottle over $20 the price comes to $35.99. That's a GREAT DEAL for this vintage, this famous village of 100% Chardonnay wines and from the really good house of PIERRE ANDRE!          2) 2011 Dry Red Burgundy Pinot Noir from the DOMAINE HENRI NAUDIN-FERRAND ( On Special for $14.99 a bottle,, 12% alcohol by volume ) : It's young and lively and lovely and so promising as it starts to shed some of it's steely exterior and permit one's tongue to penetrate to the juicy liquid meat of these Pinot Noir grapes that gave up their lives to reward us for our patience and admiration. SO : OPEN the bottle 45 minutes before drinking it, even decant it : it will deliver, it will come through but it cannot be rushed! What a treat.            3) Pedro Ximenez dry white Chilean food wine, this 2012 Reserva from the Elqui Valley ( $11.99 a bottle, 13% alcohol by volume,www.falernia.com ) is made from a Spanish sherry grape by an Italian and made in Chile! On top of all of this it's also made from a grape that makes a famous sweet sherry and here it makes a dry and complex dry white that is laden with gobs of nutty overtones, a touch of oxidation perhaps, and honeysuckle and honey accents that will temp all those remaining bees and bumble bees that are still around storing up their food treasures for the winter that will eventually displace this glorious AUGUST SUMMER that we have enjoyed here in the Washington D.C. metropolitan region. This is a fine food wine indeed. It's got all the weight, the presence, the fortitude, the stamina and the character to withstand any barrage of extra-strong flavors and tastes, textures, layers, sauces ... herbs, hot-heat peppers, spices - whatever is there!     4) " Ship Of Fools " 2010 dry white blend of 50% Pinot Blanc, 45% Pinot Gris and 5% Pinot Noir ( $18.99, 13% alcohol by volume,www.cgtwines.com , from the Chateau Grand Traverse, Ltd, Traverse City, MI ) is a flavorful and tasty white that will taste great with many meals now. Drink something fun and exciting and that will please and surprise you both. Support one of the States that is not so well-known for it's wine but should be when you try this white blend. A treat. Cheers. Just a couple of bottles left of this before we move into the " new " vintage.       COME FOR OUR SALE of STILL WINES tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 5th, 2012 and inquire about our weekend wine-tastings. Buy some of these great wines I have written about above and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices. What a great way to save here and have both everyday wines as well as some great special wines, too.      TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE of our three-Part Still-Wine SALE above. If you cannot come please call us ( 202-363-4265 ) or respond to this email with your orders, questions or requests. Let's work together. Cheers.       MORE WINES FOR YOU ALL :           2 Dry Reds :       1) Salice Salentino Riserva 2008 from CANTELE ( $13.99 a bottle, 13% alcohol by volume, www.cantele.it, from Guagnano, Italy in Puglia ) : is made from 100% Negroamaro grapes, is a D.O.C. wine, the flavors are really well-balanced with softer tannins and acids so the fruit pulls everything together and the taste is so satisfying!      2) Monferrato Rosso 2007 From SULIN ( $17.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume, ) is a blend of the grapes I believe with a lot of Barbera in it. Brennan tasted the Brabera when he was here this past Labor Day weekend and we enjoyed that very much. Too bad we could not open this as well as I would have loved to have tried them side-by-side. I know that this dry rosso 2007 is fuller and more robust and flavorful. It probably also needs a meal. From Italy's famous and fabulous Piemonte region this is a well-focused, firm and tasty dry red Italian blend. I did try it back in March of 2012 and that is why it is here. I really liked it then and will probably like it even more now that it has another several months of bottle age since my taste buds last crossed paths with it. Cheers. Thanks for the excellent Saturday wine-tasting here with you Brennan from 2-6 PM. THIS WAS TAKEN from last year's store email. We still have it, though, AS WELL AS the " Sine " 2010 Barbera Del Monferrato, $13.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume. BOTH are wonderful and balanced and great with a meal! BUT HEY : WE ARE SO MUCH MORE than just wine! SANTOS, WHAT HAVE YOU For US ?!?  ALE, BEER, & CIDER :           TWO FABulous PUMPKIN ALES :      1) Our PUMPKIN ALE from SARANAC  ( On Special for $5.49 a Jug that has a handle - like old bottles of whiskey to chug! It looks like a 750ml bottle, I like it, go to : www.saranac.com for more info ) : new and exciting, and certainly a fun presentation and SARANAC does a fine job. Come get some while you still can, may be very limited availability in this presentation. Ask Santos.      2) Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale from ANDERSON VALLEY, Boonville, CA. ( $11.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans, 6% alcohol by volume, go to : www.avbc.com for more information ) : Santos says that he has never seen this before, it's a first for us, SPECIAL, BE THE FIRST to try it here in Washington D.C. Be the first to tell others about it. Sounds so new and exciting and cutting edge. After all, ANDERSON VALLEY is high quality indeed, since 1987...           BEER :      1) Oktoberfest from GOOSE ISLAND ( On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack of 12 ounce bottles, 6.4% alcohol by volume, Chicago, Illinois, go to : www.gooseisland,com for more information ) : WHAT?!? Oktoberfest now, it's just September, not even close to October yet! But that's the wave of the future, release everything really early these days. Keep that in mind as you plan your buying strategies, that way you will not be disappointed later when you go in search of it. AND RAVI, What SAY YOU About LIQUOR, LIQUEUR?      1) Rum from FLOR De CANA , this 7-Year Old GRAN RESERVE , Slow Aged ( $24.99, 750ml bottle, 40% alcohol by volume, from Nicaragua, imported, kosher, go to : www.flordecana.com for more info ) has a lovely darkly-golden patina, a sheen, a scent, a silky essence and perfume that wafts so un-alarmingly  and straight-pure to our cores as we smell and sip, and pause to reflect how lucky we are to have this wonderful moment together with still all our senses and mental faculties clear and intact : ohhhhh yes! A great time to  smile and grin and " wax-poetic " about our recent exploits and adventures, some we share some we keep buried so deeply, privately that this FLOR De CANA can only know.      2) Red & Blue Bikini 2-Piece from SKYY Vodka ( $15.99, 40% alcohol by volume, San Fransisco, CA. , www.skyyvodka.com for more info ) : the bottle packaging SCREAMS OUT summer and warm and hot weather, at the beach or by the lake, of bathing suits and relaxation and feeling stress-free and relaxed and smiling broadly, grinning sheepishly, burning the candle at both ends for as long as there is light and flame and any reserve of energy left at our disposal to carry us along until we drop with delirious glee and rest and all-consuming summer's bountiful satisfactions. Buy this and keep refilling it with more SKYY Vodka to keep the summer alive for yourselves. AS YOU CAN PLAINLY READ with all of this that I am still clearly in a SUMMER'S STATE-OF-MIND and happy to still be so. SO : please bear with me, I have a whole lot weighing on all of this, a lot of pressure to keep summer with us this week. Cheers.      3) Rare Fine Champagne VSOP French Cognac from HINE ( $62.99, 750ml bottle, ) : some really fine and smooth French cognac. I was drinking some with my neighbor about three weeks ago as he got ready to deploy again to Saudia Arabia once again. We smoked some Astral cigars I still owned and drank some of this very special HINE VSOP Cognac and told some personal stories as 50 shades of stress dropped off our clothes and we shared our humanness and our honesty : how HINE RARE and exciting was that ( !?! ) into the wee hours of the night. Work was hard because of this but it was a price I'd gladly pay all over again. I thanked him for his service and keeping our country a bit safer for those of us civilians that stay behind here and never see what he and the others see or experience. Cheers!      4) Walnut from THE " Original " NOCELLO from TOSCHI ( $31.99, imported from Italy, 24% alcohol by volume, from Savignano sul Panaro ( MO ), Italy. What fun, still popular after all these many years. Great to drink while reading an all-absorbing novel. FOUR MORE WINES To Enjoy While Reading 50 Shades Of Gray:      1) Sancerre Dry Loire Valley White, 100% Sauvignon Blanc, from the DOMAINE De CHEZATTE ( $22.99, 750ml bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume, go to : www.domaine-chezatte.fr for more information ) : steely clean, crisp, vibrant, like plucking a taut guitar string or violin string, the flavors will resonate and reverberate long and satisfyingly on your tongue and full palate. What a tasty treat, enjoy with some fresh goat's cheese! I asked a Frenchman earlier while discussing this wine : " Have you read : ' Fifty Shades Of Gray ? ' " He responded : " No ", but that his wife had.      2) Cracklin Savie Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from LAKE CHALICE , New Zealand ( $18.99 a bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume ,www.lakechalice.com ) : mature, multi-layered, more weight and complexity with the bottle-aging - you can lose yourselves and your palate and tongue in the folds and the nooks and crannies that have miraculously appeared in the tapestry of it's flavors : Sauvignon Blanc takes a solid form of marble and stature and a Rodin-esque quality that shouts for food, for a meal, for a release from it's bottled-confinement. Be the one, release it, free it, unshackle it's myriads of flavors, textures, taunts and teases and pleasures.      3) " Pure Syrah " from La Maison  GUYOT, 2010 ( $14.99 a bottle, dry Northern French Rhone wine from a great year , 13% alcohol by volume ) : effusive raw and thick Syrah toasted-roasted fruit and all the spiciness and lovely messiness and mildness and munchiness that comes in a liquid Syrah form : from the most famous region in the world for a Syrah's true, unvarnished, humble and mighty and amazing expression. Cheers.      4) Lambrusco Vino Rosso Frizzante-sparkling , this " Rigoletto " from ROBERTO NEGRI in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region ( $18.99, 750ml bottle, 10.5% alcohol by volume , San Giorgio, ( MN ), Italy ) : it's dry and sparkling and fresh and lively and bubbling and earthy and spicy and yet also bright and frothy : EVERYTHING in perfect balance. What a wonderful treat to enjoy with smoked meats at a meal or afterward with some Biscotti. Lovely. Diego poured it here this weekend and everyone loved it. It was a real treat for everyone this past Labor Day weekend. Grazie Diego. WEEKEND TASTINGS :      FRIDAY, September 6th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Jodie Jackman here to taste an assortment of her fine portfolio of wines. We will taste some of the VALDIPIATTA Tuscan reds, the AN/ 2 from Mallorca from ANIMA NEGRA using four indigenous grape varieties, a Portuguese wine, too : and at least something from the Western Hemisphere as not to forget it , too makes fine wines! Call us for more info, or just show up and be happily surprised!      SATURDAY, September 7th, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Sotiris Bafitis himself here to try some FABulous dry Greek whites, reds and rose : and maybe even an Italian wine as well? What a great tasting this will be. He's a great Greek Ambassador, one everyone should meet at least once in their lives! JOIN US : ALL our weekend tastings are always free and everyone is welcome. Cheers. I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN many things but it's time finally now to proof and send this. Cheers. Thanks for everything. Be sure an follow us on Twitter at : cpwinespirits and also at wineenabler,  and LIKE us on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits. AGAIN, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING > Happy Birthday today Dave Hansen. Hope you got to see the Richard Dieberkorn art at the National Mall today. Looked really good from what I read and saw in this past weekend's Washington Post newspaper. Take care all ... you are all the best, the cream of the crop ...   TONY

10/1/13 Anthony Quinn's Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits' Store Email Of Tuesday, Oct. 1st, 2013 : Enjoy!

Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits

EVERY WEEK NOW there are so many things to weigh us all down even more before we even start our week. It just comes at us from all sides, all directions, from the news, from conversation, from our commutes to work, talking to neighbors, billboards, signs, the radio. It's coming so fast now that it's hard to keep up and to absorb it all.   THERE'S SICKNESS and family members and friends that have health issues, allergies, accidents that, in a flash change things pretty much permanently ; like our college friend's mother that was coming out of a movie and fell. How horrible. Our hearts and prayers  goe out to them. That, and news of the government probably shutdown last night at midnight, all the ramifications like the National Zoo down the street from us being closed today.   I PASSED THE ZOO coming to work and saw that the gates were closed : I have never seen that before at this time of day. I noticed that our sidewalks were clear of the many people of all ages on their trek from the Cleveland Park metro station going there. I also noticed that there were no bright deep yellow cadmium buses either. I drove and thought to myself that at least those that love the animals are there to take care of them until Congress manages to do their jobs and compromise and work out some budget to keep our government open.   I AM SORRY to have to mention this, it's not my job, but to ignore it and pretend that it is not there and try and sell you more of what might become more difficult for you to afford now is not doing my job either. It's a quandary of sorts, so I think I will try and talk about as many " values " as I can today to offer you all this weeks as we wait and see what transpires.   I AM SADDENED by the passing of Marcella Hazan that through her cookbooks and classes brought Italy to us here in the United States : that's Italian cooking, not to mention Italian wine, too. We have one of her cookbooks. I should have brought it with me today. She started her cooking journey way back in 1955. That sure was many lifetimes' ago! She was a biologist by training. With the help of Craig Claiborne the New York Times food critic she really became a name and a force to be reckoned with in the international cooking arena. She was I guess the Italian counterpart to Julia Child?   I WONDER IF OUR NEIGHBORS Ed & Jinny that have their own home cooking classes ever took one of her classes? I believe that they did. I will ask theme when I see them, they may respond to this when they read this? Marcella would write in Italian and her husband would translate it to English.   MARCELLA was from Cesenatico in the Italian province of Emilia-Romagna where she met her husband Victor Hazan. This will be fun to write today about the excellent wines of both DREI DONA and also of TRE MONTI.   FUNNY, when our local rep Oscar Losama of Voila Imports was here to taste his French country wines with our customers this past weekend we spoke of TRE MONTI that he and his wife Olivia represent as well as many small French family estates. We were speaking of my son being in Italy and that he should visit the fabulous husband-and-wife-team of TRE MONTE that have been here twice now. They are charming, completely dedicated to their wines and were even recently featured on one of the last Anthony Bourdain " No Reservations " segments.   IT'S SUCH A SMALL WORLD as here our son is in Italy and he knows someone that worked on " No Reservations ", and he may visit TRE MONTI and get a chance to discuss this with them?!? How cool is that?!? I love it, but I love all these ways in which life weaves a tapestry of colors, shapes, textures, liquids and solids, arts and tastes around and through us all! WE SELL THE 2009 " Vigna Rocca " Albana Secco dry white, $17.99, 14% alcohol by volume ( Go to : www.tremonti.it for more info,  in Imola, Emilia-Romagna. How close to Cesenatico is this? We will offer the reds once again. I will speak to Oscar about this in a day or so. The white is rich, flavorful, complex, textured and really offers a whole lot of sensory tastes to keep every plate searching and lingering longer to determine what the tastes are and what they remind them of? THIS PAST WEEKEND our good customer Beth came to store and was at the register when I caught up with her. I asked her if she had got everything that she needed? She said that she had, that she would be cooking from scratch in her apartment a bit later : perhaps all weekend. Her shopping cart-stroller was filled with beautiful colors of vegetables and herbs like the deep rich green spinach.   BETH TOLD RAVI and ME that she had a recipe that needs three cups of spinach for her creamed spinach soup. She had in her cart only enough fresh spinach to make  just over two cups of spinach that would become creamed spinach. She was using the Julia Child book : " Mastering The Art Of French Cooking ." BETH CONTINUED by saying that this book is now on her Kindle and that she can even read it standing at the bus stop! She smiled as this occurred to her. She said that she did not know why she did not just buy the Stoffer's Creamed Spinach, that it was quite good.   SHE TALKED ABOUT how much work it was to de-stem and clean and prepare this much spinach. She exclaimed : " Do you know how long it takes to wash and de-stem? " Before hearing our answer she quickly added : " It will take awhile. " She's obviously done it before and will make extra to have when she gets home from work. She can freeze it and have it heated and ready to enjoy quickly.   I CALL THAT COMFORT FOOD. I bet that this TRES MONTI dry white indigenous Albana di Romagna 2009, $17.99 would work well with Beth's lovingly-made and prepared home creamed spinach? Maybe Marcella has her own recipe in " The Classic Italian Cookbook " ( 1973 ) or her more recent: " Marcella Cucina " ( 1997 ) ? I will look later today.   IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FATE if Beth had mentioned Marcella this past weekend instead of Julia? Beth do you also have either of these Marcella Hazan books? I'll ask you next time I see you here or you call. Cheers, thanks for the inspiration : makes all the beers and the wines taste so much better : as they should, together with good food, great comfort food to nourish all our psyches and souls! WE ALSO SELL the dry reds and white from Enrico Drei Dona the owner of DREI DONA in Massa di Vecchiazzano, Forli, Emilia-Romagna. How far is this from Marcella's Cesenatico? I will look this up shortly. Too busy typing now. But if you know any of this and would like to share it with us please feel free to leave a comment here when you get this email, either here or on our Facebook page, or when you come to the store next.   I HAVE A SIGNED BOTTLES by Enrico here of his  :         1) " Pruno " 2007Sangiovese Superiore Riserva, $43.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume - as good as many Tuscan versions if not better ,         2) " Magnificat " Vigneto Singolo-Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ( $42.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume ), and his dry white         3) " Il Tornese " white blend of 85% Chardonnay and 15% Riesling, $19.99. GREAT FOOD WINES : tremendous character, terroir, style, balance and wonderful when combined with a meal like Beth's homemade cream spinach.     SO SANTOS, What do you have for us?             ALE, BEER, CIDER :        1) Pumpkin Ale from SARANAC, ale brewed with pumpkin and spices with natural flavors added ( On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, New York State, owners Nick and Fred, go to :www.saranac.com for more info ) : " Sticklers for detail and suckers for a twist on tradition, our family is relentlessly committed to brewing excellence . " Try this. Get some now while you still can.        2) " Uprising " Triple IPA Ale, Bottle-Conditioned from IRON FIST Brewing Company ( On Special for $11.99 a 1 Pt. 9 Fl. Oz bottle, 12% alcohol by volume, from Vista, California, go to :www.IronFistBrewing.com for more info ) : " In case you are one of the 3 people that haven't figured it out, we at IRON FIST are fans of everything unfettered by any silly notions of ' tradition '. So our test insurrection is a two-for. We brewed a huge Belgian style Tripel and hopped the ( expletive deleted ) out of it. ... "        3) Premium Lager Beer Klaipeda, Lithuania from SVYTURY'S 1784 - EKSTRA ( On Special for $2.99 a 500ml bottle, 5.2% alcohol by volume, go to : www.svyturysusa.com for more info ) : Musu geriausias : our finest, since 1784 ). Cheers, come try some!     HEY RAVI - Ravinder Sharma, What LIQUEUR/ LIQUOR Have YOU For Us :             LIQUEUR :        1) Pear- Poire Williams Liqueur from MARIE BRIZARD Depuis 1755 ( $25.99, 750ml bottle, 25% alcohol by volume, from France, go to :www.mariebrizard.com for more info ) : When jy family lived in Paris, France in the 1970's this was a favorite of my mother's. She loved it! I will have to buy a bottle myself and take her some. She will love it all over again. So this is for you Mom!  Try the " Red Night " recipe on the label :  three-tenths Marie Brizard Pear William,  three-tenths lemon juice and four-tenths Marie Brizard Blackberry.  Put in a shaker and shake well and enjoy. Or chilled slightly all by itself as we did years ago when living on the Avenue Paul Doumer. Oh what great times those were! NEWS UPDATE :      Our first customer just came in saying she had cleared her office and was off and going to be paid, she quickly added : " We will see . " She seemed okay, a soft smile, in good spirits with a bottle of Prosecco to enjoy and another to make Mimosas with. I told her about making a kir-royale with some Creme de Cassis. She bought a bottle and I hope that on this deceptively beautiful afternoon that that helps to boost her spirits as all this plays out in Congress.        2) HONEY Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey infused with real honey and liqueur from JIM BEAM ( $16.99 a 750ml bottle, 35% alcohol by volume, from Clermont-Frankfurt, Kentucky ) : What great value! JIM BEAM is always great value and a good product, reliable and affordable : all good during this shutdown. Smooth, no bite, easy to sip and enjoy leisurely, and on such an amazingly beautiful day now!           LIQUOR :        1) Spiced Finest St. Lucia Rum from the CHAIRMAN'S RESERVE ( $23.99, 40% alcohol by volume, from St. W.I, go to :www.chairmansreserve.com for more info ) : We have enjoyed selling the rums and now introduce the " Spiced " for you all to check and see what you think. Deep brown-toasty-roasted Caribbean color!        2) No. 485 Gin from NEW AMSTERDAM Exceptionally Smooth ( On Special for $15.99 a liter bottle, 100% pure grain neutral spirits ,www.NewAmsterdamSpiirits.com 1-877-897-2446 ) ; What a great value : LUXURY BLEND : " A modern, American Gin, refreshingly balanced with citrus, subtle hints of Juniper, and sophisticated notes of Angelica. It's smooth enough to drink straight. "   Aged 18 Year CHIVAS REGAL Blended Scotch Whisky, this " Gold Signature " ( $68.99 a bottle, 40% alcohol by volume, product of Scotland from Chivas Brothers LTD, go to : www.chivas.com for more info ) :   I WAS LUCKY enough to be given a bottle of this as a gift from our customer Delores. Thank you Delores.   I SHARED IT on the 4th of July with our dinner party with neighbors and friends. Smooth with enough kick and Scottish attitude to make it a real treat as the evening wound down.    IN PARIS, FRANCE in the 1970's I used to have a bottle of the 12-year old and my American artist friend, Dallas , used to come by and enjoy it in my Mansart-roofed chambre-maid room so many glorious moons ago!   MORE NEWS : Dale was here to buy the Viognier from DEMOCRACY Vineyards, the " Unum " 2011 from Monticello, Virginia, 13% alcohol by volume, and  the  2) Reserve Petit Verdot 2010 from COOPER Vineyards in Virginia, $33.99, 13.8% alcohol by volume, Louisa, VA. go to : www.coppervineyards.com for more info ... to take back with him to Seattle to share with friends! Nice Dale, way to go!   ALSO : Gary just told me that we were prominently featured in this month's WASHINGTONIAN Magazine as having an extension selection of the wines of Virginia and Maryland. All true : we work very hard at this to bring them to you! I gave Dale two Virginia and winery maps to take back with him to Seattle, Washington.   LOTS OF REGULAR CUSTOMERS affected by the government shutdown are coming through our doors and buying wine and beer. I told one that I am not happy to be making money this was, that a customer said last week that this would be good for business. Well it may be but it's not good business, it's not the way we want to make extra money, at your expense and at your misfortune. Makes me so mad!   WINES Of Michel And Tony :             WHITE:        1)  Roussette  2012 " L'Altesse " Dry French Savoie White made from 100% Roussette grapes by the Swiss border ( $19.99, 13% alcohol by volume ) from the DOMAINE De L'ADYLLE had tremendous presence, flavors quite forward, great mouth grip-grip-pith and taste : I warmed to it immediately and really like it. Perfect for this weather today while you enjoy some as many of you have got off early today with the government shutdown. Perfect to soother your frazzled nerves.        2) Macon-La Roche Vineuse 2012 Dry white Burgundy 2012. $19.99, 13% alcohol by volume was also tasted here this weekend by Oscar Losama of Voila imports. It had more body and was more intense with a heavier mouth-feel and structure, and calls out more for food. I liked it, not as much as the dry white Savoie above. The verdict was split about half and half this past weekend.             ROSE :        1) Cotes-Du-Rhone Dry Rose from France's DOMAINE De La SOLITUDE, this 2012 ( $18.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, from a famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape producer ) is a class-act. What body, what flavor, what balance, what versatility! Buy some smoked salmon or any smoked fish or meats.   I COULD SEE it going really well with some smoked trout for example! Perfect to sit outside in this beautiful weather and nurse as we contemplate life and how we came to this situation of waiting on Congress to act collectively and as a group that functions and does it's one basic job, creating a budget to keep our government functioning. Maybe they didn't get or pass on the memo?           RED :        1) 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Bin No. 944, Valle Central, Chile ( $5.99 a 375ml bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume, Kosher for Passover, Nancagua, Chile  ) : " ... abundant with soft berry fruit aromas and flavors that are balanced with soft tannin and make it ready for immediate enjoyment. " ALSO comes in the 750ML bottle at $8.99. Cheers. Also comes in a 375ml size bottle of dry white Sauvignon Blanc : take outside and enjoy on a hike or trip, picnic ... as we all wait for Congress.        2) Limited Edition Red Blend 2012 from Susana Balbo, this " new " CRIOS from Mendoza, Argentina is full and rich and layered on the palate with soft tannins that could see a bit more bottle age to settle really nicely, say another six months? It drinks really well now, $16.99, 13.9% alcohol by volume. Keith poured it here this Friday night and everyone liked it quite a bit : a blend of Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda and Cabernet. Cheers.        3) Beaujolais - Villages 2011, made from 100% Gamay grapes, this CHATEAU GAILLARD, $16.99, 13% alcohol by volume, from Sebastien Gutty ) is lighter-bodied, toasty forest floor berry-strawberry flavors that lilt and entice and spice and perk and ping and ZING so nicely along the palate, settling in so nicely. It's a real treat : perfect now. Chill 30 minutes and enjoy now, today, this afternoon, outside on a walk in the park, on a deck, a patio, on a rooftop, relax and think of all the things we have to be thankful for and try and not dwell too much on Congress.      4)  Dry Red 100% indigenous  2011 Mondeuse grapes from France's Savoie region by Switzerland , from the DOMAINE de L'IDYLLE ( $19.99, 12% alcohol by volume ) is more peppery and spicy, more intense toasty berry flavors than the Beaujolais Villages. It turns up the intensity and gives us a fine food wine to enjoy also chilled thirty minutes. Fun and differ ent, light and refreshing and a great conversation piece, too.        5) " Secret de Jaligny " from France's southern Loire Valley, Saint-Pourcain, this dry red 2010 made from an ancient clone of Pinot Noir ( On Special for $19.99, regularly $23.99, 12% alcohol by volume, Chateau de Chassignolles ) : made from old-vine Pinot Noir : this is a polished yet slightly earthy-forest-floor bright Pinot to chill and to have with a picnic, with some appetizers, something easy, some white meat, salmon, fish. For the pleasure of a new discovery! What fun, enjoy, feel expansive, let yourselves GO!     WEEKLY WEDNESDAY 3-PART Sherry, Marsala, Madeira, Sake, Port and Non-Sparkling Wine SALE :        1) BUY ANY $20 or more bottle of the categories listed above and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price.      2) BUY ANY SIX ( 6 ) or more bottles of the categories listed above and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker price.      3) BUY ANY TWELVE ( 12 ) or More bottles of the categories listed above and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.      MIX things up, have fun : SAVE BIG!      CALL Michel or Tony and place your order if you cannot come. Pay Wednesdays and SAVE BIG here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits. 202-363-4265. Cheers.   WEEKEND TASTINGS :        FRIDAY, October 4th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Mark Congdon of J.W. Sieg Imports here to pour the Freciarossa wines. Join us, they are fabulous. More about them on our Facebook page tomorrow. Go to : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and LIKE us and get our daily updates. Cheers. JOIN US, NEVER any charge.        SATURDAY, October 5th, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Stephane Defot here of his own Z Wine Gallery Imports here to taste some of his excellent French as well as  new " Spanish wines. This includes his outstanding dry red Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010 dry red from the DOMAINE JULIETTE AVRIL On Special for $32.99, 14% alcohol by volume. Buy some tomorrow and SAVE 20% off the $32.99 and pay only $26.39 a bottle : what a deal, what a fine wine, too : perfect to enjoy with this week's weather while we all wait on Congress.   I KNOW I HAVE FORGOTTEN many things. Thanks for everything. Without you we are nothing. You all are the best and deserve the very best from us. We hope we deliver, that is our aim I assure you. Cheers,   TONY   FOLLOW US on Twitter at : cpwinespirits and also at : wineenabler.   ALSO : LIKE us on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and follow our progress there daily! Cheers, enjoy the weather of this beautiful Tuesday afternoon.