Weekly Wine Tastings

June 18th-19th, 2010

Please join us for our FREE Wine and Beer Tastings  - Friday from 3-7 pm and Saturday 1-6; this week we are tasting:

WINE 

Unlike the US, where the average yearly paid vacation time is a paltry 2 weeks, the average in Europe is 6 weeks. However, like us, they tend to take a majority of their vacation during the summer months and with all that time spent lounging around the Costa del Sol or some Greek party island, you can bet they know a thing or two about drinking and living la dolce vita.

That's why this week we cast an eye toward southern Europe for inspiration. And while we may be drawing from a pretty broad swath of regions and styles, there is a commonality in that all these wines are incredibly versatile, i.e. they play well alone or with a large range of food (like a Father's Day BBQ.) They just make for great drinking.

2007 Gruner Veltliner "Wachauer," Rainer Wess
Wachau, Niederosterreich, Austria
Shows a shocking sense of complete, luscious ripeness with a classic nose of lime, cress, and lentil. An irresistibly juicy yellow plum, lemon, and subtle savory, saline palate with an ultra-refreshing finish.
Bottle: $17.99 Special: $16.19 Case: $15.29

2006 Minervois, Hecht & Bannier
Cotes du Roussillon, France
"A welcome fresh, subtly tart juiciness (reflecting the vintage's relatively high acidity) builds in the finish, while vivid notes of charred meat and wood smoke add to the fascination and overall enticement of a wine that should be worth following for four or more years."
90pts Wine Advocate
Bottle: $19.99 Special: $17.99 Case: $16.99

2008 Tinto de Toro "Triton," Bodegas Triton
Castilla Y Leon, Spain
Dark ruby-colored, it displays an enticing nose of cedar, spice box, tobacco, leather, and blackberry. Smooth-textured and elegant on the palate, it has ample savory fruit, good volume, and enough ripe tannin to evolve for 1-2 years.
Bottle: $18.99 Special: $17.09 Case: $16.14

2007 Toscano Rosso "NC," Argiano
Tuscany, Italy
"A blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 20% Syrah the 2007 "NC" reveals a darker profile with grilled herbs, licorice, dark berries and French oak. The wine shows outstanding length and finessed tannins. This is another lovely bottle from Argiano, and a terrific value."
Bottle: $15.99 Special: $14.39 Case: $13.59

BEER

Certainly the classic Dylan song doesn't reference Stone Brewing in Escondido CA, but we can pretend. Stone Brewing is consistently rated as one of the best brewers in the US and world by the two largest beer enthusiast websites, RateBeer and BeerAdvocate. The best or not, they're certainly serious about making great beer and having some fun doing it. Most of Stone's bottles are adorned with the "Stone Brewing Gargoyle" which wards off impurities that would otherwise taint the sanctity of the brew. Prosit!

Did you notice these beers are on special through the week-end?

Saison du Buff
This beer is a collaboration between Stone Brewing, Dogfish Head, and Victory Brewing. The idea for this beer germinated way back in 2003 when the three guys (Sam from Dogfish, Greg from Stone and Bill from Victory) formed the BUFF alliance (Brewers United for Freedom of Flavor) - a noble endeavor with the goal to highlight the passion and camaraderie of the American craft brew movement. So, BUFF didn't really do anything (beyond talk a lot of talk) until 2010 when the three brewers finally got together to jointly brew a beer at the Stone Brewery. Saison du BUFF was first brewed at Stone and then replicated at each of the other two breweries - same recipe, same ingredients, three different breweries throughout 2010. Saison du BUFF is a 6% abv Saison brewed with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Regular $3.99 12oz. Special $3.59 12oz. 

Oaked Arrogant Bastard
An oak aged American Strong ale, brewed with excessive amounts of arrogance and cojones. "Too many strive towards complacency as a goal. They stop their urge for desire and discovery somewhere between youth and adulthood. And when they find their complacency threatened, they do everything to recover their warm fuzzy feeling of that lost complacency as quick as possible. Throughout every culture, every country, and every way of thought you will find it. We grow up thinking the ability to become complacent is the equivalence of success in life. True Arrogant Bastards know that this could not be further from the truth. The real beauty, richness, and depth in life can only be found if the journey through life itself is looked upon as a constant chance to learn, live, and find life's passion. Passion threatens the complacent and fills them with fear. Fear of the new, the deep, and the different. We on the other hand seek it out, endlessly, joyously..., and aggressively. To this end we bring you the "Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale". Another reward for those seeking new sources of passion. And another point of dissention for those who are not." - Greg Koch, Co-Owner and Minister of propaganda, Stone Brewing.
Regular $16.99 6pk. Special $15.99 6pk. 

Russian Imperial Stout
"There's no question that Stone Imperial Stout is revered among enthusiasts," states Stone CEO Greg Koch. "I know, because I'm one of 'em and I can hardly wait for it to come out each year!" Some may think that a late Spring release for a special brew of this sort is an odd time for it to come out onto the market. Koch justifies this with the rationalization "What better than a warm time of year to come out with a brew that tastes great as it warms up!" That's because "ice cold" is certainly not the appropriate way to serve the beer. Nearly without exception, the darker, richer and more alcoholic a brew is, the warmer the serving temperature should be. The Stone Imperial Stout label describes the brew as being "intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate...expect this mysterious brew to pour like used motor oil and taste even heavier! Serve at 55 degrees."
Regular $7.99 22 oz. Special $7.19 22oz.

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