February 15th, 2018
Your Weekly News & Updates
Only a few seats remaining for our Scotch Class next week!!! Grab your tickets before they're gone.
If you're not too busy outside enjoying this gorgeous weather we're having, check out what Darrin our wine buyer has to say in our newly updated blog space called "Darrin's Wine Musings." Don't forget to take that stroll here for our wine tastings on Friday and Saturday - read more for Friday's tasting lineup.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Next Week : Scotch Class
Thursday, February 22nd

Scotch Tasting - The Debate: Independent Bottlers vs Small Distilleries
Jeff Peterson and William Skelly will be guiding us through this comparative tasting of 8 outstanding Whiskies in our cellar. Find out more details including the full tasting lineup and buy tickets on Eventbrite (link below).

FEATURED WINES
What we like (staff selections):
Dave's Pick:
Clos du Mont-Olivet, 'A Seraphin' Cotes-du-Rhone
As Cotes-du-Rhones go this one has it all. Its made by a much loved Chateauneuf du Pape producer from old vine Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. The vineyards are at altitude and fermentation is done with indigenous yeast. Wine has CDR signature fresh strawberry and pepper aromas and flavors while the mid palate and finish are held up by smooth tannin and a pleasing rusticity from the Carignan. This is perfectly enjoyable on its own with a group or an intimate dinner. It's crowd pleasing but never boring. Bottoms up! -$24.99
Emily's Pick:
Balfour, Hush Heath 1503 Brut
It's the Champagne that's not actually Champagne. Kent, England just happens to have the same deep chalk soils, climate and methods as the Champagne region of France. Hush Heath is a superb example of a top English winery. If Winston Churchill could have tasted it today, he would have given this wine a grumbly two thumbs up. "Remember, gentlemen, it's not just France we're fighting for, it's Champagne!" And yet it could have been in his own backyard. -$47.99
Darrin's Pick:
Swanson "Cygnet" Merlot 2013, Napa, CA
Imagine that you wanted a big, tasty, super-classy Napa Red, but you only wanted to spend $25. You try several of the few remaining Napa Cabernets in that price range and you think, "Yeah, those are good, but they are far from exciting." Well I'm here to tell you, this wine is exciting, with layers of red and black fruits, substantial velvetty tannins, hints of dark chocolate and a long savory finish. I would see this standing up quite well in a blind tasting of $40 Napa Cabs.  -$24.99
Patti's Pick:
Chehalem, 'Three Vineyard' Pinot Gris
Different but the same... Many of you probably know Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are actually the same grape variety. Italy (Pinot Grigio) tends to produce a leaner, crisper, citrus forward style, while Alsace (Pinot Gris) tends to be richer and more tropical, with spice notes and a dry to medium-dry finish. This Willamette Valley Pinot Gris falls somewhere in between. It has aromatic stone fruits and honeysuckle, with a richer, more textural mouthfeel than Italian Pinot Grigio, reminding me more of the Alsatian Pinot Gris. Perhaps you'll want to set up your own comparative tasting. We can help! -$24.99
Check out our Blog!
Where our "Vino Vicar" (Darrin) will detail new & exciting wines, highlight wine regions you should get to know, and much more.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY'S FREE WINE TASTINGS
Friday's Tasting Lineup (4-8pm):

Wente "Morning Fog" Chardonnay, CA
St. Francis Sauvignon Blanc, CA
Horse & Plow "The Gardener" Pinot Noir, Carneros, CA
Morgan "Cotes du Crow's", Monterey, CA
Emilio Moro "Finca Resalso" Ribera del Duero, Spain
Lucky Star Cabernet Sauvignon, CA

Plus a Secret Sipper: TBA

We are still picking the wines for the Tasting on Saturday (3-7pm) .
We will post the lineup to Facebook prior to the tasting.
WHAT'S UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Mpls St. Paul Restaurant Week :
Next week (Feb.18th-23rd) is Restaurant Week!
Did you know some restaurants don't charge corkage fees (and others charge minimal fees)???
Check with your favorite spots for their particulars ... then you can purchase wine at an establishment such as ours (as long as it's not already your restaurant dujour's list). Heads up, although they are not participating in Restaurant Week, our cool neighbors at Red Cow and Red Rabbit don't have corkage fees...note: their list is already pretty dynamic so utilizing this perk is up to you.
NEW & EXCITING
The Critics Agree With Us:
Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva "Marina Cvetic" 2014, $29.99
One of our favorite Italian reds discovered over the last year just received some glowing press: "Purple ruby. Initially subdued nose opens with aeration to offer deep, complex aromas of red berries, spicy plum, underbrush and violet. Then fresh rich and spicy, with strawberry and red cherry flavors that are bright and pure. This is at once powerful yet light on its feet, and eludes a cool, clean, debonair personality on the long suave finish. Another knockout from S. Martino Rosso, a deep complex wine that seems to magically combine elements of Abruzzo, Rioja and Bordeaux. Delicious." 92pts Vinous

New Whiskeys:
Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon: "Crafted to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition on December 5, 1933, Remus Repeal Reserve is a limited release crafted with a medley of bourbons from 2005 and 2006." -G.Remus Distilling Co. -$79.99

George Remus 'King of the Bootleggers' Straight Bourbon : "From Apothecary to Kingpin, George Remus created one of the most intricate, successful bootlegging operations of Prohibition. This Bourbon captures the rebellious spirit of that era with a hint of vanilla, a maple aroma and a sweet-yet-characteristic rye flavor." -G.Remus Distilling Co. -$43.99

Redemption 18 year Rye Whiskey : " The Ancients collection features whiskies laid down in barrels in 1978 and 1998 at the old Seagram’s distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the same place where every drop of Redemption Whiskey has ever been produced,” says Tom Steffanci, President of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. “The 18 Year-Old is a reflection of our obsession with Rye and showcases the ageability of rye." -$399.99