Anthony Quinn's Weekly Tuesday Store Email ( In A Florence State Of Mind! ) Written & Posted This Tuesday, August 27th, 2013 : Enjoy!

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

WOW, IT'S STILL THE SUMMER, WHAT GLORIOUS WEATHER. WE DESERVE IT, WE'RE WORTH IT. SPLURGE AND CONTINUE TO PURGE YOURSELVES NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN!  A " NEW " BABY PANDA, THE ARRIVAL IN THE SPRING OF TWO " NEW " CANADIAN ELEPHANTS, TOMORROW BEING THE ACTUAL DAY OF THE " FREEDOM MARCH " ALL THE WAY BACK 50 YEARS AGO TO 1963!  THE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOSSOMING WITH " NEW " RESTAURANTS LIKE PULPO WITH A SATURDAY LUNCHEON " ALL YOU CAN EAT & DRINK " MENU, AND " LIVE MUSIC ", AS WELL : ALL GOOD, ALL THINGS WE NEED TO REFLECT THE VIBRANT AND ENGAGING AND ENERGIZED QUALITIES THAT REPRESENT US HERE, TRUE MELTING POTS OF SO MANY CULTURES AND LIVES, EXPERIENCES, PURSUITS, DREAMS , ASPIRATION, HOPES AND WORK! AND , GOSH DARN IT, IT'S STILL SUMMER AND BEAUTIFUL, LOVING IT, REALLY PUTS ME IN SO MANY WONDERFUL STATES-OF-MIND TO PUSH BOUNDARIES AND OURSELVES TO BE ALL THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN. LET US HELP YOU WITH THIS HERE, WE CAN, WE ARE SEASONED, WE AREMORE THAN READY. BE PROACTIVE ABOUT LABOR DAY AND SHOP EARLY. WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW IS WHAT I WROTE A WHOLE YEAR AGO AND IT'S ALL STILL SO TRUE. READ ON :  OUR WEEKLY WEDNESDAY 20% STILL-WINE SALE WE WANT TO SIMPLIFY THINGS.  FROM NOW ON, each and every Wednesday here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits you can count on SAVING 20% on your still-wine ( non-sparkling wines not on sale ) purchases as we usually do every month.    TO MAKE THINGS EASIER we want to make every Wednesday our 20% OFF Still-Wine ( non-Sparkling wine SALE. We will not have the sale on Thursday anymore. This means that each week here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits you can take advantage of our 20% OFF SALE that is always a TWO-PART SALE :        1) BUY ANY BOTTLE $20 or over that is a still wine and SAVE 20% off the marked sticker price.        2) BUY ANY 12 BOTTLES at any price ( even already On Sale ) and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.        3) Buy any six or more bottles of non-sparkling wine and save 15% OFF the marked sticker prices.      You can add bottles of sake, marsala, madeira, sherry, as well as all size bottles - even box wines.      You can in this way get an assortment of wines, ports, sherries, sakes, marsalas, and madeiras : you can help stock your wine racks, bars, etcetera and be prepared for many events.      IF YOU CANNOT COME to do this in person please call and ask for either Michel or for Tony and we will be glad to assist you over the phone.      YOU MAY ALSO RESPOND directly to this store email and let us know how we may help you with your selections.      IT'S SIMPLE : CALL : 202-363-4265 or EMAIL :anthony.quinn@clevelandparkwines.com or :michel.dumas@clevelandparkwines.com.         EITHER OF US will be more than happy to walk you through your many possibilities.   CLEVELAND PARK WINES & SPIRITS is the place to be with this heat and humidity. It's nice and cool here and you can come in and chill-down a bit and collect your thoughts and we will show you some of the CONSTANT, EVER-CHANGING, continuously-growing landscape of wines, beers, spirits, apple ciders, liqueurs, waters, sodas, and more. It's pretty amazing and it takes us by surprise and sometimes we are caught running up to catch up to whatever " new " and exciting!   I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH WITH FAMILY to have my lunch this past Saturday at Pulpo. I did not have much time but the time that I did have was thoroughly enjoyable. My wife really enjoyed herself. The general manager Dave Hansen came to greet us. He has come from California recently to lend his special talents and skills to make PULPO be all that it can. As it now joins the other celebrated neighborhood " success stories " of RIPPLE, DINO, ARDEO, NAM VIET, SPICES, LAVANDOU, BIBLO'S, SORRISO, INDIQUE, ST. ARNOLDS, PALENA , MEDIUM RARE, and so many more : exciting.   I HAVE ENJOYED ON Saturday afternoon's here listening to regular customers like Samantha come in with her friend and speak about their dining experiences at PULPO. She said that she might still prefer the old chef and not the " new " one : Billy Klein. She's willing to give Billy a chance , of course, and will return again and I will ask her what she thinks then? That's okay, she's the only one that has said this so far. Mostly everything I hear is positive about PULPO. That's so encouraging, we need this!   AS YOU MAY REMEMBER that space lay empty for so many years - more than seven - when McDonald's left there. It was an eye-sore : now it's exciting and a " destination ". I always want to enter each time I pass as I both see and hear the musicians and their " live music ". That calls out to me each and every time! I'm a sucker for live music, I really am. I would like to see - to hear more of it here in our neighborhood. I believe it will help to keep many of our younger residents here and not going to other D.C. neighborhoods because we are not showing enough of our vibrant, thrilling, electric, energized and entertaining side! Show some of our skin- so-to-speak, ;  show we can still dance and samba and fox trot and tango. We'll make no bones about " our lines " : they will not be blurred - they will be true and clear, fun, fresh and alive!   ANYWAY, Dave has come here to trade stories, talk shop, talk ideas and together gain some perspective. I have been talking of going there and I had my chance this past Saturday. I spoke with him at our table and asked him for recommendations. As he spoke I told our waiter to bring us this, bring us that, don't forget  it, maybe bring us two?!? Oh yes, that's sounds so good, can't wait to try this. It was like a bit of quick theater that my family enjoyed listening to. Made their jobs that much easier. With a refreshing, light white Sangria and two small platters to greet us we were off with our lively conversation. One dish after another, like Spanish tapas kept arriving and we would each take our portions and taste , try on for size, fit and feel what we liked or did not so much.   I LOVED THE frittatas of Serrano Ham, Chorizo, Smoked Salmon. The Eggs Benedict were really tasty, too. The Ensaladas of White Bean and Pearl Cous Cous really hit the spot as well. It was a theatrical treat of color, sound, smells , textures, solids-to-liquids. The service was very good , and as a special treat our waiter gave us an extra-helping of the Smoked Salmon on the Frittata. He may do the same for you?   I GOT TO MEET the owner Dino Tapper that came to our table personally to welcome us. That was nice. We spoke awhile and I remembered the old days of Floriana. That took me back a ways.   I DID NOT GET to meet executive chef/ partner Billy Klein. That's okay. Dave pointed him out to me in the kitchen feet away from us, with his back to us, facing the ovens and stoves and busy at work as one would expect and hope.   HAVING DAVE HANSEN here in our neighborhood encourages me. It's a good sign. Energy, thought, inspiration, new ideas being tossed about by him and his staff, just like by all of us - continually as we do all that we can to keep the business, the heart-and-soul pf Cleveland Park PUMPING and ALIVE. We are a force to be reckoned with, we are special, we are important to Washington D.C. Cleveland Park 20008 is a " Happenin' Place " and we are all proud of it and doing all that we can as businesses, residents, neighbors, caring individuals, guests from around the world, to keep the flame bright, marching ahead, marching on, gathering ...     AS WE GATHER AGAIN TOMORROW as a team, as a working and functioning unit of caring, motivated, dedicated, thoughtful, civic, social, sharing people that are working constantly for a better world, a better life, less prejudice, less hunger, less inequality on every level, a place where all our concerns and voices may be better heard and answered.   WHERE HAVE WE COME FROM, where have we gone, where will we still go?! Keep the dreams alive, keep them coming, eat your fears, chew them, and spit them out, and never fear fear as it will eat us all alive.    I WOKE UP FROM A DREAM today , as I did yesterday and the day before and I rushed to my typewriter to record my thoughts, feelings, impressions, words and sentiments before they disappeared as quickly as they came. I found myself doing this yesterday on scraps of pieces of paper while out and about with my son and wife. It did not matter! Poetry, emotion, a grand release that was nice later when cooking dinner and ...   ENJOYING MY GLASS  of PIAN DI NOVA 2010, a dry Tuscan red blend from IL BORRO in Arezzo, Italy of 75% Syrah and 25% Sangiovese,$32.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume. I kept day-dreaming by the grill : " So this is what Syrah from Tuscany can taste like : a nice mouth-feel, a nice grip, a gentle girth, a warmth of soft spice and dusty earth, a youth that is still finding it;s way, learning it worth, paying it's dues. I would like to come back to this 2010 PIAN DI NOVA in another three or so years!   SEE : THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS when I return rested from an incredible vacation! I will try and curb that all now as I " get serious " and start with some ;   ALE, BEER, CIDER From Santos Rivera :   ALL THE PUMPKIN ALES are coming and many are already here so please come and check those out with Santos. Or call us at : 202-363-4265 to check in with us for any info on availability. Buy now, be safe, be prepared, get them while you still can as they do sell quickly as it is an amazingly popular category for us here.        1) " Monk's Brew " Dark Ale from MIKKELLER ( $14.99 a bottle, 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz, 10% alcohol by volume, Proef Brouwerij, Lochchristi-Hufte, Belgium ) : maybe later tonight, as things start to settle, as one reflects on the trials and tribulations of this day, as one focuses on the momentous relevance of tomorrow's symbolic March 50 years to the day here on our National Mall?!        2) TROUBADOUR " Obscura " Mild Stout ( $13.99, 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz. bottle, 8.2% alcohol by volume, The Musketeers B-9910 Ursel, Belgium, go to : troubadourbeers.com ) : " Donker bier, hergist op fles, met een kraching moutig karakter, gebalanceerde bitterheid en een genoosterde toets, Bevat gerstenout. Mild stout, refermented in the bottle ... " WOW, that was hard to type. Hope I got it right?!? Cheers.        3) Rum Aged - Oak Aged Beer from INNIS & GUNN, carefully matured for 57 days ( $11.99 a 4-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 6.8% alcohol by volume, 11.2 Fl. Oz bottles, from Scotland, go to :www.innisandgunn.com for more info , Edinburgh ) : " This ruby red beer has been aged with rum oak chips, resulting in a brew with a delicious warming character that is bursting with fruit and warming spiciness... "        4) Extra Pale Ale from WYLD Brewed with Organic Barley Malt from UINTA Brewing Co. ( On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack , from Salt Lake City, 98% organic, kosher, too ) : Unleashed by the Uinta Brewing Co! Cheers. Come try some.             ONE PUMPKIN BEER :        1) Pumpkin Ale from the BLUE POINT Brewing Company , Malt Beverage Brewed with Pumpkin & Spices ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, Long Island's Brewery, New York, go to :www.bluepointbrewing.com for more info, Patchogue, NY and Rochester, NY ) : what fun!     WONDERFUL LIQUOR & LIQUEUR From Ravi :             1) Serbian Plum Brandy From BISTRA SLIVOVITZ Produced from Fresh, Sound, Ripe Prunes ( $29.99 a 750ml bottle, ) : we are always glad to have this is stock as it has a very loyal following. Cheers.        2) " Tropical " 100% De Agave Tequila from TANTEO ( On Special for $39.99 a 750ml bottle, product of Mexico, go to : tanteotequila.com for more information ) : Try these :  1) " The Palms ", 2) " Downtown Tropic ",  3)  Tanteo Tropical,  4) Tropical Margarita " ... as this is : TEQUILA REDEFINED! Special, " new " and very exciting indeed.        3) 10 Years Nurtured then Matured , the Unhurried Since 1833 GLENGOYNE Distillery  Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky ( $45.99 a bottle, 43% alcohol by volume, product of Scotland, Glen of the wild geese, Dumgoyne, Scotland ) : " Fresh GREEN APPLES, toffee and a HINT Of NUTTINESS. This is the taste of DISTILLING SLOWER than anyone else IN SCOTLAND, of BARLEY we dry by air - NEVER PEAT - AND OF OAK CASKS WE SELECT BY HAND. JUST AS we've always DONE. " I'm in, let's make some noise for GLENGOYNE Distillery!        4) Spruce Gin From ROGUE ( $52.99 a 750ml bottle, 45% alcohol by volume, 12 ingredients, from Newport, Oregonwww.rogue.com ) : " Dedicated to the rogue in each of us. " What a special treat!      5) Aged 12 Years " Special Reserve " Triple Distilled - A Blend from POWERS , The Gold Label, also available here in a 17 Yr. Old version ( On Special for $42.99 a bottle, 40% alcohol by volume, from Cork, Ireland ) : Since 1781 - a very special treat indeed, and yet WHAT A VALUE!       6) " Elit " Ultra Luxury vodka from STOLICHNAYA ( $68 a 750ml bottle, 40% . produced in Latvia, 100% grain neutral spirit ) : Get ready for the ride of your lives : you know you want it!        7) BAR KEEP Lavender Organic aromatic Bitters ( $17.99 , 48% alcohol by volume, 8 Oz bottle, USDA organic, Los Angeles, CA. , go to : www.greenbar.biz for mor info ): Make " True Outlaw with one and a half TRU GIN, three-quarters Fruitlab Orange liqueur, 1 Oz fresh lemon sour, 6 dashes lavender bitters , then shake  strain into coupe. Cheers, sounds tasty to me, what do you all think?   HOT NEWS OFF THE PRESSES : Just in, my second talk with the Washingtonian Magazine this morning. Looks like they will be featuring soon an article on the availability of the local Virginia wines here in Washington D.C.? Since we sell these all day, all week long we are thrilled to get some more attention for them. Owner, sparkling winemaker Claude Thibaut was here in the store when the first call came and that was good. Come check out what we have locally : always a fun assortment here. Look for the article, too in the Washingtonian magazine. Cheers.     WINE From Michel & Tony :             WHITE :      1) Dry D.O.C.  white Italian Orvieto from Umbria and made by ARGILLAC , this 2010 ( On special for $18.99 a bottle, 13% alcohol by volume, ) was delicious a couple of night's ago as my family sat out on our back deck with some crackers and cheese and talked about how wonderful Italy is! The wine was flavorful, broad and rich, refreshing and open and quite forward, nothing really holding back here : this Monty was feeling quite pleased with itself and it showed in the flavors! We all really enjoyed it before heading off for dinner. Great when you're in an Italian state-of-mind!        2) " La Rustia " 2010 dry Piemontese white from ORSOLANI made with the indigenous grape variety called Erbaluce di Caluso  ( $11.99 for a half-bottle/ 375ml bottle size, perfect for Wolf Trap, perfect for a picnic, on a hike , 13% alcohol by volume, S. Georgio, since 1894 ) : this is tasty, dry, flavorful, charming and what a conversation it will have going along the contours of your palate. Strap yourselves in, this march will be a march to be a standard for many to follow!        3)  Vermentino indigenous dry white ,  PLINIO from BRUNI , made in Tuscany's Maremma region of Italy ( $20.99 a bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume ), this 2011 is a great summer, a great August wine, and both Michel and are thrilled to have it. We just keep ordering it and it just keeps selling out! Cheers.        4) Blanc De Blancs from Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula , from L. MAWBY winery ( $55.99 a magnum, 1.5ml bottle-size, 11% alcohol by volume . Traditional Method ) this dry brut is elegant and polished and fine and such a value and a special treat. It was great to have Larry himself pouring it this past Saturday. The bottles are here and signed for gifts and other celebrations like tomorrow. March right on over here and get yourselves a bottle or two of this!              ROSE :        1) Shiraz dry rose from DE MEYE in South Africa's Stellenbosch region ( $13.99 a bottle, 2012, 13.5% alcohol by volume,www.demeye.co.za ) : this is so deliciously bright and so frightfully engaging , and the marches you will plan and will make while enjoying a bottle will certainly lead to the next, as there is so much to organize, so much to philosophize about, so much to pontificate about, ... oh yeah, on a roof top, planning your bucket list, whatever .... enjoy.             RED :        1) 2012 PADRILLOS Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina ( $10.99 a bottle, 13.5% alcohol by volume, go to :www.vineyardbrands.com ) : Michel and Tony don't buy anything marginal, Danny and Olivie don't sell us anything that's not exemplary! Tasty, flavorful, a fine food wine, try it tonight when you grill : BE AMAZED at the value it represents!   Cheers.        WEEKEND TASTINGS :      Friday, August 30th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Jim Reeves here of his Comete Selections Imports here to taste and assortment of his excellent French wines starting at $14.99 On Special bottles of Burgundy red and whites and moving - marching on, along, covering important bases and spice points with FABulous tastes, too!        Saturday, August 31st, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Mark Congdon with the fine Italian wine selections of Diego that include some sinfully delicious, refined, brilliant, sun-sky-drenched ENRICHED DEFINED Prosecco : and so much more in both reds and whites. I'm in an Italian state-of-mind. What a fine state that is, too.       HAVE A GREAT DAY ( it sure is beautiful today - a near-perfect summer day! ), I know I have forgotten many things but it's time to post this now as time is running out. Hope this finds you all well as I feel. Cheers. Check out our Facebook page and " Friend " and follow us ( Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits - ALSO follow us on Twitter at : cpwinespirits and also at : wineenabler )  as we do go some fun and exciting places. We include everything as well love you and you love everything and so thus we, too LOVE everything! Take care,

Anthony Quinn's Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits Store Email Of Today, Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 : Read & Enjoy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Cleveland Park Ales.Beers,Ciders,Liqueurs,Liquors,Waters& Wines!

FORGET? FORGOTTEN? The Pace Continues at such an intensity that our blinders are all and in place to protect us from being bombarded with too much information that we cannot possibly absorb. SO : Let me share with you a story to start this email.   IT'S ABOUT ELSA, it's a bout one of our customers that we have known for years like so many of you. It's time to put names to so many of your faces. This is the face of Elsa. She's such a wonderful character and I met her years ago here and we always spoke of the VALENTIN BIANCHI " Elsa's Vineyard " dry red Malbec, and sometimes even of the " Elsa's Vineyard dry Chenin Blanc. How many of you know and remember these wines? It goes back awhile, it really does.   WITH MY OWN " Bottle Age " I like to share some perspective, some history, some of the " then " to get to the " now " of today. I hope you do not mind, I hope you enjoy and can use this information as you navigate through the myriad that is today's wine and food scene here in Washington D.C.? ALWAYS please feel free to ask me for any clarification on anything that I write about.   I WOULD LOVE to hear more from you all so that we may all do our jobs better in these difficult times where every sale is important to us from the smallest to the largest. So please do comment , no inquiry or comment from you will not be welcome. As a matter of fact, any comment or inquiry from you today is a reason for celebration as today, so many push the LIKE button , or not, and my constant question when I see that something is LIKED is : " What is ' liked ' about it?!? " . SO : let's celebrate more and share more and please tell us what you LIKE or LIKE-NOT( ! ) about what we are doing or failing to do for you?   BUT BACK TO ELSA, I did not know that this fine, beaming, sparkling-eyed lady's name was Elsa. It would not have mattered, except it is always nice to know a customer's name. It helps break the ice when we can address you all by name and not use the ancient old terms of " Governor " - Herbie used to say that , or " Buddy ", or " Sport ".   I SIMPLY KNEW ELSA and who she was and then I began to know her daughter, too that shops here as well when she is home. Now I am getting to know Elsa's daughter's boyfriend-fiancee as well. It's all one big-glorious family here.   THE " Elsa's Vineyard " Malbec was THE FIRST Argentina Malbec to come here to Washington D.C. Wow, that's something, that's a bit or real history for us all.   BACK THEN " Malbec " WAS NOTHING here in Washington D.C. back in mid-to-late eighties. No one knew of Malbec back then except for the " Black Wines "  of France's Lot region south of Bordeaux where the Malbec was wither used 100% to make these dark and inky wines that required a whole lot of patience and cellaring-time before drinking.   I USED TO HAVE many conversations with my father when we lived in Paris, France back in the early seventies about the " black wines " of Cahors which is both a picturesque town and region as well. We started buying our Cahors at the local Nicolas wine stores and then started to patronize Steven Spurrier's Cave De La Madeleine before the earth-moving-wine-changing-landscape wine-tasting of Steven's back in 1976 when California and French wines were tasted blind.   SO ELSA would always ask me for the " Elsa's Vineyard " Mendoza, Argentina dry value-oriented Malbec that we sold forever for $4.99, them $5.99, then $ 6.99 a bottle : get the picture. It was a great quaffing dry red from Argentina and it sold really well.   ALFREDO BARTHOLOMAUS and NORA FAVELUKES of Billington Imports beat the pavements here and around Washington D.C. and placed and sold well this " value " dry red Malbec, and " value " dry white Chenin Blanc.   " Elsa's Vineyard " was named for the daughter of owner Valentin Bianchi in San Rafael, Mendoza, in the southern part of Mendoza. I was there. I was wined and dined by the Bianchi family and met brothers Roberto and Valentin, their parents, their " other " brother, but I do not remember ever meeting Elsa and that saddens me as I did walk down and photograph her vines named after her.   I TOOK PICTURES with a camera with film in it, not digital. I had rolls of film and I took them to a store to have developed and I was like a giddy child waiting breathlessly for them to be developed so that I could see the pictures I had once taken in both Mendoza and in Buenos Aires, Argentina.   BACK THEN in 1995 Malbec was still relatively unknown. It was the Cabernet Sauvignon that was " king " back then with the NAVARO COREAS " Collecion Privada " that everything was once measured against : always the Cabernet Sauvignon. The whites were relatively unknown back then.   IT TOOK PAUL HOBBS that used to make the wines of SIMI WINERY in California to go to Argentina and to make at CATENA the oaky and buttery marriage in a Chardonnay that made people look to Argentina for more than Cabernet Sauvignon. ALL OF A SUDDEN, besides the BUZZ over the red dry Cabernet Sauvignon there was also tremendous BUZZ over the dry Chardonnay of Nicolas Catena. There was no buzz yet over the Malbec grape. It was still being developed and pretty much in the shadows.   THE BUZZ would also soon come on winemaker/owner Susana Balbo's dry and aromatic and floral Torrontes that we still sell really well today. She was the lonely female Argentina winemaker working alongside many men winemakers : together this group brought Argentina wines to where it is today. According to Susana that spent some time here with us at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, everyone discouraged her from making her version of a dry , floral white Torrontes, and yet once out it sold fabulously and everyone had to make a similar version and follow in her footsteps!   NOW the BUZZ for the Malbec grape has come along, and it's still very much with us today. So VALENTIN BIANCHI and their " Elsa's Vineyard " Malbec were way ahead of the crowd and deserve to be remembered for blazing the trail, being THE FIRST to introduce their Malbec to us here in the United States back in the mid eighties. Gracias Valentin, gracias Elsa e Elsa, e Alfredo e Nora e todos involved in getting the ball rolling here so many years ago when the wine scene was so very different.   GRACIAS ELSA our good customer for being here last week and tasting with Jim Reeves and taking a picture and posting it on our Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits Facebook page. I have been meaning now for a week to share some of this story and am now finally doing it here in today's Tuesday weekly store email. Thanks for giving me this platform to share some of the history of wine here in Washington D.C. Northwest as I have seen it unfold and grow, brands coming and going, trends appearing and disappearing, brands and grapes becoming discovered and then forgotten over the last thirty-plus years. What a glorious trip it has been.     BUT HEY, IT'S TIME to give Santos and CERVEZA, ALE, BEER and CIDER a chance here now :          1) " Noble Rot " Ale Brewed with Grape Must and with grape must added from DOGFISH HEAD ( On Special for $10.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz Bottle, 9% alcohol by volume, Milton, Deleware, www.dogfish.com) : " Off-centered ales for off-centered people. We brew this unique, sorta-saison with a little help from our friends at Alexandria Nicole Cellars using botrytis-infected Viognier grape must. This ' noble rot ' magnifies its complexity and long finish. " Cheers.        2) RUBAEUS Pure Raspberry Ale from FOUNDERS Brewing since 1997, Brewed For Us ( $13.99 a 4-pack of 15 IBU'S, 5.7% alcohol by volume, www.FoundersBrewing.com , Grand Rapids, MI. ) : " Malt beverage fermented with raspberries. " Packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled content brewed and bottled by founders brewing CO. ... Crack it, pour it, love it ...        3) Double Dark Abbey Ale 1128 Phoenix Ardet Nec Consumitur from GRIMBERGEN ( On Special for $14.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 6.5% alcohol by volume, Belgium ) : " GRIMBERGEN Double is a rich, dark Burgundy ale with a white head. Double has undergone two fermentations which give this ale a chocolaty, toffee taste with a brandy-like finish. "     RAVI: What LIQUOR & LIQUEUR Have You?!?        1) Passion Fruit Triple-Distilled Vodka from SMIRNOFF , No. 21 Recipe ( On Special for $13.99 a 750ml bottle, 70 Proof, distilled from premium grain, USA ) : last week we had lots of requests for Passion Fruit products and we " came to the rescue " with this SMIRNOFF. Come check it out : something must be going on, Passion Fruit must be hot now! What have you all heard? Cheers. It's here for you now. Come check it out.        2) Rum Cream from CRUZAN :  a Rich Cream Liqueur with natural flavors ( $14.99 a 750ml bottle, since 1760 - who remembers that far back? What were you all doing in 1760 in a previous life? Drinking CRUSAN Rum we are sure! This is 15% alcohol by volume, go to :www.cruzanrum.com for more info, Deerfield, Illinois, USA ) : " We combine the finest quality ingredients and rich traditions of master blending to produce our creamy, smooth, and distinctive flavor. Enjoy! "        3)  Single Malt Scotch Whisky of Glendullan, since 1897, THE SINGLETON 12 Year-Old ( $42.99, a 750ml bottle, 40% alcohol by volume, Keith, Banffshire, Scotland ) : " Matured for twelve years, aged in sherry & bourbon casks, ... perfectly balanced, naturally rich and smooth ... from the heart of Speyside, we make it slowly ... in a unique balance of European Sherry Oak and American Bourbon Oak casks ... " Go to : SingletonGlenullan@consumer-care.net for more valuable information.        4) KINKY Liqueur Get Kinky!  ( On Special for $19.99 a 750ml bottle, 17% alcohol by volume, go to : www.kinkyliqueur.com for more info , Princeton, MN ) : Enjoy over ice, with lemon-lime soda or in your favorite kinky cocktail. ... a naughty fusion of super premium vodka distilled 5 times with succulent mango, blood orange liqueur and passion fruit. " Cheers!      WINE From Michel & Tony : So Many!             WHITE :        1)  100% Insolia 1012 indigenous dry white from VALLE DELL'ACATE in Sicily ( $11.99, 12.5% alcohol ) is an absolute delight to drink now in this weather. It's so bright, lively and refreshing and is guaranteed to make you feel pretty good about things, brighter about life and yourself and your present surely, too! WOW!        2) IGP  Dry White Blend , this F Cotes Catalanes 2012 from the DOMAINE FERRIER RIBIERE , $13.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume is showing so well that tomorrow we will have it open for you all to sample and enjoy here after work. Come taste and let's talk about what foods it will complement most. Cheers.        3) Roussanne 2011 indigenous dry French grape variety best-known in France's southern Rhone valley where it is often blended with some Marsanne and even some Grenache Blanc and Clairette and others, too. Here it's from California's southern region San Luis Obispo, from TOLOSA Winery   ( $18.99, 13.2% alcohol by volume, ) and it's bright, crisp, so amazingly lively and bright at fresh and engaging : PERFECT hot-weather white, a treat! Tasted here by us this past Saturday and it sure does show well : what a wonderful liquid conversationalist!        4) 80% Pinot Blanc/ 20% Pinot Gris " Caprice " off-dry white wine from MATELLO and Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton district ( $23.99, 11.8% alcohol by volume , McMinnville, Oregon ) : so smooth and creamy and full and pleasing on the palate. No bite or edge, just a lush magic carpet ride of flavors as you step onto John Kay's Magical Carpet and take flight into the stratosphere of taste and comfort and pleasurable flavor sensations ! Oh, say can you taste all of this?!? Give it a try. As MATELLO writes : " Cricket or Frog / which makes the perfect sound / for a summer night " ... Go to : matellowine.com for more palatable suggestions.        5) HUGL Weine dry Gruner Veltliner from Austria, this 2012 is NOW AVAILABLE in the 750ml size bottle, $9.99 a bottle, 13.5% alcohol by volume : ALWAYS delivers for the money. Cheers.        6) I Basalti  2012 dry white Italian Soave from the CANTINA Di GAMBELLARA using the Gambellara indigenous Veneto grape variety ( $7.99 a 750ml bottle, 11.5% alcohol by volume, go to :www.cantinagambellara.it ) : " Soave Basalti is named for the Basaltic outcropping on which the golden garganega grapes that make this wine are grown. ... using Pergola trellising ... goes best as an aperitif or with fish, salad or chicken dishes." LOVE it, love it's low price, too : bone-chillingly refreshing and DRY!          7) COCOCCIOLA Indigenous dry Italian white from the Abruzzo region, this Terre Di Chieti I.G.T. TERRA VALSE from the CANTINA FRENTANA, 2011, 13% alcohol by volume, was tasted here this last Friday by Scott Calvert of Monument Imports , at $17.99 is an utter delight to enjoy, to feel really good, to be pleased, to be entertained, to be storied ( as in this white tells you it's story as you sip it ), and the flavors AMPLIFY as you continue to let it weave itself in and out of your senses. Cheers. A fine hot weather food wine to be enjoyed thoroughly outside.              ROSE :        1) Chiaretto Classico 2012  Mostly Corvina Grape Dry Rose Blend W/ Molinarra, Negrara and other grapes, too that make fine Bardolino red wines from MARCHESINI  ( $13.99 a bottle, 12% alcohol by volume, from Italy's Veneto region in Bardolino by Lake Garda ) : NOTHING is any nicer for the humidity because it refreshes, cuts through the air and creates a lovely breeze all by itself that serves to move things along around us, and catch us up in it's motion-commotion! LOVELY.      2) Rose MARTINEZ LACUESTA 2012 dry Spanish Rioja ( $10.99, estate bottled, 13% alcohol by volume, a wonderfully rich and pleasing dry Tempranillo blend - a treat, also a very fine value for everyday enjoyment!        3) TROIS AMIS dry rose 2011 from France's Vin De Pays Du Grad ( $8.99, 13% alcohol by volume from Route Des Vins Imports, ) is both an amazing deal as well as an amazing wine. It was still good after two-weeks' being open. And on the first day it was pure sunlight filtered through the grapes just picked -that's how fresh this dry inexpensive rose is! GREAT VALUE.          RED :        1) Sangiovese from Italy's Romagna region, this " Le Vigne Nuove " from DREI DONA , this Forli Rosso ( $13.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, www.dreidona.it ) is showing really well and when combined with a meal the liquid-music sounds it makes plumb the depths of our soul and settle really nicely in the pits of our guts. The real true experience, one not to be missed. Thanks, grazie Enrico that is the owner, and Regis our local rep for Roanoke Imports.          2) Tempranillo from Spain's Ribera del Duero region from MARQUES DEL CAMPO ( $17.99, 14% alcohol by volume, sustainable viticulture and grape-growing , from Burgos, Spain ) : there is good body and weight here, the wine is still young, best with a meal, don't rush it : needs to be cajoled to reveal more of itself.        3) AR GUENTOTA Old Vine 2009 Malbec from Arentina's Lujan de Cuyo in the Mendoza region, this BELASCO DE BAQUEDANO dry red is made from 103 year-old-vines. Still very young, may be enjoyed now but it will continue grow magically and spiritually into it's next five-to-ten-to-fifteen years of life. No need to rush this. Made at 3.346 feet above sea level and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels :  " Ar GUENTOTA means " Cuyo's soul " in the language of the Huarpe Indians , the first inhabitants of Mendoza river valley's Cuyo region. It was the spirit of those people, who with great respect, effort and persistence, achieved an alliance with the dessert to create the oasis that thrives today." Wow, this is impressive, this is wonderful, this is special indeed. BUY, store away, wait patiently, respect this wine, let it grow and develop slowly.        4) Petite Sirah 2010 Barrel Select from Napa Valley, $37.99 a bottle, 14.5% alcohol by volume, www.elysewinery.com ) : big and full-flavored, dusty-earthy dry, needs to age more, best with food, a real treat for us to discover here as so many of you are in love with the Petite Sirah grape, and this is a nice one to buy and to lay away if you can and drink in another 3-7 years! Get some now!               THREE From TORBRECK , Barossa Valley, Australia:        1) 2004 " Descendant " , $105.99 a bottle, 14.5% alcohol by volume, www.torbeck.com , by David Powell ), 92% Shiraz, 8% Viognier ), gown & made by TORBRECK Vintners, Roennfeldt Road, Marananga, S.A. Cheers.      2) 2003 " The Factor " Shiraz , $106.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume, www.torbreck.com.      3) " RunRig " 2003, $203.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume,  95% Shiraz, 5% Viognier.     WEDNESDAY 3-Part Sake, Port, Madeira, Marsala, Sherry, Still-Wine/Non-Sparkling Wine SALE :        1) Buy any wine above for $20 or More a bottle and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price, whether on sale already or not.      2) BUY any 6 or more of these , solid or mixed of existing store inventory and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker prices.         3) BUY any 12 or more bottles of these categories listed above and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.        Call Michel or Tony if you need assistance at : 202-363-4265. Cheers.          THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. We appreciate it all! Please LIKE us on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and also follow us on Twitter at : cpwinespirits and also at : wineenabler . Take care, and thanks again,   TONY