1. Valentine’s Day: Ideas for Men and Women
2. Weekend Tasting: Russell’s B-day Faves
3. Next Week: Lone Canary Tasting with Mike Scott
4. Coming Soon: Terra Blanca Tasting
5. About Wine & Beer Club (Click Here)
6. About the Authors

Valentine’s Day – Love Is Devine But Better With Wine

• Champagnes and Sparklings! – Champagne – the bubbly aphrodisiac prized the world over for it’s seductive powers. Stop by Enoteca for a tour of French Champagne’s, Italian sparklings in dry, sweet, and semi-sweet varieties, and domestic bubbles that make a big impression.
• Trentadue Chocolate Amore (Alexander Valley, California) – Chocolate and dessert wine – It’s love in a bottle! We tasted the Trentadue Chocolate Amore last weekend and a lot of people found it to be a superior tasty experience. Don’t forget the cute cat styled port sippers to sip this treat.
• Various Red Wines – We have classic red wines for all budgets and tastes that express a unique message. Hearts on the bottle? Check. From a certain region that has meaning to you? Check. Special high end wines that make a classy impact? Check. Come by and let us help you find something very special.
• Fine Beer – Russell speaking. The absolute best gift I ever recieved before we owned Enoteca was when Sarah procured a set of Chimay chalices for Father’s Day 2005. I like fine beer, and any man who likes fine beer will love a gift of beer. We have a great supply of high quality beer and a great stock of glassware. See the beer glass promotion below for more info!

Weekend Tasting: Russell’s Birthday Favorites

• Man Vintners Chenin Blanc 2005 (South Africa) – Russell has heard every pun in the book with his last name being “Mann” and this crisp and fruity Chenin Blanc from South Africa pretty much named after him.
• Château de Chainchon Bordeaux 2003 (Côtes de Castillon, Bordeaux, France) – Cotes de Castillon is an outlying district beyond Saint-Émilion. The 20-hectare Château de Chainchon has been in the hands of the Eresué family since 1846. Shows the full richness of 2003, an up-and-comer! 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Jade Mountain 2004 La Provencale (Napa, California) – A southern Rhône blend of century-old Mourvedre, floral perfumed Grenache and deeply colored Syrah that gives structure and complexity. Spicy yet smooth with blackberry jam aromas. La Provençale is made to be unabashedly enjoyable, especially with food. It sports a bright, clear cranberry-raspberry aroma and easy approachable palate. It can even be served slightly chilled on a warm day to add to its refreshing qualities.
• Cadet-Peychez Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2000 (Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France) – Saint-Émilion is one of the four principal red wine areas of Bordeaux (the others being Médoc, Graves and Pomerol). This wine exhibits candied fruits and spices on the nose, smooth mouth feel and long finish. We have a few bottles left of this fine wine that is no longer available in the northwest. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc.
• Graham’s Malvedos 1996 Vintage Port (Portugal) – Made at Quinta dos Malvedos on the north bank of the Douro where the hillsides are south-facing, producing ripe, flavoursome grapes. This is a traditional Port, foot-trodden in shallow granite lagars – a method Graham’s feel is unsurpassed by modern technology, and fermented naturally. Dark ruby colour. The Quinta dos Malvedos 1996 follows the classic Graham style, with a dark and intense purple colour, on the nose showing a luscious ripeness with intense youthful aromas of red fruits and hints of mint and eucalyptus. On the palate extraordinary rich and full-bodied, packed with layers of fruit and firm tannins, holding its richness all the way through to a long and sweet the finish. Can be drunk now, but due to its body and structure will continue to improve for many years to come. Graham’s has consistently won more top awards than any of its competitors at the International Wine Challenge, having been awarded a record 16 gold medals since the competition began. Graham’s Malvedos Vintage Port has out-performed all other single quinta vintage Ports with an impressive total of 5 gold medals at the Wine Challenge. 20% ABV. Russell has been enjoying this as his favorite ruby styled port since the port tasting last year. It’s especially yummy when sipped from a genuine port sipper.
• Chimay Grande Reserve 2006 (Chimay Abbey, Belgium) – After all these beers, still Russell’s favorite. Here are some notes we’ve made while tasting Chimay Grande Reserve: Sweet caramel flavor, a bubbly fizz going down, a little bit of bread dough like champagne, some raisin, prune, pepper spice, floral notes, sweet aftertaste, medium bodied apricots, licorice, carmel and cocoa, brandy notes, roasty.

Beer Glass Promotion

• Two Chimay Chalices FREE – Buy any Chimay Magnum and get two authentic Chimay chalices for FREE! Magnums in vintages 2003, and 2005 are currently available.
• One Chimay Chalice FREE – Buy any three Chimay 750 ml bottles and get one authentic Chimay chalice for FREE! Grande Reserve, Premier, and Cinq Cents are available.
• Chimay Gift Packs – These sport one small bottle of each of the three styles of Chimay and an authentic Chimay chalice.

• Schneider Weiss Wheat Beer Glass FREE – Buy any six Schneider Beers and get one tall wheat style glass FREE. Schneider Weiss and Edel-weiss are currently available.
• Aventinus Dark Beer Glass FREE – Buy any six Schneider Dark Beers and get one dark beer style glass FREE. Aventinus, and Aventinus Eisbock are currently available.
• Other Beer Glasses FREE – Buy any $25 worth of other beers and get any interesting glass FREE. Many varieties of Rogue, Flying Dog, and a super selection of Belgian beers, stouts, etc.

Next Week: Lone Canary

Coming Soon: Terra Blanca Wine Tasting

About The Authors