- 4th of July Offer
- Clairac Syrah
- Caillan Viognier
- Wine Club
- History of the corkscrew
- Recipe of the Month
- Wine Trivia Challenge
- Health & Fitness
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June 2007
2 -- Family Day
14 -- Flag Day
17 -- Father's Day
18 -- Go Fishing Day
30 -- Full Moon Day
July 4th is on a Wednesday this year.
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CHATEAU HAUT-MALLET: An aristocratic couple!
Taste, elegance, style, continuity, the trademarks of grandeur...
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Invite an aristocratic couple at your table!
Few organic vineyards on the planet can claim that their roots go back half a century. Château Haut Mallet belongs to this rare breed and the quality of experience given by its wines is truly emblematic of a savoir faire, a je ne sais quoi that almost defies analysis but does not leave anyone indifferent. In spite of successive revolutions the world is still in awe with the people, places or products that display this elusive quality of belonging to another realm, a higher class!
This is the world where Château Haut Mallet wines belong. The new vintage of white Haut Benauge 2005, an harmonious blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes aged in oak barrels, opens up on notes of light smokey vanilla and spices supporting aromas of fresh fruits and white flowers. The balance throughout is phenomenal, nothing is out of place. Like a visit in an age old Château, every beautiful feature is naturally reinforced by the next one, never obtrusively!
The red 2004 is a Bordeaux Supérieur, an appellation restricted by higher standards (easily met in this case). Again the aromatic experience is one of subdued power, one that does not need extravagance to attract attention. The classic Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc blend creates layers of aromas that come to you as you take the time to approach this wine. You can feel that you need to bring to your tasting the same quality of presence and reverence that presided over the making of this wine. Respect is the word that comes to mind, and admiration too but understated because in this world perfection is a natural expectation.
You will come out of this encounter with another understanding of the magic of high class wines and why some people spend fortunes to meet such personalities. While Château Haut Mallet is no cousin to the likes of Château Margaux, Latour, Mouton-Rotschild and such royalty, it will nevertheless introduce you to the Court and its elegance.
To give you a chance to taste and appreciate over time this remarkable couple I have created a special 4th of July Offer consisting of 3 bottles of white and 3 bottles of red. Choose this 6-pack presentation and pay only for the wine, we give you the SHIPPING AND HANDLING FOR FREE! $120 is a small ticket to pay for a visit among the great of this world! |
CLAIRAC SYRAH:
Le Grand Retour!
The presentation of this new vintage matches the quality of what's inside the bottle!
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Domaine de Clairac makes a comeback!
Another grandaddy of organic wineries is Domaine de Clairac, an estate located near Béziers, a few miles from our own family's roots in Château Bousquette. Mind you, this one has been doing it for 40 years only ! Monsieur Jougla, the original steward of the land was also one of the last wood casks makers in France, these gigantic "foudres" that can contain up to 10,000 gallons of wine! The current owners, a dynamic and passionate duo, are intent to expand the reputation of the Domaine beyond European borders. As we tasted the current vintage of their Syrah, now rechristened Shiraz for the international crowd, we were happily surprised by the fruit expression of the Syrah grapes and the softness of the tannins in such a recent vintage. A real crowd pleaser! You don't need to wait any longer, it's a GO!
As a (re)introduction of this wine you can find it in our store with a $2 off per bottle until the 4th of July. Enjoy!
Clairac Shiraz 2005 |
CAILLAN VIOGNIER:
The best deal of the Year!
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Quench your thirst organically
If you plan to spend some of your weekends around the barbecue here is a great match to grilled veggies or spicy sausages: Domaine de Caillan Viognier 2004. Since we need to make space for the new vintage you can snap the last bottles at the incredible price of $99 per case of 12. Served chilled as an easy going white, this mellow wine will bring its light aromas of apricot jam to refresh your palate during these probably hot Summer days!
Offered as a case-only deal at this price until it's all gone. Jump on it now and enjoy your Summer!
Domaine de Caillan Viognier by-the-case |
My deepest thanks for all these years of good service.
I am thrilled to have you both to find organic and no-sulfites wines. I have spread the word in San Diego! Thank you again for your excellence, fine picks in wines. My husband and I enjoy getting our shipment every month!
-- Jen, CA |
Veronique's Wine Club
Join the Club today and we'll deliver 3 bottles of fine wine made from organic grapes to you each month! Talk about convenience and fun! We'll expand your wine repertoire by selecting three bottles of wine and shipping them directly to your home. Be it for a few months or long term, this is a great way to discover wines you might never have thought of trying by yourself!Only $47/mo (+ S&H).
Club members get a presentation of the wines selected, privileged access to some rare products and a continuous 20% discount on every full case order they place from the General Catalog. Customers are delighted by our personal attention! (Thank you for the praise!)
Each month, you'll try some of the best wines we carry. And, as a welcome gift with your subscription, you will receive an extra bottle of wine, FREE! Currently a Château Bousquette Prestige 2003!
A great gift idea, you can order it for a few months and cancel at any time without a fuss. Try it, you'll like it!
Click here for more information.
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A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with
two watches is never
quite sure.
-- Lee Segall |
History of the Corkscrew (Part 1)
Early wine was stored in terra cotta amphoras and later in wooden barrels. Wine was never aged -- it was briefly stored or transported and drank before it had a chance to spoil.
As glass-blowing technology improved in the 12th century, wine glasses and decanters appeared in Venice, but were only used for serving wine. In the early 18th century glass wine bottles with small bottlenecks made airtight wine storage possible and wine could then be safely aged.
The English were the first to seal wine bottles with cork imported from Spain or Portugal. Cork comes from the wood of the Quercus Suber (cork tree), a species of oak native to Spain. Obviously, corkscrews were invented as an easy way of removing the cork from a bottle.
Generally, a corkscrew comprises a pointed metallic helix attached to a handle. The user grips the handle and screws the metal point through the cork, entwining the cork and corkscrew so that moving one moves the other. Corkscrews are necessary because corks are difficult to grip and remove. The handle of the corkscrew, often a horizontal bar of wood or plastic attached to the screw, allows for a firm grip making removal of the stopper relatively easy. Many corkscrew handles incorporate levers that further increase the amount of force that can be applied outwards upon the cork.
The corkscrew design was derived from the gun worm, a device used by musketmen to remove unspent charges from a musket's barrel. In 1795, the first corkscrew patent was granted to Reverend Samuell Henshall, in England.
The clergyman affixed a simple disk, now known as the Henshall Button, between the worm and the shank. The disk prevents the worm from going too deep into the cork and forces the cork to turn with the turning of the crosspiece, breaking the adhesion between the cork and the neck of the bottle. The disk is designed and manufactured slightly concave on the underside, which compresses the top of the cork and helps keep it from breaking apart.
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What my mother believed about cooking is that if you worked hard and prospered, someone else would
do it for you.
-- Nora Ephron |
Grilled Ribeye Steaks with Mango Salsa
Serves 4
- 4 beef ribeye steaks -- cut 3/4-inch thick
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic -- crushed
- 1 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
- Mango salsa
- Mix the Worcestershire, soy sauce, vegetable oil, lime juice, garlic, chili powder and brown sugar.
- Put the steaks in a sealable plastic bag and pour the mixture over steaks. Seal the bag and turn to coat steaks. Refrigerate and marinate 15 to 30 minutes.
- Place steaks on grid over medium heat. Grill steaks uncovered 8 to 10 minutes for medium-rare to medium doneness, turning once.
- Remove the steaks and serve with mango salsa.
Mango Salsa -- Combine all ingredients and serve with your favorite steak.
- 2 cups diced tomatoes
- 1 fresh mango -- peeled and diced
- 1 bell pepper -- seeded and diced
- 1 large jalapeno -- seeded and diced
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro -- chopped
- 1/4 cup pecan pieces -- toasted
Wine Pairing
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Perhaps imagination is only intelligence having fun.
-- George Scialabra
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Wine Trivia Challenge
Question 1.) To best release the aromas and flavors of a wine, how full should the glass be filled?
a.) Half full
b.) One-third full
c.) Just a splash on the bottom
d.) Fill her up
Question 2.) The word "cru" means what?
a.) The wine has been ranked or graded in some way
b.) The wine was produced at temperatures below 60 degrees
c.) The wine needs to age five years before opening
d.) The wine does not need to be aged to enjoy
Question 3.) Champagnes are typically produced from which grapes?
a.) Chardonnay
b.) Pinot Noir
c.) Nebbiolo
d.) Sangiovese
Question 4.) What is "ice wine"?
a.) A really cold wine
b.) Wine served with ice cubes
c.) A Scandinavian red wine
d.) A dessert wine made with frozen grapes
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A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book.
-- Irish Proverb |
3 Exercise Myths You Should Know About
- Exercising longer and at a lower intensity burns more fat -- The most important factor in exercise and fat weight control is not the percentage of exercise energy coming from fat but the total energy cost (how many calories are burned during the activity). The faster you walk, run, or bike, for example, the more calories you burn per minute. However, high-intensity exercise is difficult to sustain if you are just beginning or returning to exercise. Therefore, it is safer and more practical to start out at a lower intensity and work your way up gradually.
- Exercise is a waste of time if you're not going to do it long and often -- Not true. This attitude keeps a lot of people from maintaining or even starting an exercise program. Research continues to show that any exercise is better than none. For example, regular walking or gardening for as little as an hour a week has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Working out at a gym is more effective than exercising at home -- Research has shown that some people find it easier to stick to a home-based fitness program. Regardless of all the hype on trendy exercise programs and facilities, the best program is the one you will do consistently.
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Wine Trivia Answers
#1. b.) One-third full
#2. b.) The wine has been ranked or graded in some way
#3. a.) Chardonnay
#4. a.) A dessert wine made with frozen grapes
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