J. Emerson , Inc . FINE WINES & CHEESE 5716 Grove Avenue•Richmond, VA. 23226•(804) 285-8011 website – www.jemersonfinewine.com / Twitter: http://bit.ly/atAEL4 / Facebook: http://bit.ly/br4kEz STORE HOURS: Mon. 10:00 am to 8:00pm, Tues through Sat.: 9:00am to 8:00pm JANUARY 2011 NEWSLETTER NEW ARRIVALS •A CAL CAB SHORT SIPS • Practices & Policies th JOIN US ON THURSDAY JANUARY20 FOR A TASTING OF STAFF SELECTIONS 5:30 - 7:30pm at our store on Grove Ave. We’ll taste five of our favorite wines with a list available in the store and online. Discounts will be offered on all wines tasted. MONTHLY SPECIALS Jan. ‘10 USUAL CASE (cs.btl. cost) *2009 Castello di Uviglie "Bricco del Conte" Barbera del Monferrato (It.) $ 8.95 $10.95 $100 ($8.33) *2008 Vinska Klet "Giocato" Pinot Grigio (Brda, Slovenia) $ 9.95 $11.95 $110 ($9.17) *2008 Domaine Baron Touraine Cot (Loire Valley, France) $ 9.95 $11.95 $110 ($9.17) *2009 Domaine Baron Touraine Sauvignon Blanc (Loire Valley, Fr.) $ 9.95 $11.95 $110 ($9.17) 2007 La Cappucina "San Brizio" Soave (Veneto, Italy) $11.95 $14.95 $135 ($11.25) 2009 Castello di Uviglie Freisa (Piemonte, Italy) $12.95 $14.95 $135 ($11.25) 2009 Laurent Miquel "Nord-Sud" VdP Viognier (Languedoc, Fr.) $12.95 $14.95 $140 ($11.67) 2008 Franck Peillot Mondeuse de Bugey (Savoie, France) $14.95 $18.95 $160 ($13.33) A NOTE ABOUT OUR CASE OF THE MONTH: Our case of the month is an excellent way to get real value for your wine dollar and drink wines from around the world, carefully selected by J. Emerson staff. No need to join an Internet wine club – Our case is infinitely more interesting and a better value! The discounted price of the January case-of-the-month is $109.95; the regular price would be $157.00, a savings of over 30%! These prices are valid till 1/31/11. Here is the line-up and as always, there are 2 each of the first four wines (*) and 1 each of the last four wines. *2009 Castello di Uviglie "Bricco del Conte" Barbera d'Asti (Italy) – Here is a wonderful little Barbara with ripe plum aromas; full and rich on the palette, mild tannins and the kind of acidity that make this wine perfect for pasta, pizza or just sipping by the glass. *2008 Vinska Klet "Giocato" Pinot Grigio (Brda, Slovenia) – From a section of Slovenia that is close to Frulii , this is a refreshing medium bodied dry styled Pinot Grigio with good minerality and a crisp finish. *2008 Domaine Baron Touraine Cot (Loire Valley, France) – (Cot is another name for Malbec) “A touch firm, with a smoky edge guiding the tobacco, plum and blackberry fruit flavors from start to finish. Light and gutsy at the same time. Drink now.” (WS –2010 Web only) *2009 Domaine Baron Touraine Sauvignon Blanc (Loire Valley, Fr.) – “Like its 2008 predecessor, outrageously pungent in its aromas of passion fruit, sage flower, fresh grapefruit, and lemon, the Baron 2009 Touraine Sauvignon Vieilles Vignes is for those who like their Sauvignon true to its grape type and in-your- face. But to say that this isn’t subtle is not to say it’s simple; and it also offers excellent sheer refreshment in its zesty, citric, herbal finish.” (WA #190) 2007 La Cappucina "San Brizio" Soave (Veneto, Italy) - 100% Garganega, from the estate’s own vineyards. floral and ripe apple aromas with hints of honey and vanilla. It is a rich, concentrated and mouth-filling; yet has great acidity on the finish. A perfect wine to accompany baked / broiled fish or pasta with white sauce. 2009 Castello di Uviglie Freisa (Piemonte, Italy) – (100% Fresia) – mild aromas of dark fruit and berries medium to full bodied in the mouth with a touch of earthiness and mild tannins; good acidity and a pleasant food friendly, slightly bitter finish. This Fresia will go well with pasta or grilled steaks. 2009 Laurent Miquel "Nord-Sud" VdP Viognier (Languedoc, Fr.) “This is a deliciously perfumed opulent wine with characteristic aromas of white flowers and 'peche de vigne'. On the palate it is surprisingly elegant for a Viognier with delicate apricot and orange blossom but also some citrus character. Enjoy as an aperitif or pair with lobster or crayfish salads or spicy oriental cuisine. “ (Winemaker notes.) 2008 Franck Peillot Mondeuse de Bugey (Savoie, Fr.) – 100% Mondeuse, a blending grape in Châteauneuf- du-Pape but a traditional grape in Bugey (east and south of the Macon), this wine has bright aromas of cherry and raspberries with earthy/mushroom undertones. A smooth, wine with good acidity and mild tannins. USE YOUR 6 BOTTLE WINE BAGS FROM OTHER STORES AND SAVE 10% (on six bottles) We want to remind our customers to use those over-produced and environmentally un-friendly reusable wine bags that other stores continue to push on you. Remember they are made from oil and you must use each of those bags 9 times before it equals one paper bag (18 times for plastic). THREE SISTERS CHEESE STRAWS The best cheese straw you will ever taste. Baked locally by Peggy Crowley and her sisters and available exclusively at Emerson’s. 5oz - $9.95, Gift tin - $14.95 and $19.95. JANUARY “SHORT SIPS” CLASS 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon – considered the best vintage since 2001 A FREE one hour educational program, limited to eight people and held in our fine wine room. Because the demand has been so great we are doing the class twice in January – FRIDAY & SATURDAY , JANUARY 14th and 15th 5:30 to 6:30pm ––Availability is on a first come first serve basis but you can call and reserve spaces at anytime. (A great idea for your group as a prelude to dinner.) If you are a newsletter e-mail subscriber you’ll get more information delivered to your electronic mailbox. NEW ARRIVALS 2008 Rudd Estate Sauvignon Blanc Napa, California, – “Rudd's 2008 Sauvignon Blanc from Mt. Veeder is a brilliant effort. Composed of 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon aged in new and used French oak as well as stainless steel and concrete eggs, it offers up wonderful aromas of honeyed melons, subtle smoke, orange blossom, and a hint of gun flint. This medium-bodied Sauvignon has the texture of a top-notch white Burgundy and the aromatics of a complex Sauvignon. It should drink nicely for several years.” (WA # 186) $44.95 2006 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Vino da Tavola- “I was blown away by the two wines I tasted from Montevertine and proprietor Martino Manetti. What a pleasure it is to taste the 2006 Le Pergole Torte now that it is in bottle. The wine reveals superior density and richness in an especially generous style for this wine. Notes of smoke, licorice, leather and underbrush develop with air, adding layers of complexity to the dark red fruit. Today the tannins are a bit on the firm side as is typically the case when this wine is young, but it is impossible not to admire the 2006 Pergole Torte for its superb purity. Run, don’t walk;.this is breathtaking juice no one who loves Italian wine will want to be without. This is Lot L 109. Drink: 2012-2031.” (WA #184) $114.95 2009 Domaine des Terres Dorees (Jean-Paul Brun) Moulin A Vent, Burgundy, France – “Elderberry, blueberry, and marrow rich beef stock dominate Brun's 2009 Moulin-a-Vent… Brown spice, fruit seeds, rose hip, and chalky, somehow ore-like, stony impingements make for a vivid sort of complexity, informing a finish of vibrant, interactive intensity. Noticeable dissolved CO2 - while it needs to (and almost certainly will) settle down a bit - also adds to the tactile intensity and sense of vivacity exhibited here, a legacy Brun considers conducive to longevity and important due to his low dosage of sulfur. This dynamic, palate staining cru offers exceptional value and the promise of at least 6-8 years of fascinating evolution.” (WA # 190) $24.95 2006 Cheval des Andes Cheval des Andes Mendoza, Argentina – “Cheval des Andes is owned by the legendary Saint-Emilion producer, Chateau Cheval Blanc. The wine is sourced from their 50 hectare estate vineyard planted on its own roots in 1999. The 2006 vintage is superb throughout Mendoza and this wine, as in many other bodegas I visited in April 2008, shows off the extra dimension of complexity made possible in an exceptional year. The wine is composed entirely of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a bit more saturated than the 2005 with a splendid perfume of pain grille, mineral, espresso, black cherry, and black raspberry that leaps from the glass. More opulent and layered than the 2005, it also conceals a bit more structure. The finish seems to go on and on. Drink it from 2015 to 2035.” (WA # 180) $74.95 A BIT ABOUT US – TO START THE NEW YEAR First I see a store stacking wines right by their automatic front door subjecting them to blasts of cold then hot air and then I recently saw an ad from a local specialty market advertising the “points” (without a mention of description) for a certain group of wines and, sadly, not even bothering to attribute the “points” to any source. I noted that all of the wines were from a distributor that we had “fired” due to among other things, consistently hot deliveries. These instances reminded me that it would be a good idea to let our customers know our practices and policies because they are what make us a little different.