Saturday August 29^th 1-4PM FREE        

2007 Bodegas Palacio Castillo Rioja

NV Jane Ventura Cava Brut Nature

+ 2 more from this week’s tasting

For those of you who do not know, during my previous life I was an educator and spent most of my career in the Portland Public Schools.  Each year during the summer there comes a point for parents, teachers, and students that they realize that the summer is spiraling to an end.  During the last week of July I was welcomed at Office Depot by large displays of calculators and other tidbits students need for school.  I don’t know too many adults that get excited to see TI-86 calculators on display (truth be told…they are exciting, I used to teach math).  Each summer there is a moment that we each have this realization.  The problem is that every sale is for children.  Though I cannot offer special pricing on graph paper or protractor sets, I can offer you special prices on some great wines.  Think more the July sale at Nordstroms vs. the 70% off table at Fred Meyers.  I have selected a series of wines that are great to drink now or through the fall and winter.

Each of the wines will be specially priced at the sale, in addition I will have extreme 6-pack and case discounts on the wines being poured.  There will also be a selection of higher end wines being offered at abnormally low prices.  The later, along with the 6-pack/case purchases will function as pre-sell.  This mean you will order the wines you want, pay for them, and pick them up next week.  If we run out of single bottles of wine, they also can be ordered for pick up next week.  Individual bottles will be discounted 10% from the tasting.

The greatest part is that the tasting is free.  In one way, this is my way of saying thank you for your support.  In another way, it is creating a summer event just for adults.  I will open two bottles of each wine being poured, so we should be fine until at least 7 pm. 

August 28^th 5-8 PM

Back to School Tasting FREE

2008 Eyrie Chardonnay ($21, tasting price $18.90)

2008 Matello Whistling Ridge White Blend ($18, tasting price$16.20)

2004 Gallino Roero Superiore (100% Nebbiolo) ($30, tasting price $27)

2004 Monteraponi Chianti Classico ($20, tasting price $18)

2006 Januik Red Table Wine ($20, tasting price $18)

2005 Ippolito Ciro Colli Mancuso Riserva ($20, tasting price $18)

Additional discounts and sale wines at the tasting.

Saturday August 22^nd 1-4PM FREE       

2007 Ameillaud Vaucluse

2007 Solana Nuntius

2008 Valle dell’Acate Case Ibidini Nero d’Avola

+1  from this week’s picks

August 21st 5-8 PM

Italian Sangiovese $15 Tasting Fee

1993 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Riserva

2005 Le Trame Chianti Classico

2004 Falchini Paretaio

2004 Felsina Chianti Classico Rancia

2004 Godido Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Bonus Pour $TBD

TBD

Please note that all pre-sell and pricing noted in the Champagne Blog is now closed.  Some wines are still available in limited quantities and different prices.  Please inquire with specific questions.

Saturday August 15^th 1-4PM FREE        

2005 Quinta do Vallado Douro Tinto (New Special Price)

2008 Vietti Mostcato d’Asti

2007 Solatio Chianti

2008 Beretta Custoza (Italian White Blend)

August 14^th 5-8 PM

NW Reds:  Syrah Tasting

What started off planned as a NW reds tasting, quickly turned into a Syrah tasting when I started selecting the wines..  Five of the six wines come from Washington; where as the Oregon Syrah comes from the heart of the Willamette Valley, made by the infamous Todd Hamina.

$15 Tasting Fee

2007 Abeja Syrah

2006 Efeste Ceidleigh Syrah

2005 Bergevin Lane Winery Oui Deux Syrah

2005 Basel Cellars Cyrah

2007 Biggio Hamina XX Syrah

Bonus Pour $5

2006 Delille Cellars Gran Ceil Syrah ($75)

Delille Cellars’ top cuvee. 100% Red Mountain AVA fruit, 98% Syrah and 2% Viognier.

Saturday August 8^th 1-4PM FREE

2008 Garofoli Fuelfo Verde Frizzante

2008 Chateau de la Bonneliere Chinon Rose

2007 Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha

2008 Owen Roe Abbot’s Table Wine

August 7^th 5-8 PM

Nebbiolo:  From Start to Finish Italian Style

$15 Tasting Fee

2006 Reverdito Nebbiolo d’Alba Simane

2006 Vietti Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco

2004 Giovanni Rocca Barolo

2005 Giovanni Rocca Barolo Bricco Ravera

1999 Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Riserva

Bonus Pour $8

2003 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne (Retail $115)

Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2003 Barolo Le Vigne may have a slight edge over the Cannubi Boschis in this vintage, as the ability to blend fruit from various microclimates was a big advantage. It is a full-bodied, soft-textured Barolo with lively color and plenty of ripe red fruit, menthol and spices. This is an especially fresh, vibrant wine for the vintage, with tannins that are particularly refined…Luciano Sandrone is one of the leading lights in Piedmont. No grower has managed to so brilliantly reconcile modern and traditional approaches in making wines that are soft, supple and approachable when young, but also capable of aging beautifully. I have been following Sandrone’s 2003 Barolos since just after the harvest. Over the last few years they have developed remarkably, and today are among the most successful Barolos of the vintage, particularly for the softness of their tannins, something which few producers were able to achieve. Both the Cannubi Boschis and Le Vigne were perfectly fresh and intact when I re-tasted them after 48 hours had passed.”

Weather Warning:  It is cold at Garrison’s Fine Wines.  During this time of the year the AC runs 100% of the time, during the day and at night.  Make sure you attend a tastings on Friday and Saturday at GFW to beat the heat.   

Saturday August 1^st 1-4PM FREE     

2008 Domaine Rene Juliette Picpoul de Pinet

2007 Bera Vittorio e Figli Arcese

2008 Eric Chevalier Chardonnay

2007 Luzon Jumilla