Special Tasting April 22nd - Chateau Potelle & Gravity Hills

Weekly Cellar Selections ~ Chateau Potelle & Gravity Hills

One Day Sale! April 22^nd

Wine Tasting at The Wine Cellar this Tuesday, April 22^nd from 5 to 7p.m. $5 per person. This Tuesday April 22nd we will have a special Guest, Clarisse Fourmeaux of Chateau Potelle Winery & Gravity Hills. Trust me fellas you do not want to miss meeting this lovely lady! On this night we will be featuring wines from Chateau Potelle Vineyards & Gravity Hills at a special One Day Sale price. Mudtown Eat & Drink will be our honored Restaurant featured this evening. Hope to see you all here!

~About Chateau Potelle & Gravity Hills~
Marketta and Jean-Noël Fourmeaux came to California in 1980 as Official Wine tasters for the French government. "We came to spy," jokes Marketta. In reality, they were here on official business--to taste California wines and learn about all aspects of California winemaking philosophy and vineyard management.

After six months and tasting 2000 wines, they sent a telegram back home saying "looks good, we stay". They returned to France, packed up their two young daughters, Mariette and Clarisse, and moved to California in 1983.

Marketta Fourmeaux is the Chateau Potelle winemaker. By being hands-on in every aspect of the wine from growing to bottling, Marketta has built her winemaking reputation on consistency, style and elegance. The combination of her skills and the Estate hillside vineyards have created extremely distinctive and dramatic wines that have brought Chateau Potelle to the top of the wine world. Because of Marketta's sense of perfection, Chateau Potelle has earned its place as a top ranked producer of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Chateau Potelle Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Mendocino Reg. $16.99 now $12.99
A beautiful tropical bouquet with hints of guava, kiwi, plantain and key lime refreshingly greet you with this 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. It truly has one of the most aromatic noses to date. The amazing nose is just the beginning, with a crisp and bright flavor that continues from first taste to last. With an elegant balance and creamy finish this wine is a chef's delight. Cheese (especially sharp!), sushi and anything spicy, are all excellent compliments to this Sauvignon Blanc.

Chateau Potelle Winery Riviera Rose 2006, Paso Robles Reg. $15.99 now $12.99
There are several ways to make a Rose. They make it in the Old World Rhone Valley style. Potelle lets the grapes go to full maturity to achieve the ripe, delicious flavors. This Riviera 2006 is extremely aromatic with a round and ample mouth-feel. It finishes dry and fruity. I cannot count the number of people we have turned onto Rose wine because of the quality and taste of this Riviera.

Chateau Potelle Winery Chardonnay VGS 2005, Mount Veeder Estate – Napa Valley Reg. $41.99 now $40.99
Entirely fermented with its own natural yeasts, the wine is unfined and unfiltered. That painstaking winemaking method protects the terroir and its delicate nuances making Chateau Potelle Chardonnay VGS unique and different and a favorite for many restaurateurs and wine lovers. Brilliant yellow-straw color, the attack in the mouth is fresh and crisp, very lively, with loads of apple and citrus turning very fast to the richer, deeper fruit nuances of melon and peach. The nose is extremely complex due to the length of the fermentation that allows all the elements to blend harmoniously to create the unique style of Chardonnay VGS.

Chateau Potelle Cabernet Sauvignon VGS 2003, Mount Veeder Estate – Napa Valley
Reg. $57.99 now $55.99
~ The truck from Cali might not make it here in time but…PRAY that it does! ~
2003 is truly a child of California: fully ripe with a rich bouquet of red berries at first. Spices and vanilla and coffee and liquorices coming right after to create a complex and intriguing and elegantly balanced nose that makes one coming back to it several times. The attack on the palate is full and the mouth-feel is rich and dense and the wine has a good presence in the mouth with a nice weight without being heavy. You feel the structure and the well rounded tannins.

Gravity Hills 2004 “Base Camp” Syrah, Paso Robles Reg. $17.99 now $12.99
At only a 20° slope, it’s the vineyard workers’ favorite block – a siesta compared to the rest of the property. That’s why we call it Base Camp. We start with a vibrant, expressive clone from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, handpick only the ripest clusters, and give it 14 months in French oak barrels. The result is a juicy, fruit-driven wine with charm to spare.

The rich red color, brilliant as jewel, invites you to plunge in and do the backstroke. A cornucopia of red fruit and spices rushes up to greet your nose. Take a sip, and the velvety-smooth body caresses your palate as flavors tumble over one another in succession – strawberry, black cherry, plum, blueberries, licorice, white pepper, leather - continuing on to an extra-long finish. Down, boy!

Gravity Hills 2005 “Tumbling Tractor” Zinfandel, Paso Robles Reg. $17.99 now $12.99
A delightful wine with elegance and complexity that’s lacking in some of the super-ripe, alcoholic Zins from the area. Sniff the exuberant bouquet of raspberries, blackberries, cinnamon and ginger. Feel the ample roundness in your mouth, with layers of fruit, spice and oak continually unfolding. Savor the long, balanced finish.

Pasta, Osso Bucco, pan roasted chicken, beef or lamb stew, duck, red meat, Chinese food, Thai food… go for it! A very versatile wine!

Gravity Hills 2003”Killer Climb” Syrah, Paso Robles Reg. $39.99 now $28.99
After the final indignity of being pressed and fermented, the Syrah, a clone of Hermitage, is rewarded with an 18-month rest in 100% new French oak barrels. Think of it as finishing school. The result is a serious, deep, complex wine. In the glass, it’s opaque, almost black. Full-bodied, with well-structured tannins, the layers of ripe, red berries combine with minerals and earth, smoked game, black pepper and leather. A wine this intense requires substantial food. Skip the fish and opt for duck, lamb, game, or a good ole’ American steak. Killer Climb should age beautifully for up to ten years. It’s also delicious now. Help it open up by splashing it into a decanter before serving. Then give it mouth to mouth.

Gravity Hills 2004 “The Sherpa” Zinfandel, Paso Robles Reg. $39.99 now $28.99
Beautifully inviting color coming from the very small and thick skinned red berries we get on that block of GH. The bouquet starts with a bright and fresh nose of raspberry immediately followed by a very intense and deep nuance of red fruit and spices. That nose is so typical of the lushes California Zinfandel.
In the mouth, the wine expands and fills it up pretty fast. It is round, ample and rich with a nice velvety character. The fruits come at first, the spices follow and then both blend in the finish. The oak delivers some nice flavors of vanilla which add to the overall complexity and tone of this true California child.

April Event Schedule all $5 per person from 5 to 7p.m. All in store unless stated.
Tuesday the 22^nd - Special Guest - Clarisse Fourmeaux of Chateau Potelle & Gravity Hills with Mudtown Eat & Drink

Thursday the 24^th No Tasting

May Event Schedule
May 1^st – Leigh Monroe with Pinnacle Imports pouring Crios Wines – Perfect for Mother’s Day!

May 8^th – Lauren Wiersma of MBC-United pouring Cape Mentelle & Green Point Wines

May 11^th – Mothers Day! We have Riedel glass sets, gift baskets & bubbly for that wonderful woman you call MOM! No we are not open this day, plan ahead!

May 15^th – Colleen Moore with International Wines TBA

May 22^nd - Colleen Moore with International Wines TBA

May 29^th – No Tasting

~ Did someone say…Riedel? We have it! ~

~ Interested in actually KNOWING what you’re talking about with Wine? ~
Email me for details on how you can obtain lasting knowledge & credentials!

If you actually need another reason to shop here, please read this personal endorsement!
http://dishinwiththedivas.blogspot.com

What is Mudtown Eat & Drink?
We’re LOCAL! If you’re looking for a local eating establishment to support, we’re it. Our latest advertising campaign claims an amazing menu. We think it is. More importantly, the guests who dine with us for lunch and dinner seven days a week tell us so. We’re proud and grateful of the praise. Judging by the response to a new menu rollout in early June, we continue to be on the right track of making people and their tastebuds happy.

Even though we named a restaurant after dirt, the food is fantastic, fresh and fun. The beverages are cold and unique. The atmosphere is inviting and comforting. As you walk in to Mudtown, you will feel the prevailing friendly spirit, smell the enticing aromas from the kitchen and anticipate a quality dining experience served by people who genuinely appreciate you stopping by.

Coming soon to Mudtown Eat & Drink, Meals-to-go! If you are a Pharmaceutical Representative or just in need some ideas for office lunches, group lunches or anything else catered Mudtown is an established Catering service as well. Visit http://www.mudtownalabama.com/catering.pdf for details!
Mudtown Eat & Drink
3144 Green Valley Road
Vestavia Hills, AL 35243
(205) 967-3300 store
http://www.mudtownalabama.com

The Wine Cellar
970 Highway 31 · Vestavia Hills · Alabama · 35216
205·979·2151 phone 205·979·2149 fax
Store Hours: Monday thru Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 10a.m. to 4p.m.
We are located 2 ½ miles north of I-65 on Highway 31 in the Vestavia Hills City Center (Publix Shopping Center)
www.thewinecellar.info www.myspace.com/wine_seller http://thewineknow.blogspot.com

Cellar Selections April 16th - 23rd

Weekly Cellar Selections ~ Wines from Moldova, huh?

Wine Tasting at The Wine Cellar this Thursday, April 17^th from 5 to 7p.m. $5 per person. Just to clarify all tastings are held at The Wine Cellar unless specifically mentioned they are elsewhere. This week we have Adrian Drapkin of Ingenium Wines pouring from our current Cellar Selection & Jennifer Claborn, Owner of City Hall Diner, sharing some of her wonderful menu items. If you have never been to City Hall Diner you have got, I repeat, got to come sample her fabulous food at my tasting to see for yourself. Hope to see you all here!

If you actually need another reason to shop here, please read this personal endorsement!
http://dishinwiththedivas.blogspot.com

Moldova…huh?
Moldova is one of the top 10 grape- and wine-producing countries in the world. Although relatively unknown in the west, Moldova's winemaking industry has long been respected in Eastern Europe and Russia. The country's wine industry is currently engaged in significant expansion and modernization, with 85% of its wines produced for export and over 15% of the country's annual budget based on viticulture.

A favorable geographical position and a wonderful climate have attracted people here from the earliest times. In the Republic of Moldova winemaking dates back more than 2000 years to the time of Greek and Roman settlement. With such a long history, it is not surprising that the country's inhabitants practice the winemaker's art with special pride. Even the shape of Moldova is reminiscent of a bunch of grapes, a special symbol for this fertile, winegrowing nation.

On the territory of Republic of Moldova there are 4 special zones of natural viticulture: Northern, Central, Southern and South-Eastern, those are divided in 19 wine viticulturists – wine-making centers. The most well known are: Cahul, Taraclia, Codru, Romanesti, Ciumai, Purcari, Hancesti, and others. The total area of vineyards is about 110 thousands hectares.

Moldova shares the same line of latitude with Burgundy, France (47 degrees north of the Equator) which together with the proximity of the Black Sea help provide short, relatively mild winters and long hot summers which make this land ideally suited for wine production. Grapes ripen in well-groomed rows on sunny, vineyard-covered hills. These grapes are considered a special gift of nature—they soak up the heat of the sun, fertile soil, cool rain, and the generous care of the hands that tend them. The resulting vintages are natural, rich and complex, and are rapidly expanding to new markets.

~ Now let's make a deal! ~

2005 Sauvignon Blanc Graystone Winery, Moldova Reg. $10.99 now $7.99
Sauvignon Blanc is produced from carefully selected, hand-picked grapes of Sauvignon Blanc, grown in the Carbalia vineyards situated in the valley of the river Salcia Mare, in the south of Moldova. Color: pale yellow-green. Bouquet: intense varietal aroma, dominated by a typical fruit and berry character. Taste: a wine of medium body, well structured and fresh because of its acidity. Its intense concentration of fruit manifests itself in an elegant sweetness on the palate. Excellent as an aperitif, with chicken, shellfish or caviar.

2005 Pinot Gris Graystone Winery, Moldova Reg. $10.99 now $7.99
Pinot Gris is produced from carefully selected, hand-picked grapes of Pinot Gris, grown in the Carbalia vineyards situated in the valley of the river Salcia Mare, in the south of Moldova. Color: golden with a green nuance. Bouquet: tender, with honey and flowers flavor. Taste: noble, harmonic combination of oiliness and good retroactivity. Best served with light appetizers, fish with sauce.

2005 Pinot Noir Graystone Winery, Moldova Reg. $10.99 now $7.99
Pinot Noir is produced from carefully selected, handpicked grapes of Pinot Noir, grown in the Corten estate in the valley of the river Lunguta, in the south of Moldova.

Color: ruby with overtones of garnet. Bouquet: flavors of red fruits, especially red cherries, blended with notes of vanilla. Taste: full bodied, presents a perfect balance between the fruit from the grapes and the wood. It is warm and round with a long ending. Recommended with white or red meats, various cheeses.

April Event Schedule all $5 per person from 5 to 7p.m. All in store unless stated.
Thursday the 17^th - Arian Drapkin with Ingenium Wines & City Hall Diner

Tuesday the 22^nd - Special Guest - Clarisse Fourmeaux of Chateau Potelle & Gravity Hills with Leigh Monroe of Pinnacle Imports & Mudtown Eat & Drink

Thursday the 24^th No Tasting

~About City Hall Diner~
They are a casual restaurant, located in Vestavia Hills, serving wonderful seafood, salads, sandwiches and daily specials. Their menu has something that will appeal to everyone. They have a full bar and make all of our desserts. You can see their menu online at www.cityhalldiner.com Phone 824-3655

~ Interested in actually KNOWING what you're talking about with Wine? ~
Email me for details on how you can obtain lasting knowledge & credentials!

The Wine Cellar
970 Highway 31 · Vestavia Hills · Alabama · 35216
205·979·2151 phone 205·979·2149 fax
Store Hours: Monday thru Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 10a.m. to 4p.m.
We are located 2 ½ miles north of I-65 on Highway 31 in the Vestavia Hills City Center (Publix Shopping Center)
www.thewinecellar.info www.myspace.com/wine_seller http://thewineknow.blogspot.com

Cellar Selections April 9th - 16th

Weekly Cellar Selections ~ April 9th – 16th

Wine Tasting at The Wine Cellar this Thursday, April 10^th from 5 to 7p.m. $5 per person. Just to clarify all tastings are held at The Wine Cellar unless specifically mentioned they are elsewhere. This week we have Donald Roth with Alabama Crown pouring from our current Cellar Selection. Hope to see you all here!

s|k|n stands for Screw Kappa Napa, another division of Sebastian Vineyards.

2005 s|k|n Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc Reg. $13.99 now $10.99
Pale in straw color, with mango, orange blossom, and grapefruit soda aromas. In the mouth, classic, rich, grassy Sauvignon Blanc flavors collide with key lime pie, lemon drops, and tart green apple. The silky mouth-coating body of this wine is perfectly balanced with bright acid.

This wine will pair with both lighter foods such as grilled seafood over mixed baby greens, and a citrus fruit and fresh mozzarella salad, or hardier fare such as fettuccini alfredo with asparagus, fresh peas, and eggplant or chicken and shrimp Pad Thai.

2006 s|k|n Napa Valley, Chardonnay Reg. $13.99 now $10.99
Light straw in color, the nose of this wine is reminiscent of lavender honey, guava, and lemon custard. In the mouth, the driving flavors of this Chardonnay are Meyer lemon sorbet, orange blossom, and apricots finishing with delicate oak notes and a rich mouthfeel from sur lees aging.

This Chardonnay will be perfect alongside a generous bowl of fettuccini topped in a pesto cream sauce, or pan grilled halibut with a butter herb sauce and toasted almonds, or roasted chicken and vegetable soup with buttermilk dumplings.

2006 s|k|n Napa Valley, Zinfandel Reg. $13.99 now $10.99
Deep Purple in color, our Napa Valley Zinfandel has aromas of mint, black tea, blackberry preserves with subtle notes of white pepper, menthol, and violets. The flavors are reminiscent of dark berries, black olives, cedar, hazelnuts, and soy sauce.

I would serve this Zin alongside a pan grilled flatiron steak cut along the grain with sautéed carrots and creamed spinach, smoked turkey and andouille sausage jambalaya, or barbequed spare ribs and potato salad.

2005 s|k|n Napa Valley, Merlot Reg. $13.99 now $10.99
Dark ruby in color, with a nose of blackberries and plum preserves with hints of oak, cinnamon, and toasted walnuts. Our Napa Merlot has flavors of bittersweet chocolate, cloves, and mocha coffee, with hints of licorice and raspberry, and finishes with toasty French oak notes.

Serve this Merlot alongside a rich wild mushroom sauce over penne pasta with Pecorino Romano, roasted lamb shanks drizzled with pomegranate molasses over Yukon gold mashers, or Carne Asada tacos with mango salsa and Chipotle-corn cakes.

2005 s|k|n Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon Reg. $13.99 now $10.99
Dark garnet in color, this wine has a nose of tobacco, blackberries, and fresh figs with hints of black truffles and shoyu (light soy sauce). It delivers classic Cabernet flavors of currants, blackberries, cherry preserves, black pepper, and cocoa with hints of marjoram, cloves, and earth.

A great evening needs only a porterhouse steak and a bottle of this Cabernet. This is a big wine that will stand up to big food, such as roasted lamb, venison, or elk along-side green beans with toasted almonds and a balsamic reduction and white cheddar cheese polenta.

April Event Schedule all $5 per person from 5 to 7p.m. All in store unless stated.

Thursday the 10^th – Donald Roth with Alabama Crown

Thursday the 17^th - Arian Drapkin with Ingenium Wines & City Hall Diner

Tuesday the 22^nd - Special Guest - Clarisse Fourmeaux of Chateau Potelle & Gravity Hills with Leigh Monroe of Pinnacle Imports & Mudtown Eat & Drink

Thursday the 24^th No Tasting

*Coming soon to Mudtown Eat & Drink, Meals-to-go! If you are a Pharmaceutical Representative or just in need some ideas for office lunches, group lunches or anything else catered Mudtown is an established Catering service as well.

Mudtown Eat & Drink
3144 Green Valley Road
Vestavia Hills, AL 35243
(205) 967-3300 store
http://www.mudtownalabama.com

Cellar Selections April 2nd - 9th

April 2^nd – 9^th

Weekly Cellar Selections ~ Saving Green

Wine Tasting at The Wine Cellar this Thursday, April 3^rd from 5 to 7p.m. $5 per person. Just to clarify all tastings are held at The Wine Cellar unless specifically mentioned they are elsewhere. This week we have Colleen Moore with International Wines pouring from our current Cellar Selection. Remember April is Green Living month so drink Parducci wines. Not only will you be saving a little Green on Earth, you will be saving a little Green in your Wallet too! Hope to see you all here!

Parducci: the first winery in the US to be Carbon Neutral!

Parducci is locally owned and operated in California's Mendocino County. They are committed to Sustainable Winegrowing practices that yield top quality grapes and wines while protecting the environment and supporting their communities and local farmers.

ü Locally owned and operated

ü Grapes from family farms

ü Protecting the environment

ü Solar power

ü Earth-friendly packaging

ü Carbon neutrality

2006 Parducci Chardonnay, Mendocino Reg. $12.99 now $9.99

With 93% of this Chardonnay stainless steel fermented it has crisp, clean aromas and flavors of apple, melon and citrus. Parducci focused on obtaining balanced, ripe fruit flavors in sourcing the grapes and making the wine. Enjoy this rich dry white wine with salmon, chicken, creamy soups and white sauced pasta.

2006 Parducci Pinot Noir, Mendocino Reg. $13.99 now $10.99
This Pinot Noir offers aromas of fresh spearmint, dark berries and ripe plums, with a hint of cocoa. Its spicy, minty, ripe berry flavors are full and rich on the palate, picking up a savory chocolate tone in the finish. Enjoy this rich red wine with salmon, ham, and fine cuts of red meat.

2004 Parducci Merlot, Mendocino Reg. $12.99 now $9.99
This 2004 Merlot has complex aromas of sweet black cherries and plums with hints of leafy mint tea. The flavors key on cherries, with a tea-leaf spiciness adding savor and zest. This dry red is a fine match for herb-roasted chicken with plum sauce, grilled beef on arugula or smoky chili.

2005 Parducci Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino Reg. $12.99 now $9.99

This Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of currant, plum and vanilla. Grapes from each of Mendocino County’s inland vineyard areas complement one another in this bottle. Enjoy this rich dry red wine with hearty chicken dishes, beef and lamb, and red sauced pasta.

2004 Parducci Petite Sirah, Mendocino Reg. $12.99 now $9.99

Petite Sirah is a Mendocino specialty, and Parducci was one of the first wineries to bottle this varietal. Dark ruby in color, with aromas of cherry, blackberry, mint and chocolate, this big red’s spicy dark fruit flavors pair well with marinated tri-tip mushroom, risotto and hearty stews.

~Okay, so not Parducci but well worth trying…

2002 Celler Marti Fabra Seleccio Vinyes Velles Reg. $19.99 now $14.99

A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from Ampurdan Costa Brava, Spain

91 points – Robert Parker “From a vineyard planted in pure slate, the 2002 Seleccio Vinyes Velles is an unfined/unfiltered blend of 60% old vine Grenache (50-80 years), and the rest Carignan, Tempranillo, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. An intense, fragrant bouquet of raspberry and blueberry jam intermixed with a liquid minerality jumps from the glass of this deep ruby/purple-colored 2002. The beautiful aromatics are followed by a medium-bodied, elegant, precise, well-delineated, fresh, lively red. This singular effort demonstrates the potential of this little-known Spanish viticultural region. Drinking well now, it should age nicely for 5-6 years. Wow! What a discovery broker Jorge Ordonez made with these terrific wines from a sub-appellation of Ampurdan in the Costa Brava. Could Costa Brava be the next Priorat?” Drink from 2005 – 2011.

April Event Schedule all $5 per person from 5 to 7p.m. All in store unless stated.
Thursday the 3^rd - Colleen Moore with International Wines

Thursday the 10^th – Donald Roth with Alabama Crown

Thursday the 17^th - Arian Drapkin with Ingenium Wines

Tuesday the 22^nd - Special Guest - Clarisse Fourmeaux of Chateau Potelle & Gravity Hills with Leigh Monroe of Pinnacle Imports

Thursday the 24^th No Tasting

The Wine Cellar
970 Highway 31 · Vestavia Hills · Alabama · 35216
205·979·2151 phone 205·979·2149 fax
Store Hours: Monday thru Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 10a.m. to 4p.m.
We are located 2 ½ miles north of I-65 on Highway 31 in the Vestavia Hills City Center (Publix Shopping Center)
www.thewinecellar.info www.myspace.com/wine_seller http://thewineknow.blogspot.com

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