It's Baaaaack...

MOLLYDOOKER!!
We can’t be responsible if you miss out this time.
They will sell out and fast, and with the new blog:

Towneliquorstore.blogspot.com

these wines may be gone a lot sooner than later…

Step one: Call Betsy 860.889.4637
Step two: Get your credit card ready
Step Three: Pick up your wines at the store
Step Four: Grin… a lot.

Andrew's Corner

2007 Seresin Estate Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand
I know New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc might have gotten a little too much press in the last few years, but this wine demonstrates the reason why. It’s got it all: Fresh and clean aromas of ripe lime, understated tropical fruit like guava, just barely a floral hint, and juicy flavors that just keep giving refreshment and pleasure to the drinker. No feline qualities or overly tart gooseberry notes here!
It is so versatile and drinkable it makes one say, “It’s about time”. The trick, I think, was the addition of a small amount of Semillon grape into the mix, softening and broadening the palate just so. Stands on it’s own, or with any shellfish. It works with New Zealand lamb loin chops and green herbs as well, not to mention grilled veggies. Did I mention that it is also organically produced?
$21.99/ Btl
and worth every penny...

Old School Rioja, New World Charm

The 2004 Bodegas Lan Rioja Reserva is comprised of three grape varieties: 80% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo (Carignan), and 10% Garnacha. Old school style with dusty, chewy tannins, but ample ripe fruit to make it work wonders. Smoky blackberry, cedar, and even a hint of cherry pie crust are indicators of the lush, yet bright, flavors and textures to follow.
This is a great wine to enjoy this time of year whether it be by the grill, on the deck, or next to a warm stove.
A surprising food match for this red from a landlocked region in Spain is grilled white fish like cod, a very important staple fish in Spain no matter what region. Just be careful grilling because it’s so flaky, but if you get just the right char marks on it, it’s a GREAT match with this wine!
$18.99/ Btl $205.09/ Case

This Month's Cellar Selection

The 2005 Chateau Lalande– Borie St. Julien Bordeaux, aside from the fact that Robert Parker awarded it a 90 point score, is a testament unto itself. Not only was 2005 one of the best vintages in the last 20 years, but wines from that vintage are also starting to smooth out and drink beautifully now. It is evolving with a gracefulness and texture that only Bordeaux can achieve. A solid core of dark, black fruit is surrounded by bright cherry flavors and telltale St. Julien aromas of minerals, graphite, sweet pipe smoke, with hints of fine leather and sage. Very approachable now, especially after 30 minutes or so in the glass, it will age 7 –10 years. It’s no surprise to us that this property is owned by the same people that own Chateau Ducru– Beaucaillou… as a matter of fact Lalande– Borie is next door! Given the popularity of the 1995 vintage, and the exorbitant pricing of the first and second growths, this is a sleeper value from Bordeaux to get your hands on.
$39.99/ Bottle $431.89/ Case

Spaghetti with White Beans and Sage

Canned white beans work great in this dish…

1 can white beans, drained and rinsed, cannellini or great northern will do
Half of yesterdays baguette
Loose sausage, or links, separated and crumbled
Good olive oil
Fresh sage or thyme
Box of pasta, spaghetti works best
Sea Salt and pepper
2 Cloves garlic, smashed

This dish is so ridiculously simple and unbelievably delicious.
In a skillet, crumble the sausage and brown it, set aside
Make toasty rustic breadcrumbs from the baguette
Boil pasta
Tear the sage leaves into small pieces
When the pasta is done, drain it and put aside.
In the pot that the pasta just left, add a couple of tbls of olive oil and then the garlic.

Saute, but before the garlic starts to brown, add sausage, beans, and sage to warm through.
Add the pasta and toss lightly with half the breadcrumbs and more olive oil.
Serve in big pasta bowls, garnish with fresh sage, a drizzle of olive oil, and remaining breadcrumbs.
Sea Salt and pepper to taste.
Rustic and simple.

Pair with White Beans and Sage

2004 Caiarossa Toscana IGT Italy
An unusual Italian blend of merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Alicante Bouchet brigns the best characteristics of Bordeaux, the Rhone Valley, and Tuscany together in one bottle. Not an easy feat, but upon tasting this complex beauty, one understands how all the components come together to equal a sum greater than all it’s parts. Smoky, deep, and rich aromatics reminiscent of plums, cherries, cocoa, and light vanilla oak commingle with gentle tannic structure and balanced acidity. Graceful and elegant but not a shy wine by any means, this one will stand up to rich meat dishes like lamb shanks, veal chops, osso bucco, and even poultry like goose and duck. Drink some now, and save a few bottles for the holidays… perfect.
$76.99/ Btl

Viognier (Vee Own Yay)

This beautiful 2007 Domaine de Triennes Viognier Sante Fleur Vin de Pays du Var exemplifies a common commitment to excellence via Domaine Dujac and Domaine de la Romanee Conti. They hold the belief that great wine can be produced in the south of France, and as this wine shows, that it is very true. Subtle and elegant aromas of white peach, chamomile, honeysuckle, and citrusy apricot meet cleansing acidity in a nice framework. When two great proprietors come together with a vision, they deliver a wine worthy of any dinner table.
$17.99/ Btl $194.29/ Case

Betsy's Pick

2004 HdV Belle Cousine Napa Valley Los Carneros: What does HdV stand for and why does it matter? Simply put, it represents a marriage between two of wine’smost influential icons: Hyde Vineyards of California and the de Villaine Falmily of Domaine de la Romanee– Conti in Burgundy. This kind of winemaking tradition, matched with the incredible quality of fruit from Hyde Vineyards in Carneros, CA makes for a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend that fuses ripeness and finesse.
This 2004 HdV proprietary red earned the name “Belle Cousine” this vintage to show the reverence for the marriage between Pamela Fairbanks (Hyde’s cousin) and Aubert de Villaine of DRC. Only good things can happen to a wine with this kind of pedigree. Financial backup surely helps as well!
The winemaker, Stéphane Vivier, says of this wine, “In the glass, this wine opens into an intense mosaic of spice, blackberry, red fruits, and sweet vanilla. Following this aromatic performance, the wine surges forth with a dense core of black cherry and hickory smoke. Peppered with notes of spice, red fruits, and sweet vanilla, soft mineral tannins accompany the black cherry core through the mid-palate and on to a long finish.”
Could not have described it better ourselves! Of course there is LIMITED quantity of this wine each vintage, and as usual, first come, first served.
$67.99 / Btl $734.29/ Case

September's Selections: 1 each of these 3 for $37.74

Monthly Wine Club Wines

2007 Pine Ridge Chenin / Viognier California
Chard- no- way meets vee- own- yay. Pine Ridge nails the perfect ten on this landing of crisp white apples and peaches. Chenin Blanc is sourced from Clarksburg, and the Viognier from Lodi. Perfect shellfish and aperitif wine, and it is incredibly affordable. This is your new favorite everyday dry white with a hint of fruit, you know who you are… Reg $16.99 Club $12.49




2005 Benziger Winery Syrah Sonoma County
Benchmark Syrah for this area of California. Clean, bright peppery and raspberry aromas without the funk of some more overboard Syrahs. Ripe dark fruit flavors and a little spice bring medium weight enjoyment to the party with this wine. As you read this, we hope your grill is heating up as we speak. We think Syrah (and merlot) are custom built for skirt steaks. Reg $14.99 Club $12.49



2006 Bogle Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel California
What’s not to love of one of the most reliable and affordable reds on the market? Ripe, complex fruit from old vines, balanced acidity, user friendly aromas and flavors of blackberry, bramble, and spice? If you don’t already love it, you must not have tried it! $12.99 All Day

We Promis...

2006 Gaja Ca’ Marcanda Promis
If you’re a fan of the exotic, here is a wine that will give it all up for you, with a delicacy that is hard to come by but in the great wines of Angelo Gaja.
Merlot, Syrah, AND Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy. Grillin red? Oh yeah, and then some! Plump, spicy, and bright at the same time. Not heavy by any means, this one has all the elegance one craves after sampling so many clunky, heavy reds. Try this with simply grilled bread, and shaved parmagiano reggiano and you’ll understand everything...
$52.99 / Btl

Longboard Vineyards Oded Shakked Does it AGAIN!

Cowabunga! Who’d a thought such serious and exciting wine could be inspired be the cool California surf? The 2006 Longboard Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc is exactly that. Russian River inspired fruit and classic Sonoma County acidity make for one of the most refreshing whites to pair with just about everything.
Winemaker Oded Shakked (right), formerly of J Winery ventured out on his own a few years ago and never looked back! We met him at the Flying Goat coffee shop in Healdsburg, CA many moons ago while we were gawking at his navy blue Plymouth Woody Wagon from the 40s. We had the chance to taste his wines and were totally blown away! Some of his fruit is sourced from Rochioli Vineyards, and he treats it with utmost respect and gentleness. This is indeed a rare opportunity to taste what handcrafted, small production Sonoma wines can be.
The Longboard Sauvignon Blanc is crisp, with aromas of pineapple, sage, Meyer lemon, and hints of chamomile. Not overly tropical fruity, but more juicy citrus without the pucker…
Don’t miss the chance for the Syrah, either! Blueberry, pepper, spice, and bright blackberry aromas mimic the flavors with a complex finish of toast and jam. This wine was made with outdoor cooking in mind, and that’s a fact!
The Merlot is for Cab lovers… rich and cassis inflected, but with the telltale signs of plum and cherry indicative of top notch Merlot. These wines are limited, no surprise…
2006 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River $18.99
2005 Syrah Russian River $25.99
2006 Merlot Russian River DaKine Vineyard $21.99

Limited Selection!!!

2006 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir
Oh. My. Goodness… Here we go again, folks! Limited and allocated, first come, first served. Remember what happens when we write up something this good, how it DISAPPEARS before your very eyes? Don’t even blink on this one. This is a winery co– owned by Robert Parker and his brother, that’s why ratings don't exist in the Wine Advocate! As burgundian as US Pinot Noir gets, with subtle bing cherry, clove– like spice, and slight whiffs of black truffle. Plenty of acidity to age well, but why wait?
$87.99 / btl LIMITED!!!