Bejing in Palatine!

Like many of you I have been caught up in the Olympics.  I have had many sleepless night as I watched the action from China.   I a sleep deprived state I started putting together my own little competition.  Our tasting this week will include some of what we think are gold metal examples of wine. We need you to come in a taste the wine and vote for the overall favorite. (I told you I am working on NO sleep).  These will be great examples of the grape varietals purity and grace or brut strength and structure.  I think you will find this is a tigh race right to the end and the winner may be decided by your sip. So I hope you can all come in and help decided a Gold Metal winner.  In addition to this fun and exciting tasting, we have some new wines to offer you and two SUPER SPECIAL deals on perennial favorites.  The 2006 Caymus Napa Valley (yellow label) is being offered and we have a great offer on this wine if you are able to buy it before it arrives.   A relative new comer to the Napa Cult wine group is the O'Shaughnessy Howell Mountain Cabernet.  We have offered this wine for the past 3 year and each year the wine gets better and more wine lover seem to be finding this diamond so order now and get the great price and assure your allocation.  Hoping you are having a great summer.  Thanks for all your business and support.

   ~Larry, Teresa, Dave and Brian

In Store Wine Tasting

Gold Metal Tasting!!!

 Saturday August 23rd 1pm-5pm

(A $5.00 Fee will be collect for this tasting)

PRE-ORDERS

~2006 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet $64.99

(This price is good thru 8/29 at 8pm)

Established in 1972 Caymus Vineyards is one of the benchmark cabernet sauvignon producers in Napa Valley, with an enviable track record of producing some of Napa's finest reds. The 2006 is a worthy successor in this lineage of full-bodied, fruit-forward, opulent cabs. Besides being one of the most consistent producers in Napa Valley, Caymus also deserves kudos for not raising their prices while many of their neighbors and peers have repeatedly done so. The nose starts out with alluring aromas of cherry cola, cassis and coca powder while on the palate the wine displays flavors of blackberry, crème de cassis and sweet oak. There is a lot of stuffing here and the wine is definitely still an infant with several years ahead of it to truly show its potential. A wine of immense size, structure and complexity the 2006 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon is a high-octane wine that will handsomely reward the patient consumer in 5-10 years.  Legendary Caymus winemaker Chuck Wagner has worked diligently in the cellar to make his cabs more approachable in their youth, so while we at The Wine Cellar still think this is a great cellar candidate, it's much more drinkable young than many of its predecessors. If you're excitement about this wine makes it difficult to hold on to, decant for an hour before serving with your favorite cut of grilled or braised meat with root vegetables.

~2005 O’Shaughnessy Howell Mountain Cabernet $74.99 95pts WA

(This price is good thru 8/29 at 8pm)

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a beauty, with dark ruby/purple color and a big sweet nose of tobacco leaf intermixed with black currant, black cherry, new saddle leather, and white chocolate. The wine is full-bodied, powerful, with superb purity, texture, and length. It's approachable now but promises to be better in 3-4 years, and last for at least 15 or more.

Other Wines of Note

~2005 Revana Cabernet $129.99

Arguably the best Revana since the 2002 vintage.  The 2005 Revana features rich, sultry dark flavors including sweet plums, smoky creme de cassis, black cherry, and a hint of licorice and smoky cedar on the bold finish. Silky textured, medium to full-bodied, opulent, superbly balanced, and already showing impressive complexity, it should drink well for 10-12 years.

~2006 Castle Rock Barrel Fermented Chardonnay $9.99

This elegant, barrel fermented Chardonnay offers a rich, ripe and fruity character with a delicious blending of vanilla, pear, citrus and melon flavors, subtle oak undertones and a long, balanced finish. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, the wine was barrel fermented and aged for nine months, including six months of lees contact, using a combination of new French oak barrels, as well as two-to-three year old French and American oak barrels. One of California's most exceptional Central Coast vineyards produced the grapes for our finest Chardonnay released to date. In any season, this Castle Rock Chardonnay will compliment most cuisines and is an especially pleasing accompaniment to fish, poultry and lightly sauced entrees

~2007 A to Z Pinot Gris $12.99

A "Best Buy" from Wine Enthusiast: "This excellent Pinot Gris offers a rich mix of ripe citrus and tropical fruits, acacia flowers, honeysuckle and a hint of buttered toffee. It’s rich and full-bodied without being tiring or flabby, with excellent length and structure. Almost 24,000 cases were produced." (4/1/2008) A "Smart Buy" from Wine Spectator: "Smooth, polished and appealing for its pear and nectarine aromas and flavors, remaining delicately balanced and refreshing through the open-textured finish. Drink now through 2009."

~2006 A to Z Pinot Noir $18.99

An Editors' Choice" from Wine Enthusiast: "Though fruit-driven, forward and accessible, this surprises with the chewy density of its midpalate, and the depth and texture of the finish. It begins with somewhat sweet with candy flavors of raspberries, red currants and Bing cherries. Then it opens up, adding moist earth, minerals, flint and wisps of chocolaty smoke. Firm acidity and a balanced structure complete this classically proportioned and well-defined wine. An amazing 51,000 cases were made." (4/1/2008) This might be better than the 2005. Clear and vibrant, this wine has a beautiful dark color and aromas of mixed berries, earth, smoke, violets, Asian spices and minerals. In the mouth, the wine mirrors the aromatics, with a succulent texture and good acidity. Beautifully balanced between richness and power, this wine possesses amazing depth and purity

~2006 Francis Berwyn Petite Sirah $14.99

This wine is a beast...but a well-behaved beast. Dark, brooding in color, ripe and rustic in aroma, and mouth-filling in flavor, this wine has been known to stain a few teeth. While certainly massive, it knows its place around the dinner table.

~2007 Clif Bar Climber White WIne $10.99

OK I know what you are thinking. What the hell does an energy bar company know about wine.  Moreover, why would this health food company be involved with alcohol in the first place?  Well this shows you that wine is being accepted for its health value as well as is entertainment and just plain enjoyment value.  As for the company it shows you that good practices extend to other business start with pure clean product in this case grapes and minimally process them and you will end up with a strong healthy end product.   The individual lots for this wine were sourced throughout the North Coast. Each vintage we continue to work toward sourcing more of our fruit from organic and sustainably farmed vineyards. A portion of the Sauvignon Blanc was sourced from CCOF certified Hillside Vineyards in Mendocino County. The Pinot Blanc was sourced from organically farmed vineyards in Yountville.  Delightful aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit and honeysuckle lead to layers of citrus, nectarine and peach flavors. The result is a full flavored, crisp wine with good balance and acidity and a lingering finish. This should give you all the energy and incentive to watch someone else climb a mountain or cut your grass!!

~2007 R Wines Bitch Grenache  $11.99

Bitch, a provocatively named 100% Grenache from R Wines, achieves the potential of this difficult-to-grow grape. Winemakers Chris Ringland and Lisa Wetherell use fruit from the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Yields from the 25-year-old vines grown in sand over clay are modest, 3 to 5 tons an acre. Ripe quince and lifted spice with a rich juicy concentration, along with intensely perfumed characters come from the sandy loam soil, and dark berry characters from the heavier red-brown soils. Life may be a bitch, but this wine will keep the complaints away, at least while you're drinking it!

~2007 Eizaguirre Getariako Txakolina $19.99

Close your eyes lay back and let the sun hit your face.  This about a sun drenched beach with clear bule water and soft white sand. You feel the need to be refreshed from the baking you are taking, Imagine a light cold peachy liquid that revives and relives you.  Now you almost can imagine this wine, The Eizaguirre family has been makingTxacoli for generations, blending tradition with the latest advances in wine-making. The family vineyards are in a privileged position on the hillsides of Garate. The micro-climate, with mild temperatures and the softening influences of the inshore breezes is perfect for growing the local Hondarrabi Zuri grapes. The know-how that the Eizaguirre family acquired over generations, the tending of the family vines, and the care taken in the whole winemaking process result in a beautifully light and fruity wine.

~2007 Rincon de Pedraza El Hada Verdejo/Viura $10.99

Pour a glass of the 2007 El Hada Verdejo-Viura with crab cakes, oysters, lobster steamed or grilled, sushi and sashimi, seafood salad -- especially one seasoned with chopped fresh basil -- or a plate of grilled garden vegetables. You'll see how delicious this fresh, well-made white wine is Quite sensational white made from 85% Verdejo and 15% Viura it is a brilliant straw-yellow color with hints of gold and green. Very attractive and concentrated asparagus/gooseberry nose, intense fresh citrus/peach flavors explode and resonate on the palate, good structure and oily roundness with long and lingering fruit flavors

~2006 Finca Elmas Via Terra Garnacha Blanca $12.99

From Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Light gold. Spicy citrus and floral aromas are complemented by dried flowers and herbs. Medium-weight orange and lemon flavors are firmed by dusty minerality, picking up good mineral snap on the back end. Finishes dry and focused, with good mineral and citrus bite. Offers noteworthy energy, but I'd drink this on the young side. The Via Terra Garnacha Blanca 2006 is composed of primarily Garnacha Blanc with a very small amount of Macabeo. The wine was aged for four months in French oak. It is nicely aromatic with white flowers and stone-fruit notes. On the palate, there are ripe flavors of pear and lychee with a very nice underlying minerality. This wine will make a great apéritif but also go well with any fish or white meat.

~2006 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay $25.99 90pts WA

One of California’s finest as well as realistically priced Chardonnays is Landmark’s Overlook. The 2006 (77% from Sonoma, 14% from Santa Barbara, and 9% from Monterey) exhibits classic tropical fruit, orange blossom, and citrus oil aromas along with a subtle whiff of oak in its fragrant, pure bouquet. Excellent acidity, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and a stunningly long finish result in a beautiful Chardonnay to enjoy over the next several years.  Flashy oak and full-throttle winemaking are met with plenty of juicy, ripe-apple fruit first in the outgoing aromas and then again in the lush flavors of this rich and wide-open effort. Big, but not at all heavy, and firmed up as it goes by nicely tailored acidity, the wine is at once both rich and lively, and it promises to get even better with a year or two of age

~2006 Ridge Three Valleys Red $19.99

Ridge's Sonoma County "Three Valleys" was first released in 2001 and has been steadily evolving with each successive vintage. The 2006 combines fruit from 10 vineyard sites, including three in Dry Creek, five in Alexander Valley and one in Sonoma Valley, creating a blend that shows zinfandel character supported by a dose of old-vine carignan for more fruit and acidity, petite sirah and syrah for depth of color, firm tannins and peppery spice and grenache for briary fruit and lively tannins. The wine is fermented using native yeasts and aged for six months in air-dried American oak barrels (33% new and one year old, 8% two years old and 59% four to seven years old). Sensuous, with structure and tons of fruit, this wine has plenty of "drink me now" appeal that will hold strong for the next five years

Wine Bar Hours

Thursday 5pm-10pm

Friday 5pm-11pm

Saturday 6pm-11pm

The Wine Cellar

361 W Northwest Highway

Palatine, IL 60070

847-776-1000

www.thewinecellaronline.com

Mon-Sat 1030am-8pm Sunday 12N-5pm