Our line-up this week will give a glimpse into these famed styles with some fine examples from across Belgium, the well known names and the smaller, unique breweries will all feature in this fantastic tasting.

Try all nine of these great Beers for $5 this Friday May 24^th.

St. Bernardus Wit

De Ranke Guldenberg Abbey Ale

Dubuisson Cuvee Des Trolls

Hanssens Oude Gueuze

Monk’s Café Flemish Sour

Duchess De Bourgogne Red Ale

Fantome Chocolat Saison

Dubuisson Scaldis Tripel

Monks Stout Dupont

Christian B., Beltramo’s Beer Buyer

Luli is a unique partnership between Sara Floyd, a Master Sommelier, and the iconic Pisoni Family. Their wines are made with exceptional fruit grown in the Monterey County on the California Central Coast and from several top vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Although these regions are not nearly as prestigious as Napa or Sonoma, they do produce wines that are well balanced, with bright fruit flavors, modest use of oak, and crisp acidity. With bottle prices ranging from $11.99-$18.99, these wines are a tremendous value. Hurry and reserve your bottles, the Pinot Noir did quickly sell out.

2012 Luli ‘Central Coast’ Rose  ($11.99):  “…is a blend between Grenache and Pinot Noir. Light Salmon color…displays racy flavors of peach skin, spring flowers, pomegranate, and lemon blossom. The palate is vibrant and crisp with a strong sense of slate and minerality. This wine is very refreshing and finishes with bright acidity to confirm that it will pair with a wine array of foods.” Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni

2012 Luli ‘Central Coast’ Sauvignon Blanc ($13.99):  “…emits a lively mix of passionfruit, gooseberry and light grassy notes. The aromatics are fresh and mouthwatering.” Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni

2011 Luli ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ Syrah ($15.99):  “Expressive and broad…notes of spiced plums, blackberry, cedar, baking spices and tea leaf…rich with round supple tannins and dense fruit that flow into a long, velvety finish.” Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni

These are all nice picks for the up-coming barbecue season!

Will S., Beltramo’s Assistant Mangager

First is the 2011  ‘Arcosesto’ Orvieto Classico Superiore ($14.99).  Orvieto is an under-appreciated white wine from Italy.  This particular offering hails from Umbria, which lies on the eastern border of Tuscany.  Extremely low yields make for a vibrant wine packed with flavor.  The nose is crisp and clean with hints of honey and minerals.  That minerality carries into the taste which is punctuated with a bright acidity that wakes up the taste buds.  Hints of flowers and citrus are also there.  The wine has a viscous mouthfeel and can be served just below room temperature.  It will go well with fish dishes, but if you’re feeling adventurous try it with pork loin.  You’ll thank me.

Next up is the 2011 Borsao ‘Monte Oton’ Garnacha ($7.99).  This Spanish gem’s vineyards are located on the slopes of the extinct volcano, Moncayo.  The sun-drenched and arid climate makes for an opulent red wine that packs a punch.  This is an extremely fruit-forward red that will evoke the sensation for biting into a handful of fresh berries.  Think of this as Spain’s answer to Pinot Noir.  If you’re in the mood for a tuna panini, tapas, or seafood paella this is the perfect wine for you.

Last up is the 2010 Chateau Jalousie Bordeaux Superieur ($9.99).  Comprised of mostly Merlot, with a little Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon thrown in, this is a powerhouse of a wine that begs for a juicy steak.  On the nose there is a rush of earth that gives way to ripe berries.  All the while there’s the subtle hint of nuttiness that pokes up.  The flavor is awash in minerality with hints of fruit and ash.  I was very surprised to find a Bordeaux for $10 that I liked.  This is a great entry wine to introduce you to the 2010 vintage which is rapidly gaining notoriety as being one of the best in recent memory.

So there you have it:  Three exceptional wines at exceptionally budget-friendly prices.  Being crowd-pleasers, they are perfect for gatherings and big events.  Happy times and happy drinking!  Cheers!

Rob R.,  Beltramo’s Wine Staff

With the increasing demand for heavily hopped beers, new styles and brewing methods have been evolving; the traditional Pale Ales and IPA’s have been modified and supercharged to create double and even triple IPA beers with huge amounts of hops and malts to create a fiercely intense, palate destroying experience!

Our lineup this week encompasses a wide range of hopped beers from around the globe showcasing many different hop strains for a broad spectrum of flavors and aromatic qualities.

So if you need any further examples of the Hop’s dominant status in the beer world, come on down to Beltramo’s this Friday and sample some of the Hoppiest beers the world has to offer.

Try all nine of these great Beers for $5 on Friday, May 10^{th from 4:30-6:30}.

Thornbridge Hall Jaipur IPA

Epic Armageddon IPA

Nogne O ‘Two Captains’ Double IPA

Dogfish Head ‘Rhizing Bines’ IPA (Collaboration with Sierra Nevada)

Heretic ‘Evil Cousin’ Imperial IPA

Firestone ‘Double Jack’ Double IPA

Knee Deep Brewing ‘Hop Shortage’ Triple IPA

Clown Shoes ‘Muffin Top’ Belgian Style Triple IPA

Bear Republic ‘Black Racer’ Black IPA

Christian B., Beltramo’s Beer Buyer

Immediately upon tasting his wines I was struck by the quality and readiness to drink of the wines right out of bottle while at the same time, it’s clear that they will improve with some time in cellar.  While all of the wines we tasted showed great merit we were ultimately able to bring two of them in.

The first of the pair is the 2010 Russian River Valley Syrah which displayed in the nose rich blackberry aromas and a slight smoky/salty component as well as a hint of wood spice imparted by the touch of new French oak, only 15% new.  On the palate the wine followed with lush dark berried fruit and well integrated tannins.  For $24.99 it’s easy to love. The second of the pair, the 2010 Judge Family Vineyard Syrah from the Bennett Valley, also in Sonoma County, was equally inspiring and very reminiscent of the Northern Rhone wines which it was inspired by.  The nose greets you with great lushness of red fruits and a touch of oak spice and black pepper while the palate is all elegance, fine grained tannins and that same rich fruit with a touch of espresso on the finish.   This wine scored an outstanding 93 points from the Wine Enthusiast and for only $34.99 is an absolute steal.  These are wines to be enjoyed on their own or with a variety of grilled meats, perfect for those summer barbeques.

Bill A., Beltramo’s Wine Consultant

The Highland Park 50 Year Old will even look better than that Russian Bear Clock on your mantle.  The Scotch is encased in a limited edition bottle which is wrapped in a netting of hand-crafted ornate sterling silver designed by Maeve Gillies, Scottish bridal jewelry designer based in New York.  The bottle design is said to express the best of Orkney’s natural elements.  The bottle itself is then packaged in a hand-carved oak box, with a sterling silver porthole, allowing one to spy the prize inside.

Highland Park describes this gem as:

Highland Park 50 Year Old is the distillery’s oldest and most prestigious release. Only 275 bottles of this remarkable Limited Edition are available. It is a vatting of five casks distilled in 1960. Like all Highland Park, the 50 year old has been cask-harmonised, that is to say, refilled into casks upon reaching maturity in order to ensure perfect balance and consistency.

To ensure the full impact of the rich, complex flavours that come from a lifetime of maturation, Highland Park 50 Year Old has been bottled at 44.8% abv.

TASTING NOTES

Appearance:Clear and bright with burnished mahogany hues.

Nose:Complex and multi-layered; dusty wood and old tobacco pouch at first. Slowly the emphasis moves to fruit and spices; cooked damsons, raisins and nutmeg are all prevalent.

Palate:At full strength, it is rich and spicy with excellent tannins and notes of muscovado sugar to the fore with a hint of wax. When reduced, orange peel, camphor and cloves emerge.

Finish:Long and very spicy, slightly smoky remnants.

This treasured bottle is so special that it comes with its own YouTube video by Gerry Tosh, Highland Park’s Head of Brand Education: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHfbeBAK9kQ.

This is likely the last bottle of the original 275 that you will find available for purchase in the United States, making it the last great find of its kind.

- Rick C., Beltramo’s Spirits Buyer

Basically, provenance is the history of how a wine has been shipped, handled and stored over the course of its life.  If you were shopping for a used car you might get a Carfax report that details the ownership history and any accident reports or insurance claims that might alert you to possible problems down the road.  Unfortunately there is no service that exists to enlighten consumers about the intimate details of a wine’s history.   Did it originate from someone whose wine cabinet’s A/C condenser stopped working while they were on vacation in the middle of summer?   Or maybe it spent a few days in a flooded basement after hurricane Sandy?  While I must believe that most folks in the business of selling older wines are diligent in their efforts to avoid these pitfalls, I also know that there is no greater disappointment than spending your hard earned money on a wine that drinks at less than its full potential.  It is for these reasons that Beltramo’s only sells wines acquired from reputable importers and domestic wholesalers or direct from the winery.  All of the older wines we keep in our Domestic library were either purchased upon release and stored in our temperature controlled cellar or have come directly from the producer as a special procurement.  There is no ‘caveat emptor’ at Beltramo’s.  We love wine as much as you do and we want your purchases to meet your highest expectations.

We recently had the opportunity to purchase some wines from Mayacamas Vineyards that have never left their cellar high atop Mount Veeder.  Provenance does not get any better than this and the prices are ludicrously low for a Cabernet of this quality.  These wines are simply outstanding and offer an unadulterated insight into why Mayacamas Vineyards is universally considered a Napa Valley legend.  Take a look at the fascinating history of the property by clicking here.

Along with these new acquisitions, I’ve also pulled a few gems from our library that have previously been unavailable for purchase.   Be advised that our supply of these wines is very limited and when they’re gone, they’re gone for good.  And if you need to have these wines shipped to you I would highly recommend using next day air or having us hold the wine until the weather is optimal.

1986 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – $149.99

1995 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – $139.99

2005 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – $69.99

1997 Shafer ‘Hillside Select’ Cabernet Sauvignon – $450.00

1996 Araujo ‘Eisele Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon – $250.00

1999 Bryant Family ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon – $375.00

2006 Alban Vineyards ‘Reva’ Syrah – $240.00

2002 Paloma ‘Spring Mountain’ Merlot – $79.99

–Mike Janeway, Domestic Wine Buyer

This week’s tasting includes a wide range of the styles available from this great beer nation, serving as a fantastic sampler for the uninitiated and providing something new and exciting for the accomplished beer drinker.

Try all nine of these great Beers for $5 this Friday April 26^th

Fruh Kolsch

Zunft Kolsch

Reutberger Export Hell

Hopf Spezial Weisse

Ayinger Weizen Bock

Weihenstephaner Dunkel

Monchshof Schwarzbier

Weltenburger Asam Bock

Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche

Christian B., Beltramo’s Beer Buyer

So the next time you have tickets to the UGC tasting, or Zap, or just find yourself at a winery where the genial host of the tasting room keeps bringing out bottles, here are four suggestions to make it more pleasure and less work.

1) Spit
No really, you really should use the spit buckets. If you’re swallowing from the first “taste” onward, how seriously are you evaluating anything much past wine number three? Even when you do spit, your palate will be sufficiently fatigued that you might want to be wary of how much you loved the next-to-last wine you tried. The only exception to this is Champagne – I still haven’t figured a way to gracefully expectorate bubbly.

2) Move
This applies particularly to tastings like Zap, where trying to follow tip #1 is hampered by someone planted in front of the spit bucket regaling the pourer with tales of their visit to the winery back in the early ‘90s. It still surprises me at trade tastings when people take root in front of a table, blocking access to the spit bucket(s) and the wine(s) being poured.

3) Ignore the numbers
Just because the tables are numbered, don’t feel obligated to do them “in order.” Quite often I’ve done tastings in “reverse” order, trying reds before whites, because the tables pouring reds were open while all the white tables were packed with attendees tasting by numbers.

4) Be brief
If you take notes, remember tip #2 – jot down your musings away from the table. And make them brief, most tastings are 2-3 hours so if you’re busy writing down all the flavor elements you find what percentage of the wines offered will you actually taste? A simple 1, 2, 3 stars is adequate – elaborate after the tasting closes down with a bite to eat and a palate-cleansing beer.

Keeping all this in mind, here are a few highlights, all for under $25, from our recent “work” tasting wines:

2012 Origine Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($15.99)

2011 Textbook Napa Valley Chardonnay ($17.99)

2011 Ostertag Vieilles Vignes Sylvaner ($19.99)

2011 Cantina Altarocca “Arcosesto” ($14.99)

2010 Domaine Berthet Rayne Cairanne ($19.99)

2010 Abbona “Bricco Barone” Nebbiolo d’Alba ($24.99)

Matt S., Beltramo’s Assistant Manager

So what’s this all about? It’s about asking your indulgence, which is really what any blog post is, a request to indulge a bit of public mind-speaking. So please indulge me on some thoughts relating to events in Boston two days ago.

To an unflattering degree I look forward to my twenty minutes of drive-time updating on the goings-on in the world of sport. Listening to “expert opinions” distracts me from expressing a candid evaluation of my fellow commuters’ driving skills and can be entertaining and occasionally even illuminating. Such was not the case on Tuesday. No matter where I turned the discussion was about the role of sports and entertainment in the face of tragedy and that such tragedies remind us that it’s only games and entertainment that the speakers have made a career out of evaluating and deeming relevant. But in the end, the ability of a keen-eyed young man to hit a ball over a fence slides down the totem pole of relevancy when some hearts suddenly stop and others are broken.

Or does it? Can sports and entertainment provide solace to the grieving in their continuation? Are they a useful continuation of normalcy, an attempt to counterbalance a brutal disruption of everyday life?

As I pondered these questions while getting closer to the store, the question came to me – what about the fermented grape juice that is my working life? Some of it is useful, some will enhance food and company, and some is, by the combined efforts of nature and man, an intricate expression of place that smells and tastes like many things but not grape juice.  But ultimately, when faced with events like those in Boston, it is all really just grape juice whose importance is made clear by contrast. Or is it? In the aftermath of Loma Prieta, it is said that the patrons at Chez Panisse that night, after the shaking stopped, shook hands all around and ordered some of the rarer bottles on the list. So perhaps there is a place for grape juice in troubling times, particulars are for the next rendition, in the meantime re-send your thoughts and prayers to those with broken limbs and hearts.

Matt S., Beltramo’s Assistant Mangaer