Tag: fine wine

Colonial’s Fine and Rare Wine Cellar

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Colonial Spirits is proud to introduce our new fine and rare wine cellar/cabinet.  This climate controlled unit is where we will be storing our finest offerings from Taittinger ‘Comtes de Champagne’ Millésime 1990 to 2008 Château Palmer Margaux and dozens more.

Our cabinet inventory is catalogued on our website at…

https://www.colonialspirits.com/wine/wine-cabinet

Our staff of experienced wine experts are always available to open the cabinet and discuss our selection to help you choose the right wine for dinner, a gift or the next addition to your cellar.  Many of the wines are extremely limited and available only in the quantity on hand.

Fine Wine Cabinet

Transformation of the Central Coast – Part I

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Up until recently California’s Central Coast has suffered from what some would call “an identity crisis”.  This was largely because a small number of large producers used the area as a source for a vast quantity of uninspiring, inexpensive wine.  It was also a region that large Sonoma and Napa producers used as a grape source for up to 20% of their Chardonnay blends.  Another reason that contributed to this apparent lack of identity was that as late as the 1960’s nobody had a clue as to which grapes to plant and where to plant them. Many producers tried several varietals in many different locations, but the end result was mostly nothing special.  When knowledgeable wine consumers sought out quality wines from California they looked for wines from Napa or Sonoma.  What the heck is the Central Coast anyway?  How can a region define itself when it stretches the length of one-third the state of California?  How could a region define itself when it originally tried to produce Cabernets and Zinfandels that could never compete with Napa and Sonoma? Today however, thanks to a number of unique and quality producers, as well as a better understanding of this large viticultural area, wines from the Central Coast are starting to define themselves and slowly, but surely finding a niche in the market place.

To be continued…in my next post we’ll explore a few of it’s valleys.

Cotes-du-Rhone 2009 & 2010- Buy Them While You Can!!

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The past 3 years have been some of the best vintages to date in almost any region; Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Washington, Oregon and so forth, but only a few have had outstanding vintages both in 2009 and 2010, the Rhone happens to be one of them.  Some of the best wines, since 2007, have been recently released and if you follow ratings or don’t, it doesn’t matter because the quality is in the glass.  Rich, dense, structured, firm, age-worthy and balanced are just a few of the descriptors when reviewing the wines from these vintages, but act fast because it will all be sold before you know it.  So take advantage of the wines from these vintages whether they are inexpensive and ready to drink now, or expensive and meant to be drunk years down the road, because nothing good ever lasts. Continue reading Cotes-du-Rhone 2009 & 2010- Buy Them While You Can!!

A little German

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Most of you know me as an advocate for the wines of Alsace when it comes to riesling, but even I have to admit that Germany produces some stunning rieslings.  Germany has recently been blessed with a string of good vintages, it seems that year after year German vintners are having great success in making consistently good wines worthy of aging.  Rieslings can range from dry to gently sweet to really sweet, from the Mosel, the Rheinhessen, and the Pfalz, all of good to great quality and affordable.  In fact, the Germans themselves drink mostly dry wines.  Rieslings can also age extremely well (white Burgundy aren’t the only ones that have that ability) and can pair well with a number of different dishes (not just the usual pork, seafood, poultry, etc…).

Many consumers find it difficult though to understand what style of riesling they’ll find when they pick up a bottle of German riesling.  With this in mind, I thought I’d take the opportunity to run through some basics on German wines, particularly what’s on the labels.

To help you with some German, here’s a basic sweetness/richness guide for German wines… Continue reading A little German

Unappreciated South Africa

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South African wines have been on my mind lately, although this isn’t the first time.  Last year I wrote about the subject while the World Cup was going on there.  At the time I focused on the impact of French Huguenot immigrants to the young and immature Dutch Cape Colony wine industry.  I didn’t really write that much about the wines, except to point out that, “I’ve always enjoyed them because I believe that they consistently offer an intriguing blend of new world fruit with just enough old world earthiness, structure (think acidity, tannin, etc…), and complexity.”  I still stand by that statement.  I also stand by another I read recently, “A sense of place is more important now…supermarkets are full of ‘factory’ wines with made-up names.”  Thanks Gary Jordan, I agree with you. Continue reading Unappreciated South Africa

A special invitation for wine devotees.

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Beginning this week we will begin a new program in which we will produce two offers each month of cellar-quality wines–but only to people who sign up for the Collectors Corner email – a special list for people who are interested in special wines.

The list is called ‘Collector’s Corner’ and it will feature limited, time-sensitive offers of some of the very best wines from the best growers in the best appellations.

If you are serious about wine, we guarantee there will be something to pique your interest on a regular basis. As we get to know your interests, there may also be opportunities to notify you of specific items that meet your criteria as they become available in the fine and rare market.

Click here to sign up now!