We have glorious summer here on the 'Third Coast' and no woeful headline can possibly stand up to Lake Michigan glittering under the July sun.  We've selected wines for this month's mixer that will make your good life better and enhance the flavors of summer as the fruits of our fields and orchards appear at weekend farmer's markets and outdoor dining reaches its peak.

Paso a Paso Verdejo 2007       La Mancha, Spain           $12

Mouthwatering melon, citrus and floral aromas, this Verdejo reaffirms our love of great Spanish value wines.  Clean and well-defined flavors explode with zippy freshness making Paso the quintessential summer quaffer and an a great match for fresh fish.

 L'Ecuyer de Couronneau 2005  Bordeaux Superieur, France      $16

This dark and manifold Merlot from Bordeaux Superieur is in every way indicative of the 2005 'miracle vintage.'  Classcially opulent with a nose of dark fruit, tobacco leaf,  cocoa mineral and earth, this wine has assertive but well-integrated tannins that promise several years of evolution but drink well today with lamb, game birds or strong cheeses.

 Marcel Deiss Pinot Blanc 'Bergheim' 2005 Alsace, France    $29

Monsieur Deiss, a contemporary godfather of biodynamic viticulture and exquisite Alsatian wines, describes his pinot blanc as possessing seductive notes of yellow peach, pineapple, brioche and vanilla (and I concur). Beguilingly fat and expansive on the palate, this wine lights up with brilliant acidity and finishes with dry mineral notes.  Marcel Deiss is a master and every cent you spend on this bottle will be repaid in oeno-bliss.

Sangenis i Vaque 'Porrera' 2005  Priorat, Spain     $17

Porrera is a captivating & classic cepage of Grenache and Carignan from Priorat: Spain's craggy moonscape appellation known for its profoundly intense red wines.  This wine is an anomaly in its representation of Priorat's amazing potential at a very affordable price (while there are many great wines from this region they usually command $30+).  Black raspberry is the dominant fruit trigger with undertones of candied violet, pepper and minerality: intoxicating on every level!

Santa Giustina Ortrugo Vivace 2007 Emilia Romagna, Italy    $12

Sparkly, citrusy sex appeal (kind of like a liquid Felini Film), Ortrugo has bright lemon and blossom notes that are percolated on your palate vivace-style (ie a little kiss of bubbles in the finish).  Good for entertaining and even better packed in a beach picnic, enjoy this summer indulgence with seafood, salads or fresh goat cheese.

Grous Tinto 2006  Alentejo, Portugal     $30

Straight from the 'blow your mind, change your life, put you on the first plane to Portugal' file, Grous Tinto is hands down one of the best wines we've tasted in 2008. A blend of Aragones (Tempranillo), Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Touriga Nacional (a varietal used in Port) this wine has it all: deep, dark, chocolatey fruit, serious glycerin, power and elegance.  The awesome wines of Alentejo are few and typically quite expensive, Grous has the distinction of being twice as good as many and half the price of most, so please, do yourself the pleasure of buying as many bottles as you can afford.  This will drink beautifully with beef, lamb or duck and should evolve in the cellar for 7yrs. or more.

July Mixer: $208 Save $24!! Plus tax & shipping

July Mixer contains 2 bottles each of: Paso, L'Ecuyer de Couronneau, Santa Giustina, Sangenis, Marcel Deiss & Grous. 

To order click here:  http://www.esperancewine.com/wine-details.php?product_id=423

or for more information on any of the wines simply email us or call 231 237-9300 tim@esperancewine.com or pram@esperancewine.com

Esperance In-Store Flyer: July 2008

Riedel Glassware SALE!!

Table wine or cellar treasure, every wine tastes better in a Riedel glass. Beautifully crafted German Tyrol Crystal is elegant, durable and available in a variety of styles.

10% Discount on all individual Riedel Extreme, “O” or Restaurant Series Glasses.

15% Discount on any case of Riedel Extreme, “O” & Restaurant Series Glasses.

*Sale excludes Riedel Vinum Series. Offer valid only while supplies last. Prices subject to change.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Automatic Dish Detergent:
$1 Off with any Riedel Purchase

Have your glass and clean it too! We have found this all-natural dish detergent to be absolutely the best for cleaning crystal stemware.

Stem Grip: No More Hand Washing Stemware!! Reg. Price: $15 Sale Price: $12
This brilliant accessory fits over your dishwasher spindle and securely holds up to four wine glasses for safe, effortless cleaning.

Esperance Wisdom: Stemware in your Dishwasher
Suzanne recommends adding ¼ cup of white vinegar to your dishwasher, along with Mrs Meyer’s Automatic Dish Detergent, to cut through skin oil and lipstick residue and leave your stemware sparkling clean!
 

New Feature:

Esperance Wine Clubs

In addition to the twelve bottle ‘Monthly Mixers’ available in our newsletter, Esperance is pleased to offer three new monthly wine clubs. Whether you’re seeking great values for everyday drinking and entertaining or looking to explore exciting boutique wines from all corners of the world, we have a club that will delight your palate and fit your budget. Each month you will receive two bottles of wine selected by Pram and Tim along with tasting notes and food pairing suggestions. Esperance Wine Club members will have the opportunity to purchase additional bottles of each month’s featured wines at specially discounted prices. Esperance Monthly Wine Club memberships also make great gifts and can be purchased for any duration.

Vino Value Club: $30 per month
As international wine consumption goes up, and with it a demand for quality wines at affordable prices, we at Esperance work hard to seek out the very best of these through relentless tasting (yes, we do taste wine every day) and travel. The Vino Value Club has been established to give our members access to wines that we find deliciously represent their origins and deliver maximum value: a great way to diversify your wine experience without busting your budget.

Wine Horizons Club: $50 per month
Let your palate rove with the Wine Horizons Club where each month you will receive two exquisite artisan wines from every corner of the wine-producing world. This club will allow you to be at the cutting edge of wine: experience the dark beauty of Portugal’s Alentejo region, the spicy reds of Sardegna or brilliant whites from Austria; as we make exciting new wine discoveries we’ll pass them along!

Hedonist’s Club: $150 bi-monthly
Available every other month, the Hedonist’s Club is for those willing to shell out for oeno-ecstasy. Pram and Tim will taste through ‘la crème de la crème’ and select two bottles of red for those who demand only the best: the harmony of power and refinement that is the hallmark of great wines. Whether the hottest new Napa boutiques or iconic estates of the Old World, you’ll taste some of the finest that grapes are capable of.

Monthly Wine Club membership may be purchased in advance or billed month by month. Prices do not include tax & shipping.

To subscribe or for more information on Esperance Wine Clubs simply email us or call 231 237-9300 tim@esperancewine.com or pram@esperancewine.com