Join us for our Monthly Tasting!

Friday, January 16, 4-7 PM with Ned Swain from Devenish Wines

An "Old World" versus "New World" comparative tasting. How does French Chardonnay compare with California Chardonnay? Argentine Pinot Noir with French? Or Cohors (the original Malbec from France) with those awesome Malbecs from Argentina? Come join us and decide for yourself.

Only one wine has been "promoted" since French classification began, being raised from a "second growth" to a "first growth" in 1973. Name it. Answer at the end of the newsletter (no peeking!)

A) Ch. Palmer
B) Ch. Durfort-Vivens
C) Ch. Talbot
D) Chateau Mouton-Rothschild

Beer: The Brooklyn Brewing Black Chocolate Stout is making its annual winter appearance. This amazing Russian Imperial Stout is just lush, rich, smooth and cellars amazingly well! Its not around forever, so if you are a stout lover or want to add to your cellar you want to get some now...it won't last long. Also in is the Heavy Seas Winter Storm Warning Imperial Extra Special Bitter. The Ridgeway Xmas beers from England (the Bad Elf series and others like Lump Of Coal English Stout and Santa's Butt English Porter) are still available and are great cold weather beers to warm you up! Contact Todd "The Beer Guy" at info@mckeanandcharles.com for some amazing specials on these "naughty" seasonal offerings from Ridgeway!

Spirits: We have restocked the single malt Scotch, as well as every other variety of spirit. Some interesting new items include the Ron Zacapa Solera Grand Reserve rum, a blend of 6 and 23 (yes, 23) year old rums! Also in are Maine made Bartlett brandies (both Pear AND Apple).

Introducing our Wine of the Month Club!

This is an exciting opportunity for our customers to try a new wine at exceptional value.

Each month McKean and Charles will be working with our distributors to find an excellent wine to be offered at a special price to club members.  Each wine will cost members just $15.00 but will always be valued at more (sometimes much more!).

Members will be advised of the wine by the 5^th of each month and the wine will be available on the 10^th of each month.  Wines will have complete tasting notes and space for members to record their impressions on the wine.  Members will have a membership certificate kept at the store with each month’s selection.  If you lose your notes or just forget, we can look it up for you.

To join the club, simply stop by the store and complete a Wine Club Membership Agreement.  The agreement will be for a period of 1 year.  By signing the member agrees to have his/her credit/debit card charged $15.00 (plus tax & deposit) on the 10^th of each month.  If you cannot pick up your wine by the 10^th it will be held your name.  This is a great way to try new wines, but we realize there may be a month you truly do not want the selection, therefore you will be allowed to “opt out” up to two times during the year, if you choose.

January’s special wine is Arbor Crest Merlot from Columbia Valley.  This is an excellent example of a full-bodied Washington Merlot.  It is blended from 4 different vineyards and is aged 20 months in French Oak.  It has intense raspberry, currant and blueberry with spicy vanilla from the oak.  It will be offered at retail for $20.99, but club members can enjoy it for just $15.00.  This price will be available only to members (while quantities last) who sign up by Jan 31, 2009.

For more information or to join the Wine Of The Month club, email us at info@mckeanandcharles.com today!

One extremely sought after bottling of Merlot is the 1999 Chateau Petrus, which earned an unheard of perfect score (100) from Wine Spectator. This rare wine is offered at retail for about twelve hundred dollars. This Bordeaux wine demands, and earns, these types of high prices consistently.

Anne's Pick: Jade Mountain Syrah - 2002 - $40.00

The other night my husband & I opened and decanted a bottle of the 2002 Jade Mountain Syrah.  It had a beautiful ruby/purple color and some sediment that easily settled out.  With the first sip we know we had a winner.  It has a velvet mouth feel with very supple tannins.  It has the usual pepper and spice, but what struck me the most was the rich chocolately flavor.  When it was first released it received 88 pts, but has grown beyond that.  It is definitely hitting its peak.  There are only 5 bottles left in the store, come in and claim yours!

Todd's Pick: Montpezat Prestige - 2004 - $17.99

Before reading this review, you need to ask yourself "How much is $5 worth to me?" Like most, I enjoy finding those $10-12 bottles of wine that deliver a good value for the money. That said, I can wholeheartedly say that this is without question worth that extra $5 or so dollars. It is my favorite <$20 bottle of wine in the entire store. This is why:

Its lush, smooth, deep in aroma and color with ripe fruit like black cherry & blackberry, a little sweet yet in a rustic tart sort of way. The nose of this blend (60% Cabernet Sauvignon & 40% Syrah) hints at the 13 months it spent barreled, with echoes of the well graveled hillside in the heart of the Languedoc that the grapes matured in. There is a subtle mustiness to it (being unfiltered) which provides some underlying tannic characteristics. Sound and solid in overall structure, wonderfully textured and opulent, dense and long on the echo after its gone.

In short, if the classic "big" California style Cabernets are roller coasters of mouthfeel, then this is a scenic, relaxing ride up the coastline with all the sharp bends and big hills smoothed out and stretched for miles and miles of pleasure. Would definitely play well with a robust cut of beef, root vegetables and even game. If you like big reds, you will like this. Its definitely worth that extra $5. Enjoy it now or lay it down for 2-4 years. Either way its a great bottle of wine.

Want either of these selections held for you as a Special Order? Email your request to info@mckeanandcharles.com and let us know what you want!

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