UMTravels

Interesting start to the day – four customers waiting outside the door at 10:50 (we open at 11). Nice sales total – birthday wines it seems.

Then 15 minutes later, another couple – at least these folks got to try the tasting wines for today:

• Varichon & Clerc Privilège Blanc de Blanc    ($9)
  Made from a mixture of Chardonnay, Chenin, Ugni Blanc and Colombard grapes in the méthode traditionnelle, this Brut Blanc de Blancs has aromas of buttered toast and pears .While the wine is good the labels are messed up. Was $14 now $9. 12% alcohol by volume.
• 2011 La Celestiere VDP Vaucluse    ($12)
  Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Alicante.
  Blended from over 50-years-old vines on clay/lime stone soil, the surface is peppered with pebbles. Manual harvest. Raised 100% in concrete tanks. A full dark Rhone style wine from a CNDP maker.

Plus we had this still open from yesterdays’ tasting:

• 2011 Anselmann, Siegerrebe Spätlese $16
  Siegerrebe is a hybred cross between Madeleine Angevine and Gewürztraminer. The vine is suited to colder climates as bud-burst is late and fruit ripening is very early It easily reaches a high must weight which is unusual in cooler climates. Anselmann’s Spätlese shows how well the grape does in the Paltz. The wine is very aromatic with elegant, floral and fruity fragrances reminiscent of roses, mango, passion fruit and apricot. The taste is round, rich with a mild acidity and a long finish.

And just because it came in yesterday (I bought a case untested, hopefully for Christmas gifts) and we opened it to see what it was like:

• 2001 Tagaris Walker Port $10
  This blend of Washington State Lemberger and Cabernet Franc is a tasty dessert wine that offers aromas and flavors of dark cherries, smooth berries and underlying chocolate. Was $20, now $10

The second couple in tried the first two and bought six of the bubbles – he’s new to the area so I’m guessing we’ll be seeing more of him. Needless to say he got a free wine tote with his purchase. Also sold a couple of the ports during the day as well. What’s nice about the sweet wines is that they stay good for weeks so we can continue to sample them for people.

Not bad for a Sunday sales wise.

Home for and Adobo Marinated Chicken Thigh dinner… served with a salad and the remaining Blanc de Blanc from today’s tasting.

I really should start packing.

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