Contact Us:
588 Cabot Street North Beverly, MA Hours:
Monday-Saturday
10 am- 8 pm
Sundays
Noon-4 pm
We accept M/C, Visa, American Express, Discover and ATM cards.
|
|
Notes from the Cellar
With summer weather finally arriving in New England, I started thinking about temperature -- wine temperature, that is. "Room temperature" is not a very useful measure at this time of year. Too many people serve their red wines too warm, and their whites too cold. Try the 20 minute rule. Pop your reds into the refrigerator 20 minutes before you want to serve them. You will immediately notice a lightening and brightening on the palate. On the flip side, take your whites out 20 minutes ahead of time so the flavors and aromas can develop. Keep the sparkling wines and roses nice and cold. Now you can enjoy any wine in any weather!
~ Kurt Reming, Manager
|
|
Tasting this Week
Thursday, July 9th from 4 pm - 7 pm
Our WEEKLY SPECIALS (see below for details) make up a wonderful lineup for a Thursday afternoon tasting. Note that at these special prices, no additional discounts apply.
Saturday, July 11th from 4 pm - 7 pm
Michael Pozzan comes from a long line of California winemakers, and his experience shows in this elegant lineup of classic varietals. What sets Pozzan apart from his neighbors is a commitment to quality, value and terroir, with appellation-specific wines at prices you usually see for generic "California" wines. Stop by on Saturday to sample some of the delicious cuvees. www.michaelpozzanwinery.com
Michael Pozzan Sauvignon Blanc Sawyer Vineyard; Lake County ($12.99)100% Sauvignon Blanc, 100% Lake County. This is a crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has strong aromas of grapefruit and lemon. These citrus notes are complimented by juicy pear, crisp apple and luscious melon aromas. It is a well balanced wine that will be perfect for warm afternoons. It pairs well with spicy foods such as Thai or Indian cuisines. 1,750 cases produced.
Michael Pozzan Zinfandel Oakville Cuvee; Napa ($17.99)
100% Napa, 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah. This
Zinfandel is a very elegant wine. It has delightful spiciness as well
as lush fruit. The wine has black pepper, sweet oak and clove notes
which are complimented by the juicy cherry, blueberry and plum tones.
It has a really nice crème brûlée character which develops in the
velvety finish. Open this wine about an hour before you intend to serve
it to allow the aromas to fully develop. 1,250 cases produced.
Michael Pozzan "Annabella" Cabernet Sauvignon; Napa ($17.99)
100% Napa, 100% Cabernet, the perfect everyday red wine. It has lovely black currant,
blackberry and black cherry notes. The fruitiness is complimented by
rich earthiness, sweet oak and a hint of anise. The tannins provide an
excellent backbone for this wine. Open one hour before you intend to
serve it. It should drink well through 2013.
Michael Pozzan "Annabella" Pinot Noir; Carneros ($17.99)
100% Pinot Noir, 100% Carneros. A new release in the Annabella line, this Pinot is a full-flavored wine with medium body and a rich concentration of fruit aromas, with notes of of black cherry and plum that follow through on the finish. Aging in French oak helped to create a complex and refined wine.
All wines offered during the Saturday tasting will be discounted 10%.
|
Featured Wine ValuesWEEKLY SPECIALSA small silver lining amidst the dismal economic outlook is the increased availability and relative price drops for some wines which had become prohibitively expensive two or three years ago. This week we feature some old favorites whose prices had shot up, but are now being offered at realistic prices so they can once again fit the budget for everyday enjoyment. Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve; Alsace, France reg. $24.99, special price $19.99Chateau de la Chaize Beaujolais Brouilly;
France reg. $17.99, special price
$12.99Celestin Blondeau Sancerre; Loire, France reg. $24.99, special
price $19.99Allegrini Palazzo della Torre; Veneto, Italy reg. $24.99, special price $19.99
HENRY'S VALUE PICKS, all under $15Jean Luc Colombo Viognier "La Violette"; Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($14.99) Exotic, aromatic Viognier is a terrific option for summer sipping, with notes of acacia, yellow peach and tropical fruit supporting an elegant and harmonious palate. The fresh acidity allows the fruit to fully develop. Try this as an alternative to Chardonnay. www.palmbay.com
Two Brothers Big Tattoo Red; Chile ($10.99)
This blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah packs a powerhouse of fruit. Aromas of
ripe berry fruit and plums set the stage for an explosion of fruit in
the mouth with flavors of blackberries, black cherries, and cocoa that
all come together on the rich and lingering, finish. www.billingtonwines.com
Portugal ($9.99) A staff pick as the perfect everyday red, the Irreverente is a medium-bodied blend of classic Portuguese varietals. It offers aromas of plum, blackberry and cherry fruit complimented by notes of cocoa and spice. A light chill would make this a great choice for summer grilling.
|
New Arrivals: Wine
IMPORTED
2007 Domaine la Guintrandy Cotes du Rhone-Villages-Visan Rouge "Le Deves"; Southern Rhone, France ($17.99)
Winery Notes: This dark
ruby
wine offers up classic Rhone notes of black currant, bilberry, prune, truffle and undergrowth on the nose. On the palate it exhibits good acidity, superb freshness and gobs of black cherry and currant fruit with a touch of licorice and minerals. A blend of 90
% Grenache and 10 % Syrah. www.vins-cuilleras.com
2007 Chateau de Rieux "Riussanelle" Minervois; France ($14.99)
Winery Notes: Owner/winemaker Emmanuel de Soos uses only organic products in his vineyards, which have been in the family since 1866. A blend of 60% Syrah, with old vine Cinsault, Grenache and Carignane.
2007 Josef Pimpel Carnuntum Red; Austria ($17.99)
Winery Notes: Josef Pimpel is the 8th generation in his family of winemakers. Carnuntum is in the southern part of Austria, which enjoys a lovely temperate climate and is well known for its red wines. A blend of 40% Zweigelt, 40% Blaufraenkisch and 20% Merlot, matured in barrique casks. Dark
ruby garnet, with complex flavors of cherry and blackberry on a medium-bodied frame, followed by soft tannins and a good finish. www.pimpel.com
2008 Hofer Gruner Veltliner (1.0 liter); Austria ($12.99)
Certified Organic. Why choose a bland jug white for summer entertaining when you can have this terrific bargain? Smelling of green bean and lime, it offers delicate yet thirst-quenching fruit, invigorating hints of pepper, and a considerable finish of citrus, herb and green bean. www.skurnikwines.com
2008 Bernabeleva Camino de Navaherreros; Spain ($17.99)
Here is another exciting winery from the Rare Wine Co. portfolio.
Bodega Bernabeleva is an up-and-coming, tiny, new winery located on the
far western edge of the Viños de Madrid DO, within the San Martín
sub-zone. While this vintage falls under the "practicing biodynamic" banner, Bernabeleva will be 100% certified biodynamic as of
their 2009 vintage. 100% Old Vine Grenache.
DOMESTIC
Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley; Napa, California ($79.99)
Winery Notes: "Our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the
glass with fresh, smoky, cassis, blackberry and boysenberry aromas
augmented by subtle cedar, black tea spice and sweet oak scents.
Supple on entry, the wine's big, extracted, black fruit flavors coat
the palate, while its firm underlying structure transports the rich
fruit and zesty black tea spiciness into a long, savory finish.
Impressive now, this concentrated, yet elegant Napa Valley Cabernet
Sauvignon will age gracefully in bottle for another 5-7 years." A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 16% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec. www.cakebread.com
Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc; Napa, California ($29.99)
Winery Notes: "Our fresh, vivacious 2007 Napa Valley Sauvignon
Blanc opens with bright lime, kiwi, grapefruit and green melon aromas,
with complementary hay and mineral scents adding complexity. On the
sleek, medium-bodied palate, the wine offers zesty citrus and melon
flavors that culminate in a refreshingly flinty, mineral-tinged finish.
An ideal apèritif wine, our vibrant 2007 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
also makes a fine accompaniment to salads, lighter seafood and poultry
dishes, and vegetarian entrees. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years. 89% Sauvignon Blanc, with 4% Sauvignon Musqué and 7% Sémillon." www.cakebread.com
Cakebread Chardonnay; Napa, California ($44.99)
Winery Notes: "Our 2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay displays vibrant
citrus blossom, ripe apple, sweet melon and white peach aromas, with
subtle butter-cream, baked bread and toasty oak scents adding
complexity. Rich, fresh and creamy on the palate, with beautiful
underlying structure, the wine delivers sleek, succulent, ripe peach,
yellow apple and lemon zest flavors buoyed by a vein of refreshing
minerality, which enlivens the crisp, flavorful finish. Boasting the
purity and harmony emblematic of a great white wine vintage, this
classic Napa Valley Chardonnay is delightful now, but will age
gracefully in bottle for another 3 to 5 years." www.cakebread.com
|
New Arrivals: Beer
Summer weather has finally arrived, so beer is likely to be on the menu at most of your upcoming gatherings. Here are a few notable new arrivals for the adventurous beer fans out there.
21st Amendment Brewery Hell or High Watermelon Wheat; California
Brewery Notes: "The definition of summer in a ready-for-your-boat or backpack can. This unique, American-style
wheat beer, is brewed with 400 lbs. of fresh pressed watermelon in each
batch. Light turbid, straw color, with the taste and essence of fresh
watermelon. Finishes dry and clean. 5.5% abv." www.21st-amendment.com
Bear Republic Brewing Co. Racer 5 IPA; California
Brewery Notes: "This is one hoppy IPA. It is a full bodied beer using American grains.
The goal was to create a base for showing off the unique floral
qualities of two Pacific Northwest hops, Columbus and Cascade. Columbus
is a new hybrid High Alpha Acid hop used mostly for bittering, but used
heavily as an aromatic in this strong brew. Cascade is the balance that
ties the malt and bittering hops together. It is a true specialty ale
and is our brewer's statement on this style." 7.0% abv. Beer Advocate A-/ Rate Beer 98 points. www.bearrepublic.com
Augustiner-brau Edelstoff; Germany
Brewery Notes: A bright export beer, sparkling and fresh at the same time, brewed with the noblest raw materials. The high-class product of the old Bavarian brewing art. 5.6% abv. www.augustiner-braeu.de
|
Wine Wisdom: Sensitive to Sulfites?
The issue of sulfite sensitivity is a recurring topic, one which causes customer confusion; it is worth touching on once again.
The Myth: The sulfites often added to red wines to prevent oxidation will give you a "red-wine headache".
The Facts: Well, maybe. But not likely. Here's a test: Does eating dried fruit give you a blinding headache? If not, you are unlikely to be among the very small percentage of people who actually do have a reaction to the sulfites in red wine (or white wine, for that matter, since it often contains more sulfites than red). Unless labeled "unsulfered", two ounces of dried fruit (about eight apricots or a handful of golden raisins) contains approximately ten time more sulfites than a glass of red wine. Wine can, in fact, cause headaches, but they are likely due to tannins, histamines, or some other naturally occurring substance. Or maybe just too much wine. (John Willoughby, Gourmet August 2008).
| |
At Henry's Wine Cellar we hope to provide you with outstanding service and selection, competitive pricing, and exciting special events. Let our beautiful new store be your neighborhood wine shop.
Best wishes,
John Keohane, Owner
Kurt Reming, Manager |
|
|
