FEBRUARY 2009 1-800-356-3970
DEAR GROEZINGER CUSTOMER,
Dear friends, there is an old saying that goes something like “Nobody wants to visit you when you’re sick, but they all want to bring flowers to the funeral.” So here’s the deal, we need you to buy some wine this month if you want us to still be here next month. Really. This is no joke. Justin is going on “extended leave” (i.e. getting laid off) and the only way we are going to make it is if you show us some love and make a purchase now. Otherwise it is possibly possible that next month’s newsletter will be the last one you will ever get from us. Know anyone else that could spend a few bucks on wine? Tell them to call us, too. This is one of those rare opportunities where you can do something for your friends that will be immediately beneficial to them, and you get something tangible in return for doing the right thing. Thank you in advance. Another way you can help us out is by checking out our sweet new website and signing up to receive our newsletters via email, saving trees and cutting our mailing costs at the same time. While you are there you can learn a little something about what wines pair well with Rose Brand® Pork Brains with Milk Gravy. If you are wondering “Are these guys serious?” or “Will my purchase really make a difference?” The answer is yes. And if you’re wondering “Does Groezinger’s really still have that phenomenal 3 case shipping deal?” Only if you buy some wine we do. WE SHIP ANYWHERE EXCEPT UTAH!! UPS IS AVAILABLE TO AK, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, IL, LA, MI, MO, MN, NC, ND, NE, NH, NV, NY, NM, OH, OR, SC, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI & WY for about $25-$45 a case depending on how far away you are from us. Overnight, 2-Day, and 3-Day services are available to the above states at an additional cost. Call us soon and ship your juice while it’s cool. $55 for 1 case, $85 for two cases, and $95 for three cases going to the few remaining non-UPSable states, OR for those of you that prefer receiving your wine via bootlegger (it’s cheaper on big orders). A $10 residential delivery fee is waived on purchases of 3 cases or more. We prefer shipping to businesses because we need an adult signature for delivery. Seriously people, we need you to stimulate our economy this month.
1.) 2005 SCHOOL HOUSE VINEYARDS, Pinot Noir, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley-$85.00 Happy Valentines Day!! Here’s the latest edition of what has become one of our most anticipated releases every year. As sexy as ever, this little beauty struts her stuff across your tongue and into your soul like viniferous vixen. I can’t even describe what it tastes like, and don’t really need to. This is the Cult of all Cult wines, and you need to call soon if you want some. Oh and by the way, don’t bother looking for this anywhere else. They don’t have it. Only 200 cases made.
2.) 2005 SCHOOL HOUSE VINEYARDS, “Mescolanza”, Venerable Field Blend, Spring Mountain-$45.00 The other excruciatingly bad-ass wine from School House is this Zin/Petit-Sirah/Carignane blend that for some reason we don’t understand ends up tasting more like a California Chateauneuf du Pape than Zinfandel. Overwhelmingly drinkable and food friendly, this is the only thing you’ll want on your dinner table other than your naked spouse.
3.) 2005 DUNN VINEYARDS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley-$75.00 Yet another old school classic, this winery has moved into a more focused and slightly more contemporary style without loosing it’s rusticity, tannic structure, and overall hugeness. Agreeable until the end-times, this Dunn shows the unmistakable deep dark and brutal black fruit flavors, crushed mint, leather, mineral and cracked white pepper indicative of mature vines and Howell Mountain terroir. This is a fantastic vintage that is a must have for the serious Cabernet connoisseur.
4.) 2005 ROBERT SINSKEY, “POV”, Bordeaux Style Blend (ML/CF/CS), Los Carneros, Napa-$35.00 Another super-stunner from Sinskey’s 25 year old biodynamically farmed vines. Thick and gooey, rich and chewy red.
5.) 2006 SNOWDEN, Cabernet Sauvignon, “The Ranch”, Estate Grown, Napa Valley-$39.00 92 RP > $40!!
6.) 2007 THREE WINE COMPANY, “Old Vines”, California Red Wine-$18.00 Need a killer bottle of red for under $20 bucks?!? Matt Cline, formerly of Cline Cellars, has crafted this little gem from 90+ year old Zin, Petit Sirah, Carignane, Mouvedre, and Alicante Bouschet. It’s like what the Prisoner used to be like before it cost $35. Blueberry, raspberry, violet, espresso, smoked meat and cracked pepper flavors and aromas and flavors intermingle in a drinking experience you can still afford to have. This will pair well with anything or nothing, and kills the pain.
CALL US FOR DEALS ON OUR IN STORE INVENTORY!! EVERYTHING MUST GO!! THANKS!!
FEATURED RED WINES
Check out our sweet new website and sign up for our e-letter so we can save some trees and money. Then call us up and asked to be taken off the paper list. Then while you’re on the line, you could get some juice. Sounds fun and techy.
2005 HENDRY VINEYARDS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$50.00 Let’s try again. Are you ready?
Sometimes wine reviews can be hard to decipher. That’s why we give it to you straight and true in simple words that are easy for people to understand. The 2005 Hendry Napa Cab is a rare and perfect example of the varietal. Only a fool would miss a wine of this quality for such a modest price. George Hendry is a genius and makes cyclotrons. That’s what makes CAT scans and MRI machines work. Most winemakers aren’t that smart. So….If you like wine that was made by all those dumber winemakers, just imagine how much you’ll love a wine made with the rare gift of natural born brilliance. Not to mention the 33 year old vines, two tons per acre production, state of the art winery, French oak cooperage, or the fact that George is the premier superfly winemaking pimp. If you age this wine until it is ten years old it’ll taste twice as expensive. In six years you could double your money on this wine and that’s how we’re gonna turn this thing around. C’mon my fellow American, bail yourself out with a case of Hendry. Flavors of violet, cherry, cassis, tobacco, black licorice, and caramel are supported and amplified by super-fine integrated tannins and solid structure. Only 1300 cases of this spectacular Cab were produced from Mt. Veeder’s foothills.
2005 ILSLEY FAMILY VINEYARDS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stag’s Leap District, Napa Valley–$52.00
Here’s another incredible deal on super-high-pedigree Napa Cabernet. The Ilsleys have been farming this vineyard for over 40 years. Located next door to Shafer, their soil is practically sacred and the wine tastes like it was made by Bacchus for Dionysus. Velvety Stag’s Leap tannins and dark purple fruit gently hold the drinker in enological bliss, sort of like getting it on with “Grapes” from Fruit Of The LoomTM commercials. We recently tasted through Ilsley’s older vintages and came to the conclusion that these wines age great. With the average price of SLD Cabernets around $100 this represents an incredible value, too. That’s what we need these days, Somethin’ for nothin’. Since this costs 52 bucks and is worth 100 bucks, that’s $48 worth of somethin’ for nothin’. “Something” includes flavors of spiced and poached black cherry, dusty mineral, cherry flavored velour roll-ups, and Margaux marinated beef jerky, all wrapped up in French oak frosting. Like escargot, caviar and bearded-clam, it sounds disgusting but tastes great!!
2006 “THE OFFERING” (Sans Liege Wines), Santa Barbara County–$23.00
Maybe what yer lookin’ fer is some wine that tastes like $45 but costs $23. Here’s your victim. Curt Schalchin is practically sacrificing this pure and untainted specimen of greatness. Rip the cork out and let the blood flow!! It’s like this; 41% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 21% Mouvedre, 2% Viognier. If you were as smart as George Hendry you’d know that this is what you NEED to survive if you can’t manufacture cyclotrons. “The Offering” offers up the most authentic and genuine Rhone characteristics you possibly hope for from a California vineyard. It’s bright, clean and has a huge set of nuts that swings low and deep like a sweet hairy chariot. When you sacrifice this and pour it on your friends they will fear and respect you like an Aztec god, cowering and running from the massive girth and fury of your twenty three dollar wine. Meaty, bloody and earthy, this wine possesses the souls of other wines. It pairs great with big fatty foods like ribs, steaks, lamb and pork chops. Plus, the wicked label looks awesome on the altar.
2006 CHARTER OAK, Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley-$50.00
Sometimes it’s important to keep your wits about you and realize we’ve been through this stuff before. Take the Monte Rosso Vineyard for example. Planted in the 1880’s, when Grover Cleveland was still President, this vineyard has survived floods, droughts, WWI, Prohibition, the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, Vietnam, the Gas Crisis, Reaganomics, George Bush I, Monica Lewinsky, American Idol, Fox News, George Bush II, the Housing Crisis, and will probably still be around when cockroaches are making wine for mutants after the apocalypse. Imbibing the massive flavors of black and blueberry, tobacco, clove, and sage found in this Zin will make you as long lasting as this wine’s never ending silky and satiny finish. Be your own hero and pick up a case of this time capsule.
2005 ROBERT SINSKEY, MERLOT, Los Carneros–$26.50 Sinskey has just released a Merlot that is possibly their best effort to date. Vine maturity combined with organic, bio-dynamic farming and great winemaking have boosted this wine into the big leagues. I’ll go out on a limb and compare this wine to one of your favorites, Paradigm Merlot. The nice thing is that this wine is half the price of that wine which makes this one twice as much fun. The texture is rich and thick on the tongue with wonderfully sexy tannins that practically hug your palate. Concentrated and seamless flavors of blueberry, cherry, mushroom and earth keep going and going. You can chug it now or lay it down for a few years if you have that kind of control.
MORE RED WINE YOU SHOULD BUY FROM US TODAY
2006 COHO, “Headwaters”, Red Wine (62%Cab/34%Merlot/4%Verdot), Napa Valley-$36.50
Yet another of a long list of reasons you should buy a bunch of wine from us this month is this incredible value from our friends at Coho. Sourced from vineyards in Coombsville near Stag’s Leap, including the immaculate Michael Black vineyard (formerly a Paul Hobbs vineyard designate) this is a wine that could have been easily marketed at twice the price. Unlike the greedy bastards on Wall Street and in the White House that got us into this mess in the first place, Brooks Painter (winemaker) and Gary Lipp (wine marketer) decided not to do that. Like Rick Beard walking down Washington Street with a bag of pretzels and a Cup ‘O Noodles, these guys are keeping it real. Extremely dense and polished, this is a deep purple tooth and tongue staining wine that practically explodes in your face with wild berry and stewed plum, nicely nuanced by exotic spices and a smack of sweet French oak, and a velvety finish of ripe blueberries fine high toned tannins. Headwaters (and you know how hard it is for us to make a crack at the name) is one of the few wines that will drink well at every point of it’s development, so you can drink it now or put it down for five to ten years. If you buy enough of it this month we might even be here for you to call and thank us.
2006 SOTER VINEYARDS, North Valley Oregon Pinot Noir(Willamette Valley)–$36.00
Yo!! Give it up for the north side. Tony Soter has produced a great example of what Oregon Pinot Noir should be; tasty, textured, food friendly, bright, clean, aromatic, and NOT $75.00. Farmed without pesticides or herbicides, the grapes were fermented in small open vats and aged in second and third year oak for ten months. It was racked only once and then bottled. The resulting wine is balanced, silky and pure with flavors like cherries, raspberries, rose petals, spice and guava and IS NOT $75.00. When pairing with foods, this wine is extremely versatile. The winery recommends serving it with Northwest Salmon, coq au vin, or even Thai and Vietnamese dishes. 2006 was a great vintage in the northern Willamette Valley and the experts at Soter have truly captured and bottled that greatness.
2006 MAIER FAMILY, Meritage, Sonoma County–$30.00 (650 cases)
This is a jazzy little riff from Pride’s next door neighbors, the Maier’s. If you or any of your kids were in high school or college band, chances are you’ve already put your lips on something the Maiers have made since they’ve been the
largest producer of reeds for woodwind instruments since the 1930’s. Putting your mouth on this is considerably more enjoyable unless you or your kid are some sort of musical prodigy, because nothing tastes worse than listening to a sax or clarinet player that can’t play. Ouch. This 100% estate grown blend of 72% Cab, 21% Merlot, 3% each Malbec and Cab Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot offers up a show-stopping display of bold black and red fruits and melted chocolate with all the intensity of a Charlie Parker solo. The vineyard is just on the Sonoma side of Spring Mountain and shows more bold mountain fruit characteristics than most Sonoma red blends. It pairs well with all sorts of foods, will drink great for at least seven more years, and eases the pain of bleeding ears and splintered lips.
FEATURED WHITE WINES
2007 DO FERREIRO, Albariño, Rias Biaxas, Spain–$26.00
With all the outsourcing going on in the labor markets these days, we thought we’d give it a try as well. So, we looked across the Atlantic for super fine white wines. The Salnas Valley in northeastern Spain is often referred to as the “footprint of God”, the “heel” being an impression between the three ridges that trap cool maritime breezes and the “toes” represented by the series of bays stretching into the ocean. One of the greatest Albariño producers in the world, Gerardo Mendez and the folks at Do Ferreiro combine masterful winemaking techniques, organic farming practices, and extremely old vine fruit to create a white wine unlike any on Earth. Highly expressive of both terroir and talent, this nectar is a an exotic mélange of quince, peach blossom, mineral, and ocean breeze. Incidentally, Rias Biaxas is world renowned for it’s sea food so you should have a few of these on hand while it’s still shellfish season here as nothing pairs better with oysters, clams, mussels, prawns, lobster and crab than this wine. If shellfish makes you sick and/or just might kill you, it’ll also pair well with chicken braised in white wine. If you buy enough then Justin won’t have to illegally immigrate to Spain to live under an assumed name, as much as he might like that. Keep Justin here.
2006 FORT ROSS, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast-$28.00
We noticed that none of you were interested in the Flowers Chard last month for $45 a bottle. So how about a Chard from their neighbor that tastes every bit as good and costs $28? Lemon curd, kaffir lime leaf, honeysuckle and hazelnut characterize this fantastic wine at a price that you can afford. At least we hope you can. Talk to you soon.