WineSquire.com Mail Archive - December 2002

WineSquire.com Mail
December 2002 - Vol.3 No.12

The best way to stay up-to-date on the best wine values in the Greater Seattle market!
http://www.winesquire.com/

Dear Friends, Associates, and Wine Enthusiasts,

Welcome to the final issue of WineSquire Mail in 2002! Wrapping up a busy month we have a full (albeit belated) issue packed with great picks and great news. First, if you are down to the wire on your holiday gift shopping, it's not too late to get in an order to Wine.com for timely delivery (see below!). We also have some great news from within the industry: Western Washington Beverage, one of this state's leading distributors, won the Washington Family Business Award for 2002, beating out companies from all industries across Washington. Continuing the Holiday Cheer, we have some great sparkling wine recommendations below to help you be prepared for New Years, and even a tasting on the 28th to give you a chance to try some of the most popular wines from our recent recommendations. Finally this month, meet Eric Awes, our newest WineSquire Contributor.

Happy Holidays!

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WINESQUIRE FEATURES & PICKS FOR DECEMBER 2002
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-- "WineSquire Holiday Tasting at Esquin" - Sat, Dec 28th
-- "Put a Cork in it...Or Not" - Bottle Stopping Controversy
-- "Artisanal Wines" - Supply and Demand on the Road Less Traveled
-- "The Tasting Room" - New Pike Place Market Hotspot
-- "Welcome Eric Awes" - WineSquire's Newest Contributor
-- "WWB Wins Family Business Award" - Industry News
-- "Squire Guide 2003" - In Stock and Shipping!
-- Ask the Squire Question of the Month
-- Product of the Month: "Wine.com Last Minute Gifts"
-- Squire Value Picks
-- Squire Cellar Picks

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-- WINESQUIRE HOLIDAY TASTING AT ESQUIN, Special Event!
Join John Schultz, President of WineSquire, for a free afternoon tasting of some of our most popular recommendations on Saturday, December 28th...
http://www.winesquire.com/holiday.htm

-- PUT A CORK IN IT...OR NOT, By John Schultz
Enjoy the incredible pre-Thanksgiving food variations from Paul Allen Coile of City Catering Company and specially selected wines from Cascade Trade for free while you shop for wines at Best Cellars!
http://www.winesquire.com/articles/jws0212.htm

-- ARTISANAL WINES, By Robin Garr
Based on the E-mails I receive from many of you, I'm not alone in my affection for these intriguing if offbeat items. But therein lays a dilemma that makes life frustrating for wine enthusiasts - and for wine writers who want to share the joy of affordable, artisanal wines with an international group of similarly inclined wine lovers like you...
http://www.winesquire.com/articles/wlp0212.htm

-- THE TASTING ROOM, Squire Notes
The Tasting Room, featuring some of Washington State’s best artisan and hard-to-find wines, opened in the heart of the Pike Place Market on December 9, 2002...
http://www.winesquire.com/tastingroom.htm

-- WELCOME ERIC AWES, Squire Notes
WineSquire is delighted to welcome our newest contributor and Local Wine Personality, Eric Awes.
http://www.winesquire.com/bio/ericawes.htm

-- WWB WINS FAMILY BUSINESS AWARD, Industry News
Western Washington Beverage/Alaska Distributors/Spirits West has won the prestigious 2002 Washington Family Business award in the Large Business category (over 500 employees).
http://www.winesquire.com/industry/in0212.htm

-- Squire Guide 2003, Squire Notes
This is the indispensable tool for wine merchants, restaurants, distributors, special-order buyers and industry professionals. Bigger and Better than Ever!
http://www.winesquire.com/industry/getsg.htm

-- ASK THE SQUIRE QUESTION OF THE MONTH
Q: What is the purpose, or benefit of wine "breathing" before you drink it? I see people serve wine from a decanter, swirl it in their glass; and they even have various devices you can buy that speeds this process up. Also, how long does it take to breathe? -B.Fattore
A: As wine ages in the cellar it slowly oxidizes as the small amount air in the bottle interacts with the wine...
See the rest of the answer at: http://www.winesquire.com/ask/index.htm

-- PRODUCT OF THE MONTH: Wine.com Last Minute Gifts
Running out of time? Order today and it will arrive in time for Christmas! Check out Wine.com’s last minute gift list. A wide variety of tops selling wines are ready for immediate shipment.
http://www.wine.com/home/default.asp?s=affiliate13&Population_ID=

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-- SQUIRE VALUE PICKS
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1. Greg Norman Sparkling Brut NV (Australia) $17
2. Graffigna Syrah 1999 (Argentina) $12
3. Bonny Doon Big House Red 2001 (California) $10
4. Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir NV (California) $17
5. Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley "Apalta Estate" 1999 (Chile) $17
6. Smoking Loon Viognier 2001 (California) $8
7. Bogle Petite Syrah 2000 (California) $10
8. Meridian Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 (California) $9
9. Segura Viudas Heredad (Spain) $18
10. Morro Bay Chardonnay Central Coast 2000 (California) $10

http://www.winesquire.com/squire.htm

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-- SQUIRE CELLAR PICKS
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1. Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 (California) $75
2. Byron Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2000 (California) $22
3. Shafer Merlot 1999 (California) $28
4. Henry's Drive 2001 Reserve Shiraz, Padthaway (Australia) $45
5. Mission Hill Vidal Ice Wine Reserve 1998 (Canada) (375 ml) $29
6. Villa Mt. Eden Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard Grand Reserve 2000 (California) $29
7. Ryan Patrick Vineyard Meritage 1999 (Washington) $30
8. Chalone Chardonnay 2000 (California) $30
9. Byron Pinot Noir Santa Maria 2000 (California) $22
10. Caymus Conundrum 2001 (California) $24

http://www.winesquire.com/cellar.htm

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