Recommendations

 WINE OF THE MONTH
State Street Wines & Spirits
and
Cooper’s Corner Liquors
The wines I have selected for June, 2010 are from South Africa.  MAN
Vintners is owned and operated by three very personable (and 
handsome) "MEN".  Charles Back (owner/cellarmaster of Spice Route
Wines and Fairview Winery), Jose Conde (owner/winemaker of Stark-
Conde Winery), and Tyrrel Myburgh (owner/winemaker of Joostenberg
Wines).
I was lucky enough to spend time at these vineyards in South
Africa in March of 2007 and see for myself how these wines are made.
The soil in these vineyards is made of old shale (a beautiful color
of burnt orange), and there is very little rainfall (falling mostly
in the winter).  The majority of vineyards in South Africa are
un-irrigated and un-trellised (bush-vines).  They use bush vines
to protect the grapes from the extreme sun and heat.  Needless to 
say, picking the harvest is a tedious chore. 
"This MAN thing began with three friends and an idea: to make a
wine that we ourselves would love to buy.  Good quality, excellent
value, and cool packaging.  Not exactly an epiphany, but enough
to motivate us to action. What do we call it?  Keeping peace in the
family, we took the initials of our wives. (We each have on that is).
So that is how we explained to Marie, Anette and Nicky that we were
going to be "busy" most weekends.  It's for you, we told them.  
Could've slapped on something cute and furry but the world doesn't
need another critter label.  We are trying to do something different.
It's the WINES we're excited about.  Bold and gutsy,reflecting our 
extreme terroir".
Quoted from the MEN of MAN!
2009 MAN Chenin Blanc
Made from 100% free run juice, this delectable Chenin Blanc has
tropical fruit, guava and melon aromas, crisp and bold sweet citrus
backed by refreshing acidity and mineral characteristics from
South Africa's coastal vineyards.  A versatile food wine to go
with most poultry, fish and salad dishes. Also fabulous as an
aperitif for a hot summer afternoon.  Serve chilled.
2008 MAN Cabernet Sauvignon
Their shale soils have excellent water retention and produce
concentrated, flavorful grapes.  These grapes were hand-harvested at
optimun ripeness and given a one day cold maceration.  50% of the 
wine was matured in American oak.  The result is a bold and juicy 
red wine with red-berry fruit aromas and a touch of oak spice.  
Classic Cabernet,cassis and red-currant fruit flavors are present
and silky tannins balance the wine just before you notice its long
and lingering finish.  Serve at a cool room temperature.
JMO







At long last, our crack team of purveyors has found LUXARDO
MARASCHINO LIQUOR.
This is a tasty beverage of distilled cherries, aged two years in
ash, producing a clear, nutty, bittersweet liquid that has more
to do with fine dark chocolate than the red orbs floating in a 
Shirley Temple.
It is a cornerstone of classic cocktails thankfully regaining some
of their past popularity.  THE MARTINEZ (a precursor to the Martini),
the PAPA DOBLE (the Daiquiri Hemingway drank more than Mojitos),
and the AVIATION all require a good Maraschino Liqueur to achieve
full expression.
Rob Chirico, author of FIELD GUIDE TO COCTAILS and the blog HAIR 
OF THE DOG, have a classic recipe that includes a twist of
Creme de Violet.

1 1/2 ounce of dry London gin
3/4 ounce of maraschino liqueur
3/4 ounce of fresh lemon juice
A dash of Creme de Violette (optional)
A cherry

Shake all ingredients well with ice and strain into a cocktail
glass.  Garnish with the cherry.

Enjoy...Mark Peterson, State Street Wines & Spirits


Jose Cuervo Black Medallion
Oak Barrel Signature Blend

A softer tequila than Cuervo Especial--it still maintains
a sharp, little bite on the finish, but displays true oak 
mellowing.  The spice is not the pepper of a blanco but
more like a sweet rum spice--a sign of the agave/sugar cane
blend.  Add an ice cube to a tumbler and enjoy it straight
or fill a highball glass with ice and add cola or ginger
ale to taste.  Enjoy!--Wesley, Cooper's Corner Liquors


El Tesoro de Don Felipe
Tequila Reposado

A handmade masterpiece of traditional tequila this reposado
("rested") lays in oak casks for not less than two months and
not more than one year.  Displays crisp, peppery snap and 
fire that one expects from blance tequilas, but is finely
balanced with light notes of vanilla and caramel and finishes
quite clean and mellow.  No training wheels needed here, just
drink this fine tequila straight.  Easily my favorite in the store and priced competitively.  Enjoy!--Wesley, Cooper's Corner Liquors


NUTTY PUERTO RICAN

2 parts Captain Morgan's Spiced rum
1 part DiSaronno Amaretto
2-3 parts Cola

Mix with ice in highball glass. Garnish with lime and a
Maraschino cherry.--Wesley, Cooper's Corner Liquors


SAILING MONK

2 parts Captain Morgan's Spiced rum
1 part Grand Marnier
1 part Frangelico

Pour ingredients into shaker with ice.  Shake, strain and serve 
in a tumbler.--Wesley, Cooper's Corner Liquors


BIG SMOOTH ICED TEA

5 parts iced tea (homemade or your favorite brand)
2 parts Jameson Irish whiskey
Lemon wedge

Fill a pint glass with ice.  Add Jameson and tea. Stir and 
garnish with a wedge of lemon.  Surprisingly smooth and
complementary.--Wesley, Cooper's Corner Liquors


---The Winemakers' Collection Cuvee No. 1---$65.00
This is a unique experiment based on an original concept.  Every
year, a different winemaker, from among the most famous in the 
world, produces a wine according to his own special methods,
expertise, and personality.  Although he is in charge of every
aspect of production-from the vine to the bottle-the terroir is 
always the same CHATEAU D'ARSAC in the Medoc.  This means that, every
vintage-or every Cuvee-produces a unique wine, with the indelible
stamp of its winemaker.  This cuvee is made by MICHEL ROLLAND.  JMO

From France, St-Germain liqueur. 
It is the first liqueur in the world created in the artisanal French 
manner from freshly handpicked elderflower blossoms.  What does it
taste like?  Neither peach nor pear, lychee nor citrus the sublime 
taste of St Germain hints at each of these and yet none of them
exactly.  It is a flavor as subtle and delicate as it is captivating.
I will be setting up a tasting for this new product soon. JMO

The Spier 2005 Pinotage/Shiraz from South Africa is a lush, lux-
uriously appointed wine with the flavors and structure reminiscent
of finer red Rhone or high-priced Languedoc wines.  The nose reveals
black fruits, sage, and smoke with dried fruits.  On the palate the
wine is silky but also full-bodied and round.  Fine firm tannins
lash flavors of ripe plums, black tea and papaya together with
more smoke, dried fruits, and hints of vanilla bean.  No shrinking
violet, this unusual, truely grown-up wine is tamed by a half
hour of breathing time to become rich and velvety, a comforting 
wine bearing exotic flavors.  This Gallic reflection of the
African terroir, a $20.00+ bottle from the Old World, is a miracle
at $9.99.--Mark Hansen





FRESH BAKED GOODS All sorts of treats are coming out of the State Street Deli ovens.
Brownies, congo Bars, Chinese Almond cookies, Peanut Butter Kiss cookies and so much more!

Point Reyes Blue Cheese Made on the farm from a closed herd of
Holstein cows in Point Reyes, California, using hormone-free Raw Cows' Milk.
A fantastic blue cheese.

AlFresco Sausages Fresh in our deli case,