From Burgundy to Star Wars...

Gary Faust has this report: "Thanks to Troy and Atherton crew. Great to meet Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey and taste his wines. His wife, Caroline poured her inaugural release and she seems to have the Midas touch as well."

Praise for Colin-Morey:

“Colin has been on a roll and these are definitely wines to follow”
– Allen Meadows, Burghound, July 2007

“The quality of Colin-Morey's white Burgundy remains high—and there's more of it to go around”
– Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator, 6/18/07

"What he produces on his own account is pure, elegant and precise. He is a name to watch."
– Clive Coates, The Wines of Burgundy, 2008 

###

A few months ago we started working with Kiss Kiss Bangs Bangs for our trivia night needs and the reception at the wine bar has been fantastic!  On Friday night (2/26) we had a Star Wars-themed trivia contest with a full bar-- pictured are the winners: congrats!  Keep an eye on our wine bar page to see when the next event is.

Quick Sips: The Eighty Six Company

Joe Brooke from The 86 Co. stopped by today bringing their lineup of excellent spirits: Aylesbury Duck Vodka, Fords Gin, Caña Brava Rums and Tequila Cabeza. I have seen these spirits here in the shop but this was my first time trying them today-- very impressed.  Across-the-board a stellar lineup; great taste, provenance, packaging; really, the whole nine yards.  I expect that these will all wind up in one of my booze cupboards at home in the near future. -Tobin Sharp

Michele & Giacomo Satta at Onotria Restaurant 2.25.16

Our own Gary Faust was at Onotria with Michele and Giacomo Satta (pictured) on Thursday, February 25. Wines of elegance and balance from Bolgheri, Italy, soon to be available at Hi-Time.

Featured wines:
"Costa di Giulia" 2014 (65% Vermentino, 35% Sauv Blanc)
Bolgheri Rosso 2013 (30% Cab Sauv, 30% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 10% Teroldego)
"Piastraia" 2011 (25% Merlot, 25% Cab Sauv, 25% Syrah, 25% Sangiovese)
"Il Cavaliere" 2008 (100% Sangiovese)
"I Castagni" (70% Cab Sauv, 20% Syrah, 10% Teroldego)
The lineup was stellar and Gary's standouts for the
night were the Bolgheri Rosso and "Il Cavaliere".




Menu:
1st. White Tiger Shrimp in Oregano Garlic EVOO over Cannellini Beans
2nd. Carpaccio of Bresaola with Pecorino Tartufato, Arugula, EVOO
3rd. Orichette Pasta oven baked with Buffalo Mozzarella and Pacchino Tomato Sauce
4th. Tagliata of Beef Florentine Style accompanied by Truffled Mashed Potatoes, Drizzled with Agliata
5th. Pecorino Sationato, Aged Pecorino Cheese and Roasted Almonds

Super Tuscan Sale on a 92 Point Wine!

by Gary Faust

This is a smokin’ deal from Baracchi, the fantastic Tuscan producer we first brought into the store two years ago.  Baracchi makes wines that are just plain delicious and this wine definitely fits that bill.  Even better, the distributor is making room for the new vintage and was motivated to move this wine.  This wine is easily one of the best deals in the store right now and we are thrilled to offer it at a huge discount.  Ardito is one of Baracchi’s upscale bottlings and it really shows in this wine’s complexity.
 
This is a stunning blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah.  It comes together beautifully and tastes like a hypothetical marriage of California Cabernet and Syrah from the Northern Rhone.  Like any great marriage, the sum is greater than the parts.  The Ardito combines the generous fruit and structure Cabernet is known for with the meaty savoriness one often finds in Syrah.

 

Deep ruby with purple highlights and staining of the tears.  On the nose, violet florals are followed by notes of currants, blackberries, vanilla, earth and meat.  On the palate, the wine is dry and full-bodied with moderate, ripe tannins.  The flavors speak of the grapes themselves showcasing crème de cassis, black cherry, blackberry and anise from the Cabernet and that special meaty savoriness and slight spice that Syrah can bring.  This wine is bold, delicious and ready to drink.  It begs for a nice steak, but also drinks so very well on its own.

BARACCHI 2010 ARDITO SUPER TUSCAN

JAMES SUCKLING 92 POINTS -“Aromas of almonds, orange, and blackberries. Full body, with velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. A little chewy with slightly dried tannins but will soften with a year or two of bottle age. Delicious already. A blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Try in 2015.”

SALE $29.95 Reg. Price $54.95 750ml [301763] Click HERE to purchase

Wine Bar: This Week (Through 2/28)

by Tobin Sharp

Once again we have another excellent lineup of events and tastings at our wine bar.

Tuesday, Feb. 23rd: Ten Dollar Tuesday!
6-8 p.m. and only ten bucks-- this week we have Epic Wines with Mona so there should be some good sippers in this mix.

Wednesday, Feb. 24th: Peter Neptune Wine Class - Burgundy - SOLD OUT!
This class is sold out but we have more scheduled through July of this year!
*** Peter Neptune is one of only 147 individuals in North America to hold the wine industry's most prestigious title: Master Sommelier.  He is a 31-year veteran of the wine business, beginning as a sommelier in New York City, where he trained and worked for 10 years. Upon returning to his native California (he was born on 10 July 1956 at Newport Beach, CA), Peter entered into Wine Education full time, and has established a nationwide reputation as one of the premier wine educators in the USA. In addition to his MS Diploma, Peter holds the title of Certified Wine Educator with the Society of Wine Educators (for which he was recognized with the Banfi Award for Excellence in 2003), holds a Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in London, and is an Associate of the Institute of Wines and Spirits. He also holds the credential French Wine Scholar, with Highest Honors. Peter is one of the teaching Masters at the Court of Master Sommelier Intro and Advanced Courses, and is an examiner at the Certified, Advanced, and Master Sommelier Examinations.

Class Schedule -  Classes run from 6:30-8:00 and cost $30.00 - Reservations Required
2/24 Burgundy
3/30 Rhône Valley
4/27 Bordeaux

5/25 Loire Valley
6/22 Sud
7/27 Champagne/Alsace

Thursday, Feb. 25th - Australia: New Arrivals
Taste wines from a land down under-- where women glow and men plunder! $25, 4:30-8:30pm.

Friday, Feb. 26th
Kiss Kiss Bangs Bangs Trivia Night
With wines from around the world. STAR WARS NIGHT! $25, 4:30-8:30pm

Saturday, Feb. 27th
California Cabs & Blends
This time around we’ll focus on regions outside of Napa Valley, like Sonoma and Paso. We’ll pour the likes of Mount Eden, Denner, St. Jean Cinq Cepages and Halter Ranch Ancestor! $30. 2-8:30pm.



Sunday, Feb. 28th - German BEER Tasting
It's out monthly beer tasting and we're looking to old world Germany to get into some tasty lagers and who knows what else?!? 1-5 p.m., $25.

La Rioja Alta: High Scoring Exceptional Values

High Scoring Exceptional Values from La Rioja Alta!

La Rioja Alta continues to impress! This outstanding producer is one of our favorites, consistently crafting wines of world class quality. These Tempranillo-based wines are made in the traditional Riojan manner, first aged in oak then in bottle within La Rioja Alta's cellar. They are not released until the winery deems them ready to drink. This careful aging is one of the things that gives Rioja its unique character and these wines have a wonderfully complex bouquet, rich flavors and a seductively smooth texture. Both offer gorgeous red fruit with sweet spices and an enticing savory quality that allows them to pair beautifully with a variety of foods.  The wines of Rioja Alta offer tremendous value with a quality-to-price ratio that’s hard to beat and both received outstanding scores from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. The Vina Ardanza was awarded 94 Points with the Advocate calling it, "A great value for the money." The amazing Gran Reserva 904 was awarded 96 points in the glowing review which stated the wine is, "Balanced, subtle, truly elegant," and proclaimed it "A great classic" and a "bargain." These are extremely complex wines, which are approaching the peak of drinkability where they will remain for the next ten years or so. They represent an exceptional value in the wine market today.   At this price and quality, they should not to be missed!

Quick Sips: Two Silver Tequilas...

by Tobin Sharp

Two Tequilas diverged in an argent wood... okay, Robert Frost I'm not.  But the two Tequilas we tasted today are like journeys to completely different destinations-- but the finish line for each is quite interesting and tasty.

The Pueblo Viejo 104 ($25.99 #107443 1L) we have in stock now and it's a barnburner.  This Silver is 52% or 104 proof (hence the '104' moniker) yet does not sip like it's proof might suggest.  It's very enjoyable and not a 'heater'; instead, notes of spice and black pepper complement starchy plantain and sweet fruit resonations.  There's a touch of strength in the finish (not really 'heat') but it's balanced well with the flavors and not obfuscatory.  Enjoy as is or combine with your favorite Tequila recipes.

The Maestro Dobel Humito Smoked Silver Tequila ($39.99 #107954 750ml) is one that we expect to receive soon in the store.  With all the interest we've seen in the Mezcal market, famous for their smoked nature, it's not surprising to see a Tequila take on some smoke; after all, their cousin spirit does it quite well.  They don't overdo it in the Humito, which is nice, as the smoke is fairly dominant but melds well with the flavors of mixed tropical fruits, subtle brown spices and sea salt.  Again, easy to enjoy neat but should kick a bit of smoke up when used for mixological purposes.

Thanks for Tasting with Aurelien Suenen on Saturday! #Champagne

We had a great turn-out of Champagne and Suenen fans last Saturday (2/13/16) and just wanted to say thanks!  The Champagnes and crowd were fantastic... cheers!

The Joy of Giorgio Pelissero

by Gary Faust

Giorgio Pelissero (seen above with Italian Wine Buyer Patty Quick) came to the store recently with a bag full of wine and a friendly smile. It’s funny how sometimes the personality of a winemaker or owner really shines through and seems to infuse the wine itself with that personality. Tasting through Giorgio’s Dolcettos, Barberas and Barbarescos, one can’t help but feel the warmth and generosity transmitted to the glass. We enjoyed Giorgio’s visit and will continue to enjoy his wines in our store.

Gil Family Estates Wine at Fig & Olive 2.10.16

by Tobin Sharp

The Hi-Time Wine staff via Patty Quick, our Spanish wine buyer, was recently invited to taste through the Gil Family Estates lineup of wines at Fig & Olive in Newport Beach with Felix Jimenez (Gil Family Estates), Larry Moraes (Blue Ventures Wine Marketing) and our friend and rep for GFE at Regal Wine Company, Elaine McCune.

While this was definitely a 'working' dinner, meaning outside of enjoying the exquisite lineup of wines and beautiful pairing of foods we needed to pay attention and/or take notes and critically evalute the mise en scéne of food, wine and setting, it really was a treat to relax and enjoy one of Orange County's top restaurants while tasting some of our favorite Spanish wines.  And the company was delightful, of course!

We started with the Chef's Choice of Crostinis followed by Fall Sea Scallops and Truffle Mushroom Croquettes paired with first, the Kentia 2014 Albariño (fresh, floral and citrus on the nose; spring fruits, minerality and excellent acidity in the palate) followed by the Lagar Da Condesa 2014 Albariño (pineapple, passion fruit, lychee nose; full, elegant mouthfeel with stone fruits, honey, lemon zest,  forward acidity and a lengthy finish).

The main course consisted of Provence Roasted Chicken, Paella del Mar and Rosemary Lamb Chops (while I was notating more on the wines, the paired foods were stunning as well-- I'm a sucker for lamb and especially great lamb like this, the Provence Chicken marinated with Herbs de Provence, rosemary, garlic and lemon, and Paella, with more scallops, another fave of mine, were perfect selections with the bounty of wines [and the confit heirloom potatos served with the chicken were magic]).

The wines we tasted: the Blau 2014 (50% Cariñena, 25% Syrah, 25% Garnacha-- bright purple fruits, dark spice, blackberry, cassis, excellent tannic structure and acidity), Can Blau 2013 (40% Cariñena, 40% Syrah, 20% Garnacha-- blackcurrant, blue fruits, earth, dark florals, licorice, excellent tannins; Vinous 90 pts.), Honoro Vera 2014 Organic Monastrell (bright red and dark fruits on the nose, flowers and mineral tones with spicy red berries, earthiness on the palate, smooth texture, great acidity, long finish),

Juan Gil 2013 Silver Label Monastrell (black and blue fruits, florals, light spice aromas, berries and cherries, minerals and smoke on the weighty-yet-elegant palate, Vinous 91 pts), Juan Gil 100th Anniversary 2013 (50% Monastrell, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Syrah-- notes of black plum, currant, mocha, tobacco and leather in the nose with more dark fruits in the foreground upon tasting as the dense, layered and velvety tannins lead to a rich, lush but balanced finish), La Atalaya del Camino 2013 (Garnacha Tintorera [Alicante Bouchet], Monastrell--amazing spice and mineral notes, dried fruits, salted plum, mixed red and black fruits), Alaya Tierra 2013 (Garnacha Tintorera-- bright red fruits and berries,  garrique, cocoa, tobacco, touch of minerality, excellent finish uplitfed by fresh acidity, rounded tannins), Tridente 2013 Tempranillo (Bright but dark fruits, mineral tones, pencil lead, incense, spice, rich mouthfeel, long sexy finish), Atteca 2013 (Garnacha-- red & dark fruits, spices, smoky bacon, dark berries & florals, salted mulberry, midnight florals, balanced tannins, seamless finish), Atteca Armas 2011 (Garnacha-- dark cherries, spice, slatey minerality, complex, fruity, powerful but balanced and elegant, great fruit, bold tannins), and El Nido 2013 (70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Monastrell-- explosive, alluring blueberry/boysenberry aromas with English tobacco, licorice and vanilla; dark fruits lead a lush, broad palate that adds luscious floral and Asian spices, impeccable balance and a long, lustrous finish).

We finished with a dessert selection of Caramelized Apple Tart (with vanilla ice cream, natch) and Chocolate Pot de Créme.

Fig & Olive really hit it out of the park on this evening with perfectly paired foods (and top rate, seamless service) to go with such a quality lineup of wines.  Felix and Larry took time to talk about the wines and the family, and what's going on now and what the future looks like (bright, bold and beautiful to judge by what we tasted and heard!).  I am fortunate in that I've been able to taste review many of these wines over the years, working closely with Patty as she tastes and selects the wines to bring into the store, so knew that we were in for a treat and thoroughly enjoyed the entire affair.

To see more pictures of our adventure, please visit here.

This Week's Wine Bar at Hi-Time: February 10-13

We always have something going on at the wine bar and this week's lineup looks fantastic-- including our pre-Valentine's Day Deluxe Champagne tasting on Saturday featuring The Champagnes of Aurélien Suenen (hint: ladies love bubbles!).

Tonight (2/10) we start with our Wednesday Wine Workshop: "Under the Radar" Spanish wines with Connor Clarke. $20, 7-8:30 p.m. Come learn and taste!

Thursday 2/11, 4:30-8:30pm: Oregon Wine Trail
Oregon is on a hot streak of vintages, and we’re going to pour some show stoppers tonight! Mostly Pinot Noirs, but a few whites to start. $20

Friday 2/12, 4:30-8:30pm: Loire Valley, France
This French region along the Loire River is mostly known for white wines from the Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc and Melon de Bourgogne grapes, there are excellent red wines made (especially around the Chinon region) from Cabernet franc.  We will try a mix of whites & reds. $25.

Saturday 2/13, 2-8:30pm: The Champgnes of Aurelien Suenen
"...one of the up and coming stars in the world of grower Champagne." -John Gilman, View From the Cellar. Aurélien will be here (from 2 to 5 p.m.) to pour and discuss his Champagnes; we will taste seven in all. $25

About Aurélien
Semi-pro basketball player Aurélien Suenen made an about-face in the mid-2000s, leaving basketball and returning to the family estate to help his ailing father. And he hasn’t looked back since. He farms five hectares of Chardonnay vines in the Côte des Blancs (in grand cru AOCs Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry), and Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay in the St. Thierry hills, due northwest of Reims. Approaching sustainable viticulture with the same zeal as his athletic training, he has been seeing to the revitalization of his soils—implementing mostly organic practices.

Heavily influenced by Burgundian winemaking, as well as the savoir-faire of mentors Anselme Selosse and the Agrapart brothers, he seeks slow, gentle, temperature-controlled vinifications and a separation of cuvees by individual parcel to achieve rich, ripe, layered, vibrant and mineral-driven champagnes. Beyond those memorable traits, Aurélien’s wines are filled with a character that goes beyond mere taste. Seeing how ardently he directs his passion, it is clear that these wines are destined for greatness.

Saturday Wine Bar: California Merlots! 2/6/16

Miles was wrong, Merlot is so right! We will be tasting this killer lineup of #Merlot Saturday, February 6 (tomorrow) from 2-8:30pm, $25. We've tasted some amazing Merlots recently as the vintages seem to get stronger and stronger! Come taste #Duckhorn,#Pride, #Shafer, #Cakebread & the other stellar bottlings tomorrow. #merlot #wine #california #tasting #hitimewinecellars

Quick Sips: Gaja!

On Tuesday we were fortunate to taste the amazing wines of the renowned Italian producer, Gaja!  Although primarily known for his iconic Barbarescos, we enjoyed trying the Brunello and Tuscan wines as well.  They were tasty!  Playing the role of photo-bomber, the Il Poggione Brunello snuck in and is pictured third from left.

-Gary Faust

Hi-Time supports the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation

The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation sponsors a wonderful series of lectures and book signings at the Central Library next door to City Hall. Hi-Time is a hospitality sponsor of the Witte Lecture series. Hi-Time owner Ida Hanson (on the right) and longtime employee Ann Stephens (on the left) attended the lecture given by New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast (center) last Friday, January 29th. Roz gave a funny and moving talk about her illustrated memoir "Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?” which recounts her efforts to help her aging parents during their final years.

The previous Friday Ann and colleague Gail Roberts attended the sold-out lecture given by Jessica Fellowes about the making of the Downton Abbey television series. During a reception before the talk attendees enjoyed tasting French wines donated by Hi-Time: a White Bordeaux and a Beaujolais.

Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux 2013 Vintage Preview 1-29-16

by Gary Faust

Last week, Connor Clarke and I attended the Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux event in Santa Monica. This was an opportunity to taste through various bottlings from the 2013 vintage. By all accounts, 2013 was a very challenging year in Bordeaux.

Cool and damp conditions in Spring persisted with rain greatly inhibiting flowering. July was very sunny and August was also very pleasant-- but those months could not compensate for the rough start. Humid conditions and rain in September brought the threat of rot, forcing many to start the harvest early. Yields were down at least 25% with the quality also being affected.

Our observation is that some of the wines showed tannins that were not phenologically ripe. A number of wines showed an astringent quality while several wines were generally thin. There were, however, many standouts that over-performed for the vintage.

From the Right Bank, Canon la Gaffelière showed very well with admirable concentration and balance. Troplong Mondot had good fruit with grippy tannins that should benefit from some age. In Pomerol, Château Clinet possesses a solid fruit core with lots of toasty oak. Château Gazin was full-bodied and quite delicious. On the Left Bank, Château Giscours in Margaux was a complete wine while Pauillac estate Clerc Milon possessed a full body with significant structure and pure fruit flavors.

The whites and Sauternes wines were another story entirely. Although yields were also down for the white wines, the limited number of whites available for tasting showed freshness buoyed by nice acidity. These well-balanced wines are approachable now, but will also age nicely.

After a string of very good to excellent vintages through 2010, the last several years serve as a reminder that Bordeaux is still subject to considerable vintage variation. The good news is the Bordelaise have become more sophisticated. Attentiveness in the vineyards and improvements in grape selection and vinification mean most are able to make good wine even in difficult years.

Quick Sips: Mellow Corn & The Balvenie 21yr Portwood

by Tobin Sharp

A tale of two liquors... Mellow Corn from Heaven Hill is simple and straightforward, with notes of sweet popcorn and butter with a touch of wood and vanilla--this gives an insight into what corn adds to Bourbon (which is 51% corn) and at $11.99/750ml is a steal.  It's also 100 proof (though you can't tell from sipping it... balanced, sweet and tasty).

The Balvenie 21yr Portwood (86pf) has many layers going on with sherry notes and raisins, sweet honey, white pepper and oak in both nose and palate which is unctuous and oily with a clean uplifting finish... I would almost think of categorizing this one as a dessert whiskey but wouldn't want to limit it to just that; it can stand alone at just about any time for any reason with dessert, a cigar, company or none of the above except the whiskey.  So good!

Chances to sample and/or re-sample products like these are usually an everyday occurence between our spirits, wine and beer departments (as well as gourmet sodas & mixers, food division and Smoke Shack).  It's a chance for us to either try a new product or refresh our palate so we can pass the word on and the reps know that something fresh on our palates tends to be fresh in our minds.  The Balvenie 21 Portwood has been on my radar for a while-- it is a stunning whiskey and one I would recommend over and over (and have and will!).  Their entire lineup is strong (like the 14yr Caribbean Cask or 12yr Double Wood [personal faves, natch]) but this 21yr is a treat.

While I'm very familiar with Heaven Hill, I hadn't tried their Mellow Corn before-- I figured it would be sweet and tasty and it was-- but even better than I thought it might be; at 100 proof it's amazingly easy to sip.  I will be adding a bottle to my home collection as this will make for a nice winter warmer when it's wet and cold out (we're in California so take our definition of 'cold' with a bag of salt).  It will be at home with its cousins (Henry McKenna, Bernheim, Evan Williams and Larceny) already resting in my closet(s).

We hope to put more of these "Quick Sips" up as we taste.  Cheers!

Peter Neptune Teaching Six Wine Classes at Hi-Time, February through July

by Tobin Sharp

We will be starting our wine education program back up this month at the wine bar. Our own Connor Clarke will be teaching a class on Wednesday, February 10th ("Under the Radar" Spanish wine, 7-8:30pm, $20) and we will have one class each month taught by the Hi-Time staff as Master Somm and store friend Peter Neptune will be teaching one class a month starting this month through July. See the schedule at the bottom of the page to see what he will be covering.

The bio below is from Peter's website (neptunewine.com) where you can find more information about furthering your wine education.

Peter Neptune is one of only 147 individuals in North America to hold the wine industry's most prestigious title: Master Sommelier. He is a 31-year veteran of the wine business, beginning as a sommelier in New York City, where he trained and worked for 10 years. Upon returning to his native California (he was born on 10 July 1956 at Newport Beach, CA), Peter entered into Wine Education full time, and has established a nationwide reputation as one of the premier wine educators in the USA.

In addition to his MS Diploma, Peter holds the title of Certified Wine Educator with the Society of Wine Educators (for which he was recognized with the Banfi Award for Excellence in 2003), holds a Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in London, and is an Associate of the Institute of Wines and Spirits. He also holds the credential French Wine Scholar, with Highest Honors.

Peter is one of the teaching Masters at the Court of Master Sommelier Intro and Advanced Courses, and is an examiner at the Certified, Advanced, and Master Sommelier Examinations. In 2003 Peter began the first WSET school in Southern California. Currently, Neptune School of Wine administers the WSET Level 2 Intermediate, Level 3 Advanced, and Level 4 Diploma Certification programs, as well as the French Wine Scholar program and exam. To date we have taught over 500 students at the various levels.

Peter Neptune Wine Classes At Hi-Time!

2/24 Burgundy
3/30 Rhône Valley
4/27 Bordeaux
5/25 Loire Valley
6/22 Sud
7/27 Champagne/Alsace

Classes run from 6:30-8:00 and cost $30.00.  We will have room for 35 people per class so please plan accordingly! You can purchase online, by phone or in-store; your receipt is your ticket to the class.

Cigar & Spirits #1 Cigar for 2015 - Romeo y Julieta Aging Room Capriccio

by Tobin Sharp 

Romeo y Julieta is one of the venerable brands we carry that has been around for quite a while (1875) yet still produces excellent cigars year in and year out.  The gold medals seen on their traditional label refers to the prizes won between 1885 and 1900-- and 100+ years later they are still winning awards, as seen by the below from Cigar & Spirits magazine.

"A new year is upon us, and that means the time has come to unveil Cigar & Spirits’ Top 20 Cigars of 2015. We saw a influx of exceptional cigars onto the marketplace this past year, marking 2015 as the most competitive class we have ever scored for our Top 20. While we may now be setting our sights on what 2016 will bring to the table; first, let’s take a look back at the very best that 2015 had to offer. All of the cigars listed were expertly tasted and scored by our tasting panel with over 100 years of combined cigar and industry experience. Enjoy!"

#1. The Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Aging Room Capriccio 6 X 54
Wrapper: Habano Dominicano
Binder: Habano Dominicano
Filler: Habano Dominicano

Tasting Notes: Medium to full-bodied, rich and savory with subtle and complex nuances of flavor.

Tasting notes:  With hints of coffee and leather, unveling the taste of red pepper, baker's spice, natural tobacco and sweetness reminiscent of cranberries, the flavors blend together in a beautifully austere fashion.  The second two thirds of the cigar reveal a creamy vanilla that blossoms into a more robust floral.  An impressive burn and draw from start to finish.

$11.59 ea. [#107225]

February 2016 Wine Bar Schedule

Lots of great tastings scheduled this month-- and the return of our wine classes!  Our own Connor Clarke gets us started then we have Master Somm and store friend Peter Neptune beginning the first of his six sessions running through July.  "Under the Radar" Spanish wines is Connor's topic on the 10th with Peter exploring Burgundy on the 24th.  Customer faves Champagne and Cal Cabs make their Saturday appearances and we will have a "Star Wars" trivia night with Kiss Kiss Bangs Bangs toward the end of the month.  We hope to see you here!