News & Events
Check the BLOG
for the wine we are serving today.
Highlights from the last newsletter:
Sept 1, 2010
Thursday Dragonette Tasting Event - one of the best new wineries in Santa Barbara
At a recent wine show "The Stars of Santa Barbara" Dragonette Cellars stood out to us as offering some of the best wines from the area. Brothers John and Steve Dragonette and close friend Brandon Sparks-Gillis joined to make wine their own way, organically and using a more natural approach. They are 100% hands-on, have no employees, and each of them contributes their time, effort and hard physical labor to the end product. Brandon joins us as we taste their current releases of Sauvignon Blanc (best I've ever tasted from CA), Pinot Noir Fiddlestix, Syrah, MJM (new blen!) and Rose. Tasting wine like this makes us excited. Come and experience some exceptional wine. Drop by anytime from 5:30 - 8:30 $17. Special pricing on the wines Thursday night only.New Zealand finally rates at the Lab...
I've dutifully tasted New Zealand wines over the past 3 years wondering if I would ever find good QPR (Quality Price Ratio) wine. It was always too expensive or not balanced, or just not very good (in my humble opinion.) I was blown away a few weeks ago when I tasted the Craggy Range line of wines a few weeks ago. Here are three of our favorites:
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2008
Craggy Range Te Kahu 2008, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, blend of
Craggy Range Sophia 2005, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, blend of 62% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, hand-picked, de-stemmed and aged for 19 months in French oak of which 80% is new. 93 pts Wine Advocate "This tastes like Cheval Blanc Bordeaux at a fraction of the price."
Ballet of Angels - best selling white wine in New England...
This
non-vintage wine is a real "porch pounder" - we can drink it all day. Our
first wine from Connecticut, it should be a hit at cocktail
parties and barbecues. The flavors and style of this wine make it the
perfect accompaniment to spicy dishes such as Cajun and Asian cuisine.
We
call it the "creepy baby" wine after the picture on the label from the New
York Historical Association museum in Cooperstown, New York.
Interesting wine and beer flights every day. Click
here for today's wine.
Plus, Ed's Red 2007 AD
started to taste great so it's on the Good Red Flight starting Friday!
Vote
for Wine Lab We
can't help but be game for these online popularity contests. Stroke our
ego and vote for us here:
http://orangecounty.citysearch.com/bestof/nominees/2010/wine_list
Beer
on Tap
Beer on tap tastes better. There are reasons. Beer is sensitive to light, thats why better beers have tinted bottles. Beer is also sensitive to temperature, oxygen and time. They do not typically age and the beer from your party keg is pumped with air so it oxidizes and is not as good the second day. Our beer is fresh, cold and pumped with carbon dioxide from an immaculately clean system. We're committed to artisan breweries.
As of July 22, we will have Arrogant Bastard Ale and Stone IPA on tap and offer a beer flight for $4
Anthill
2008 Pinots released, Linne Calodo too
Anthill Farms Pinot Noirs are the rare California wine that gets love
from both new and old world wine lovers. We have only 1 case each of
their appilation Pinots and they always sell out. These are wines I
encourage you to mature for a year or more. Buy it for a special event
a couple years down the road.
Click
here for our current inventory.
We also received 6 bottes
of Linne
Calodo Rising Tides 2008. One of our favorite cult
producers in Paso Robles. These also need at least a year in the bottle
so plan accordingly.
Hello Kitty Wine?!
Put some Yelp in your pocket...
Thoughts on a new year...
A good customer ends his Facebook and blog posts with the tag line "WINE LIFE." What this means to me is the appreciation of the ways wine can enrich your life experience. Having just turned 50 myself, I've also been thinking a bit more about life.I just read an article about Dan Buettner's book "Blue Zones" which distills pertinent tips from the longest living cultures in the world. Just a quick summary:
Move (our bodies were made for it, make moving unavoidable)
80% Eating Rule (stop eating when you're 80% full)
Plant-Power (more veggies, less protein and processed foods)
Drink Red Wine (consistency and moderation)
Find Your Purpose (without passion, it is dull)
Down Shift (work less, slow down, rest, take vacation)
Belong (create a healthy social network)
Your Tribe (make family & friends a priority)
All these make sense to me. When it comes to wine, I think it crosses over several of these principles. Wine, to me, is all about sharing. Some of my most memorable experiences are coupled with good wines. I've talked about tasting groups before and encourage all wine lovers to try and find a group of people that you would like to regularly share your wine with. We're happy to help organize them - just reply to this email if you are interested and we'll try to put some new ones together. Who knows, we might just all live a bit longer (and definately happier!)
Upcoming Events
| Daily |
Great flights and glasses of wine changed at least once
a week. Click here for today's wine |
| Thursday Sept. 2 5:30 - 9 PM | Dragonette Cellars Winery Tasting Event At a recent wine show "The Stars of Santa Barbara" Dragonette Cellars stood out to us as offering some of the best wines from the area. They are young and new and making wine in their own way, organically and using a more natural approach. Winery partner Brandon Sparks-Gillis joins us as we taste their current releases of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, MJM and Rose. Tasting wine like this makes us excited. Come and experience some exceptional wine. $17. Drop by anytime that evening. |
| Tuesday Sept 7 | CLOSED the day after Labor Day |
| Friday Sept. 17 6 - 8 PM | B.R. Cohn Winery Tasting Event (details TBD) |
| Wednesday Sept. 22 5:30 - 9 PM | Tablas Creek Winery Tasting Event (details TBD) |
| Sunday Sept. 19 4 - 7 PM | Alzheimer's Research fundraiser $35 includes 5 wines paired with cheeses - 50% goes to charity plus 10% of all bottle sales |
| Thursday Sept. 23 6 - 8 PM | Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Ana fundraiser $35 includes 5 wines paired with cheeses - 50% goes to charity plus 10% of all bottle sales |
| Tuesday Sept. 28 5:30 - 9 PM | J. Lohr Winery Tasting Event (details TBD) |
| Friday Oct. 8 | Milan Vineyards Tasting Event (details TBD) |
Store and Wine Bar Schedule
| Monday | Closed | Share a nice bottle at home with your friends |
| Tuesday - Thursday |
4 - 9 PM |
Happy
Hour till 6 PM - 25% off flights,
glasses & pizzas |
| Friday | Open early for your weekend wine. Happy Hour till 6 PM - 25% off flights, glasses & pizzas Reservations Recommended after 6 PM |
|
| Saturday | 2 - 10 PM | Happy
Hour till 5 PM - 25% off flights,
glasses & pizzas Reservations Recommended after 6 PM |
| Sunday | Happy
Hour till 5 PM
- 25% off flights,
glasses & pizzas Open till 9 if we have business or 7 if we don't. |
The Lab is available for your special event -- from small groups in our lounge to private events, contact us for details.
Our Current Crushes
The fastest selling wine in our history is back...
We were amazed last
year when El Nido Clio,
a $45 wine, sold out within a week. We tried to get more - it was all
gone! If you want a special bottle of big, juicy, structured,
goodness to share on special occasions, now is the time to
stock up. ChrisAnn and I were so intrigued by this wine, we
visited the vineyard in Jumilla when we were in Spain last
year. We barrel tasted the Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre used to
make this new vintage and it was magnificent.
(Click
to Buy)the Bitch is Back...
This wine was a hit
last year. Light, fun, irreverent (all
things we want to be....)
Give it to your
loved ones, pop it at your parties, chill it
down for a cocktail alternative.
$1 lower
than last year (cuz we rolled
the dice an bought lots) $10.99 ($9.89 club), only $9.99 for
Bubbly!
Buy
and let us ship it for you at our online shop (click)Sanguis As The Crow Flies
Amazing Rhone blend from a tiny winery that wants to be the next Sine Qua Non.
Erna Schein Cemetery Cabernet 2006
This Cab tastes like $150+ cult cabs. Only 8 bottles left and winery sold out.
More special, limited wine by Behrens & Hitchcock and Erna Schein - click here
Lab and customer favorite, Urban Uco Malbec - Tempranillo is back and as good as ever! This is killer QPR (quality price ratio) wine from Mendoza. Buy it as your house wine, for your party, or to bring to a friend. Fruit, structure, great mouth feel, smooth rich finish. $10.99 ($9.89 club) Buy it online- click here
Eric Kent Stiling Vinyard Russian River Valley 2007 $41.99 is probably the best Pinot we've tasted from Kent so far.
Many of you jumped on our last Arcadian Pinot Noir deal, loved it, and came back for more. We still have the Arcadian Dierberg Chardonnay 2006 in stock for $25.99. A great $40 Chardonnay at a recession price. If you don't think you like Chardonnay, you owe it to yourself to try this one. Cheep Chard usually sucks. Good Chard is lovely.
2007 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel was just rated 95-97 Points by Parker last month:
"The profound 2007 Esprit de Beaucastel (a blend of 44% Mourvedre, 29% Grenache, 21% Syrah, and 6% Counoise) boasts a glorious perfume of roasted herbs, Peking duck, soy, blueberries, blackberries, and bouquet garni. This elegant yet powerful, dense, multilayered wine saturates the palate, possesses multiple dimensions, beautiful nuances, and a stunningly long finish that lasts over 40 seconds. It should provide plenty of pleasure over the next 10-15 years."
Alexs Simcic Giocato Pinot Grigio 2008
Some of you tasted Slovenian winemaker Edi Simsic's wines a few months ago at the Lab. I've been waiting for this wine to be released and it's finally here! This is the best Pinot Grigio at this price ($11.99) I've tasted.
Get In the Game - Taste Wine Like a Pro
We've occasionally invited good customers to drop by on Wednesday afternoons while we taste new wines. We've said it before - the best way to learn about wine is to taste lots of wine. The few that have experienced it have enjoyed it quite a bit. We are willing to allow up to two customers to "hang" with Roger as he evaluates new wines on a Wednesday afternoon. You MUST make a reservation to participate. You must be a known Wine Lab customer. We encourage you to swirl, sniff, and spit (we often taste about 30 wines in an afternoon.) You will be asked for your critical opinion. Do not wear any perfume or cologne (this is good advice for whenever you go wine tasting.) EMAIL roger@winelabnewport.com if you want to make a reservation to expand your palate and taste like a pro. There is no charge.Charity Fundraisers ... Use Wine Lab for Your Next Event
We want to give back to our community and friends. We offer to charitable organizations, foundations, and schools the opportunity to use the Wine Lab to raise funds for your cause. Because of the numerous requests for contributions and donations that we receive, we have created an enjoyable and turnkey program for your organization. Click here to download a printable pdf and find out more.Logo Wear for Devotees
We have some logo shirts available that are produced on-demand by CafePress. Just go to this site, and indulge in some Wine Lab accouterments.Bring in your Corks!
Natural Cork is a perfect choice for recycling. It’s 100% natural, biodegradable and renewable. There is no reason natural wine corks should end up as landfill when recycled cork can become flooring tiles, building insulation, automotive gaskets, craft materials, soil conditioner and sports equipment. ReCORK America has instituted a pilot program in California and the Pacific North West to recycle natural cork wine closures. It should be emphasized that only natural cork is being accepted. No plastic or metal closures please. Bring them to the Lab and we will get them recycled!
L'Aventure scores!
Our good friends at L'Aventure's 2007 wines have just been scored by Parker at the Wine Advocate. They are blockbuster - Congrats! Come and get some at the Lab before they are sold out. All currently available in original wood case 6 packs while supplies last!
|
2007 | L'Aventure Winery Cabernet Sauvignon | 94+ | 83.99 |
|
|
2007 | L'Aventure Winery Estate Cuvee | 95 | 83.99 |
|
|
2007 | L'Aventure Winery Cote A Cote | 95 | 83.99 |
Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir & Olive Oil
I have 5 bottles of Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir for sale. Usually mailing list only, I recently met the winemaker Wes Hagen. His are wines you want to hide away for a few years as they get much better with age. Wes is a fanatic about his wine but he also makes a small amount of estate Olive Oil. When I tasted it, I had to have some.Castalia Rochioli
Some regard Rochioli Pinot Noir as some of the best from California. I got a tip that the winemaker for Castalia Rochioliwas in town. We rendezvoused at Baja Fresh and tasted it out of a plastic cup. Getting a case for you was a no-brainier. If you want some amazing Rochioli fruit at a great price ($49.99), now's your chance. Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine - 96 Points
News Archive
2009 and earlier Newsletter Archive (click)