We just received word that, prior to its release, the Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 2005 scored a whopping 96 points in the Wine Spectator. We're not really surprised, of course. We've been in love with all their wines for years now, and in particular, the Clos Apalta. This rock-star red has been getting outstanding ratings for a decade, but this is the highest praise yet. "Gorgeous aromas of warm ganache and mocha lead to a rich, velvety palate loaded with currant, fig paste, black licorice, cassis, bush and bramble notes. The long juicy finish has great grip and density, with echoes of graphite, dark fruit and mineral. Should greatly reward cellaring. Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2009 through 2019."

 

Please enter your request now for this wine. We will be getting a very limited shipment of the 2005 Clos Apalta in a week or so, and will have to allocate it among those who submitted requests.

 

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CLOS APALTA 2005, Chile, $79.97 (Normal $89.95)

We have a very special offer going on right now for a wonderful Napa Cabernet in a large format bottle. The Calistoga Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2003. Roger Louer and several friends bought 11 acres of vineyards in Napa Valley, and they have been making wonderful, elegant wines that we like a lot. Ever since we started carrying Calistoga Cellars, they have been instant customer favorites. The 2003 Cabernet is full of Napa charm, has tons of depth, richness and purity of flavor. You'll notice layers of plum and cherry with touches of chocolate, herb and oak. Soft tannins linger in the finish.

 

We have a limited number of these beautiful magnums on our Wine Sale shelf. Order now and we will grab you one. This big bottle makes a great gift!

 

This wine is part of our end-of-bin selection. You can email us your interest and we will be happy to process your order. However, this item cannot be purchased directly on-line through our e-store.

 

CALISTOGA CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003, Napa Valley, $54.97 (Normal: $74.95)

There's a particular Chardonnay in our current sale that I brought to a Derby party last weekend and the crowd reaction was as exciting as a photo finish. Everybody loved it! It was the Columbia Crest "Grand Estates" Chardonnay 2005 from Washington State. Wine Spectator describes it well: "86 points. Smooth and polished, with creamy oak and peach fruit, lingering gently on the finish." This was a very pleasant surprise from a winery I thought I had all figured out. Their wines are very reasonable, and they just get better and better, without boosting the price tag.

 

COLUMBIA CREST "GRAND ESTATES" CHARDONNAY 2005, Washington, $9.97 (Normal $11.95)

Not long ago, the word mascarpone drew quizzical looks. Nowadays, the name is the only thing obscure about this velvety, rich cream cheese. One story suggests that a visiting 16th-Century Spanish dignitary tasted fresh mascarpone in Italy and proclaimed it "mas que bueno" - better than good! In the early 1990s, as U.S. chefs discovered how many people loved tiramisu, its chief ingredient - mascarpone - exploded in popularity.

 

It was only a matter of time before Allison Hooper and Bob Reese, cofounders of Vermont Butter & Cheese Company, were asked to create mascarpone locally. Since then, Vermont Mascarpone has garnered accolades for its fresh, luxuriously rich cream flavor and smooth, thick texture - perfect for spreading or swirling. Mascarpone is not only for tiramisu. Swirl mascarpone into soups or fold it into risotto and polenta, toss it into hot pasta with grilled veggies or smoked salmon. One of our favorite ways to use this fabulous stuff is to fill mini tart shells and swirl in a big dollop of our favorite luscious lemon jam (or curd) and top with a fresh blueberry, raspberry or slice of strawberry. People will think you have baked all day! Perfect for a spring celebration: simple and delicious.

 

VERMONT MASCARPONE $3.97 / 8 Oz

LARDER OF LADY BUSTLE LEMON CURD $6.97 / 10 Oz 

Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur that is served well-chilled in the summer. But it takes a while to make it just right, so starting now is perfect. It's just delicious, and tastes like lemon drops. The ingredients are simple and few, and making a batch doesn't require much work. I thought I'd re-run the directions for making this great Italian classic, so you can have a batch ready for the dog days of Summer.

Only a few weeks remain to sign up for our next Third Thursday Wine Class, May 15. This one's been in the works for six months and we're very excited about it. Our VIP is the multi-talented Fabian Yukich, National Wineries Manager for New Zealand's Villa Maria winery. We're going to get a chance to compare Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc with a ringer from another country, as well as a Pinot Noir match up. There'll be plenty of other Villa Maria wines, and a great chance to talk to the man who knows.

 

5/15 THU - 6:30 p.m., $20 for CAP members, non-CAP $25. Call today or email us to make sure we reserve a seat for you.

This Saturday in our tasting room we will be sampling many of the favorite wines from our Spring Sale, which is scheduled to end after the weekend. Also we will be tasting all sorts of treats for Mother's Day. Tasting room is open from 11 AM to 5 PM - Free.

 

Bordeaux 2007: Parker slams with faint praise

 

Wine Grapes & Climate Change

 

More Mondavi on the Map

That's all for this week. If we may be of any further service, please stop by our store at 9965 Gross Point Road in Skokie (for directions, click here), visit our website at http://www.schaefers.com, give us a call at 847-677-WINE (9463), 800-833-WINE (9463), or click here to contact us.