Hello and Happy New Year Dear Friends,

This month we've got alot for you: what we’re pouring in the Tasting Room, a new show and artist's reception in the Gallery, Books, Movies, Recipes, and of course the Wines!

This month Micaela and Al put together an excellent selection of wines for us to try in the Tasting Room. Click here to check them out now and then come on down for a visit. WE’re open Wed-Sun 12-6 for tastings.

This week we hung a new show of John Melvin’s paintings. We absolutely love them and think you will, too. You are invited to attend the Artist’s Reception on Friday Feb 11 from 5-8 pm. John will be here to personally discuss his work with you. We will provide food, wine and live music.

Books: Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking, by Michael Gelb, 2010. New York Times bestselling author Gelb opens readers' eyes to the remarkable power of wine to tap into creative potential, awaken genius, and forge bonds with friends.

Movies: Aeon Flux, 2005: Aiming to hasten an uprising, the leader of an underground rebellion (Frances McDormand) dispatches acrobatic assassin Aeon Flux (Charlize Theron) to eliminate the government's top leader in this futuristic thriller based on the popular animated MTV show. It's the 25th century, and a rampaging virus has forced the remnants of humanity into seclusion. But political conflict swirls within, and the climate is ripe for revolution.

The September Issue, 2008: Director R.J. Cutler's documentary offers a rare look inside Vogue as the fashion magazine's influential editor, Anna Wintour, and creative director, Grace Coddington, produce the highly anticipated September issue. Cutler captures the demanding creative process in action for nine months, following perfectionist Wintour and stylist Coddington as they attend fashion week in Europe, endless photo shoots and intense staff meetings.

More than a Game, 2008: Four African American hoopsters including LeBron James, who became an NBA megastar but faced a media maelstrom in his pressure-cooker senior year, test their unique bond when they prep for playoffs at their elite, largely Caucasian high school. Filmmaker Kristopher Belman crafts a compelling profile of raw talent, commitment and true friendship, all centered on Sian Cotton, Willie McGee and Romeo Travis.

Recipes: People have been asking me for my vinegar, mustard, and sauerkraut recipes, so I’m going to let you in on these closely guarded family secrets. Plus we got lemon bars for you, too. Read on...

Wine Vinegar: 1 cup Braggs Cider Vinegar with the mother in it, 2 cups good wine, 1 cup water. Pour into ½ gallon Mason jar, cover the opening with a piece of muslin or flannel and seal with a rubber band. Take a piece of masking tape and write the date on it with a sharpie and attach to the jar. Set next to stove for 4-6 weeks. A white crust may form. It will sink to the bottom when ready. Taste your vinegar at 4 weeks and decide if it needs to go 2 more weeks. When ready, decant 3 cups of it to a handsome wine bottle, label it and put a pretty stopper in it. Decant or filter the gross stuff, if any, from the last cup and start a fresh batch with it. This kind of vinegar is good for giving lots of dishes a little lift. I love it when I’m sautéing greens from the garden. Remember the better the wine you start with, the better the vinegar….

Mustard: ½ cup each brown and yellow mustard seed, preferably organic. You can get this from Frontier. Add to blender and chop until the mustard is ground to your preferred consistency. Add ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon each black pepper, allspice and cardamom. Vary herbs and spices with the seasons. Next put 1 cup of white wine vinegar from above recipe and 1 cup of water in a 3 cup measuring cup and add most to all of it to the blender. Blend and then stir for a couple minutes until the mixture has the consistency of a milk shake. Don’t worry. It will firm up in the fridge. Using a canning funnel, pour mustard into a 3 cup mason jar or 3 one cup mason jars, seal it with a mason jar lid and band and put in fridge overnight to firm up. Oila, you’re done. Please use caution when handling mustard. It and its vapors burn the skin, eyes and soft tissues. Mostly, be careful to keep your face away when opening the blender after grinding the mustard seed as hot mustard vapor blows off.

Sauerkraut: Quarter one medium sized head of green cabbage and then run through a mandolin slicer set on fine, taking care to avoid slicing the tips of your fingers off. Using a canning funnel, add sliced cabbage to a ½ gallon mason jar until it is full. Press the cabbage down with a wooden spoon or punchdown device. Add more cabbage until the jar is ¾ full. Prepare a salt solution using 1 teaspoon of salt per cup of water. You will need 5-6 cups. Should you ever wonder how salty this is, it will have the consistency of tears. How romantic. Just cover the cabbage with the salt water. Cover the top of the jar with a piece of muslin or flannel and seal with a rubber band. Take a piece of masking tape and write the date on it with a sharpie and attach to the jar. Place the mason jar on a plate in case it overflows (yes it can). Each day punch down the cabbage and taste it from time to time. It will be ready when the cabbage no longer rises to the top, 1 to 4 weeks. You’ll know. At that point seal it with a mason jar lid and band and put it in the fridge. Use it with your favorite Sauerkraut recipes like Kraut Dogs!

Our Meyer lemon tree has a wonderful crop this year and I’ve been making lemon bars. Needless to say they are awesome! Please consult Cook’s Illustrated’s Best Recipes Book for the recipe I used. It’s heavenly.

The Wines: WE’ve had a wonderful two months finding wines from all over the globe. What you see below is a smattering of some of the new ones. Please visit our shopping website and call us at the same time so we can help you select the wines which are right for you. As always we stand at the ready to serve you.

Adelsheim Oregon Pinot Noir 2008 wa 91 ws 90 “With its broad array of origins and clones, this wine displays both red and black fruit aromas (cherries and raspberries), on the nose and the palate. In addition, one finds a light touch of brown ... more BN#413485 $25.00 SKU1586

Altamura Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ws 96 wa 95 This item is bundled. You need to buy an equal amount of some $50-100 wines in order to get this. more BN#411107 $87.00 SKU1389

Balletto Estate Pinot Noir 2009 This dark, garnet colored Pinot Noir exhibits floral aromas of rose petals intertwined with spice components of ginger, dusty earth and a hint of vanilla. Fruit aromas of raspberry and cassis form the core of ... more BN#415132 $20.00 SKU1140

Coho Headwaters 2008 Ultra rich yet balanced, showing an aromatic savory spice, mocha and tobacco bouquet with complex black currant, cherry and wild berry aromas; a supple texture, silky density and polished tannins. The resulting "Bordeaux blend" of ... more BN#409673 $48.00 SKU1298

Pahlmeyer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2007 wa 95 we 94 ws 93 Green-yellow in color, the 2007 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay reveals concentrated aromas of white nectarine, fresh pineapple, gardenia, apple blossom, crème fraiche and minerals. It is crisp and lively on the palate with a lingering finish. more BN#285948 $76.00 SKU1432

Chasseur Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 wa 92 ws 91 This forthcoming, fruit-laden Pinot Noir delivers aromas as vibrant as its ruby color, and its mix of Santa Rosa plum, brandied cherry, cranberry-orange compote, panettone, roasted grain and coriander seed scents forms an almost juicy ... more BN#270765 $42.00 SKU1001

Forman Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 wa 95 ws 92 The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate may be one of Ric Forman’s finest wines to date (keep in mind he was producing some of the great Sterling Cabernet Sauvignons of the early 1970s). The 2007 is ... more BN#414451 $88.00 SKU689

BV Reserve Tapestry 2007 ws 93 This red shows excellent structure, intensity, depth and concentration, with a mix of spice, dried currant, blackberry, mocha, cedar and licorice. Full-bodied, at points rustic and chewy, yet also elegant and refined, ending with earthy ... more BN#410086 $45.00 SKU1590

Walter Hansel South Slope Pinot Noir 2008 wa 91-93 From the estate’s highest elevation Pinot Noir vineyard, the 2008 Pinot Noir The South Slope (all from Dijon Clone 777) boasts a dark ruby color as well as abundant amounts of dark raspberry and kirsch ... more BN#409474 $40.00 SKU858

Neyers Carneros District Chardonnay 2009 A Chardonnay that, while rich and exotic, is also subtle and complex. Over the top wine is not our objective, hence our restrained use of oak cooperage. more BN#405862 $33.00 SKU1186

Dry Creek Vineyard Mariner Meritage 2006 ws 92 The 2006 Mariner exudes the qualities of a fine Bordeaux. At first swirl, this wine presents a beautiful mix of bright cherry, chocolate, and cassis elements framed by subtle notes of vanilla bean and coffee. ... more BN#401686 $42.00 SKU531

Domaine Meyer-Fonne Pinot Blanc Vieilles Vignes 2008 Meyer Fonne: "Year on year our old Pinot Blanc vine stocks produce a remarkable wine: an alliance of richness and freshness with complex notes of white, smoky and honey-laden fruit." 2008 is an A rated ... more BN#285955 $20.00 SKU1430

Loring Wine Company Brousseau Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007 ws 92 2007 was a great vintage in California. Low yields (as much as 40% lower than normal at some sites) lead to some deep, concentrated wines. The weather cooperated, so we were able to get big ... more BN#280802 $42.00 SKU1385

Seghesio Family Vineyards Sonoma Zinfandel 2009 Wild berry patch aromas and scents of freshly baked bread Desired varietal markers of raspberries, blackberries and Zin’s briary spiciness reflect the excellent 2009 vintage Zin’s ever-present acidity enhances the finish and fine, dusty tannins ... more BN#408140 $24.00 SKU70

Weingut St. Urbans-Hof Ockfen Bockstein Riesling Spätlese 2009 ws 94 The cool winds coming down from the Hunsrück hills influence the grapes' ripening by forcing them to produce aromatic potential rather than high sugar levels. Elderflower, lilac, violet, and rose are the floral notes attributed ... more BN#296125 $28.00 SKU600

From all of us at the Wine Emporium we urge you to keep drinking!

The knowledge and appreciation of fine wine is the mark of a cultivated life.

All the best, Al, Micaela & Tom James