February - Hi-Time Wine Cellars

Marchand-Tawse 

A Canadian / Burgundian Tale 

Pascal Marchand is a real character and a solid chap to boot. He’s half a 

woodsman, half an old sea dog – a true one indeed, as he was once, right after 

his teenage years, in the merchant navy. He is also undeniably a woodsman, 

since he comes from Quebec, a country of vast forests, but also because “bois”, 

the French for “wood”, is the name given to the vine branches pruned in winter 

– and Pascal is clearly a vine-caring man: he showed his love for Burgundy’s 

vines when he moved here, which was to be expected, considering his love 

for wine, which, for him, is the vine’s first and foremost offspring. How can a 

wine be good if the grapes used to make it are not? Certainly not by following 

sheer chemical methods. Wine must reflect the earth that has nourished the 

vine-stocks. Just like man, wine must not forget its roots! 

Moray Tawse, owner of the Tawse family vineyards in Ontario, Canada 

(one of Canada's most acclaimed wineries), is committed to bringing together 

techniques and viticulture talents from his home region and from around the 

world. Last year Tawse acquired Domaine Maume in Gevrey-Chambertin, 

expanding his family holdings in Burgundy which include Premier Cru vineyards 

in Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Beaune, as well as 

additional holdings in Argentina. 

Marchand and Tawse formed their new partnership in 2011. The partnership 

of these two long-time friends and business associates marks a commitment 

to creating wines that are the best expression of some of Burgundy’s most 

celebrated terroirs. We are huge fans of Pascal and look forward to even more fantastic wines through his partnership 

with Moray Tawse. [More on their partnership here] 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 2010 bourgogne rouge $21.99 [#321319] 

The 2010 Bourgogne is fantastic-- the nose leads with sweet cherry and tart pomegranate balanced with light 

spice and earth. The palate keeps with the same fruit flavors, a balanced chiaroscuro mouthful that, while definitely 

pretty, is surmounted by great acidity and bolstered with rich viscosity to make quite a complete, tasty Bourgogne. 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 2010 bourgogne “AVAlon” $28.99 [#321320] 

Avalon: the mythical island out of Welsh folklore and Arthurian legend you can go to only after being initiated. 

You have to be able to call the bark to take you there. A place where the apples and the grapes are growing by 

themselves and where the soil does not need to be ploughed. A place where the Sages go to retire. 

This unusual Burgundy Pinot Noir is a blend of wines from several different appellations and vineyards all of which 

are more than 35 years old.(Côte de Nuits-Village, Savigny-lés-Beaune, Pernand Vergelesses and Chorey les Beaune.) 

The ‘cuvées’ for this blend have been very carefully selected; firstly from winemakers that Pascal has known for a 

long time and whose wines he likes and secondly with reference to the site of the vineyards and the age of the vines. 

The wines are chosen, aged and blended to produce a pure expression of Pinot Noir in relation to the vintage. 

Once blended, ‘Avalon’ is aged in barrels but without any new wood. Bottling after 24 months of aging. All the aging 

operations are carried out according to the lunar calendar. 

Continued Page 2 

Hi-Time 

250 Ogle Street • Costa Mesa, CA • 92627 

Wine Cellars 

DIGITAL EDITION 

February • 2013 

949-650-8463 

800-331-3005 

949-631-6863 FAX 

www.hitimewine.net 

www.twitter.com/mrhitime 

Wine of the Month 

VistAlbA 2011 "Corte C" MAlbeC / 

CAbernet sAuVignon $8.95 [#378106] 

Bodega Vistalba was built in the year 2002 

on a family farm in the heart of Vistalba (Luján 

de Cuyo), Argentina. The architecture style is 

"Criollo" or Argentine native style. This blends 

perfectly into the classic Mendoza terroir. 

Following the heritage of his ancestors 

and the traditional winemaking that the first 

Italian and Spanish immigrants brought 

to Argentina, this is where owner and 

winemaker Carlos Pulenta developed his 

personal undertaking of blending wines 

involving members of his family, advisors, 

enologists and a highly-esteemed group of 

people who knew his land well. 

If the Vistalba name and "Corte C" 

designation sound familiar-- they should. 

We've featured different vintages of this same 

wine many times before, including the 2005 

which was our wine of the month in October, 2008. Besides 

being an amazing wine (yet again!), it's an even better 

bargain at $8.95, a dollar cheaper then 5 years ago while 

still tasting like a wine in the $15-20 price range! This year's 

blend (80% Malbec, 20% Cab) may be the best one yet! 

The nose is an enticing blend of red and black berry 

fruits, cherries and blackberries, surrounded by a midnight 

garden floral ambiance-- the perfume is captivating! 

Subtle notes of briar and cedar wood with a light touch 

of mixed spices and tobacco make for a more complex, 

rich aromatic milieu. The palate continues with the red 

and dark fruit flavors, suspended in an unctuous body 

and mouthfeel. Notes of charcuterie and leather meld 

with silky tannins and appropos acidity leading to a layer 

of spice and underbrush. The finish is lengthy, tasty and 

memorable. This is a great wine of the month to start 

the year with and will get even better over the next year 

or two-- stock up and enjoy this one!

Marchand-Tawse 

A Canadian / Burgundian Tale 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 2010 MoreY-sAint-Denis 

"rue De VergY" $44.99 [#321079] 

Plot located on the top of the hillside, above the Clos de Tart. 

stePHen tAnZer 90 Points: “(30% vendange entier; one-third new oak): Good 

bright, deep red. Slightly high-toned aromas of black cherry, raspberry coulis and spices. 

Sweet and fine-grained; in a very ripe, charming, rather delicate style, showing more 

finesse today than the village Chambolle. Nicely balanced wine, finishing with sweet, 

suave tannins and noteworthy juicy persistence.” 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 2010 VolnAY 1er Cru $50.99 [#321324] 

On the Meursault side of the vineyard just below the ‘Route des Grands Crus’ and 

Les Angles, which is on the Pommard side just below the village. 

stePHen tAnZer 89 Points: “(from Champans and Les Angles; 10% vendange 

entier): Deep bright red. Fresh raspberry, red cherry and sweet oak on the nose, with a 

spicy accent. Sweet and creamy on the palate, but with nicely integrated acidity giving 

the wine good definition and freshness. The flavor of sour cherry carries through onto 

the finish, which features fine-grained tannins and very good lift. This will need time in 

bottle to gain in nuance.” 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 2010 CHAssAgne-MontrACHet 

"AbbAYe De Morgeot" 1er Cru $61.99 [#321082] 

Whole bunches lightly crushed by foot in the press before the main pressing. Long, 

slow barrel fermentation at low temperatures with lots of lees. No stirring of the lees. 

Aging 19 months in barrels with 20% new oak. One racking just before the bottling. 

Bottling without fining or filtration. All the aging operations are carried out with reference 

to the lunar calendar. 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 2010 Corton grAnD Cru 

$78.99 [#321327] 

stePHen tAnZer 92 Points: “(from vines in Le Corton and Rognet; just 10% 

vendange entier): Deep red-ruby. Captivating nose combines pomegranate, espresso, 

ginger, wasabi and cardamom; strong torrefaction notes emerge with air. Silky and pure 

on entry, then very intense but not yet especially complex in the middle palate, with 

lovely definition to the flavors of red berries and sweet spices. Spreads out impressively 

on the very firm finish. With its powerful tannin/acid spine, this wine is likely to require 

a good decade of bottle aging.” 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 2010 Vosne-roMAnÉe 

"les suCHots" 1er Cru $115.99 [#321081] 

stePHen tAnZer 92 Points: “(all whole clusters; 50% new oak; from 60-yearold 

vines in the upper part of the vineyard, near Richebourg): Good bright red. 

Exhilarating aromas of red cherry, raspberry, citrus zest, cocoa powder and flowers. 

Complex and razor-sharp, with tightly wound flavors of red berries, citrus peel and 

flowers. Really extraordinary brooding energy here. Almost painful on the very long, 

firmly tannic back end. This wonderfully precise wine is likely to require extended 

cellaring. Has the class of a grand cru.” 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 2010 eCHeZeAuX grAnD Cru 

$128.99 [#321329] 

stePHen tAnZer 91 Points: “(10% vendange entier): Good medium red. 

Pungent aromas of red berries and flinty minerality. Sweet, ripe and sexy, with an almost 

creamy texture and expressive, musky flavors of raspberry, red cherry and orange zest. 

Then toughens up dramatically on the back end, finishing with firm, oak-driven tannins 

and bracing minerality. From the lieu-dit en Orveau.” 

Also available: 

• MAISON MARCHAND-TAWSE 2010 MOREY-SAINT-DENIS CLOS DES ORMES 

1ER CRU $57.99 [#321080] 

•MAISON MARCHAND-TAWSE 2010 MEURSAULT $46.99 [#321321] 

• MAISON MARCHAND-TAWSE 2010 CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 

$53.99 [#321322] 

• MAISON MARCHAND-TAWSE 2010 VOSNE ROMANÉE $56.99 [#321323] 

• MAISON MARCHAND-TAWSE 2010 CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 

FEUSSELOTTES 1ER CRU $77.99 [#321325] 

• MAISON MARCHAND-TAWSE 2010 CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE 

GRAND CRU $115.99 [#321326] 

•MAISON MARCHAND-TAWSE 2010 MAZIS-CHAMBERTIN GRAND CRU 

$168.99 [#321328] 

• MAISON MARCHAND-TAWSE 2010 VOUGEOT GRAND CRU 

$134.99 [#321330] 

• MAISON MARCHAND-TAWSE 2010 CHARMES-CHAMBERTIN 

GRAND CRU $145.99 [#321331] 

Winebar Alert! Friday, February 8, 2013 • 4:30-8:30 p.m. 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 

Our cover feature! With special guest Mark Fincham! Mark is a Londoner who leads 

bicycle tours and has a master's degree in oenology from Lycée Viticole along with 

extensive experience in French winemaking. We're told he pretty much does anything 

and everything in the Marchand Tawse winery-- with excellent results (come try the 

wines!). $25 

2 hitimewine.net 800.331.3005

Hi-tiMe stAFF 

Diana Hirst - General Manager - x213 

Chuck Hanson - Wine Buyer/Dept. Manager - x216 

Keith Hanson - Liquor Manager - x227 

Matt Link - Floor Manager / Beer Man - x228 

Tracy Hanson - Chocolatier - x223 

Bill Carney - Floor Manager 

Rick Veach - Floor Manager 

Abbas Gharabaghi - Accessories Manager - x222 

Josh Hoover - Operations Mgr., French wine 

Sean Kinney - IT Manager / Webmaster 

Trayce Holliday - Liquor/Internet Sales- x257 

Forrest Cokely - Liquor, Mixologist 

Alejandro Pareja - Craft Beers & Spirits Specialist 

Robert Quevedo - Shipping Consultant - x258 

Mike Hirst - Maintenance 

Charlie Hirst - Internet Sales - x254 

Kyle Hirst - Sales 

Nic Bacey - Internet Sales - x254 

Kendall White - Asst. Chocolatier / Gifting Specialist 

Jordan Hanson - Specialty Soda Buyer 

Wine stAFF 

Tobin Sharp - Creative Director - x212 

Jim Duane - Sales Coordinator - x255 

Patty Quick - Spain, S. America, S. Africa - x231 

Dan Williams - North America - x230 

Todd Johnston - Wine Bar Manager - x244 

Ann D. Stephens - America, Imports, Wine Club 

Zack Korhonen - America - 234 

Gail Roberts - America, Imports, Private Events -x262 

Veronica Castro - America, Imports 

Rochelle Baumgartner - America, Imports - x266 

Eddie Thomas - America, Imports 

John Pate - Wine Bar 

Caprice White - Wine Bar 

sMoKe sHACK 

Lan Waterfield - Tobacconist -x225 

Russ Mars - Tobacconist - x225 

Blayne Hirst - Tobacconist - x225 

1-2 

Contents 

Marchand-Tawse / Wine of the Month 

3 New Wines from Australia 

4-5 North American Report 

6 Champagne / Late Additions 

7 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape 

8-9 Wine Bar & Events 

10 Beer 

11 Smoke Shack 

12 Terms of Sale / Food & Wine Events 

13-14 Spirits 

15 Sake / Universal Whisky Experience 

Note: Wikipedia used for encyclopedic 

purposes (maps, facts & figures) 

hitimewine.net 800.331.3005 

neW Wines FroM AustrAliA! 

Classy, cool-climate wines from our friends down under! 

PFeiFFer 2011 CHArDonnAY/MArsAnne $16.95 [#381074] 

Victoria, Australia 

Pfeiffer Three Chimneys 2011 Chardonnay Marsanne is a crisp and fresh, 

unwooded style white wine. Lifted aromatics of peach and melon characters 

complement delicate citrus flavors in this very refreshing wine. The Marsanne 

component adds a round yet delicate viscosity that brings gorgeous texture while 

maintaining the fresh and crisp style. 

De iuliis 2011 seMillon $19.95 [#381075] 

Hunter Valley, Australia - 100% Semillon 

The Hunter is renowned for producing some of the best Semillon in the world. 

This wine displays fresh, lifted, citrus characters, a light palate, and crisp, zesty 

acids. Perfect for early consumption, while still suited to cellaring. 

De iuliis 2010 sHirAZ $26.95 [#381078] 

Hunter Valley, Australia 

95 Points, toP 100 Wine list, JAMes HAlliDAY 

One of the great wines of Australia, Hunter Shiraz is powerful as it is subtle, 

with pure fruit flavors balanced by spice and earthy characters. Round, soft 

tannins mean it can be enjoyed young, but balance and great length of flavour 

ensure that this will reach its best in 5-10 years. Enjoy this fine example of a 

true Hunter Shiraz. 

MoorooDuC estAte 2010 CHArDonnAY $31.95 [#381076] 

Mornington Peninsula, Australia 

91 Points, JAMes HAlliDAY 

This wine is pale lemon in color with highlights of green. The nose is elegant 

and fine, with lemon and lime fruit aromas, a hint of grapefruit, ginger flower and 

nectarine, with some flinty notes. On the palate, the wines shows more stone fruit 

intensity and length with mineral notes to add to the citrus and floral components. 

The wine shows good balance of fruit and acidity and on the finish. 

100% wild yeast fermentation in French oak barrels, 25% being new 

Natural malolactic fermentation in barrel 

10 Months in wood on lees 

Light fining and filtration 

MoorooDuC 2010 Pinot noir $31.95 [#381077] 

Mornington Peninsula, Australia 

94 Points, JAMes HAlliDAY 

This pinot noir is made predominantly from McIntyre Vineyard fruit, with a 

little of the best from the Garden and Robinson Vineyards. The wine is dark in 

color and fruit expression, with exotic spice perfume and wonderful structure, 

complexity, and length, with velvety firm tannins and bright acidity that balance 

the depth of fruit. 

100% Wild yeast primary fermentation 

20 Days total on skins 

Natural malolactic fermentation in barrel 

100% French oak maturation, 30 % new 15 months in wood with 1 racking 

No fining and no filtration 

AnDreW tHoMAs 2010 sWeetWAter sHirAZ $44.95 [#381079] 

Hunter Valley, Australia 

93Pts , JAMes HAlliDAY’s Wine CoMPAnion 

Another individual vineyard Hunter Valley shiraz in our range, this one hailing 

from a vineyard located at Sweetwater Ridge in the northern part of the Lower 

Hunter. Planted in 1998, the red brown loam soils over limestone are what give 

this wine its unique floral lift and character. The relatively vigourous vines are 

usually crop thinned to around 4 tonnes per Hectare each year which ensures 

even ripening and produces wonderfully concentrated fruit. 

50 cases for US Market 

3

North American Report 

COLLECTOR’S CORNER!!! 

We would love to do a feature on each and every one of these wines, but the reality 

is that we get such a small supply, how do you write up something you only get one case 

of for the year??? So, we decided it would make more sense to list them all together. 

There have been some outstanding vintages in California, so we are showcasing some 

highlights; and we even brought a few out of our own library program! This is just a 

partial list of the domestic wines available, so we recommend stopping in to look at 

“The Vault” or checking out www.hitimewine.net . 

203900 – ABREU 2008 “MADRONA” CABERNET SAUVIGNON ............ $400.00 

WINE ADVOCATE 97 POINTS! 

206930 – BLANKIET 2004 CABERNET SAUVIGNON ............................. $275.00 


208860 – BOND 2008 “MELBURY” CABERNET SAUVIGNON ............... $300.00 

WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS! 

214510 – DANCING HARES 2009 PROPRIETARY RED ......................... $149.95 


228490 – HANZELL 2005 “AMBASSADOR’S” CHARDONNAY ............... $175.00 


230930 – HUNDRED ACRE 2009 “KAYLI MORGAN” 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON WINE ADVOCATE 95+ POINTS! ................... $300.00 

232290 – JONATA 2008 “LA SANGRE” SYRAH ....................................... $124.95 


237700 – LEVY & McCLELLAN 2005 CABERNET SAUVIGNON ............ $450.00 

WINE ADVOCATE 95+ POINTS! 

245260 – MORLET 2009 “MON CHEVALLIER” PROPRIETARY RED ..... $155.00 


245270 – MORLET 2009 “PASSIONEMENT” PROPRIETARY RED ........ $225.00 

WINE ADVOCATE 93-96 POINTS! 

253420 – RAMEY 2009 “PEDREGAL” CABERNET SAUVIGNON ........... $149.99 


274690 – RUDD 2008 PROPRIETARY RED ............................................ $190.00 


258330 – SCHRADER 2010 “T6” CABERNET SAUVIGNON ................... $350.00 


258350 – SCHRADER 2010 “RBS” CABERNET SAUVIGNON ............... $350.00 


258360 – SCHRADER 2010 “GIII” CABERNET SAUVIGNON ................. $350.00 


260130 – SINE QUA NON 2010 “THE MONKEY” PROPRIETARY WHITE $150.00 


270770 – VERITE 2007 “LA MUSE” PROPRIETARY RED ....................... $400.00 


270780 – VERITE 2007 “LE DESIRE” PROPRIETARY RED ................... $400.00 


Figgins 2008 ProPrietArY reD WAllA WAllA VAlleY 

$89.95 [#221550] 

While the Figgins family has been known for the extraordinary Cabernet, Merlot 

and Sangiovese they produced under the leonetti label, they have begun to branch 

out with different labels. This 2008 marks the inaugural release of their eponymous 

label, sourced entirely from the Figgins Estate Vineyard in Washington State’s Walla 

Walla Valley. The property is planted to several clones each of Cabernet Sauvignon, 

Petit Verdot and Merlot, and this 2008 perfectly exemplifies the brilliance of this vintage 

from Washington. The wine has loads of bright raspberry, blueberry, red apple cider, 

Grand Marnier, tobacco and sage with further notes of cassis, red fruits, blackberries, 

currants, fruit tree flowers and a slight hint of cedar shavings. On the palate the wine 

has a remarkable freshness and excellent length highlighted by super fine-grained, silky 

tannins. Having a core of precise “just ripe fruit” the wine has power but emphasizes 

restraint, elegance and balance. Oh…and it received 94 points from robert Parker’s 

Wine Advocate! 

by Dan Williams 

PAYDirt 2010 ProPrietArY reD 

PAso robles $29.95 [#249060] 

Paydirt is a group effort between the guys 

at Barrel 27 and one of their close friends. They 

had been trying to get together on a project for 

some time, but couldn’t find just the right fruit 

for the unique blend they wanted to create. 

But in 2010, the proverbial stars aligned, and 

they hit “pay dirt”! The wine is comprised of 

38% Grenache, 27% Zinfandel and 20% Syrah, 

with Mourvedre and Petit Sirah rounding out 

the blend. Aged in barrel for 18 months, this 

is everything we have come to expect from 

McPrice Myers and Barrel 27, showing cherry 

and strawberry from the Grenache dominating 

the aromas. The dark, black fruit of the 

Zinfandel, Syrah, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah 

play an obvious supporting role in this fivevarietal 

heritage blend. This wine is complex; 

it erupts with endless blueberry, blackberry and 

anise. The tannins are well-managed and a 

perfect match for this ripe and generous Paso 

Robles red wine. only 500 cases made! 

DoMAine DrouHin 2011 “ArtHur” 

CHArDonnAY DunDee Hills 

$26.99 [#216080] 

Pinot Noir takes the spotlight in the Oregon wine 

world… that’s just a fact. And when it comes to their white 

wines, Pinot Gris is center stage. That being said, it is this 

producer’s Chardonnay that has stunned us the past few 

vintages, and we think it’s been the best white from Oregon 

in several years! Named for winemaker Véronique Drouhin- 

Boss’ son, Arthur is produced entirely from estate fruit and 

is handmade at DDO’s landmark gravity flow winery in 

the Dundee Hills. The Chardonnay vines were planted in 

1992 and are 100% Dijon clones, some of the oldest such 

plantings in Oregon. Fermenting lots separately in stainless 

steel and in barrel, Véronique then creates a blend with 

refreshing purity of fruit, crisp minerality and vibrant acidity 

that is reminiscent of both Chablis and Meursault. 

The nose has explosive aromas of roasted nuts, hints 

of toasted oak, apples, crème brûlée and fresh lemon bars. 

On the palate, the juicy acidity and distinct minerality are 

the focus, yet the wine still shows flavors of green apple, 

melon, quince, citrus and just a slight hint of butter. This 

complex, refreshing, mouthcoating Chardonnay is a showstopper 

in our book! 


A seleCtion oF neW releAses FroM broKer KiMberlY Jones!!! 

Last year, we featured wine broker Kimberly Jones and her portfolio of amazing 

wines. Not only does she represent high-end, hard to find cult wines like Saxum, 

Scarecrow, Linne Calodo, Booker, Lindstrom, Dancing Hares, Hudson, and Blankiet, 

but she knows a good value when she sees it, and has quite a lineup of more everyday 

priced wines in the book, such as Butternut, The Paring, Stackhouse, Slingshot, and 

Barrel 27. She has the most enviable book of wines in California, and virtually everything 

she represents is stellar! During the last month, a few new releases have shown up that 

really have us salivating, and it would be a crime if we didn’t share them with you! 


tHe rule 2009 CAbernet sAuVignon 

nAPA VAlleY $19.95 [#268670] 

There are expectations of Napa Valley Cabernet. A specific 

set of “rules” must be followed. The grapes must be picked at 

a certain sugar range, fermented at the exact temperature for 

a certain amount of time and rest several months in the perfect 

combination of oak barrels. This Cabernet, brought to us from 

the same people who make Butternut Chardonnay, follow all 

of the rules except one... the price! The grapes for the 2009 

Rule were sourced from various locations throughout the Napa 

Valley, crushed and then fermented separately so winemaker 

Tom Leonardini (who learned the ropes at his family’s Whitehall 

Lane winery) could blend the best lots together in the future. The 

Rule was aged in barrel on French oak and finished on American 

oak. Aromas of black cherries and red raspberries, as well as 

vanilla and toasty oak. On the palate, the Rule has a silky, round 

mouth feel, but has more balance 

than you would expect at this price. 

The finish is long with mild tannins. 

The Rule is meant to be enjoyed 

Immediately, but will age gracefully 

for about eight years. 

CHerrY PiCKer 

2009 Merlot 

CAliForniA 

$16.95 [#212230] 

Kimberly Jones and Master Sommelier Chris Blanchard 

get many requests for good Merlots, but at an everyday 

price. It was hard to find one, so they just came up with 

their own, and anybody who has tasted their abilities with 

the Passenger Cabernet knows that Kimberly and Chris’ 

talents show in the bottle. This California Merlot was 

created to be just what the name implies, a cherry bomb 

of ripe red fruit, soft tannins, supple, luscious and a wine 

that you don’t have to analyze or work on describing... 

it just tastes good! The 2009 Cherry Picker was crafted 

from classic wine regions like Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino 

and the Central Coast, in order to take advantage of the 

different attributes and characters of those regions. The 

idea was to create a great tasting wine that I could take out 

for parties, a red wine that could be opened and enjoyed 

with pizza, hamburgers, a steak, or simply to knock out 

a few bottles with friends playing cards without having to 

analyze or think about what we were drinking. The wine 

has balance, with a moderate use of oak, alcohol under 

14%, loaded with juicy, ripe red cherry fruit, a round velvety 

mouthfeel and finishes with lush texture. only 290 cases 

produced! 

North American Report 

by Dan Williams 

KobAlt 2011 

sAuVignon blAnC 

nAPA VAlleY 

$27.95 [#235200] 

We already know these guys can make great 

Cabernets (evident from Kobalt Cab and Window Pane 

Red), but this bottling shows they can make great 

white wines, too! Sourced from a small, family-owned 

vineyard in Sonoma’s Knights Valley, the berries were 

exceptionally small, giving concentrated aromas and 

flavors. The grapes were cold pressed and fermented 

in a cement “egg.” The configuration of the “egg” allows 

the fermenting juice to stir itself. The continual stirring 

keeps the fermenting juice in contact with the yeast for 

the full fermentation cycle, making for a long and gentle 

process, preserving the clean, crisp natural flavor of the 

Sauvignon Blanc berry. Only 130 cases were made, and 

the wine just received 91 points from robert Parker’s 

Wine Advocate! “Kobalt’s 2011 Sauvignon Blanc is 

drop-dead gorgeous. Peaches, apricots, white flowers 

and crushed rocks all meld together in a gracious, 

beautifully crafted Sauvignon Blanc that impresses for 

its fabulous overall balance. Bright saline notes reappear 

to frame the vibrant, chiseled finish. Anticipated maturity: 

2012-2015.” 

bArrel 27 

2010 

“PounD 

For PounD” 

ZinFAnDel 

PAso robles 

$31.95 [#202220] 

Last year, on our annual Paso Robles trip, we stopped 

by our friends at Barrel 27 to taste through something 

like 30 barrels of wine to see what was new. They have 

quite a few new projects in the works, but one of the show 

stoppers was their Zinfandel! Turns out that since 2007, 

they have been searching for a Zinfandel vineyard whereby 

they could produce a quintessentially “Paso” Zin. They 

struck it rich in 2010 with Cushman Vineyard and “Pound 

for Pound” was born! Styled like the wines that made 

Paso Robles famous, this gigantic, layered, mammoth of a 

wine is showstopper. The nose offers a whopping dose of 

cherry cola, cranberry sauce, black licorice and red plum, 

with notes of star anise, fennel and cola berry. The finish 

is packed with zingy red fruit and fresh herb notes. Weighty 

but with fine, soft tannins, the addition of Mourvedre and 

Syrah add density and length to the finish. 

5

Late Additions 

by Tobin Sharp 

One More From France 

seigneurs De bergerAC 2011 seC 

$8.99 [#322945] 

50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon, 

10% Muscadelle 

The Bergerac wine-growing region, a subregion 

of South West France, is located around the town of 

Bergerac in the Dordogne department and comprises 93 

communes. Its boundaries correspond more or less with 

those of the Arrondissement (district) of Bergerac and 

it is located immediately east of the Bordeaux wine 

region. The name “Bergerac” apparently comes from 

the word “Bragayrac”, which is derived from the Gallic 

word “braca”, meaning “manufacturer of breeches” 

(the baggy trousers worn by the Gauls). You also may 

have heard of Cyrano de Bergerac, the famous French 

dramatist and duelist famed for possessing quite a 

large proboscis. 

In this case, with this semi-dry white blend, having 

Cyrano’s nose would be a definite blessing. The nose 

on this wine is lovely; beautifully rich spring fruits-- ripe 

melons, peach syrup and a mixed stone fruit melange-- 

are joined by scents of lanolin, vanilla cream and a light 

minerality. The palate is fat and lush but trimmed with 

appropriate acidity. Delicate flavor nuances of more 

peach and apricot meld with orange blossom and cream 

soda, a nice juxtaposition from the nose to mouth. The 

semi-dry wine has a leaning toward sweetness with the 

spring fruit flavors but finishes quickly as the acidity clears 

the palate, leaving a nice reverberation of (again) spring 

fruit and dewy grass. 

Moscato for the Masses! 

siP MosCAto $10.95 [#260710] 

So our North American wine buyer, Dan Williams, 

just got this wine in-- right before the newsletter was 

finished, but before we were going to load it online. 

And, knowing that I'm a sucker for interesting white 

wines (or just a sucker, in general) he had me taste it, 

potentially knowing that if I found it unique, cool and 

tasty, it would probably make its way into the February 

edition. Well, it worked; so, here it is! Moscato? Yes, 

Moscato! When you need a wine to go with dessert, 

from tarts and confections to cheeses and fruit, this 

is perfect-- as it is on its own. From jacuzzi pours to 

aprés ski favorites, this will fit many a bill. Moscato is 

also naturally high in antioxidants so potential health 

benefits apply, as well. But on to the wine! 

The nose is a Sauternes-ian, Gewürztraminer-ish 

blend of ripe apricot, tree flowers, honey suckle and 

a touch of clotted cream. The palate is luxurious, 

rich and delightful; stone fruits, liquid florals, cling 

peaches, ripe pear. Fermentation was arrested before 

completion to retain the desired level of sweetness 

and light carbonation. Finishes sweet and long; very 

celebratory. This is easy-drinking, enjoyable wine and 

at a great price-- try it and discover what's beyond the 

Chardonnay channel in white wine! 

Unique Boutique 

The 

Sensuous 

Champagnes 

of 

J. Lassalle 

by Jim "Bubblehead" Duane 

Today there is a growing wave of enthusiasm for Grower Champagnes as more and more 

people are discovering the excitement of Champagnes that are made with family pride and reflect a 

vigneron’s connection to his land. Some thirty years ago when this wave was but a ripple, we were 

proudly selling J. Lassalle Champagne to anybody that would listen. While our selection of domainebottled 

bubbly has ballooned over the years, Lasalle remains one of our top favorites. In fact, the 

Lassalle lineup has never been stronger as the press reviews below suggest. Headquartered in 

Chigny-les-Roses on the northern slopes of the Montagne de Reims, this boutique operation is ably 

run by Chatal Decelle-Lassalle and her winemaker daughter, Angeline Templier. There is great 

attention to quality here, beginning with healthy grapes and low yields along with a resistance to 

excessive pumping and filtration. Lassalle is one of the rare Champagne firms that allow all their 

base wines to deliberately finish their malolactic fermentation (as in Burgundy), a practice which 

adds depth an a sensuous expansiveness (ampleur) to all their offerings. Riddling is still done by 

hand, and all cuvées are aged extensively once in bottle—even the non-vintage cuvées, which 

are least five years old. 

brut 1er Cru “CACHet D’or” $29.98 [#325567] 

We know that this is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, but the ladies 

keep the exact percentage of each a house secret. Wine ADVoCAte 91 Points: “Another 

tasty entry-level offering, the NV Brut Premier Cru Cachet Or impresses for its energy 

and focus. Lemon oil, hazelnuts and dried flowers are all woven together nicely. There is 

brightness to the finish that is highly appealing. This is a terrific choice for drinking over 

the next few years. Disgorgement date: July 16, 2012. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.” 

brut rose 1er Cru $39.99 [#373813] 

A great Valentine’s Day call, like drinking a tingly sunset. Wine sPeCtAtor 92 Points: 

“A delicate, expressive version, offering fine texture and well-knit acidity, with a smoky, mineraltinged 

base note and flavors of wild strawberry, black cherry, biscuit, gumdrop, grated ginger and 

coconut. Drink now through 2020.” 

2004 blAnC De blAnCs $49.98 [#371357] 

This is definitely one of the very best Chardonnay Champagnes produced outside of the Cotes 

de Blancs. Wine sPeCtAtor 93 Points: “This unravels a skein of ground clove and nutmeg 

through flavors of mirabelle plum, almond financier, poached pear, date and candied lemon zest, 

supported by finely tuned acidity and refined texture. Minerally finish. Drink now through 2024.” 

Note that our price is the best by far that we have seen on the Internet. 

2004 brut “sPeCiAl Club” $64.95 [#374986] 

Lassalle’s best bubbly and a true “world beater”, but unfortunately it is also their most severely 

allocated. Wine ADVoCAte 94 Points: “The 2004 Brut Premier Cru Special Club is vivid and 

constantly changing in the glass. Light floral honey, juicy pears, white flowers, chamomile and 

subtle tropical overtones all grace the palate. The 2004 does a great job of balancing a fairly overt 

expression of fruit with bright aromas and vibrant minerality. All the elements are very much in sync 

in this beautiful, deeply expressive Champagne. Disgorgement date: June 13, 2012. Anticipated 

maturity: 2012-2019.” 


2009 CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPES 

As the dust settles and the books are closed on 2012, we have had time to look around and see the aftermath. 

One glaring thing was noticed. There are still some great 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Papes left on the shelves! Here are 

some of the stand-outs. Get them while they last, cause they wont last long! 

roger sAbon 2009 CHÂteAuneuF-Du-PAPe “oliVets” $42.99 [#324085] 

robert PArKer 91 Points - “The least expensive offering, the dense ruby/plum/purple-colored 2009 

Chateauneuf du Pape Les Olivets (80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Cinsault aged in wood foudres or smaller 

old oak barrels) is a classic example of Provence. Lush, dense, raspberry, fig, plum and cherry notes intermixed 

with lavender and underbrush emerge from this full-bodied, ripe, juicy, succulent, seductive wine. It should drink 

well for at least a decade.” 

roger sAbon 2009 CHÂteAuneuF-Du-PAPe reserVe $49.99 [#323178] 

robert PArKer 92 Points - “Even deeper-colored with more purple hues, the 2009 

Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve is composed of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault from 

nearly 70-year-old vines. This brilliant effort is one of the finest Reserves the Sabons have yet made. 

Dense and complex, it offers up notes of incense, charcoal, roasted herbs, meat juices, bouquet garni 

and lots of black currant and black cherry fruit. This full-bodied, voluptuously textured, multidimensional, 

superb Chateauneuf du Pape is accessible now and should age well for 10-15 years.” 

DoMAine girAuD 2009 CHÂteAuneuF-Du-PAPe trADition $39.99 [#323179] 

robert PArKer 94 Points - “Made from an identical blend, the 2009 Chateauneuf du 

Pape Tradition reveals deep kirsch liqueur notes intermixed with raspberries, smoked herbs, 

roasted meats and hoisin sauce. Complex, with great fruit, a voluptuous mouthfeel, low acidity 

and sweet tannin, it can be consumed over the next 10-15 years.” 

grAnD Veneur 2009 CHÂteAuneuF-Du-PAPe “les origines” 

$59.99 [#312570] 

robert PArKer 95 Points - “The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Origines (1,500 cases 

produced) is a blend of 50% Grenache, a whopping 30% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah with the latter 

two components spending time in new oak barrels. All of the fruit comes from vines that are nearly 

70 years of age. A great wine with an opaque ruby/purple color, sensational fruit intensity and 

notes of graphite, lavender, licorice, lead pencil shavings and subtle smoke, it is full-bodied, rich 

and powerful with low acidity and sweet, velvety tannins. It should drink well for 15+ years.” 

HAlos De JuPiter 2009 CHÂteAuneuF-Du-PAPe ADrAstee $49.99 [#322118] 

A project of the highly renowned southern Rhône oenologist Philippe Cambie as well as the proprietor of Château 

Nages, Michel Gassier, these are essentially high quality negociant wines made from outstanding sources in the 

southern Rhône.” 

robert PArKer 92 Points - “The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Adrastee (100% 

Grenache) reveals more licorice, lavender, plum, fig and kirsch characteristics in its fullbodied, 

sumptuous personality. More open-knit and forward than the 2010, it should drink 

well for 10-15 years. 

HAlos De JuPiter 2009 CHÂteAuneuF-Du-PAPe $46.99 [#322110] 

Wine sPeCtAtor 93 Points - “This red is densely packed and sports a good old-school 

edge, offering aromatic bittersweet cocoa, chestnut and roasted mesquite notes that give way 

to pure blackberry and cassis fruit, gliding effortlessly through the silky finish. A hedonistic wine 

with serious definition. Best from 2012 through 2023. 320 cases made.” –JM 

DoMAine oliVier HillAire 2009 CHÂteAuneuF-Du-PAPe trADition 

$52.99 [#324102] 

robert PArKer 91 Points - “The deep ruby/purple-colored 2009 Chateauneuf du 

Pape (90% tank-aged Grenache and 10% barrel-aged Syrah from 65-year-old vines) appears 

to have resolved all the tannins that stood out last year. Notes of black cherry liqueur, licorice, 

tobacco leaf, bouquet garni, roasted meats and peppery spice emerge from this full-bodied, 

luscious Chateauneuf meant for drinking over the next 10-12 years. .” 

DoMAine De MArCouX 2009 CHÂteAuneuF-Du-PAPe $69.99 [#323177] 

robert PArKer 92 Points - “The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape is showing slightly 

better out of bottle than it did last year. A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest 

Syrah and Cinsault, the wine has a deep plum/purple color and a sweet nose of raspberries, 

ground pepper, white flowers and licorice. It is full-bodied, opulent, and difficult to resist. It 

should drink well for 15 or more years.” 


7

21 Oceanfront Restaurant 

Upcoming Wine Events 

Join us for a Spectacular Sweetheart Winemaker Dinner 

Wednesday, February 13 th ~ 6:30pm 

$105 per person (plus tax & gratuity) 

executive Chef: Miroslav rusev ~ Winemaker: David Marchesi 

First Course 

Burrata Cheese wrapped in Prosciutto on a bed of Wild Arugula 

with Heirloom Tomatoes and Apple Balsamic Reduction 

Paired with: Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2011 

Second Course 

Grilled Shrimp with Saffron Risotto 

Paired with: Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot 2010 

Entrée 

Filet Medallion with Cabernet Truffle Demi Glaze over Rosemary Baby Potatoes 

and Pan Seared Sea Bass with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Reduction 

Paired with: Paraduxx C Blend Napa Valley Red Wine 2009 

Paired with: Paraduxx Z Blend Napa Valley Red Wine 2009 

Dessert 

Light Pastry layered with Caramel and Dark Chocolate 

Coffee and Tea 

~ Menu and Wine items are subject to change ~ 

Credit Card will be taken for Wine Dinner reservations. All sales are final. 

Check our website for our 2013 Wine Dinner Calendar 

(949) 673-2100 ~ www.21oceanfront.com 

2100 West Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA 92663 


Wine bar Hours 

Sun 

3 4 

10 

17 

24 

Mon Tue Wed 


tastings • February 2013 

Fridays 

4:30 PM to 8:30 PM 

5 6 7 

8 

9 

11 12 13 

18 

19 20 

Thursdays 

4:30 PM to 8:30 PM 

14 15 18 

21 22 

Saturdays 

2:00 PM to 8:30 PM 

25 26 27 30 28 

3/1 3/2 

Cheese 

class!! 

6-8 pm 

$30 

Italian 

Cheese 

Ten 

Dollar 

tues. 

6-8pm: 

up to 5 

wines 

for $10! 

Ten 

Dollar 

tues. 

Ten 

Dollar 

tues. 

Ten 

Dollar 

tues. 

W 

W 

W 

See 

Below 

Beer! 

See 

Below 

W 

W 

W 

See 

Below 

MorgAn Wines 

"Morgan is one of the Highlands' finest 

producers." -international Wine review 

With special guest, owner/winemaker Dan 

Morgan lee-- and food (TBA)! $30 

CAliForniA: 

seXY neW releAses 

Hotties Oregon and Washington might sneak 

in! $25 

greeK Wines: ArgYros estAte 

With guest speaker Stefanos Georgas, Sales 

Director (5 - 8 p.m.). With dolmas, lamb 

kabob, feta salad and tzatziki. $25 

2007 reD burgunDY 

The Wines of Hubert Lignier and Ghislaine 

Barthod (Premier Crus and one Grand Cru 

“Clos de la Roche"). Apropos food pairings 

will be served. $45 

New! Starting in Feburary 

Wednesday Wine Workshops! 

• Every other Wednesday, members of our wine 

staff will lead informal wine classes featuring 6 

wines from different parts of the worlds. As they 

will be more of a classroom format then informal 

tasting, try to be here on time so you don't miss 

out! 2nd and 4th Wed., 7-8:30 p.m. Cost: TBD 

• Wed. Feb. 13th - Pinot noirs of sonoma 

County with Dan Williams ($20) 

• Wed. Feb. 27th - spain 101: An introduction 

with Patty Quick ($20) 

neW releAses FroM 

ArounD tHe WorlD $25 

MAison MArCHAnD-tAWse 

Our cover feature! With special guest Mark 

Fincham (see p. 2). $25 

2009 CHÂteAuneuF-Du-PAPe 

We have some great wines from this excellent 

vintage-- see page 7 for some of the wines 

we'll taste. $35 

AustrAliA! 

Classy, new, cool-climate wines from Down 

Under (see page 3) and a couple other faves 

from OZ. $25 

Wines: TBA 

Food Truck! Chef Joe's tasting spoon is a 

culinary company catering to any event, business 

or personal, that also operates a gourmet 

food truck selling Global Comfort Food. Follow 

him on twitter: @chefjoeyoukhan 

Super Sake 

Sunday 

[ 2-24-13] 

4-6 p.m. $10 

8-10 sakes! Super indeed! 

1 

CAnAliCCHio Di soPrA 

With special guest owner Francesco Ripaccioli 

(2-5:30 p.m.). We'll taste a showcase 

of library Brunellos and Reservas! With 

charcuterie from Chef Todd. $30 

A sensuous bouquet 

oF rosÉ CHAMPAgnes 

Faves like Billecart-Salmon, Laurent-Perrier 

& Clicquot along with grower discoveries 

including Vilmart's sensational '04 "Rubis." 

We'll taste 10 in all; includes a Chef Todd 

Johnston cheese plate. $45 

TBA 

2 

16 

CAlerA 

Viognier, Chardonnay and several Pinot Noirs 

from one of California's premier pioneers in 

Burgundian varietals. $30 

itAliAn regionAl 

FoCus: CHiAnti $25 

February Beer Tasting: 

bootlegger's 

brewing 

23 

Wed. 2/20/13 6-8 p.m. $20 

IPA, Pale, Hefe, Black Phoenix, 

Golden Chaos & 3 others TBA 

9

NEW IN STOCK FOR THE FIRST TIME! 

FigueroA MountAin breWing CoMPAnY: 

Established in 2010, Figueroa Mtn. is owned and 

operated by the father and son team of Jim and Jaime 

Dietenhofer. They set out with a focus on the highest 

quality ingredients to produce exceptional American 

craft beers. Located just off highway 101 in Buellton, 

Figueroa Mtn. is a great addition to the plethora of craft 

breweries here in California. They have already earned 7 

Gold Medals in only 2 years of operating! Hi-Time Wine 

Cellars is proud to welcome these fine, family-made ales 

and lagers into our family-made cellar. Figueroa Mtn. 

produces a wide range of award-winning brews, which 

will please palates of all tastes. 

We first tried these brews a few months back in 

November. Albeit the beers were simple stylistically, the 

level of consistency within the line-up astounded us. We 

try a lot of different beers here and it is rare that an entire 

brewery’s catalog will impress. I am proud to say that 

every beer we tried in the Figueroa Mtn. portfolio more 

than satisfied our palates. Everything from pilsner to pale 

to oatmeal stout was full of flavor, drank smooth, clean 

and without an off-flavor present. If you don’t believe me, 

find out for yourselves. You’ll see that each of the Figueroa 

Mtn. brews is worthy of the accolades and awards they 

have earned. 

PArADise rD Pilsner 

$5.97 [#473346] 22oZ 

“The epitome of simplicity 

and delicacy: brewed with only 

the highest quality European 

lager malt and a German noble 

hop. This beer derives all of its 

character from the very delicate 

balance of malt sweetness and 

hop bitterness, and the procedural perfection exacted in 

creating it. Medium-bodied and malt-forward, the flavor 

of this beer is reminiscent of honeysuckle and fields of 

grain with a soft background of hop aroma.” 

AbV 5.5% • ibu 20 

• gold Medal, 2011 Denver international 

beer Competition 

• Honorable Mention, 2011 los Angeles 

international beer Competition 

FigueroA Mtn PAle Ale 

$5.97 [#473342] 22oZ 

“Light in alcohol but certainly 

not lacking in character. There 

is an even balance of heavy, 

bready malts and light, citruslike 

hops. This ale is brilliantly 

amber-orange in color and pours 

a dense, snow-white head that 

lingers and forms a beautiful lace as the draught is 

drunk.” 

AbV 4.5% • ibu 30 

DAnisH reD lAger 

$5.97 [#473340] 22oZ 

“Danish Red Lager is crafted 

with seven kinds of specialty 

malts to produce layers of rich, 

caramel malt flavor and a full 

body. This beer is fermented 

with a European lager yeast and 

cold-conditioned for an extended 

period of time for a very clean profile.” 

AbV 5.5% • ibu 23 

• golD MeDAl, 2011 los Angeles 

internAtionAl beer CoMPetition 

•golD MeDAl, 2012 los Angeles 

internAtionAl beer FestiVAl 

HoPPY PoPPY iPA 

$5.97 [#473344] 22oZ 

“Hoppy Poppy IPA is a 

light-bodied, “west coast” India 

pale ale featuring Centennial, 

Cascade, and Simcoe hops and 

poppy seeds. Like Figueroa 

Mountain in May, this brew is 

bursting with a bouquet of floral, 

citrusy hop flavors and aromas. 

Like Santa Ynez Valley sauvignon blanc this brew is 

dry, citrusy and floral. Bright aromas of grapefruit, orange 

oil, lemon zest and pine needles abound. The flavor 

is mellow and smooth with a very moderate lingering 

bitterness.” 

AbV 6.5% • ibu 60 

• golD MeDAl, 2012 los Angeles 


February Beer Tasting: Bootlegger's Brewing 

Wed. 2/20/13 6-8 p.m. $20 

IPA, Pale, Hefe, Black Phoenix, Golden Chaos & 3 others TBA 

Beer 

by Alejandro Pareja 

HurriCAne DeCK 

Double iPA 

$7.97 [#473343] 22oZ 

“Hurricane Deck DIPA is 

designed with hopheads in 

mind. We blend four hops – 

Columbus, Centennial, Chinook 

and Cascade – to recreate the 

ruggedness and intensity of the 

Trail. The elevated alcohol content and skillful use of 

specialty malts emphasize the clean, crisp, complicated 

hop character. Brewed with three and a half pounds of 

hops per barrel, this massive IPA is loaded with woodsy, 

herbal and pine-like hop flavor and aroma.” 

AbV 8% • ibu 82 

• bronZe MeDAl 2012 DenVer 


•silVer MeDAl, 2012 los Angeles 


DAVY broWn Ale 

$5.97 [#473345] 22oZ 

“Davy Brown Ale is a 

deep, mocha-colored beer that 

combines caramel and chocolate 

malts with Northern Brewer and 

Cascade hops. Named after a 

Santa Ynez Valely pioneer, this 

beer is a true discovery both 

rustic and refined. This brew is loaded with chocolate and 

coffee played against citrus and stone fruit and a mellow 

bitterness. Rich and complicated, Davy Brown Ale.” 

AbV 6% • ibu 29 

• golD MeDAl, 2011 DenVer 


• silVer MeDAl, 2011 los Angeles 


stAgeCoACH stout 

$5.97 [#473341] 22oZ 

“As dark as Santa Ynez at 

midnight, with hints of chocolate, 

espresso and smoke. It is a fullbodied, 

intensely rich ale with a 

velvety-smooth finish. Bursting 

with layers of dark caramel, 

chocolate, and roast malt flavors. 

The addition of oatmeal to the grist gives this brew a 

silky, satin mouthfeel and increased body. Jet black and 

opaque, our stout pours a dense, frothy, tan head that 

lingers as lace on a glass.” 

AbV 5.6% • ibu 17 

• golD MeDAl, 2011 sAn Diego 


• bronZe MeDAl, 2011 greAt AMeriCAn 

beer FestiVAl 



The Smoke Shack 

Cigar(s) of the Month! 

lA AurorA 107 

The oldest cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, La Aurora celebrated its 107th anniversary 

in 2010. To celebrate their anniversary, the La Aurora 107 was released. The 107 features a complex 

blend of Dominican tobaccos, mixed with Nicaraguan long leaves. The semi-robust, flavorful blend 

is then captured in a full-bodied Ecuadorian Habano wrapper featuring a gorgeous oily sheen, and 

an elegant smoothness only found in 1000 count Egyptian sheets. Notes of pepper, sweetness, and 

toasty nuances, along with an earthy core produce a medium body smoke. The thick smoke with a hint 

of cedar is produced from this Dominican gem that many think is La Aurora most flavorful to date. 

origin : Dominican republic 

Wrapper : ecuadorian sun grown 

binder : Dominican republic 

Filler : Dominican republic and nicaraguan 

Available in 3 sizes: 

gran 107-$8.75 

belicoso-$8.25 

toro-$7.50 (pictured to right) 

lA AurorA 1495 bMe 

A beautifully oily and chocolate colored wrapper encases this stogie. A filler which 

is made up of Peruvian Ligero, Dominican, and Nicaraguan long leaves is chalk full of earthy, nutty, 

orange peels flavors, with a semisweet chocolate flavor. This cigar was voted to Cigar Aficionados Top 

25 cigars of 2010. The ‘BME’ stands for brick-and-mortar exclusive. This translates into a cigar which 

you cannot find on the internet, or in wholesalers catalogs, only local cigar shops. The BME features 

four different wrappers: Dominican, Ecuadorian, Nicaraguan, and Brazilian, all with their own distinct 

flavor and scent. 

origin: Dominican republic 

Wrapper: Dominican sun grown Corojo, brazilian Maduro, ecuadorian sun grown Corojo, 

and nicaraguan sun grown Corojo 

binder: Dominican republic 

Filler: Dominican republic, nicaragua, Peru 

Available in toro- $7.75 

JAnuArY rAFFle! 

Spend $50 or more on cigars or cigar merchandise and receive 

a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Craftsman's Bench Monte Rosa 

humidor which holds up to 90 cigars! [Retail value of over $70] 

Check out our sale baskets! 

Inside the humidor is baskets full of great deals on a 

plethora of delicious cigars! 

3800 South Plaza Drive 

Santa Ana, California 92704 

Telephone: 714.751.7153 

www.antonello.com 

sPeCiAl eVent!!! 

Thursday, March 7th, 2013 at 

Antonello Restaurant in Santa Ana. 

“Up In Smoke” 

Cigar and Cocktail Mixer! 

Enjoy a night of cigars, cocktails, food and music!!! 

6:30-9:00 p.m. 

w/ Russ from the Smoke Shack & Ron from Rocky Patel. 

More details to follow……… 

Cheese Class: Italy! 

Monday, Feb. 25, 6-8pm • $30 w/ Todd Johnston 

Peter Neptune 

interesteD in 

leArning 

About Wine? 

Master Sommelier and store friend Peter 

Neptune can help at NeptuneWine.com! 

• For more information visit 

neptunewine.com 

or call LCA at 949 494 0745 

• Note that Hi-time customers 

receive a 10% discount on all 

Neptune School of Wine course fees. 

Café International 

Restaurant & Catering 

We also do daily food routes 

& corporate catering! & Sushi! 

3198 Aiport Loop H-2A 

714-241-0766 • FAX 714-241-0492 

www.cafeinternationalcatering.com 

11

terMs oF sAle 

• ALL PRICES ARE NET. Most 

wine, liquor and nonalcoholic prices 

are pre-discounted. Some wines 

may get a further case discount. 

There is not a “mixed case” discount. 

Wines listed are subject to prior sale 

and availability and are limited to 

existing inventory, i.e., there is no 

guarantee that an item listed will 

necessarily be in stock. 

• PRICE CHANGES / PRICING 

ERRORS All prices are subject to 

change without notice. We are not 

responsible for typographical errors 

and reserve the right to change 

incorrect pricing. Please check with 

your salesperson (via email, fax or 

phone) to insure correct pricing. 

• LIMITATIONS We reserve 

the right to limit quantities; no rain 

checks. 

• RETURNS Technically, it is 

illegal for retailers to take wine back 

which is not spoiled. We do take 

returns on wines which are obviously 

corked or flawed (within recent 5 

vintages, an industry standard). This 

is done, however, at our discretion. 

In these cases, store credit will be 

given towards additional purchases. 

If you feel your wine is flawed, it 

needs to be returned as soon as 

possible for evaluation. We do not 

honor returns on wines which have 

been improperly stored, mistreated 

or have been out of the store longer 

than 60 days. We also reserve the 

right to be the final arbiter of what 

constitutes a flawed wine. 

• CHANGES OF MIND/ 

CANCELLATIONS Changes of Mind 

and/or Cancellations of futures/prearrival 

orders are strictly subject to 

a 10% re-stock fee! Additionally, 

it’s not fair to other customers to 

“lock-up” merchandise allocations 

as ostensibly “sold” or “spoken 

for.” Pre-Arrivals and Futures are 

done as a convenience/courtesy to 

our customers and the inordinate 

amount of paperwork accompanying 

this process precludes changes of 

mind/cancellations if we are going 

to continue to offer this service to 

our patrons. 

P L E A S E N O T E : P r i c e s 

listed in current newsletter are 

for that current month only. 

OC Wine Elite 

What is the OC Wine Elite? 

Every Saturday, the Orange County Wine Elite hosts a 

fun and educational blind-tasting of wines from around 

the world in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach 

restaurants. Themes vary on a weekly basis, and guests 

pay only their coverage for the wines at retail cost, plus 

any individual food expense. 

Check out their program and register at 

www.meetup.com/Wineelite. 

More Details: 

The Orange County Wine Elite is dedicated to blindtasting 

high-end wines in a fun dinner setting, for 

everyone who likes wine, wants to learn more and 

wishes to meet like-minded friends. The OC Wine Elite 

aspires to be the best wine tasting group in Southern 

California, specializing in high-end (and sometimes 

mid-range) wines from around the world, always with 

sommelier-guided discussions and a fun blind-tasting 

approach. 

We enjoy great food at all events. We also welcome 

beginners that are new to wine and integrate them 

in a friendly way. We have many advanced, heavily 

educated and serious wine drinkers in our group 

and would like to add more. To our novice wine 

tasters, we offer a steep and effective learning curve. 

We taste across all global regions and grapes 

to expand our horizons and create unique 

educational opportunities. All wines are 

handselected by our experienced group organizers. 

Some events are theme nights (like “Southern France”, or 

“93+ rated reds”), while others allow for an international 

blind-tasting of top producers, like our monthly “Wine 

Elite Classic”. 

benefits of being an active Wine elite member: 

• We pay no corkage fees at the restaurants 

• We buy the wines from local high-end wine stores, 

often at a Wine Elite discount 

• We get 20% discount on the menu items of selected 

restaurants 

• Due to the above, we can buy exceptional wines as a 

group, our organizers bring them to each session 

• It’s quite common for us to taste wines that are worth 

$100+ and are highly rated 

• We have knowledgeable group organizers that make 

every tasting educational and entertaining 

• You will learn the backstory of each wine we drink 

• You will quickly start to learn more about global 

grapes, regions and producers 

• We have no bias on CA wines. We go international 

whenever we can. 

QR Code direct link to OC Wine 

Elite (use your smart phone!) 


y Forrest Cokely 

A Drink 

With Forrest 

http://adrinkwithforrest.blogspot.com/ 

The newsletter is here in time to prepare for a month 

of coquettish, saucy fun. February is for lovers and we 

have put together a list of flirtatious cordials, liqueurs 

and aromatized wines to help punctuate and emancipate 

your home beverages to an all new level of quality—with 

emphasis on romance! 

boissiere sWeet VerMoutH 

$9.99 [#305760] 

Boissiere Sweet Vermouth is made 

from a recipe developed in 1857. 

Originally, Boissiere was a French brand 

of vermouth made in the Chambéry 

region; in 1971, seeking a new home, 

the brand relocated to the other side 

of Mont Blanc to Turin, Italy. So, this 

vermouth can claim two of the “capitols” 

of vermouth as it home. Vermouth begins 

with a neutral, dry white wine (generally) 

which is then blended with an eau de 

vie that has been infused with a special 

selection of herbs, flowers, fruit peels, 

seeds, plants and whatever botanicals 

are needed to achieve its specific and 

distinct attributes. The addition of the 

eau de vie infused with the 'singular 

botanical recipe' into the wine makes 

vermouth an 'aromatized'-'fortified' wine. 

With sweet vermouth, 

caramelized sugar 

is then added to 

achieve desired sweetness and 

color. In Boissiere, the aromas start 

at clean flowers, marjoram, coriander, 

citrus, chamomile, cake, clove, herbal 

and hints of nutmeg. The flavor 

articulately follows the aromas awash 

in a well integrated sweetness. All of 

this leads to a lean, fresh finish. Try 

this in any cocktail that calls for sweet 

vermouth, with soda water, on ice, 

with a twist or neat with a meal. 

CHristiAn Drouin 

PoMMeAu De norMAnDY 

$24.99 [#104250] 

This is a connoisseur's treasure. 

Robert Parker said: “Never have I 

been so enchanted by a before drink 

as this.” That sounds like fair praise 

to me. Christian Drouin Coeur de 


February Spirits 

Lion Pommeau de Normandie is a delicate blend of 

young Calvados with un-fermented apple juice. After 

fortifying the apple juice (with the Calvados) it is aged 

a minimum age of 14 months in oak barrels (for the 

appellation rules.); Christian Drouin's Pommeau is aged 

3 or 4 years to achieve a more integrated balance with 

no alcohol showing. The nose reveals an ebullience of 

fruit characteristics, starting at concentrated apple juice, 

blossoms soaked in honey and evolving to caramel and 

dark wood. The taste displays the aromas, but it's not as 

sweet as implied by the scents and eminently much more 

complex. It also shows delicate spices and herbs dancing 

in the juicy sweetness— so delicious. The finish carries 

all this in a clean, full and lingering display. Try this neat, 

chilled, with food, before food, with bleu cheese, melons, 

dark chocolate... you get the idea. 

DorDA Double CHoColAte 

$22.99 [#102447] 

Are you ready for this, chocolate 

lovers? This is chocolate taken to a whole 

new level! Named for its inventor, Tad 

(Tadeusz) Dorda, Dorda Double Chocolate 

Liqueur is chocolate and Chopin rye 

vodka and it is incomprehensibly good. 

Chocolate on top of 

chocolate, supported 

b y c h o c o l a t e — i n 

vodka, oh my goodness. 

The resulting rich, creamy 

liqueur is decadent—to say 

the very least. As the owner of 

Chopin vodka, Dorda has the 

resources to make whatever 

he wants-- he tapped into 

some great Polish chocolate 

makers as partners so he 

could become a 'vodka' 

chocolatier... and this stuff 

is awesome! The aromas 

are chocolate: cake, icing, syrup, 

c o o k i e s , 

bars, fudge, ice cream. 

Basically terrifying, the 

flavors are like the nose 

but with CHoColAte 

stACKeD on toP. 

tHis is seriouslY 

CHoColAteY. The 

finish is a nice chocolate 

fade, clean, lingering and 

delectable. Enjoy neat, 

on ice, with coffee, over 

ice cream or anywhere 

in the place of chocolate 

syrup! 

HArDY PineAu 

Des CHArente 

$18.99 [#120640] 

Hardy began in 1863 

with a gentleman named 

Anthony Hardy, who 

became so taken with 

the Cognac region that 

he packed up everything 

and moved there. He 

established himself as a 

purveyor of the highest 

quality wines and spirits, 

but what he was most 

connected to and the 

only product that bears 

his family name is 

Hardy Cognac. Hardy 

is synonymous with 

superior Cognac that 

is recognized the world 

over. Their Pineau des 

Charente is called Le 

Coq D'Or, named after 

the Hardy family crest 

“The Golden Rooster.” The first thing you see when 

visiting an old world château is the family crest over the 

doorway and Le Coq D'Or is the perfect greeting for a 

guest. It is made by adding cognac to grape juice before 

the juice could ferment; the mistelle (what you get when 

you add alcohol to grape juice) is aged to concentrate 

the flavors and allow them to evolve as they meld. The 

nose shows grape juice (concentrated), golden raisins, 

quince and delicate spice. The flavors are exactly what 

you expect from smelling with the addition of honey 

soaked bran and persimmon. The lovely flavors and clean 

mouthfeel are a fruity graciousness ready to be shared. 

The finish is crisp, refreshing and clean. This is perfectly 

enjoyable to drink: it is rich, fruity and the consummate 

offering for any occasion. Have it chilled, on ice, with a 

twist or in a delectable cocktail. 

irisHMAn CreAM $16.99 [#102391] 

Made in Ireland by Bernard and Rosemary Walsh, 

from a traditional Irish Cream recipe, the Irishman Cream 

is delightful, natural, high quality and easily the best 

value Irish Cream Liqueur-- there is no other contender. 

It's handcrafted using luxurious Irish Cream and 100% 

Irish whiskey that brings hints of vanilla and toffee; no 

essences, emulsifiers or fake flavorings are allowed. 

When you taste it you will agree—this Irish cream is 

delicious and should be relished. At first glance, it may 

seem to be just another cream liqueur; but, you will 

realize this is in a completely different class. The nose 

is rich: marzipan, splendid Irish whiskey and light vanilla 

held together with 100% Irish cream. The flavors follow 

the aromas in a clean, creamy mouthfeel. The finish is 

these flavors slowly fading with tasty Irish whiskey and 

cream lingering. Enjoy this as an aperitif, as dessert or 

as its accompaniment, with coffee or with tea, with fruit 

or in a cocktail. 

13

February Spirits 

lA PintA PoMegrAnAte/tequilA liqueur 

$35.99 [#165525] 

Well, it has been a while since we looked at La Pinta 

and they have changed their look but kept the liqueur as 

wonderful as ever. La Pinta (named, apparently, after 

the first ship in Columbus' group of 3 to see the new 

world) represents the union between the “old and new” 

worlds. They begin with excellent Clase Azul Tequila that 

is infused with the juice from a 'myriad' of pomegranates, 

that are then aged for a full 12 months to allow the flavors 

to meld and reach the amazing balance of tart / sweet 

/ earthy that we expect from La Pinta. The aromas are 

pure unadulterated pomegranate—subtle, earthy and 

tart, but with a bright sweetness. On the palate these 

scents are attained and transcended with the greatest 

of ease: tart, tangy, lovely fresh pomegranate—that is 

so clean and sapid that it bursts with juicy ripe fruit. As 

the flavors of fruit quietly pass, the scrumptious flavors 

of illustrious Clase Azul shows. La Pinta is unbelievable, 

enjoy it chilled, as an aperitif or in a cocktail. 

lillet rose $15.99 [#101345] 

In 1872, Paul and Raymond Lillet, brothers, distillers 

and merchants of wines and spirits, founded La Maison 

Lillet in the South of France. Around that time, Bordeaux 

became an important place for the European wine. It 

was also a main harbor for the import of spices, citrus 

and plants. Combine all of that with the idea of making 

an aperitif in Bordeaux and you have Lillet. It is a French 

aperitif wine, comprised of 85% Bordeaux wines ( a blend 

of the ones used for Lillet Rouge and Lillet Blanc) and 15% 

macerated liqueurs. The nose is replete with floral tones, 

honey, fresh forest, champagne, berries, ale, red apple, 

orange, cider, lemon, melon and flowers along with many 

kinds of citrus and tiger basil—all these scents that are 

implied by subtle aromas. The flavors follow the aromas 

with an articulate wine component added. The finish is 

clean, fresh and slightly bitter; the tonic nature of this 

aperitif is amplified to that of a wine—it is to be enjoyed. 

Try this neat, chilled, on ice, with a twist, in sparkling wine, 

with soda water or in a cocktail—and enjoy. 

MArtini & rossi rosAto $12.99 [#365640] 

The newest addition to the Martini & Rossi line of 

aromatized / fortified wines is Rosato and its inspiration 

was directly from the personal tasting notes of Luigi Rossi, 

one of the house’s legendary namesakes. Crafted by 

artisans armed with these notes, an impeccable blend 

of red and white wines and Mediterranean botanicals, 

something original was created to grace us with a delicious 

extension of a beloved apertivo category. Aromas meld, 

displaying fresh smashed grapes, cinnamon, raspberry, 

lemon and citrus that are magnified by a multitude of 

blossoms supported by spicy back-notes of cloves, 

nutmeg and quinine. To carry on from the aromas there 

is a lovely structure and bitterness that starts at the fruits 

and is balanced by the spicy bitter tones. The finish is 

tart, vigorous, long and eminently interesting. The fragile 

properties of Rosato induce perceptive attention and 

awareness in the palate, preparing you for the evening 

meal or afternoon delights. Try this neat, chilled, on ice, 

with a twist / slash of soda or in a lovely cocktail. 

or-g liqueur 

$20.99 [#100249] 

OR-G Liqueur starts with a base of 

clean, high quality French vodka that 

is blended / infused with persimmon, 

papaya, mango and lime juices; it is 

created by master spirit maker Jean 

Marc Daucourt, who has had previous 

success with X-Rated, Jean Marc XO 

Vodka and Bastille French Single Malt 

(basically that is to tell you he is good 

at his job). To be honest, I intended 

to dismiss this product because the 

marketing kitsch was a bit much for 

me—but I am glad I tasted it! The 

fresh fruit scents are marvelous – 

like real fruit, honestly extracted. 

This is an impressive product that 

miraculously conserves its complexity 

in outstanding balance from beginning 

to end without sacrificing the frail 

flavors of sapid–vibrant fruits that are 

not excessively sweet, but tart and 

tasty, with a long and ebullient finish. 

Aromas reveal persimmon, orange 

zest, tangerine, papaya, passion fruit, mango and lime 

juice—at the least; there is so much fruit there... The 

tastes lead with persimmon, papaya and mango that 

are more upfront with lime bringing a background of 

tartness to the mouthfeel that is exceptional. The finish 

is surprisingly dry with a lingering sapid tartness. This is 

incredible by itself and astonishing in a beverage-- the 

possibilities are endless! 

VYA sWeet VerMoutH 

375Ml $12.99 [#275144] 

750Ml $17.99 [#275947] 

Vya Vermouth you ask? Vya 

Sweet Vermouth begins as a blend 

of Tempranillo and Orange Muscat 

wines. It is then hand infused at the 

Quady Winery with a selection of over 

seventeen herbs and spices. The 

botanicals come from the parts of plants 

where the energy is concentrated: 

seeds, skins, bark and roots. It is these 

constituents that balance between the 

bitter components and the sweetness. 

In Vya Sweet Vermouth this balance 

is amazing. The aromas show 

cinnamon, verbena, berries, damiana, 

nutmeg, white flowers, orange and 

lemon blossoms, chamomile, cloves, 

ginger, meringue and orange zest in 

a manner that is completely inviting. 

The tastes follow the nose with an 

intricate complexity that resolves on an 

endearing bitterness. The finish builds 

from the flavors and settles quick with 

immaculately layered, elegant spices lingering. Try this 

neat, chilled, on ice, with a twist, in sparkling wine, with 

soda water or in any cocktail. 

From all of us at Hi-Time Wine Cellars, have a 

wonderful Groundhog Day, Lincoln's Birthday, Valentine's 

Day and Presidents Day! We look forward to helping you 

out—online or in the store. 



The Nth is back in Las Vegas! 

Universal Whisky Experience is the world’s premier promoter of luxury, super-premium whisky 

enjoyment experiences. This is a fantastic chance to taste world-class whiskies. 

To find out the full range of events going on, as well as whiskies that will be available, 

click on the picture to visit their website or go to universalwhiskyexperience.com 

Hi-time customers can get 10% off the two main show tickets 

(Connoisseur and High Roller packages). Use this code at checkout: KAY10 

Sake 

by Trayce Holliday 

Joto JunMAi 

$21.99 [#101878] 720Ml 

This Junmai Sake is rich and solid with aromas of kiwi 

fruit, cantaloupe and Asian pear. It is earthy on the palate 

with zesty flavors of rice & citrus. JOTO Junmai finishes 

great with nice acidity and lingering hints of grapefruit & 

green apple. Tight and dry, this Junmai Sake is extremely 

quaff-able, and the price is excellent! 

Serve chilled or room temp with barbecue and hearty 

Japanese food. 

eiKo FuJi HonKArA 

$23.99 [#320070] 720Ml 

This Honjozo Sake has very nice balance and a great 

flowery nose of watermelon, stone fruits and light herbs. 

It has a light and silky mouthfeel, some marshmallow 

sweetness, and a crisp, dry finish. 

It can be served warm or chilled and pairs with 

everything from sushi and salads to grilled meats and 

noodles. This is a terrific Sake for the money and has 

pretty awesome packaging as well. 

Also available in a beautiful, 1.8 liter bottle $49.99 

[#320076]. 

YuKi no bosHA YAMAHAi JunMAi 

$28.99 [#365810] 720Ml 

Yamahai is a classic style, typically characterized by 

big, gamey, funky aromas and flavors. This award-winning 

sake contradicts the classic style by being mellow, wellbalanced 

and low in acidity. It is loose and relaxed with 

notes of roasted chestnuts, brown butter and honey. 

Rich and pure, this sake can be enjoyed chilled or 

warm. It pairs well with hearty foods like pork belly, beef 

stew and funky cheese. 

KAKu-rei JunMAi ginJo 

$36.99 [#365802] 720Ml 

Slightly aromatic sake with light floral notes of jasmine 

and persimmon. Creamy flavors of banana and pear glide 

across the palate. Kaku-Rei finishes bright and dry, with 

hints of honeydew melon and is best served chilled. 

Hidehiro Shinbo, a sake master who has been 

involved in sake making for almost a half-century, 

ensures that the Aoki family maintains it's three-century 

old tradition of craftsmanship. 

JoKigen FuJin JunMAi ginJo 

$45.99 [#365694] 720Ml 

This is a pretty delicious Junmai Ginjo that has a 

great bouquet, filled with hints of strawberry, peach and 

papaya. There is a lot of tropical fruit on the palate as 

well, with moderate acidity and a light funk. 

The finish is clean and crisp with hints of pineapple 

and lychee, and just a hint of tartness. This is fresh 

and lively sake that almost reminds me of Namazake 

(unpasteurized sake). 

Jokigen will do best chilled along side big, thick cuts of 

tuna/salmon sashimi, raw oysters and fresh calamari. 

super sake sunday: Feb. 24 4-6 p.m. 

$10. From 8-10 sakes; super indeed! 

15

February - Hi-Time Wine Cellars

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