| MARSHALL'S PICK
FOR
THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS
Crios Rosé of Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina
Mary originally introduced me to this wine. It was one of the wines we served for Thanksgiving dinner and is easily my choice for Thanksgiving leftovers. With a beautiful, deep, vibrant rosé color, it has a surprising amount of body for a rosé wine, along with beautiful aromas of fresh, ripe wild strawberries. On the palate, the flavors of strawberries and young cherries come rushing in, accompanied by some spice notes and a clean, dry finish. Thank you Mary!
Updated November 27, 2011 1:13 p.m. CST
Mary and Carly want to make the holiday easier for you... At Rimann Liquors we have put together our Famous Thanksgiving Pack that will pair perfectly with the traditional meal: 5 bottles of 4 personally selected wines and a bottle of Baileys. We've got them in Lenexa and Prairie Village. Cheers!
Updated November 19, 2011 4:52 p.m. CST
Updated November 2, 2011 4:33 p.m. CDT
Meet our friend Amy Saia, a local musician known for fusing alternative rock and poetry in her own acustic way, at the Village Shops on Thursday, September 15th, 6:00-8:00 pm. She will be performing live during the Mystery Wine Walk, a benefit for Gilda's Club of KC.
JAMES’ WINE PICK
By James Harrington
Certified Sommelier
Milbrandt Syrah
Wahluke Slope, Washington
&
Milbrandt Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley, Washington
Nothing goes better with fall weather than a good red wine. Milbrandt Vineyards makes some of the best in the state of Washington. Milbrandt has been farming grapes since 1997 and making wine since 2005; previous to this they sold their grapes to negociant wineries (wineries without vineyards who purchase grapes from other sources). Their cool weather grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah invoke memories of lazy fall evenings on a porch swing. The Syrah has wonderful blackberry and blueberry flavors entwined with spiced chocolate cut with just the right amount of acidity, this wine is great with rack of lamb or any of your barbecuing fare this fall. The Cabernet Sauvignon is just as good as the syrah and will remind you of spring. With huge mulberry flavors and underlying cocoa all backed up with white and green peppercorns and a strong backbone of racy acidity, this wine will go with any red meat you can find and would go well with grilled or smoked pork as well! These are outstanding wines.
Updated September 9, 2011 2:45 p.m.. CDT
ANDY'S WINE PICK
By Andy Wingert
La Posta Cocina
Blanco de Blancos
Mendoza, Argentina
Last week we received an interesting white blend from Argentina called La Posta Cocina Blanco de Blancos. I’ve had La Posta Cocina’s reds before and liked them so I wanted to check out the first white wine this Mendoza winery has produced. Well, I liked it enough that we are going to feature it in our September 17% Case Sale newsletter…so here’s a sneak preview to one of our featured wines.
It is a blend of Chardonnay, Torrontes and Sauvignon Blanc. My first impression on the nose was that this wine is going to be very ripe. My suspicion was correct. It is ripe, yet dry with lots of flavor. There are lots of floral notes on the nose as well. It is very crisp and minerally, which is to be expected from an un-oaked wine. The finish was fairly well-balanced and lengthy. I tried it without food but it would pair well with seafood or grilled chicken.
As a side note, only 2500 cases of this wine were produced (which is not very much compared to a lot of wines we carry) and it received 88 points from Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, which is very respectable for the first white wine a winery has produced.
Updated August 30, 2011 12:45 p.m.. CDT
 MARY'S WINE PICK
By Mary Rimann
Secco
Italian Bubbles
I love bubbles, and from my point-of-view, the more the merrier. I particularly love the quote, attributed to Dom Perignon at the moment he discovered champagne: “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!”
A new line of bubbles in the store is appropriately called, Secco Italian Bubbles. It is the brainchild of two sisters from Italy, who love Prosecco but decided to make their sparkling with more than 100% Glera grapes, the sanctioned variety for Prosecco. They joined forces with the famed winemaker, Charles Smith to produce two styles, an Italian White Sparkling Brut, and an Italian Rose Sparkling Brut.
The Secco White Sparkling Brut, made from the Glera and Pinot Blanc grapes, is dry and balanced with notes of flowers, apple and peaches. The Secco Rose Sparkling Brut, made from the Glera and Pinot Noir grapes is also dry and balanced while delivering notes of Cherry, Raspberry and Rose Petals.
Both Sparkling Bruts are very delightful and perfect for any occasion. I’m looking forward to my next glass of stars.
Updated August 4, 2011 1:50 p.m. CDT
 MARY'S WINE PICK
By Mary Rimann
Casillero del Diablo
Gewurtztraminer
Maule Valley, Chile
When the weather gets hot and stays hot, I start craving lighter foods and my wine preferences adjust accordingly. Lately, one of my favorites has been the Casillero del Diablo Gewurztraminer from the Maule Valley of Chile. Considered an oft-dry wine, please don’t confuse this wine with the sweeter Gewurztraminers that go great with holiday meals.
At 13.5% alcohol, this wine is dry and crisp, slightly mineral with ripe, tropical fruit overtones and a little hint of spice. Recently it paired nicely with grilled salmon and fresh green beans with shallots.
For a great summer time quencher and a lovely wine to go with the lighter grilled meats, vegetables, salads and dips, pick up a bottle today and enjoy.
Updated July 25, 2011 6:00 p.m. CDT
 EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington*
Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Napa Valley, California
Sauvignon Blanc wines from all over the world are among our favorite summertime wines. Emmolo’s Sauvignon Blanc hails from Napa Valley’s renowned Rutherford district. The Emmolo family, whose been deeply entrenched in the Napa Valley wine scene for several generations, has been growing many of these vines since the 1950s. Bright and snappy, the citrusy acidity is complemented by a melon or white peach-like roundness and a light touch of floral aromas. One interesting aspect in the Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc story is the use of cement containers for the fermentation process. This allows the wine to ferment slowly and gently, preserving fresh fruit flavors and delicate aromatics. Overall, this is one of the best examples of California Sauvignon Blanc out there and is a great pair with a light summer salad or a goat cheese-topped pizza.
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated June 27, 2011 3:05 pm CDT
 Marshall Rimann had the opportunity to talk with Kelly Scanlon on her radio show, Smart Companies Radio, on June 10, 2011. This show on 1510 AM features business growth strategies and resources for small businesses. Marshall discussed wine, beer and customer service...some of his favorite topics! Listen here:
 Smart Companies Radio
Marshall Rimann, Rimann Liquors
Updated June 16, 2011 4:28pm CDT
 SUMMER WINE SALE: 17% CASE DISCOUNT ALL WINE...MIX OR MATCH. Through June 19, 2011.
It's time for our famous 17% discount on all wine! The 17% Case Discount offer is available at both Rimann Liquors of Lenexa and Rimann Liquors of Prairie Village. Now is the time to stock up so come on by. Our advertised sale begins on Sunday June 12th.
Listen here for our radio spot playing throughout the Kansas City metro.
Summer Wine Sale
17% Case Discount
Updated June 11, 2011 3:46pm CDT
 Summertime is officially here and the weather is perfect for enjoying refreshingly chilled white wines. Paired with crisp salads, bruschetta, or just friendly conversation on the patio, these wines are a must for summer entertaining.
Prosecco Spago Nero
Effusively fruity, this crystal clean sparkling wine is light bodied and offers soaring floral notes, persistent effervescence and a clean delicate finish. It is an ideal aperitif to start off a meal. Rated 90 points by Wine Advocate.
Pink Spago Argento
Lively and pulsing with freshly-picked strawberry scents, this lightly-sparkling wine is unbeatable in its seductive and pure aroma. Beautiful pink hues glow from the glass.
 Pinot Grigio Spagozante
This wine has gone frizzante, as they say in Italy for this type of lightly sparkling wine. 100% Pinot Grigio grapes are used in the making of this Prosecco-style wine. Perfect with lighter seafood or pasta dishes, this wine combines crisp and inviting aromas and flavors of Pinot Grigio bubbles of a Prosecco.
Select varietals available at both Rimann's locations.
Updated June 1, 2011 1:26 pm CDT
 EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
Inkberry Shiraz/Cabernet 2009
Central Ranges, Australia
This Australian red truly lives up to its name with an deep, inky purple color and bright berry aromas. This blend hails from the mountainous Central Ranges region of Australia, giving the grapes the benefit of high altitude and cool weather. Cooler temperatures give the grapes a more even and gradual ripening, which keeps the fruit flavors well-balanced and prevents the resulting flavors from being overly jammy. High altitude vineyards also have stronger UV exposure, which causes the grapes to have thicker skins that give the wine more tannic structure. The blend is composed of 60% Shiraz and 40% Cabernet which are feremented separately and blended later to make the final product. This helps to make the different components more defined and allows the different characteristics of each grape to shine through. The Shiraz gives deep blackberry and blueberry flavors with a chocolate component that James found to be very pronounced. In comes the Cabernet, with raspberry and black cherry flavors and a more refined tannic structure. Aging in French and American oak helps to accentuate the chocolate notes and adds a little vanilla and cinnamon spice in the background. Overall, this is a tasty Aussie blend that delicious on its own or would pair well with a myriad of dishes.
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated May 17, 2011 3:45 pm CDT
EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
Falesco Merlot
Umbria, Italy
The deep, inky purple color of the wine reflects the deep, dark fruit flavors of this Italian Merlot. Lush, velvety tannins carry the flavors of baked blackberry and black cherry, with a little cinnamon and clove baking spice notes on the finish. There is also an interesting note of grilled herbs that gives this red a little something to wrap your palate around. This wine shows great varietal character, tasting very much like what a good Merlot should taste like. Italian wines are this importer's specialty, and you can almost always be assured that a wine imported by Winebow will be of good quality from some of the region's more traditionally-minded growers. This wine offers a nice balance of rusticity and elegance, while delivering a good wallop of flavor! This wine would be a great pair with grilled or roasted lamb, or a simple and rustic pasta dish. A grilled pizza with sausage would also be a good complement!
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated May 2, 2011 6:27 pm CDT
EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
Montebuena Rioja
2009 Spain
If you are curious about Spanish wines or eager to try a new red wine, Rioja is a good place to start. This is THE iconic region of Spain, an area that has been producing wines of renown for centuries. This area is known mostly for its red wine production, relying heavily on the Tempranillo grape. This grape is a little hard to describe sometimes... a grape with the acidity and tart cherry flavors of Italy's Sangiovese, with some of the spice and propensity toward plushness when super-ripe that a red Zinfandel has. Like many other indigenous grapes of Spain, it is really in a class by itself, so you just need to try a few examples to get a hang of its character.
This wine is 100% Tempranillo and also demonstrates another characteristic that Spain has historically been known for: a tendency to use a lot of American oak in the winemaking process, which gives a pronounced oakiness and tannic structure. The aromas of this wine reminded us of a cigar box, with a peppery cedar foreground and subtle waves of tobacco and dark clove and cinnamon spice. A definite sour cherry fruit character was supported with light touches of herbs and lavender, with a lengthy finish drawn out by the spiciness and oak-imparted tannins. Overall, this was a good example of what wines of this region taste like. It would be great if paired with grilled or roasted lamb (a classic pairing for Rioja) or an aged cheese, like a Manchego from Spain or Parmesan or Peccorino from Italy.
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated April 1, 2011 8:10 pm CDT
 EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
Pine Ridge
Chenin Blanc- Viognier
2009 California
What began as an experimental blend for this well-known Napa Winery has become one of the brand's most beloved and most highly-regarded wines. This intriguing blend starts with Chenin Blanc, a white grape variety hailing from France's Loire Valley, where it is most commonly seen as Vouvray or Savenierres. It is a grape variety rarely seen as a varietal bottling in the U.S., but quality plantings in California's Dry Creek Valley have made this alternative white varietal more visible on wine shelves in recent years. Viognier makes up about 20% of the blend. This Southern French variety is an interesting one that exhibits ripe peach and apricot flavors with an irresistable floral quality, also contributing more body and viscocity to the wine. Harvested from the warm Lodi appellation in California, the Viognier really helps to make this wine more fleshy and well-rounded. These are two of Emily's favorite white grape varieties, so it is great to see them together in a way that is well-balanced and exhibits the great qualities that each grape has to offer. The Chenin Blanc comes through in the melon and pear flavors, while the Viognier gives great aromas of white peach and faint honeysuckle. This is a spot-on pairing with seared scallops or crab, but will also pair well with milder cheeses like Havarti or Manchego. For you ratings hounds, this wine has 5 years of high accolades, with this vintage receiving 90 points from Robert Parker!
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated March 11, 2011 8:35 pm CST
 Paul’s Prairie Village Pick
Castle Rock 2009
Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
Here’s a rock-solid Paso Robles Cabernet at a really, really, good price! Nice aromas of cherry, currant, and just the barest hint of classic Paso eucalyptus lead to a soft, easy-drinking, Cab brimming with black cherry and black currant fruit and a dash of spice. Yes, the wine is very forward, but the finish is rich and chocolaty with more currant fruit and eucalyptus notes and just the right amount of fine tannin. Solid every day drinker for any Cab fan.
 EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
McManis Viognier
California
With the arrival of warm, sunny weather, we chose to feature one of our favorite white wines. Viognier is a little-known white grape variety that was originally grown in Southern France, but is now grown in limited quantities in the United States and Australia. It is a really distinctive grape variety that is best described as combining the body of a Chardonnay with the aromas and acidity of a good Riesling. This delicious, golden-hued white has delicious aromas of white peach and acacia flower…spring in a glass! Flavors of golden apple, apricot, and white flowers skip across the palate into a nice lingering finish. Stainless steel fermentation keeps this wine lively and fresh—all too often winemakers treat Viognier like Chardonnay, dressing it up with too much oak that masks its beautiful floral notes. This example of Viognier is perhaps our favorite, giving a true sense of what this grape should taste like. This wine is great with a simple cheese and fruit platter, but would pair equally well with some grilled chicken kabobs or a lightly-seasoned fish entrée.
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated February 17, 2011 7:35 pm CST
Lenexa's favorite middle sister, Miss Molly FItts, suggests
Middle Sister Wines
Sweet & Sassy Moscato, Rebel Red, Mischief Maker Cabernet, Forever Cool Merlot, Smarty Pants Chardonnay, Drama Queen Pinot Grigio and Wicked White
Updated February 15, 2011 4:40 pm CST
 Bill in Prairie Village Suggests:
ROCK & VINE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Just in to enjoy with your favorite winter stew, Rock & Vine is a Bordeaux-style blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon (76%), Cabernet Franc (12%), Merlot (10%), Malbec (1%) and Petit Verdot (1%). Each component is aged separately for 16 months in a combination of French and American oak before blending, then aged an additional 4 months as an assemblage. The fruit was selected from three ranches in: Solano County (60%), Lake County (20%) and Napa Valley (20%), that showcases why the North Coast is the leader in California for growing Bordeaux grape varieties.
The elegant styled 2008 Rock & Vine exhibits gorgeous aromatics of pure black cherry and cassis interwoven with black tea and toasty oak. Medium bodied, with a solid core of blackberry and dark cherry fruit and hints of tobacco notes followed by great texture, sweet tannins, dense weight, equilibrium and a long finish.
Updated February 10, 2011 5:05 pm CST
 EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
Leitz "Dragonstone" Riesling 2009
Rheingau, Germany
Riesling is one of the most misunderstood grapes out there in the great world of wine. We can think of no other grape that is so universally loved by wine writers and experts, yet is so often dismissed by consumers. Thankfully, the tide is turning, and more and more people are coming to appreciate and enjoy the widely varying and always exciting nature of Riesling. People are always suprised to hear about the extraordinary longevity of many well-made Rieslings. We have had Rieslings that have been 28-29 years old, and still in good shape and relatively youthful in flavor! Buying an age-worthy white wine for less than $30 is an amazing investment in wine experiences to come! Interestingly, Riesling is also one of THE best food wines out there. Its bright acidity contrasts with richer foods, the light sweetness that some Rieslings have highlights the natural sweetness of many foods or sauces that accompany them, and the light body keeps the wine from overpowering many foods that might overwise be overwhelmed. Riesling is also a great go-to wine for hard to pair foods like those in Thai, Chinese, or Indian cuisine. While it is a great food wine, Rieslings are also excellent for those times when you just want to drink a wine by itself (with good company, of course!).
This refreshing white wine hails from the Motherland of Riesling: Germany, specifically the Rheingau region in the southern part of the country. The wine hits the rights notes of fruit and minerality. The sweetness level is pretty low, with smooth and subtle flavors of poached pear and a juicy white peach accented with light floral notes. The acidity in the wine really helps to carry the fruit flavors into a lengthy and lingering finish, but the "roundness" that we find typical of Rheingau Rieslings helps to keep the wine from being too tart. This is an extremely enjoyable wine that comes from one of the top importers of German wines into the US, Terry Theise. This man has been enormously inspiring in his very detailed and informative wine writings, and if you see a bottle of wine with him listed as the importer, you are pretty much guaranteed an exceptional wine-drinking experience.
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated January 28, 2011 5:35 pm
May we suggest...
Wine & Spirits Magazine
Year's Best Chardonnay
Kunde Family Estate
2008 Chardonnay
Sonoma Valley
90
PO I N T S
Best Buy
Complex flavors of ripe pears, crisp apples and toasty oak. From fresh green salads or full flavored seafood to roast chicken and vegetables, this wine is the right match.
Updated January 13, 2011 6:00 pm
 EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
Bodegas Olivares
"Altos de la Hoya"
Monastrell 2009
Jumilla, Spain
This medium-bodied red exemplifies what is exciting about Spanish wines today: interesting, yet un-complicated wines at great values. Many of you may be unfamiliar with the grape variety Monastrell. It is a red grape variety indigenous to Spain, but is better known as Mourvedre, one of the major grape varieties of France's Rhone Valley. This variety is also grown in limited quantities in California and Australia, where it is frequently used for blending into Rhone-style blends with Grenache and Syrah/Shiraz. In Spain, Monastrell is concentrated on the Mediterranean coast, and is a notable specialty of Jumilla.
The deep color of this wine echoes the dark flavors: blackberry and black cherry, with a hefty dose of cinnamon. The wine has a definite baked fruit-quality that is typical of Spanish wines that hail from warm climates like that of Jumilla. Soft tannins make this wine enjoyable and easy-to-drink, another quality common amongst Spanish reds. This rustic red would be great alongside a hearty beef stew, or a Moroccan-inspired beef or lamb tagine with roasted vegetables.
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated January 8, 2011 7:20 pm
 EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut
Sonoma Valley Sparkling Wine
This benchmark California sparkler was a great way for James and I to get into the spirit of the season--not that sparkling wines should be reserved solely for celebratory occasions, but they embody the bubbly, effervescent feelings we get this time of year so well. The most well-known sparkling wines come from the Champagne region of France, but this popular style of wine-making is also manifested in many other parts of the world: the many cremants from all around France, prosecco from the Veneto, cava of Spain, and New World adaptations in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Sparkling wines are enjoyed around the world for the everyday and the extraordinary occasions, and the different regional variations of sparkling wines have noteworthy and enjoyable differences.
Upon opening, this sparkling wine had a really interesting aroma and flavor of white raspberry, a flavor that we found doubly interesting, considering that this was not a rosé. As it sat out, the white raspberry was joined by flavors of a very crisp, fresh apple, seductive rose petal aromas, with a little creaminess and light yeastiness that many sparkling wines tend to have. The Gloria Ferrer is a great example of its type: the fruity, easy-going nature of California sparklers is foremost, with the cool-climate growing conditions of the Carneros preserving the fresh fruit and floral aromas. The biscuit/yeast notes were very reminiscent of good-quality Champagne, offering a great representation of what is great in both the New World and Old World traditions. Traditionally, Champagne is made up of varying porportions of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and the lesser-known Pinot Meunier. This particular sparkler was very high in Pinot Noir (over 91%), and we have found over the years that we tend to have a preference for these kinds of sparklers.
Champagne is one of the most versatile food-pairing wines out there. Popular favorites are widely varying: from sushi to fried chicken, soup to buttered popcorn. We like sparkling wine anytime, but this one would be great with simple stawberries or milk chocolates.
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated Dec 21, 2010 5:20 pm
 EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
Palo Alto Reserve Red
Maule Valley, Chile
Chile has been making its mark on the wine world producing a wide variety of wines, a great majority of which are value-driven reds and whites. The wine world is so excited about Chile's wine-producing potential, that many historic wine families and estates in Europe are buying vineyards and developing wineries that are able to take advantage of cutting-edge technology while still remaining true to time-honored traditions of winemaking in the region. Palo Alto wines fall under the umbrella of Banfi Vintners, one of the best-known producers from Italy's Chianti region and are also the parent corporation of other estates in Chile such as Concha y Toro. The wines of Viña Palo Alto hail from the Maule region of the Valle Central, a rocky and arid region that mostly produces concentrated and well-balanced red wines. The name 'Palo Alto' comes from the distinctive thorny trees that dot the steep hillsides of the region. These same trees are featured on the eye-catching label.
This red wine is a blend composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Camenere, and Syrah. We've been seeing a dramatic increase in the number of blends coming out of Chile and couldn't be more thrilled. Blends allow a flexibility in the winemaking process that allows for a certain amount of flavor uniformity from year to year and is a great way to highlight desired flavors that are characteristic of the component grape varietals. Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up the bulk of the blend, provides the tannic structure for the wine. Carmenere, a grape variety that is Chile's signature grape variety is similar to Merlot. It provides a supple softness and a rustic wild herb quality to the finished wine. Syrah lends an elegance to the wine and has great aromatic features to contribute to the blend. Upon opening, the unmistakable aroma of grilled herbs hits you, followed by blueberries and blackberry fruit flavors. As the wine mellows, notes of dark cocoa and espresso beans become more prominent, with a lightly-toasted oak streak coming through on the finish. We both enjoyed seeing how the wine changed over the course of drinking: different varietals made their presence known throughout the drinking experience. James was really interested in the initial forward-ness of the Carmenere...he really likes those Old World secondary flavors of earthiness and spice. Pair this wine with grilled meats or vegetables. Overall, this is a great bargain wine that is sure to please many palates.
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated Dec 14, 2010 5:20 pm
 EMILY & JAMES' WINE REVIEW
By Emily & James Harrington *
Zolo 2009 Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina
Malbec is the darling of the wine world, showing an incredible leap in popularity over the past few years. The Zolo wines are a popular brand made in the heart of Argentine wine country, with different
vineyard parcels spread throughout this vast Andean region. Malbec, for the uninitiated, is the signature red grape variety of Argentina that originally hails from the Bordeaux region of France that gave us the ever-popular Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The flavor profile of most Malbecs lies somewhere between those two grape varieties, with the fruit-forward, easy-drinking nature of a Merlot, and the structure and spice of a Cabernet, even though the grape decidedly less tanic than Cabernet.
Upon opening, the Zolo Malbec displays more of the oak characteristics than fruit. James describes aromas of black cherry with a heavy dolop of vanilla, a characteristic typical of oak aging. At one point, the wine seems like Emily's favorite mixed berry cobbler: a jumble of baked blackberries, blueberries and cherries, with a bit of vanilla-nuttiness of the cobbler crust. As this inky purple wine sits out, James is able to draw out a more dried fruit quality to the wine: the black cherries and vanilla evolve into a dark chocolate-covered dried cherry, with a hint of warm clove and cinnamon spice. A light flavor of crushed violets comes through too as the wine develops, a quality that we both find prevalent in Argentine reds. For food pairings, Emily's sweet tooth in tapped with simple bittersweet or dark chocolates. These dark chocolates with a high cacao ratio are important: pairings with chocolate can be easy, just remember that the corresponding dessert or chocolate should be less sweet than the wine. James suggests roasted beef or grilled chicken for you all carnivores. Nutty cheeses like an aged Gouda or Manchego would also be great.
*Both James, a member of our Prairie Village team, and Emily, who is on the staff in Lenexa, are Certified Sommeliers as recognized by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Updated Dec 7, 2010 11:35 am
 EMILY'S LENEXA TURKEY ALERT:
Domaine du Mas Blanc Collioure Rose "Can-Rede" 2006
Versatility is the name of the game for Thanksgiving wine pairings, and this rose will accentuate many of the components of the traditional Thanksgiving Day feast! This bone-dry rose heralds from the South of France, with the Mediterranean Sea on one side, and the Pyrenees mountains another. This small 18 acre vineyard yields some incredible and interesting wines, with Domaine du Mas Blanc the leading producer of the region. The deep color of this wine echoes the full-bodied intensity of the flavors. Cranberry, pink grapefruit, and pomegranate fruit flavors are accented by a note of orange peel and the spicy-dry chalky quality in the finish. This is the perfect "white" wine for people that consider themselves exclusively red wine-drinkers and is a great foray into red wines for people who usually prefer white wines. Roses such as this pair with a wide range of foods, with a personal favorite being spicy crab cakes as well as shrimp cocktail.
Updated Nov. 22, 2010 7:45 pm
 Beaujolais Nouveau has Landed!
The anticipation has been building for some time now, and it is finally here…Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived at Rimann Liquors! This popular young wine from the heart of French wine country is met with great fanfare every year, and this year is no exception. This red wine is offered every year, shortly after the harvest, as a celebratory preview of the vintage to come. Bright and fruity, this easy-drinker has established a tradition in the United States as a frequent accompaniment to the traditional family Thanksgiving meal and the countless holiday parties that occur throughout the season. Supplies are limited, and this annual favorite is sure to go fast, so stop in to your favorite Rimann Liquors location and pick up a bottle or case today!
Updated Nov. 18, 2010 1:00 pm
Emily and Molly of Lenexa have a couple of suggestions for the Halloween  weekend. Emily recommends the Bogle "Phantom", a red wine blended of Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Old Vine Mourvdre. Vivid essence of black pepper, dark fruit and juniper haunts the nose, while brighter flavors of blackberries glance off the palate. Like Halloween, it shows up just once a year. Try it before it vanishes again.
Molly likes the Vampyre Vodka. Wickedly smooth, with an unsettling red color, it was developed in England as a way to satisfy certain distinguished "spirit" drinkers who might have otherwise chosen a less social way to quench their unyielding thirst.
Updated Oct. 29, 2010 3:17 pm
 Just delivered on Tuesday, Rimann Liquors of Prairie Village is featuring Pennywise Wines from Don Sebastiani & Sons. The labels sport an impression of a penny coin, modeled after Blue Chip and S & H trading stamps. Once issued by grocers and other retailers to build store loyalty, customers would collect the stamps and then trade them for catalog items.
Come in and select the 2008 Pennywise Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir.
Updated Oct. 25, 2010 4:29 pm
 An old friend of ours was in town this week. Kansas City native Ridge Watson stopped by Lenexa. Ridge is General Manager and Winemaker for Joullian Vineyards in Carmel Valley, Monterey County, California. Ridge was born and raised in Kansas City and attended what is now Pembroke Hill. After graduating from Stanford, serving in the Peace Corps and learning the retail end of the wine business in San Francisco, as well as apprenticing in winemaking in Bordeaux, he oversaw the creation of Joullian in 1990 and has been making wonderful Bordelais and Burgundian style wines since then. Ridge often returns to Kansas City, where his brother, professional golfer Tom Watson still lives. We are always glad to see Ridge when he comes to town. By all reports, Lenexa Managing Partner Andy Wingert was very impressed with the Joullian Chardonnays and Ridge was fascinated with the benches Andy crafted from retired wine barrels.
Updated Oct. 15, 2010 8:01 pm
 Emily’s Pick in Lenexa: Frisk “Prickly”.
Hailing from the snowy, mountainous regions of Victoria in Australia, this blend is predominantly Riesling with a little Muscat Gordo (aka Muscat of Alexandria). This fragrant white wine is slightly sweet with a little spritz to it, giving it a lively freshness on the palate. Flavors of juicy pear and apricot mingle with the fragrant floral flavors inherent in both grape varietals, leaving you delicious fruit flavors that persist long after you’ve finished your sip. Wines like this are incredibly food-friendly, but are light enough to enjoy on their own. Pair this wine with anything from a cheese and fruit tray to exotic foods from Thailand, Japan, or India. Pick up this crowd-pleaser to enjoy for the weekend or as a light pick-me-up during the week!
Updated Oct. 10, 2010 4:50pm
 Andy announces the arrival in the Lenexa store of the latest vintage of Doña Paula Malbec/Syrah. This popular wine from Mendoza, Argentina is a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Syrah. It has fruity aromas of plum and impressive spice notes, pepper and red fruits and a pleasant mouth feel with fresh fruit acidity. The 2009 has not yet been reviewed but prior vintages scored in the low 90’s and he expects no less from this vintage.
Updated Oct. 9, 2010 8:25pm
The Lenexa store has received a limited quantity of 2005 Terre Rouge "Sentinel Oak Vineyard" Syrah($24.99, Reg $42.99). The grapes are from the oldest Syrah vineyard in the Sierra Nevada and one of the most famous Syrah sites in California. Note that this is a 2005 vintage. Because the wine is so meaty and has such great structure, the winemaker waited a couple of years after bottling to release it would age and gain complexity in the bottle. We also have 2007 Terre Rouge "Enigma"($15.99, Reg $26.99), a Rhone-style blended white that some compare to Conundrum.
 The Prairie Village store is now stocking a new line of wines from Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery in Lake County, California. This family owned winery is thoroughly dedicated to using sustainable farming practices in the grapes they grow. We now stock the Shannon Ridge Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, and "Wrangler Red". These are very good, reasonably priced wines ($12.99 - $13.99) from an environmentally-aware producer.
Upadated Oct. 4, 2010 4:13pm
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