Beginning on Friday (October 30), and continuing through the following week, we’ll pour Flights of  Syrah and Rhone Whites, along with a small Pinot Noir Flight.

Our Syrah Flight will include:

• Laird 2004 Dyer Ranch Napa Valley
• Cleb 2007 Clover Creek Santa Ynez Valley
• Cass 2006 Paso Robles
• Lionheart 2006 Santa Barbara Co
• Thompkin Cellars 2006 Santa Barbara Co

Our  White Rhones Wines Flight will include:

• Katin 2008 Grenache Blanc Paso Robles
• Nevarez 2005 Roussanne Paso Robles
• Oso Libre 2007 Volado Viognier Paso Robles
• Edward Sellers 2007 Viognier Paso Robles
• Ramian Estates 2007 Reserve White Monterey

Our Pali Pinot Noir for Daily Sipping Flight will include:

• Pali 2008 Riviera Sonoma Coast
• Pali  2008 Huntington Santa Barbara Co
• Pali 2008 Alphabets Willamette Valley
• Comte Gruyere

New Wines:

• Laird 2004 Syrah Dyer Ranch Napa Valley @ $34.00
• Pali 2008 Pinot Noir Huntington Santa Barbara Co @ $20.00
• Pali 2008 Pinot Noir Alphabets Willamette Valley @ $20.00

Based on bottle sales last week,  the  best selling red wine was the Klinker Brick 2007 Old Ghost Zinfandel Lodi.  Among the white wines, the most popular was the Fort Ross 2008 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast.

The “Daily Sipping Pali”wines are all about having something you enjoy, at a comfortable price.  Good Pinot Noir is frequently in the high 30s and up price wise.  The folks at Pali Wine Company developed these three blends from different growing regions with that in mind.  We’ve put them together, and paired them with a cheese, in the hope that you might find one or more that work for you without tapping into the kids’ college fund (save that for next week’s red flight).   We only have a case of each, but if it works for you, we can get more.

Last Saturday’s Wine Class was moved to Saturday,  November 7.  The focus will be on Sensory Evaluation.  For those looking for the basics in wine appreciation, this is the class you want.  The class will run from 3:00 to about 5:00pm.  There are five seats still available.  Reservations may be made at 626-358-6500 of go to www.winewitandwisdom.com and click on wine classes.  Select “C W&C Class” and you can pre-pay.  If you pay at the class, it will need to be by check or cash to the instructor, Elizabeth Schweitzer.

San Tasti is a “palate cleansing beverage” that we recently found in Paso Robles wineries.  It was developed to restore balance to you palate while sampling a variety of wines.  It should even allow you to go from a red wine to a white wine without your palate being influenced by the red wine flavors.  We now carry 12oz bottles in the cooler.

Check out the West Wall. Artist Chris Dodge presents a mixed media show which includes oils, acrylic and charcoal works.  While Chris paints in a variety of themes, in this show, the prevalent subject are animals.  From pet dogs to range cattle, they’re on the wall and their looking at you!

Stop by Sunday afternoons when we’re joined by Norman Davis who plays classical and light jazz pieces for a couple hours.  His guitar playing provides a relaxing back drop to the whole wine and cheese experience. The music starts at 3:30PM.

Tax Free Wednesdays.   On Wednesdays,  all retail purchases will be discounted 9.75%.    As previously noted,  this discount will not compound with others already available.

The Cheese Corner

From the Piemonte region of Italy, La Tur is made with three milks that result in two textures and merge into one cheese’s best approximation of ice cream.  A thin, edible skin barely contains a hair’s breadth of drippy tang, and then: deep, tongue skimmimg, milk cloud, full and moist, with a liberal salting that makes you wish they left the sugar out of gelato entirely.  A mild and delightful cheese.

From Shelbourne Farms in Vermont, a two year cheddar.  While the ten year cheddar we have been serving this past week has been a big hit, it’s always good to have some alternatives.

And last, but not least, the return of the very popular Rogue Creamery Chocolate Stout Cheddar.

Upcoming Events:

Bistro 45 will feature Walter Hansel Wines.   These are outstanding Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines made by Stephen Hansel from Russian River grapes.   The dinner will be at 6:30PM and will cost $85. pp.  For reservations, call 626-795-2478 or email bistro45@earthlink.net.