Month: October 2016

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PETER WASSERMAN Burgundy Tasting at Spec’s

When: 6:30pm on Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Where: SPEC’s at 2410 Smith Street (2nd floor) in Midtown Houston
RSVP: RSVP_Houston@specsonline.com or 832-660-0250
Requested: $20 donation to the Houston Area Women’s Center

peterwassermanPlease join me at Spec’s Warehouse in welcoming my friend Peter Wasserman (son of legendary Burgundy figure Becky Wasserman) of Becky Wasserman & Co. Peter will be traveling with Gabe Howe of Classified wines. They will be tasting 6 domaine bottled Burgundy wines from Becky Wasserman & Co.

Peter Wasserman was born in Philadelphia in 1964 and moved to Burgundy with his family in 1968.  He was educated in France until he went to California to study at the Brooks Institute of Photography.  He was a film maker until 1996 when he went to work for a prominent New York retailer as Burgundy buyer.  He then joined Becky Wasserman & Co as their USA based consultant.  He also participates in ‘The Bouilland Symposia’, week long intensive seminars on Burgundy, along with Allen Meadows, Jasper Morris, and Anthony Hanson.  (Peter was completely bilingual by the time he was four and a half and accompanied visitors to cellars for the purposes of translation.  Therefore his in depth knowledge of wine began in his very early years).

domaine-lignier-michelot-morey-saint-denisWe will taste:
Berthaut Hautes Cotes de Nuits 2014
Berthaut Fixin 2014
Jérôme Castagnier Bourgogne Aligoté 2013
Pierre Morey Meursault “Les Terres Blanches” 2011
Lignier Michelot Morey St Denis VV 2009
Alain Burguet Gevery Chambertin Mes Favorites VV 2009

Admission to this talk and tasting is a $20.00 donation (Cash or Check made out to the Houston Area Women’s Center only please), all of which is a donation to the Houston Area Women’s Center. The class will meet at 6:30pm on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. To reserve your spot for this event, please contact  RSVP_Houston@specsonline.com or call Valerie Zamora at 832-660-0250.I hope to see you there.

Spec’s Warehouse is located at 2410 Smith Street in Midtown Houston (77006). This tasting will be held in the meeting rooms on the 2nd floor.

The Houston Area Women’s Center:
“For over 35 years, the Houston Area Women’s Center has worked relentlessly to help survivors affected by domestic and sexual violence build lives free from the effects of violence. Given our humble beginnings – we started with nine active volunteers answering donated phones – we are proud of how we have grown. Today, we have 115 paid staff, a counseling and administrative building, a residential shelter for 120 women and children, a state-of-the-art hotline call center and over 1,000 active volunteers.”

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VALUE BORDEAUX SEMINARS benefitting the Houston Area Women’s Center

bearonwinelogo7pm on Monday, October 10, 2016
– or –
7pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2016
at The Wine School at l’Alliance Française

The same class is being offered on two different dates. You may sign up for one or the other but not both.

Spec’s, the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux, and the European Union invite you to join Spec’s fine wine buyer Bear Dalton for Bordeaux Values at the Wine School at l’Alliance Française. These are the wines I consistently go-to for my personal drinking at home or with friends. In this seminar tasting, we’ll look at wines from around Bordeaux that offer quality and value. Topics of discussion will include vintages, the appellations of Bordeaux (including what makes an appellation), styles of Bordeaux, and the grape varieties and techniques used to make the wines. This is a good general introduction to Bordeaux. Bread and cheese will be served.

The following ten Bordeaux wines will be served:
Ch Martinon Entre Deux Mers 2014
Ch d’Archambeau Graves Blanc 2014
l’Esprit de Chevalier Blanc Pessac Leognan 2012
Ch Ampelia Castillon 2012
Ch Laplagnotte Bellvue St Emilion 2013
Gravette de Certan Pomerol 2013
Ch Carbonnieux Rouge Pessac Leognan 2012
Ch Senejac Haut Medoc 2012
Ch Cantenac Brown Margaux 2012
Ch Batailley Pauillac 2012

To buy your ticket, please contact Susan at 713-854-7855 or coburnsusan2@gmail.com. When you call or email, please specify which session you wish to attend. The cost of this class is a $20 donation (cash or check only please) to the Houston Area Women’s Center. L’Alliance Française is French Cultural Center in Houston. Located at 427 Lovett Blvd., l’Alliance Française is on the south-east corner of Lovett and Whitney (one block south of Westheimer and two blocks east of Montrose).

About The Houston Area Women’s Center:
For over 35 years, the Houston Area Women’s Center has worked relentlessly to help survivors affected by domestic and sexual violence build lives free from the effects of violence. Given our humble beginnings – we started with nine active volunteers answering donated phones – we are proud at how we have grown. Today, we have 115 paid staff, a counseling and administrative building, a residential shelter for 120 women and children, a state-of-the-art hotline call center and over 1,000 active volunteers.

L’Alliance Française is the French cultural center in Houston. Located at 427 Lovett Blvd., l’Alliance is on the southeast corner of Lovett and Whitney (one block south of Westheimer and two blocks east of Montrose).

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2011 Bordeaux and Champagne Tasting at the Crystal Ballroom at the Rice

2011bordstripOn Tuesday, October 18, 2016, Spec’s will host a number of chateau owners, directors, and winemakers presenting 30 mostly Cru Classé and second label Bordeaux wines all from the 2011 vintage. We will also have representatives of  six Champagne houses pouring 20 of their Champagnes, all in a standup- and-walk-around tasting format. This is similar to our wildly popular January Bordeaux event but with a mostly different lineup of wines – and, of course, with Champagne. We’ll be serving . . .

BORDEAUX
Dry White: Clos de Lune Blanche (Bordeaux Blanc), Domaine de Chevalier and Esprit de Chevalier (both Pessac Leognan Blanc)
St. Emilion: Ch. Figeac and Petite Figeac, Ch. Larcis Ducasse and Murmure de Larcis, and Ch. Pavie Macquin and Chenes de Macquin
Pomerol: Vieux Ch. Certan and Gravette de Certan
Francs: Ch. Puygueraud
St. Estephe: Ch. Calon Segur and Marquis de Calon, Ch. Montrose and La Dame de Montrose
Pauillac: Ch. Pichon Lalande and Reserve de la Comtesee, Ch. Pontet Canet and Haut de Pontet Canet
St. Julien: Ch. Ducru Beaucaillou and La Croix de Beaucaillou
Margaux: Ch. Giscours and Sirene de Giscours
Pessac Leognan Ch. Haut Bailly and La Parde de Haut Bailly, Domaine de Chevalier and Espirit de Chevalier
Sauternes: Ch. Guiraud and La Petit Guiraud

CHAMPAGNE
Barons de Rothschild Brut NV, Blanc de Blancs NV and Rosé NV
Castelnau Brut Reserve NV, Rosé NV, and Vintage 1998
Bonnaire Brut Tradition NV, Blanc De Blanc NV, Brut Variance NV and Rosé NV
Andre Clouet Brut Grand Reserve NV, Rosé NV, and Brut Millesime
Ch. de Bligny Brut NV, Rosé NV, Blanc de Blancs NV, and Clos de Bligny
Michel Mailliard Cuvee Gregory Brut NV and Cuvee Alexia Rosé, NV
Waris Hubert Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru NV

The tasting will open at 4:30pm and run until 8:30pm, giving tasters ample time to taste the wines and visit with our guests from Bordeaux and Champagne. The tasting will include a spread of artisanal cheeses and breads chosen to help absorb the wines and refresh the palate. We will taste from Riedel Degustazione (tasting) glasses. This 2011 Bordeaux and Champagne Tasting will cost $80.00 total per person cash ($84.21 regular). To purchase your ticket for this unique Bordeaux and Champagne Event, please contact Susan at 713-854-7855 or coburnsusan2@gmail.com.

The Crystal Ballroom is located in downtown Houston at 909 Texas Avenue between Travis and Main. Valet Parking will be available.

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