Here are 4 little guys I would highly recommend grabbing while still available (...they are becoming scarce and the bang for the buck is BIG):

I1) Tres Picos 2006, $13.99 100% Grenache - This wine explodes with cherry aromas. It is so concentrated it's like cherry pie in a glass! The body is fat and well structured ... indulge!

2) Mas Donis 2004, $11.99 85% Grenache, 15% Syrah - Robert Parker gave this baby 90 points! Full-bodied, it has good glyceral so tannins are very silky. The nose is incredibly complex;the dark fruit aromas are seriously backed up by great earthy and mineral aromas ...

3) Las Rocas 23005, $9.99 100% Grenache - Robert Parker also loved this one and gave it 90 points! Very old vines, very juicy, pretty concentrated with red fruit aromas. The spices that are present make the wine so interesting! Can you get the pepper on the nose?

4) Burgans, Albarino 2006, $12.49 - Robert Parker gave this one 89 points! This guy is rich, bursts with peach and apricot aromas mixed with hints of tangerine. It is so good with chicken and pork and also works well with grilled tuna!

For centuries beer lovers have been cellaring/aging beers that are worthy and powerful enough to withstand time in the bottle. For those of you not already aware,
it's a practice that goes back hundreds, if not thousands of years. It's generally believed that the original reason for this practice was out of a need to store nutrition
and/or to pay farmhands, as in the case of medieval France. Thus is the reason for the term "Bieres de Garde", or beer for saving.

These beers were of relatively high alcohol, high yeast and high sugar or protein content and stored beautifully, provided they were kept from direct heat or light. In addition, the beers mellowed, while notable characteristics intensified, making for a very pleasant experience. I've been a fan of aged beers for quite some time. My first treat was in a European shop that specialized in nothing but aged beers and to my amazement, they were sampling out a 15-year old English strong ale and it was, of course, simply stunning.
In our hectic lives it's difficult to commit to storing our beer goodies; we want them now!

Here at Steve's Liquor & More, we thought it would be cool to age them for you! We've personally selected the items, based on their power and likeability. We just released one year-old Capital Autumnal Fire and when I tasted it with the rest of the gang here, everyone agreed that the bite of the alcohol had diminished significantly, that the caramel-ly notes were bigger and softer and it took on a nearly buttery texture. One even compared it to a Kulmbacher Eis-Bock! Joining the Fire is New Glarus Enigma, also a year old and put it to the same test. Karen said "WOW!" This has been one of my favorite beers since it was first made and giving it a year only made it, like the Fire, mellower, softer in the mouth,slightly less sweet and with deeper, rounder malt character.

Keep an eye out for these aging beers: Capital Blond Doppelbock, (I can't wait!), Capital Vintage Ale, Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout, Central Waters Cherry Bourbon Stout and more. We'll keep you informed about each release. Enjoy - Cheers!

Looking for a secret stash of money? Well, aren't we all! Will you settle for some amazing values in wine?

Look no further than South America. Both Chile and Argentina are turning up stellar bottlings are very minimal prices. The quality to price ratio is very high and consumers can really take advantage of wonderful wines at very moderate prices.

Where else in the world can you find such optimal and consistent growing conditions? A few years ago on a trip to Chile and Argentina I marveled in the fact that EVERY DAY I was there was gorgeously sunny. Much has been researched in recent years about how to control the conditions to produce the best wine possible. Chile has been known for quite some time as a region of consistent quality and good values and right now is no exception. Winemaking techniques continue to improve and selection is vast and growing.

In Argentina, quality has greatly improved over that last few years. Many investors have put large sums of money into research and development and producing better and better quality wines. Why do you think big name California and French producers are scrambling for land in Argentina? There are many cooperative efforts between domestic and French producers and Argentine winemakers.

Steve's is featuring more South American wines that ever! Recent changes have allowed us to emphasize the values arriving in the United States. We have expanded our Chilean and Argentinean wine section by 30% to make room for more wines from Ventisquero, Los Vascos, Montes, and Casa Lapostolle.

South American wines are, by nature, organic. The combination of altitudes and dry climate allow growers to cultivate rich wines without the use of pesticides. Elevations of 2000 feet and higher allow the sun to concentrate the berries without cooking them. The result is complex and opulent red and white wines of excellent value

Be sure to stop in and look for new releases from South America!

So you've reached a point in your wine tasting/enjoying life where you may want to start collecting and cellaring a few bottles. Perhaps you ready to move beyond "a few bottles" and want to start your own cellar. How do you make the right choices? What wines can age? What wines will improve with age?

Don't know how to get started or WITH WHAT WINE to get started? Steve's knowledgeable staff is here to help!

Cellaring wine can be tricky. Not all wine can hold up to years of aging. However, if chosen correctly, you can enjoy the benefits of wine that has improved because of being cellared. There are many wines produced around the world that are NOT at their optimal drinking when they are released and available for retail sale. Many wines and many specific varietals really need a few years to "lay down" to allow the wine to come together and give you the best flavors.

Sounds complicated? It can be. The full-time staff at Steve's Liquor and More has years of experience tasting and deciphering the complexities of wines. We encourage you to "pick our brains" and use us as your resource. Many people aren't aware but MANY of the wines in our store we have actually tasted and tried. That is a lot of wine!

No matter what your budget is for cellaring or where you are in the process -- just starting out or adding to an already impressive collection -- we can help. Feel free to stop in or give us a call to make an appointment. Dominique, Karen, Mike, or any of our staff would be happy to help.

WOW! Collector alert! Look no further than Australia for highly rated, highly collectible red wines! Robert Parker has raved about these wines and now is your chance to get them --- quick, before they are gone!

A Few top picks you shouldn't miss (and at prices you can't afford to pass up):

2005 Boarding Pass Shiraz - Rated 92 points by Robert Parker. "Very expressive with a nose of smoke, spice box, blackberry, and blueberry jam. Layered, supple-textured, sweet and full-bodied, this seamless, crowd-pleasing wine offers a remarkably long finish for its humble price. " $17.99

2006 3 Rings Shiraz - Rated 91 points by Robert Parker. "Opaque purple colored, it offers up a jammy perfume of cedar, spice box, violets, blueberry, and blackberry. Very elegant style ... supple texture, full-flavored with well-integrated tannin. Hedonistic effort!" $18.49

2006 Marquis Philips Shiraz 9 - Rated 92-95 points by Robert Parker. "Alluring bouquet of pain grille smoke, mocha, espresso, and blue fruits. Full-bodied, personality-filled Shiraz with blueberry, blackberry liqueur, licorice, and a hint of chocolate." Opulent, sweet and lengthy! $38.99