Stirling Fine Wines

Bertani Amarone 2003 on Sale!

Bertani Amarone 2003 is now on sale at Stirling Fine Wines!

• “The 2003 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a big, enveloping wine loaded with wild cherries, licorice, new leather and dried flowers, not to mention considerable personality. The tannins are just a touch rough around the edges, and I am not sure they will ever soften given the heat of the vintage, but the 2003 should continue to drink well for at least a handful of years. Ideally the wine is best paired with hearty dishes. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021.”
• Wine Advocate 91 Points
• Originally $99.99 on sale for $69.99

What You Need to Know about Wine Accessories

Drinking wine is an experience for the senses. Savoring the pleasing aroma and subtle notes of a good wine can help you unwind from the day or enhance a fine meal. With a few accessories, you can amplify your wine-drinking experience and bring out the delicious flavors in any bottle. The following are some accessories that will compliment your wine collection:

• Decanter: Wines, especially older reds and ports, can settle and form natural sediment on the bottom that can add a bitter grittiness to the drink. A decanter is container, usually made of glass or crystal that sifts the sediment out of each pour. Simply designed decanters, such as glass carafes, are great for everyday wines; more elegant designs are appropriate for more expensive bottles.
• Corkscrews: There are many different types of corkscrews, from simple handheld devices to elaborate, electrical wine openers. Personal preference is usually the deciding factor when you’re buying a corkscrew, but models, like the Rabbit, provide clean removal of the cork and easy opening.
• Re-corkers: Not finishing a bottle of wine in one sitting does not mean it has to go to waste. Wine stoppers are available to preserve the remainder of the bottle for several days after first enjoying. Rubber and plastic storage corks are inexpensive and they extend the life of your wine.
• Wine Charms: When drinking wine at a party, it’s easy to get your glass of wine confused with others’. Wine charms are a fun way to mark each person’s glass to avoid confusion.
• Glasses: Certain types of wine require differently shaped glasses to properly complement the various flavors. For example, champagne should be served in tall, thin glasses to preserve the carbonation, while reds are usually poured into shorter glasses with wide bottoms to allow the wine to breathe and open up.

For a wide range of wines and spirits, visit Stirling Fine Wines. We have a large inventory of wines at great prices. Check us out online or call (908) 649-0084 to view our exceptional selection.

Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 2006 on Sale!

Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 2006 is now on sale at Stirling Fine Wines!

• “Silky and sweet, offering an alluring bouquet of black cherry, black currant, truffle and violet flavors. Picks up a mineral element that glides easily across the palate to the long aftertaste. The tannins are present, yet well-integrated”
• Wine Spectator 92 Points
• Originally $25.99 on sale for $16.99

Ornellaia 2008 on Sale at Stirling Fine Wines!

“The 2008 Ornellaia has really come together beautifully over the last few months. Up until fairly recently it was a tightly wound, inaccessible wine, but it has begun to blossom quite nicely. The 2008 is a cool, inward Ornellaia graced with exquisite finesse in its dark fruit, mocha, licorice, tar and spices. I especially like the minerality and focus. There is a fabulous balance between the tannins of this structured, powerful vintage, but with gorgeous fleshiness and pliancy that makes the wine very attractive, even at this early stage. It will be fascinating to watch the 2008 develop over the coming years and decades. The 2008 growing season was marked by a rainy, wet spring which resulted in an irregular flowering and naturally low yields. The summer was hot, but temperatures cooled towards the end of the summer, particularly at night, so important for the development of color, aromatics and full phenolic ripeness in varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a big, massively structured Ornellaia built for the cellar. In 2008 the blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The 2008 Ornellaia spent about 20 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.”

• Wine Advocate 96+ Points
• Originally $224.99 on sale for $150.01

4 Wine Storage Tips

When you are in the process of storing wine, you should consider that it is very sensitive to environmental factors like temperature and light. Wine not only needs to be served at the right temperature to bring out its flavor, but it also needs to be stored in specific conditions to get the most out of every bottle. Most people store wine in the fridge, but, in reality, it too cold and unstable for wine preservation. Below are some considerations you should make when storing a bottle of wine:

• Keep a consistent environment: Wine cellars are effective because they are not often disrupted and the temperature is easy to manage. Wine needs to be kept relatively still in an area that does not have great environmental fluctuations.
• Seek a cool, dark space: A temperature between 55 and 65 degrees is ideal for storing wine. You want to avoid exposure to light because it can age the wine faster and make it bitter and unpleasant. Most wine bottles are UV protected, but they do not fully protect the wine from light damage.
• Invest in a wine rack: Cork is a flexible material that expands and contracts when in contact with moisture. By laying a bottle of wine on its side, the cork is kept from shrinking and allowing oxygen to seep in.
• Give wine time to rest: When you pull a bottle out of your wine storage, be sure to take the proper precautions before serving. Bring the wine to the proper serving temperature (this varies per each type of wine). Open the bottle about 30 minutes before consumption to allow the wine to breathe.

Stirling Fine Wines offers a selection of white, red, and sparkling wines as well as a variety of spirits and accessories. Visit us online to browse our inventory or call (908) 649-0084 for more information.