June is for Oregon

The inner trailblazer in all of us will want to

check out these selections from the

groundbreaking state of Oregon! We‟re featuring

these selections for June in recognition of the

Oregon Wine Board‟s “Oregon Wine Month” to

honor the trail blazing spirit of the state‟s

winemakers which continues today in its small-

production, hand-crafted philosophy.

JUNE 2013

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Welcome to District Heights

The world of wine & spirits can seem

complicated, even intimidating. It‟s probably the

only pursuit where you feel like you have to know

everything there is before you can begin.

That‟s why we started District Heights. Every

month, we highlight regions, varieties, and

cocktails. Whether wine, beer, or liquor, we show

how to drink, serve, and talk about them

intelligently. More than that, we find bottles that

have good value, and that you can enjoy. June Beer of the Month

BEER | Rogue Brewery Dead Guy Ale |Oregon

We‟re celebrating the month of June with a

classic beer designed for Spring. The flagship

ale of famed Oregon beer producer Rogue

Brewery is their Dead Guy Ale – a version of

German Maibock (a hoppier, paler version of

the classically strong German lager)

characteristically brewed to bock strength but

lighter in color and with more hop strength.

Enjoy the rich, hearty flavors and malty aromas

of this deeply honey colored ale.

Pearson‟s Wine & Spirits | (202) 333-6666 |

wine@pearsonswine.com |2436 Wisconsin Ave NW

Washington, DC 20007 |

With a reputation for sustainable practices, eco-friendly techniques, and world-class wines, you‟ll want to

take advantage of these classics from Oregon‟s top producers and vineyards. First planted during its

settling in the 1840s, Oregon saw its wine industry rebuilt in the 1960s thanks to several young pioneering

winemakers from its neighbor to the south. A handful of UC Davis graduates were determined to prove

that wine varietals from Burgundy would grow better in Oregon than in California. It wasn‟t long before

they proved it, and saw the Oregon wine industry blossom into what it is today: high-quality, independent

and unpretentious.

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District Heights - Oregon

Patricia Green Sauvignon Blanc 2010 White | Sauvignon Blanc | Oregon

Cool-climate growing conditions provide bright and focused

acidity to this Sauvignon Blanc. It spotlights tastes of green apple

and zesty lemon and lime, yet carries enough weight and depth on

the palette to ensure a high-quality, small-production wine of only

1,100 cases.

Shea Wine Cellars Chardonnay 2009 White | Chardonnay | Oregon | Willamette Valley

A limited production of 627 cases in 2009 from one of America‟s

truly grand cru vineyards. Beautiful aromatics of flowers, pear and

jasmine lead into layered flavors on a medium- to full-bodied

palette that retains excellent balance and acidity. This dry-farmed

site used two strains of Dijon clones (76 and 95) with complete

malolactic fermentation and all French oak (only 15% new).

Ponzi Pinot Noir 2010 Tavola Red | Pinot Noir | Oregon | Willamette Valley

A soft, fruit-forward style of Pinot Noir from one of Oregon‟s

famed wine families. This Pinot noir opens with plums and black

cherry with vanilla and brown sugar and pepper spices that

develop as the wine opens. A pleasant silky textured style coming

from Ponzi‟s vineyards along with fruit from certified sustainable

farms in Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton and Eola Hills

appellations.

Angela Clawson Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009 Red | Pinot Noir | Oregon

A savory and earthy single-vineyard production Pinot Noir from

the hands of leading winemaker Ken Wright. This wine shows

dark cherry and berry notes along with pomegranate fruit, black

tea leaf and mushrooms and spices. The fruit really shows verve

while being nicely balanced with acidity. Don‟t miss!

June means time for Merlot at District Heights and we‟re featuring several top bottlings of this dark-

skinned, hedonistic and ever-popular grape varietal. Forget about those unappreciated, mass-produced

quaffers – these selections will remind you how distinct great Merlot can be. A native to France‟s

Bordeaux region, Merlot finds its greatest expression in the Right Bank havens of St.-Emilion, Pomerol

and Lalande de Pomerol where it produces stunning wines of great structure. Often used as a blending

grape (due to its ability to help tame Cabernet Sauvignon), we‟re showcasing several Merlot-based blends.

One of the most planted wine grape varietals in the world, Merlot also has significant plantings in

California, Washington State, Argentina, Chile, Italy, New Zealand and many other countries.

District Heights - Merlot

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Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills H3 Les Chevaux 2010 Red | Washington | Horse Heaven Hills

Wine Spectator – 90 Points! This blend has incredible

depth with 80 percent Merlot as the backbone. With a

mouthful of dark blueberries, dark chocolate, licorice and

spicy, candied nuts the ample and long finish is met by

firm and supple tannins. This Eastern Washington

appellation is known for volcanic soils and intense fruit.

Chateau Monbousquet St.-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 Red | France | Bordeaux

Wine Advocate – 93 Points! Fans of the modern

Bordeaux style will want to pick up the 2009 blockbuster

from Chateau Monbousquet. A favorite of Robert Parker

since estate owner Gerard Perse overhauled the

production methods starting in 1993, this Merlot-

dominate wine will pack jammy and rich black and red

fruits with a notable oak presence and coffee, smoke and

chocolate flavors. Full-throttle once out the bottle, you

can cellar for up to 15 years.

Clos de Menuts L’Excellence St.-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 Red | France | Bordeaux

Situated on just 10 acres of limestone and clay soils near

the city center, Clos de Menuts has produced a stylish

2009 L‟Excellence vintage with big, ripe fruit and

toasted notes. This is a wine packed with richness and

body and balanced with a solid backbone.

District Heights - Oregon

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Oregon Spirits

GIN | Ransom | Old Tom |Oregon

Also called their “Heart of Hearts” gin,

Ransom‟s Old Tom is based on mid-19th Century

gin recipes. These gins are characteristically

sweeter than what we think of as gin now and

often had sugar added. Ransom uses neutral corn

spirits and malted barley, as well as a small

selection of herbal and citrus flavorings.

Although it‟s sweeter than gin you‟re used to,

you‟ll have a chance to taste aspects of gin

you‟ve never noticed before – coriander, orange,

lemon, angelica root – because they were

overwhelmed by the juniper that most modern

gins rely on. Cocktail historian David Wondrich

helped to create the recipe, and Ransom “Old

Tom” should change your expectations for gin

while making a great base for cocktails.

Beverage Testing Institute - 93 Points!

Pictured: Everything you need to impress your toughest date.

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Cocktail Club

For a gin as elegant and straightforward as “Old Tom,” it‟s easy to accent the flavors without overriding them. Ransom

recommends the easy to make and easy to please “Custom Old Tom,” and District Heights gives its wholehearted

approval.

Custom Old Tom

|2 ½ oz Old Tom| |1 oz Blood Orange| |4 drops Angostura bitters| |splash of simple syrup|

Combine your ingredients in a

cocktail glass and stir. Cut a long

and thin slice of orange for a

garnish. If you don‟t have simple

syrup, stir a very small amount of

fine sugar into a splash of water

before pouring in the other

ingredients. Bonus points for

chilling the glass first. Try San

Pellegrino‟s Sparkling Blood

Orange for a fizzier take.

June Terminology

Maibock: „Bock‟ roughly translates from German

into „strong dark lager.‟ The maibock is a twist that‟s

not so dark, has a little more hoppiness, and which

tastes great in the springtime. If DC weather seems a

little inconsistent, maibock will keep you in a spring

state of mind.

Right Bank: France‟s famous Bordeaux winemaking

region is divided in half by the Gironde Estuary. St.

Emilion, the region whose merlot we‟re showcasing

this month, is on the right side of that river.

Old Tom: A 19th Century Gin style you‟re going to

wish you‟d known about sooner.