OUR FIRST STAFF SHOWDOWN IS IN THE CAN

So this past weekend, we at Liquor Direct unveiled our first semi-annual Staff Showcase “Showdown” tasting, which took up both Friday and Saturday at both locations. We had 10 of our crack wine staff (or is that wine staff on crack?) choose what they felt to be the best wine we had in the stores right then and there. Price was not an object, with the only real stipulation being that the wine suggested was currently in stock.

The line-up was as follows:

LD1’s (Covington’s) picks:
1. Honig Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Napa Valley
2. Des. De J. Palacios Petalos 2006 Bierzo
3. Mas des Brunes Cuvee des Cigales 2005 VDP de Cotes du Tongue
4. Wild Oak Merlot 2005 Sonoma County
5. Stag’s Leap Winery Petite Sirah 2004 Napa Valley

LD2’s (Fort Thomas’) picks:
1. Sokol Blosser Evolution 9th Edition Oregon
2. Borsao Crianza 2004 Campo de Borja
3. Colomé Malbec 2006 Colchaqui Valley
4. Havens Black & Blue 2002 Napa Valley
5. Alto Moncayo 2004 Campo de Borja

For starters, I was a bit shocked that having lifted any price restrictions, the staff choose nothing over $40. Good for the customers, to be sure. All the wines were pretty well received, with the two whites (Honig and Evolution) finishing 3rd and 4th. The votes have been tabulated, with over 150 customers taking part in the voting (not bad for the first time out).

The winning selections were the Alto Moncayo 2004, chosen by our ace utility player Ray Burwick at Fort Thomas, and the Des. De J. Palacios Petalos 2006, chosen by assistant wine buyer Jesse Stambaugh. Look for their feature selection displays in the front of our stores – Fort Thomas and Covington respectively, and thanks to all those who voted. We’ll do this again after the first of the year.