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GREAT 1997 CABERNET VALUE
RH PHILLIPS Toasted Head CABERNET SAUVIGNON/SYRAH, CALIFORNIA, 1997
12x750ml     $13.99 per bottle (cash)     $154.91 per case (Cash)
A blend of 55% Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon with 45% Dunnigan
Hills (Yolo County) Syrah this is a juicy, ripe, well-focused,
flavorful Cabernet-blend that exemplifies the excellent 1997 vintage.
Alive with flavor, it offeres black cherry, blackberry, and black
raspberry fruit along with notes cedar, black pepper, tobacco, and
leather. It has a great medium-weight feel and a supple texture.
It is alive, vibrant, and elegant in the mouth. Not complex but
super delicious. I almost don't want to give it the score it
deserves because I'm afraid no one will believe me; it tastes like
it cost much more and comes from a much fancier appellation.
Excellent. SPEC's Score: 92+ points. (Due to the fact that only
22 cases of this 1997 are available, this item will be sold at
SPEC's 2410 Smith Street Warehouse Store only.)

THE GREAT UNKNOWN: Wine From Off the Well-Worn Path
  Whether you're a wine adventurer or you're just tired of drinking the
same old thing, this is the class for you. On THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18TH at
7:00pm, SPEC's and the Wine School at l'Alliance Francaise will offer a
class and tasting entitled THE GREAT UNKNOWN: Wine from Off the Well-Worn
Path. This class will look at and taste twelve very-good-to-great wines
from lesser-known wine growing areas in France, Spain, and Portugal.  The
class will focus on how the wines are made, the grapes used to make them,
and the land they come from as well as how they match-up with food. Twelve
wines representing a range of styles including both red and white wines
will be tasted. THE GREAT UNKNOWN: Wine from Off the Well-Worn Path will
cost$46.00 "cash" per person ($48.42 regular) with a $10.00 discount
available for 1000 SPEC's Key points. For directions, reservations,
or more information on this class, please call SPEC's at
713-526-8787. This class will be held at l'Alliance Francaise.
L?Alliance Fran?aise, the French cultural organization in Houston,
is located at 427 Lovett Boulevard (on the southeast corner of Lovett
and Whitney, one block south of Westheimer).PLEASE SEE WINE SCHOOL
CANCELLATION POLICY AT BOTTOM.

THUNDER IN TUSCANY: Fontodi and Felsina Chianti Dinner at Simposio
Please join SIMPOSIO Chef Alberto Baffoni and SPEC's Italian wine
buyer Joseph Kemble for the premier dinner at Simposio featuring
the newly released 1999 Chiantis from both Fontodi and Felsina. Be
among the first in Texas to hear the thunder coming from Tuscany.
Chef Baffoni's Menu starts with Tuna carpaccio marinated in a lemon
dressing with calamata olives and red onion dressing served with
Pra Soave Classico Superiore 2000. Then comes Spinach and potato
gnocchi in a gorgonzola cheese sauce served with  Felsina Chinati
Classico 1998 followed by Grilled wild boar sausage with baby
spinach salad in a balsamic tomato vinaigrette served with Fontodi
Chianti Classico 1998. The main course is a Duck leg confit with
sauteed swiss chard and sweet and sour shallot sauce served with
Fontodi Chianti Classico 1999. A Cheese platter with fruit and
walnut will be served with Felsina Chianti Classico 1999. Thunder
in Tuscany is $79.00 per person plus tax and gratituity and will
take place at Simposio Restaurant, 5591 Richmond Avenue at Chimney
Rock, at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 16, 2001. For more information
or reservations, please call Simposio at 713-532-0550 or e-mail
simposio@pdq.net

OUISIE?S TABLE MORGAN VINEYARDS OCTOBER WINE PAIRING DINNER
Ouisie?s Table at 3939 San Felipe Road is hosting their last wine
pairing dinner of the year on Wednesday, October 31, 2001 (Halloween).
The evening will begin at 6:45p.m with a cocktail reception.  The
guests will enjoy a multi-course meal along with wines from the
Morgan Winery produced out of the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation
and Monterey County in California. Dan and Donna Lee founded Morgan
Winery in 1982, with a goal of creating the finest wines possible
by obtaining the highest quality fruit. The Lee's named the ranch
the Double L, short for Double Luck, for their identical twin
daughters, Annie and Jackie, who were 5 years old at the time.
The Double L is farmed organically, the only organic vineyard in
the Santa Lucia Highlands. The tariff for the dinner is $85.00 per
person plus tax and gratuity. For reservations please call Ouisie's
713-528-2264 Tuesday through Saturday.  Any questions regarding the
menu or wines may be directed to a Ouisie's manager.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS (Details to be Announced)
10/25/01 (Thursday, 7pm) - 1999 Zinfandel: Round II
10/30/01	(Tuesday, 7pm) - Ch. Haut Brion Dinner at Four Seasons Hotel
11/07/01 (Wednesday, 7pm) - Oysters and Fevre Chablis Dinner
11/13/01 (Tuesday, 7pm) - Rhone Valley Wines Class and Tasting
11/14/01 (Wednesday, 7pm) - BV Georges de Latour Cabernet
                            Sauvignon Reserve 1998 Release Party

WINE SCHOOL CANCELLATION POLICY
If for any reason you need to cancel a reservation for a class,
dinner, or other event, please let us know at 713-526-8787 as soon
as possible. Reservations canceled before 4pm on the last business
day before the event (usually 27 hours) will not be charged.
Cancellations received after 4pm on the business day before the
event will be charged unless those seats can be resold. All
no-shows will be charged.