(Aalto Ribera del Duero) Happy Holidays As the end of 2008 approaches, I've tried my best to look back at the wonderful memories of the year, not the constant barrage of world-wide negativity that has become ensconced by our media. I am always of the belief that if more affairs were settled over a glass of aged Saint Julien (or Chinon for that matter), the tensions that cause such friction would ultimately be more surmountable. Regardless of economic or international affairs, my year has been superlative. I welcomed a beautiful new daughter into this world and also welcomed many of you for the first time. When looking back on 2008, one of the first things to emanate from my cerebral cortex is the wonder of our customer base - the most dedicated, loyal and deserving group of consumers any business has the respectful pleasure to educate and serve. Like family, you can be determined and disgruntled but also famously frank, excited, engaging and always open to the new pastures of my horizon (whether they have to do with wine or not). That is a privilege held by very few. Every year at this time, I give thanks to all of you for allowing us to carry on for another 12 months. While that may seem odd, we still do not consider our occupation as "work" or as something deserved but each day is earned as a step above the last. Garagiste remains (as it has from our first day), a conduit from the winemaker's hands to yours and the role given to me by all of you as the speaker of that conduit is graciously remembered every morning as I arise. While nothing is taken for granted in this life, the open ears of our customer base constantly reinforce my commitment to work harder than the previous year - in 2009 I pledge to do just that. There is much in store for all of us next year and it should prove to be a wild ride with some of the biggest surprises in our history - the first of which debuts in January. As the last few days of 2008 fall from the calendar, I give my most heartfelt "Thank You" to all of you, our extended family, for making our days worthwhile and always more interesting. My mantra remains "We do this for you" and that has never been more clear than today. From everyone at Garagiste, happy holidays - - Jon Rimmerman *********************** Aalto #2 Dear Friends, After we sent out the Aalto PS offer last week I received several requests for a parcel of the "regular" at a similar low price - here you go. This wine is equally as impressive for what it is - a large-scaled wine with both class and breed. This is not a massive, over-done example - it has a feminine quality that captivates (despite its powerful framework) with a true sense of minerality and terroir at its core - a tough yin-yang to pull off. The 2005 Aalto is an example that should be very well received by a broad segment of our customer base - it straddles a fence between Vega Sicilia and the new school with nooks and crannies here for everyone - it is also poised to age very well: ONE PARCEL ONLY directly from the source with perfect provenance We have an exceptional price on this item, about the same as in Spain (for many of you, this will be the best price/value we've offered on a red wine this year): 2005 Aalto Ribera del Duero Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Spain8850
By Jon Rimmerman
(Aalto Ribera del Duero) Happy Holidays As the end of 2008 approaches, I've tried my best to look back at the wonderful memories of the year, not the constant barrage of world-wide negativity that has become ensconced by our media. I am always of the belief that if more affairs were settled over a glass of aged Saint Julien (or Chinon for that matter), the tensions that cause such friction would ultimately be more surmountable. Regardless of economic or international affairs, my year has been superlative. I welcomed a beautiful new daughter into this world and also welcomed many of you for the first time. When looking back on 2008, one of the first things to emanate from my cerebral cortex is the wonder of our customer base - the most dedicated, loyal and deserving group of consumers any business has the respectful pleasure to educate and serve. Like family, you can be determined and disgruntled but also famously frank, excited, engaging and always open to the new pastures of my horizon (whether they have to do with wine or not). That is a privilege held by very few. Every year at this time, I give thanks to all of you for allowing us to carry on for another 12 months. While that may seem odd, we still do not consider our occupation as "work" or as something deserved but each day is earned as a step above the last. Garagiste remains (as it has from our first day), a conduit from the winemaker's hands to yours and the role given to me by all of you as the speaker of that conduit is graciously remembered every morning as I arise. While nothing is taken for granted in this life, the open ears of our customer base constantly reinforce my commitment to work harder than the previous year - in 2009 I pledge to do just that. There is much in store for all of us next year and it should prove to be a wild ride with some of the biggest surprises in our history - the first of which debuts in January. As the last few days of 2008 fall from the calendar, I give my most heartfelt "Thank You" to all of you, our extended family, for making our days worthwhile and always more interesting. My mantra remains "We do this for you" and that has never been more clear than today. From everyone at Garagiste, happy holidays - - Jon Rimmerman *********************** Aalto #2 Dear Friends, After we sent out the Aalto PS offer last week I received several requests for a parcel of the "regular" at a similar low price - here you go. This wine is equally as impressive for what it is - a large-scaled wine with both class and breed. This is not a massive, over-done example - it has a feminine quality that captivates (despite its powerful framework) with a true sense of minerality and terroir at its core - a tough yin-yang to pull off. The 2005 Aalto is an example that should be very well received by a broad segment of our customer base - it straddles a fence between Vega Sicilia and the new school with nooks and crannies here for everyone - it is also poised to age very well: ONE PARCEL ONLY directly from the source with perfect provenance We have an exceptional price on this item, about the same as in Spain (for many of you, this will be the best price/value we've offered on a red wine this year): 2005 Aalto Ribera del Duero Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Spain885012/23/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)