Can't remember the name of that great wine you tried at the shop last Saturday? Here's where you find out what we've been tasting recently!
October 18th - Wines from Around the World
Join us and our good friend Erica Lasswell of Grapevine Distributing as we
sip our way around the winemaking world!
2006 Kings Ridge Riesling, Oregon – This beautifully balanced wine has
aromas of white fruit and a distinct spiciness. In the mouth, bright
acidity and minerality contrast with rich weight and complex fruit flavors
of lime and green apple in a long and intense finish. This wine is just
begging to be on your Thanksgiving table!
2007 Menguante Garnacha, Carinena, Spain – Yet another gem from Spain,
proving that quality and price aren’t always synonymous! The grapes used
to make this outstanding wine are handpicked from 80 year old vines on a
small 35 hectare plot. The wine is typical of Garnacha grown in hot
climates - full bodied, yet soft, with dark fruits like blueberry and
blackberry.
2007 Undone Pinot Noir, Rheinhessen, Germany – This wine is very smooth,
with berry and plum notes on the palate. It was fermented and aged in
stainless steel tanks, so it has no oak influence – the pure flavors of
Pinot Noir and German terroir show through. A perfect wine for the cooler
nights!
2006 Stickleback Blend, South Australia - Gorgeous wine from a very well
respected Aussie winemaker; this is a blend of Cabernet, Shiraz and
Grenache. Robert Parker gives it 90 points. In fact, here’s what he has
to say about it…“Ripe, sweet, and layered on the palate, this
sensational value totally over-delivers. It will evolve for 1-2 years but
there is really no reason to defer gratification.” We couldn’t have
said it better ourselves!
October 11th - The Wines of Domaine Ferraton
Domaine Ferraton is a highly-praised producer based in the Rhône Valley of
France. Sustainable farming, a new state of the art winery and expert
handling of the grapes all contribute to incredible expression in the glass.
This week we’ll try four absurdly delicious offerings!
2007 Côtes du Rhône “Samorëns” Blanc – 60% Grenache Blanc gives
this white Rhône excellent body while its high proportion of Clairette adds
freshness and good acidity. The wine sees no oak as the estate’s priority
is to maximize the wine’s pure fruit flavors.
2006 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc “La Matinière” – This wine is10%
Roussane, but is dominated by Marsanne (90%), as is evidenced by a nose
and palate of mineral, quince and honeysuckle. This fruity, full-bodied
white is simply outstanding and would be absolutely perfect on the
Thanksgiving dinner table.
2006 Côtes du Rhône “Samorëns” Rouge – Composed of 65%Grenache,
20% Syrah and 15% Cinsault, this is classic, straightforward Côtes
du Rhône. It is a high-acid wine with notes of cherry and dusty tannins.
2007 Côtes du Rhône Villages “Plan de Dieu” Rouge – Plan deDieu,
located just west of Gigondas was upgraded to Villages status in2005. This
wine is composed of 80%Grenache and 20% Syrah, and it offers up a plump
nose and palate of ripe strawberry and black cherry, with some underlying
minerality, spice and sweet herbs. The soils here are very similar to those
in Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas, making this wine an incredible value!
Merlot Mania!!
Wine Tasting Saturday, October 4th from 2-5pm
Merlot is the grape that everyone loves to hate and it's so unfounded!
It's time to forget those infamous words of Miles from the movie Sideways
and start exploring the wonderful depth and complexity of this noble grape
again! Come learn a bit about the history of Merlot and how it's used
throughout the world to make some of the most distinguished and pedigreed
wines on the market!
2006 Pierre Henri Merlot, Vin de Pays d'Oc, France - This is definitely
NOT the kind of merlot Miles was talking about! This is soft, full-bodied
wine with tons of earthiness. If you love French wines, this could be your
new house red!
2004 Irony Merlot, Napa Valley, California - Ok, so this IS the kind of
merlot Miles was talking about! This wine is wickedly ripe, rich and full
of dark fruit. Is it's beauty in it's subtlety? Not hardly, but who
cares! This is a lush sippin' wine perfect for fall!
2006 Rainier Ridge Merlot, Washington - In my opinion, Washington state is
making some of the best merlots in the world right now - they're clean and
fresh, friendly and very easy to drink.
We'll also be tasting each of these wines blindly, so that your palate can
guide you unbiasedly toward your favorite one!
Wine tasting Saturday 27th 2pm - 5pm
Blind Tasting
Jess is back in town and will be hosting our wine tasting at the usual
time, but this week the selections are a surprise! Come enjoy a blind
tasting with us and see if you can identify the styles!
Wine Tasting September 20th, 2pm - 5pm
Josh Odom from Owl's Nest Trading will be tasting three wines
from Germany
and Argentina!
WeingutKlaus Knobloch Pinot Noir "Blanc de Noir" - This Pinot Noir
sees extremely limited contact time with skins during fermentation,resulting
in a clean, crisp, yet suprisingly full white wine. Subtle citrus and
minerality usually lost in traditional Pinot Noir define this wine. Try this
wine with spicy Thai or Asian influenced dishes,perfect with a salty cheese
such as an aged gouda.
Buenas Ondas Syrah - This 100% organic wine comes from San Juan Argentina.
It displays brilliant cherry color, and unfolds delicate dark red fruit with
plum and spice aromas. Perfect example of Argentine Syrah, fruit forward
with a subtle spicy finish. Great bottle of wine with hearty smoky dishes,
pizza, or backyard burgers from the grill.
Weingut Hirschoff Dornfelder - One of the few German red varietals,
Dornfelder displays velvety texture, and is slightly floral, showing flavors
of plums, blackberries cherries, and light oak. A perfect wine for a night
with friends and good conversation.
Wine Tasting Saturday, September 13th, 2pm - 5pm
French selections from the Bourgeois family
Domaine de Granajolo, Blanc 2006 (Porto-Vecchio)
Organic 100% Vermentinu from 15 to 25 years old vines on chalky, sandy and
limestone soils. Aged in stainless steel tank for 6 to 8 months before
bottling.
Le Drunk Rooster Chardonnay 2007 (Vin de Pays d’Oc) Sustainably Farmed,
100% unoaked Chardonnay. This is one of our favorite chardonnays in the
store and a great all around value! A perfect expression of a Languedocian
wine with new world packaging and old world quality!
Le Drunk Rooster Grenache 2007 (Rhone Valley) A very fruit forward wine
with aromas of fresh red fruit, a jammy and lush mouthfeel with a nice
smooth finish. Serve slightly chilled!
Domaine de Chateaumar, Cotes du Rhône Cuvée « Bastien » 2007 (Rhône)
Sustainably Farmed 100% Grenache from a single vineyard on a hillside with
a south, southwest exposition. The wine from this special parcel used to
be sold to Guigal for one of his Châteauneuf!
Wine Tasting Saturday, September 6th, from 2pm - 5pm
Portugal and South America
Come join us and our friend Mark Fields from Ararat Distributing as we
explore 2 whites and 2 reds from Portugal and South America, two regions
that are known for their amazing quality-to-price ratio wines!
NV Alianca Vinho Verde, Branco, Portugal -The granitic soil, the
climactic conditions and the grape varieties of the Vinho Verde region
of northwest Portugal give this famous wine its special characteristics
of crisp fruit and delicate aroma. Lightness and freshness make this low
alcohol crisp white wine ideal by itself and as a perfect complement to
seafood, hors d’oeuvres, chicken and veal. Try it with stir frys, spicy
dishes and oysters.
2005 Alianca Dao Reserva, Portugal - Exceptional value for one of the best
vintages ever. A lush, quaffable red with pretty cherry & blueberry
flavors. Cardamom notes on the finish. It ages at least 18 months in cask and
6 months in the bottle before release as a Reserva, rounding and
smoothing the wine. Matches well with hearty meats, strong cheeses, pasta with rich
sauces.
2007 Echeverria Sauvignon Blanc, Molina, Chile – Lemon, apples, fresh
cut grass and green pepper, this example of Sauv Blanc is packed to the
gills with bright flavor. This is a white wine that will carry over well
to the cooler nights that are soon to be in store!
2006 Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec, Tupungato, Argentina –This wine has
an opaque violet, almost black color. It is elegant, silky and plush red
wine with intense, rich aromas of blackberry fruit.
August 30th
The Wines of Majoli, Corte Veneto
Italy Pinot Grigio – The style of Pinot Grigio from Veneto can often be softer and a bit more round than their Friulian counterparts. This wine
demonstrates lots of lush apple fruit and tame acid. Great with or without food, this is a bottle to keep on hand in the fridge for any occasion!
Valpolicella – Wines from Valpolicella range from bold and unctuous to
fruity and quaffable. This example is a great alternative to Pinot Noir
for a summertime red. Made from the Corvina grape, it is an everyday wine
- perfect with pizza, burgers or NC barbecue!
Both wines are $9.99. We’ll mix a case of the two for 15% off!
August 23th
Argentine Gems Wine Tasting
This week we’ll be featuring the wines of Bodega Sur de los Andes with
special guest, Erica Lasswell of Grapevine Distributors. This Bodega was
started by a young Argentine business man and a rising star winemaker, who
joined forces to create high-quality boutique wines at affordable prices.
These are fresh, young wines intended to be house wines or daily pours!
Torrontes – Now the signature white grape of Argentina, Torrontes is
bright and crisp with a tropical nose and lime and apricot on the palate.
Still full and fleshy, this is a white that carries over well into the
cooler months!
Bonarda – And once the weather does cool off, I’m not usually ready
to jump right into heavier-styled reds, which is why Bonarda is a perfect
choice for end of summer red wine drinking. This wine is full of earth and
spice, but retains a light to medium body. Who’s grilling the
hamburgers?!
Cabernet Sauvignon – Vibrant, purple hues and notes of eucalyptus and
mint. This is a perfect example of young, flashy Cab that transitions
perfectly from table to armchair!
August 16th
Hops and Vines favorites
Les Tours Chardonnay, France – This is an estate-bottled,
environmentally friendly French chardonnay. It has beautiful aromas of
tropical fruit, custard and pear. The mouth feel is round and creamy and
is balanced with a fair amount of acidity. Enjoy alone or with grilled
white fish or pasta with white sauce.
Buenas Ondas Malbec-Syrah, Argentina – This wine is a fifty-fifty blend
of Malbec and Syrah grown in San Juan, Argentina and is certified organic.
It’s quite the complex wine from start to finish – raspberries and
violets on the nose; chocolate, vanilla and more red fruit on the palate.
Delicious!
Irony Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California – It’s just so hard
to find quality Napa Cab at this price! Here’s one of our favorites!
This is bold wine, with concentrated flavors and dense color. Great wine
with a great story!
August 9th
Country Vintner Selections
This week our tasting is being hosted by our good friend Josh Spurling of
Country Vintner! His wines are just phenomenal, so be sure to stop by!
Mantel Blanco Verdejo, Rueda, Spain – Verdejo is a grape that is thought
to have originated in North Africa and was brought to Spain in the 11th
century. This wine is soft, aromatic and reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc,
its sister grape in the vineyards of Rueda. $13.99
Piane di Maggio Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Italy - Trebbiano (known as Ugni
Blanc in France) is the most widely planted grape in the world today but
was also common during Roman times! This grape has many uses: it is used
to make Cognac and Armagnac in France as well as balsamic vinegar in Italy.
This wine is fresh and fruity - perfect summertime wine from an organic
producer! $7.99
Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy - The 2004 vintage is reaching
its peak right now - this is easy-drinking, mouth-filling red country
table wine that impresses the heck out of me me everytime I taste it! One
of my favorite wines in the world under 10 bucks! $8.99
Domaine Antugnac Pinot Noir, France - This wine comes from the coolest
climate in Southern France, perfect for making Pinot Noir. The grapes come
from 25-30 year old vines and it is aged (although only momentarily) in
used French oak. This is the kind of wine I keep coming back to for a dish
that might ask for a white wine when I want a red! $12.99
August 2nd
More New Wine Arrivals!!
We’ve added lots of new wines since building our newest wine
shelf…come try four of them!
Kamiak White Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington – This region possesses
the ability to grow grapes of character, intensity and distinction. This
Sauvignon Blanc blend is a great example!
Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir, Tasmania, Australia - The Devil’s Corner
is a section of the Tamar River that for 200 years has served as a refuge
for sailors away from the wild waters of Whirlpool Reach to the south.
This is just delightfully rich and spicy wine with supple, velvety tannins.
A must-have for any Pinot lover!
Pares Balta Blanc de Pacs, Penedes, Spain - This winery is located in the
Penedes region of Catalunya, south of Barcelona on the east coast. The
Cusine family uses sheep to fertilize the vineyards and bees to facilitate
pollination. The winery was certified organic in 2004. This particular
wine is made from the traditional varieties used to make Cava: Xarello,
Parellada and Macabeu. This is a beautiful wine - yellow lemon in color,
very intense aromas of ripe pears and apples with a light floral
background. Fresh, soft, fruity and fresh - and only in Spain!
Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha, Spain - A red wine with weight,
earth, spice and pepper. I was so moved by the depth of this wine, it is
automatically in my top 10 of all wines in the shop! Oh, and if you are
motivated by scores, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate just gave this wine 91
points!!
July 26th
New Wines from Spain! Saturday, 2pm-5pm
Ok, we'll admit it. We love Spanish wines! Without a doubt, these are the best quality to price ratio wines being imported into the US today. So with that in mind, we've expanded our Spanish wine section to include wines from all over the country that is currently poised to take the number one spot from France by 2012!
Tikalo Alba Liza Tempranillo/Garnacha - This wine comes from a fairly new producer in the region of La Mancha (south of Madrid). A super dry, soft and dusty red wine handpicked from 30 year old vines! $9.99
Bodegas Salinas Mo Monastrell – This was a last minute addition on Saturday: a beautifully full and earthy red made from a grape also known as Mourvèdre in France. $13.99
Lois Loimer Gruner Veltliner – Also a last minute addition to Saturday’s line-up…and you’re right, it’s not Spanish! The G.V. grape is the national grape of Austria, and the wines are splendidly fresh whites with stone fruits, lots of minerality and a rush of white pepper on the finish! One of the shop’s absolutely favorite wines! $13.99
July 19th
California Wines!
Thirsty Fish Sauvignon Blanc - Full, fleshy and ripe, this sauvignon blanc from Napa Valley is one of the better value white wines in our shop! Definitely easy patio drinking wine!
Trace Cabernet Sauvignon - These wines get their name from a new AVA in California called Tracy Valley, which is 90 minutes north of Napa Valley. These guys grow their own fruit and produce all of their own wine. (Believe it or not, this is actually becoming somewhat rare in California for wines we can afford to drink everyday!) This cab is beautiful! Bold, but silky!
Trace Shiraz - My eyebrows rose when I first saw a shiraz from California. Usually, Californian winemakers use the word syrah to express this grape, as they are normally more "French" in style. But this time, brace yourself for a racy, spicy Australian-style expression of this grape. A perfect hamburger wine!
July 12th
Wines off the Beaten Path!
Come on down this Saturday to taste and learn a bit about some not-so-common grape varieties! Bring something different to your next barbecue or dinner party! Guaranteed delicious!
Domaine de Granajolo Vermentinu - Most amazing white wine from the island of Corsica! This winery has been farming organically since 1975!
Sur de los Andes Bonarda - Bonarda is the most widely planted grape in Argentina, but it originated in France and goes by many different names. This example is a beautiful food wine and a great choice for summer red wine drinking.
Ajello Majus Nero d'Avola - I've often called the Nero d'Avola grape Italy's answer to Syrah, as they've similar flavor profiles. This grape is grown almost exclusively on the island of Sicily. Also a great choice for summer grillin' meats or veggies.
July 5th
Wines from Chile!
A sampling of wines from winemaker Adolfo Hurtado and Vinas Cono Sur. These guys are the real deal - a company committed to environmental sustainability coupled with outstanding value and true varietal expression. These are wonderful wines for entertaining. We'll taste two whites and two reds:
Cono Sur Chardonnay - This chardonnay is fruity and fresh with soft minerality.
Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc - Citrus and grapefruit are the dominant flavors in this one - perfect for summertime!
Cono Sur Merlot - Black fruits and hints of sweet toasty oak.
Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon - Structured and balanced cab for nine bucks!
And did we mention they're all available for $8.99 each?!