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COME IN AND TASTE THESE WINES ON SATURDAY, OCT 24, 1-5 PM
Complimentary
Arguably, the best white wines of Italy come from Friuli in the northeastern nook of the country. Its vineyards are located in the hills that lie against the border of neighboring Slovenia. One of these areas is the Colli Orientali del Friuli from where this wine comes. It's here that natural air conditioning exists, produced by the mingling of cool Alpine air and warm Adriatic air. In this mild, damp and breezy climate the vineyards are cooled in the hot summer, resulting in slow ripening and fresh acidity.
This region is also home to the earliest innovators in modern white winemaking. It was here, as early as the 60's, that stainless steel tanks with temperature controls were instituted. Other advances followed, so that by the end of the '70's, a distinctive Friuli style emerged. Its hallmarks included crisp, bright and polished wines with plush textures and pure, vivid varietal flavors. We lead off our tasting Saturday with an autochthonous variety from one of Friuli's pioneering, best producers
2005 Ronchi di Manzano Tocai Friulano (Friuli, $9.99). Wine Spectator 86 points: "Spicy, with baked apple, table grape and mineral character. Medium-bodied, with a rich, spicy mineral finish."
Trivia: As you drive along, you'll see a giant (e.g., 30 feet high) chair along the roadside. Manzano, together with two adjacent small towns, is known as "Il Triangolo della Sedia", or the "Chair Triangle." They produce 30-40% of the world's chairs. Roberta Borghese, in her early 40's, runs the estate, and yes, the family is in the chair industry, too.
2006 Château de Pizay Morgon (Beaujolais, $15.99). "Cru" Beaujolais (not to be confused with Beaujolais Nouveau or even Beaujolais Villages) come from one of ten small communes in the Beaujolais district of Burgundy (including Morgon) and is subject to substantially more rigorous growing and vinification standards. This is real wine with intensity and grip and the capacity for development and improvement over mid-term aging (5-8 years). Wine Spectator 85 points: "This displays a firm structure, with chewy tannins and light flavors of tea and currant accented by cranberry."
2006 Windmill Zinfandel (California, $14.99). According to the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "24% Petite Sirah. The rather pushy form of Petite Sirah shows in this wine, and it helps separate its blocky, spicy, dried blackberry character from most other inexpensive Zinfandels. This wine has both body and evident tannin to go with its noticeably ripe and rustic personality, and whereas wines at this price tend towards easy simplicity, this one is raring to take on heavier dishes. GOOD VALUE."
2007 Bodega Colome Amalaya (Argentina, $19.99). Wine Spectator 91 points: "Dark, with a core of crushed currant and plum fruit laced with black tea, hoisin sauce and a snappy mineral streak. Ripe, but not overblown, with a racy finish that lets sweet earth and licorice snap notes add length. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tannat."
Donation
With a $5.00 donation to the Avery County Humane Society, you can also taste: Finally, for our high-end pouring,2006 Jeff Gordon Pinot Noir (California,Regular Price $61.99 Special $49.99). Jeff Gordon wines are made by the August Briggs team, so if you're a fan of their wines, you'll be sure to love this wine. It features bright fruit and earth tones in an accessible style that will pair excellently Saturday evening with pork or fowl, as well as a hearty salmon or tuna steak, right off the autumn grill.
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Great Deal on a Châteauneuf du Pape
2007 is a fabulous year for wines of the southern Rhône valley, in fact, Robert Parker states that it is the best southern Rhône vintage of his lifetime. As you might expect, prices for these wines are high, even in this economy, with many of the best cuvées retailing at way over $100. We're always bottom-feeding for deals, and we recently found a Châteauneuf du Pape at a very reasonable price -- 2007 Domaine Giraud Chateauneuf du Pape "Tradition" ($39.99). Parker and Tanzer (90-93 points) and Wine Spectator (94 points) all agree on this one: "Gorgeously ripe and totally inviting, with lush plum, crushed fig, macerated currant and boysenberry fruit all gliding along seamlessly over graphite, tar and charcoal notes. The superlong finish has well-embedded acidity. Shows terrific poise, despite its explosive fruit."This wine is in limited supply, so let us know asap if you are interested.
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FALL HOURS
We will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m.
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Erick's Cheese and Wine Shop, Grandfather Center, Banner Elk, NC 28604, (828) 898-9424 www.erickscheeseandwine.com
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