Erick's Cheese & Wine Shop
 
CELEBRATING THIRTY ONE YEARS 
 REN & RANDALL'S SEVENTH YEAR
TASTING JULY 31, 1-5 PM
 
 SATURDAY TASTING
 
 
I don't know what it is.  Maybe our Italian friends coming to see us this weekend, but whatever, we're on an Italian wine roll, as I imagine you've noticed.  Hope we're not overdoing it, but with so many exciting wines coming out of Italy these days, it's hard not to showcase them.
 
            Saturday, from 1 - 5, we'll take you down the peninsula south of Rome to the region of Campania to taste some of the most interesting and distinctively Italian wines there are from several of Italy's premier producers.  These are some of the wines least known and under-appreciated by us Americans, but we hope you'll make new wine friends and be encouraged to order them when you see them on Italian restaurant wine lists in the future.  But most of all, we hope you'll buy lots of them Saturday in the store.
 
2008 Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo (Campania, $25.99).   Many of Italy's "native" grapes actually emigrated from Greece.  This is one of them, as you can probably surmise from the name.  Greco has a clean, refreshing flavor and bright acidity, starting fleshy, then turning chalky and minerally.  Wine Advocate 89 points:  "Layers of minerality and floral, perfumed fruit are woven together in a focused expression of fruit that lingers on the palate with notable length."
 
2006 Mastroberardino Fiano d'Avellino Radici  (Campania, $25.99). Fabulous Fiano is probably the most assertive and interesting white wine of Campania, reminiscent of pine nuts and herbs - sort of like pesto in a bottle.  This one comes from grapes grown 1,800 feet above sea level in the wooded hills of Avellino, which produces the most aromatic and minerally Fianos. Wine Advocate 88 points:  "generous on the palate ... it reveals a distinctly earthy, smoky profile with sweet ripe fruit buffered by a lively note of minerality that carries through to the long finish."
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2008 Cantine Antonio Caggiano Aglianico Irpinia "Tarì" (Campania, $20.99).  Caggiano is one of the best producers in Campania, and its strength is definitely the reds.  Wine Advocate 87+ points:  "The Aglianico Irpinia Tari doesn't hold anything back in 2008, and that may be an understatement. This is a dark, brooding Tari loaded with wild cherries, earthiness, licorice, leather and tobacco. There is impressive richness and concentration in the glass."
 
2008 De Angelis Rosso Lachryma Christi di Vesuvio  (Campagnia, $20.99).   Aglianico is frequently blended with the savory, brightly acidic Piedirosso grape.  This grape has softer tannins with spicy notes of cinnamon and dried cherry, adds a fruity sweetness to Aglianico and produces a fascinating blend.  Wine Advocate 90 points:  "The 2008 Lacrima Christi del Vesuvio Rosso (Piedirosso, Aglianico) flows with the essence of cracked black pepper, spices, earthiness, wild cherries and herbs on a deceptively medium-bodied frame. There is a lot going on here, especially at this level. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016."  Good stuff.
 
For our paid tasting ($5 for the benefit of the puppies and kitties at Avery Humane Society), we venture back to Tuscany to pour you the 2001 Crociani Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Riserva (Tuscany, $34.99).   The 2001 Riserva was not reviewed, but Wine Advocate rated the non-riserva 89 points, and CellarTracker users rated the Riserva in the low-90s.  Having 9 years of age, the wine definitely rates at least that, and probably more, as it is drinking now like a Brunello, not surprising, as the Sangiovese close used in the Montpulciano zone more closely resembles the Brunello clone of Sangiovese than that used in Chianti Classico.  Enough oenotechnospeak - this is an extraordinary wine, smooth and velvety, deeply flavored of cherry and cinnamon and cedar with a looong, lingering finish.  But don't take our word for it.  
 
SPECIAL EVENTS WINES
 
            Over the past several weeks we've presented three special events pouring and selling extraordinary wines from Bordeaux and Tuscany and the California wines of Robert Craig.  For those of you who were unable to attend but may be interested in purchasing some of these wines, here is a listing of the featured wines and their single bottle prices.  Purchases of six or more bottles will receive a 10% discount, and purchases of 12 or more bottles will receive a 15% discount. 
 
Bordeaux
2005 Château Carbonnieux, blanc, Pessac-Léognan, 93 pts, $44.99
2005 Câateau Le Crock, St. Estèphe, 89 pts, $39.99
2005 Château Baleau, St. Emilion, 89 pts, $29.99
2005 Château La Vieille Cure, Fronsac, 93 pts, $39.99 [sold out]
2006 Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Péssac-Léognan, 93 pts, $65.99
2005 Château La Tour Blanche, Sauternes, 93 pts, $64.99
 
Tuscany
Nv Bellavista Brut, Franciacorta (sparkling), 91 pts, $64.99
2008 Azienda Grassi-Ireos Vernaccia di San Gimignano "StramBella," $13.99
2007 Cennatoio "Innominato," Super-Tuscan, $19.99
2006 Caparzo Morellino di Scansano "La Doga," $19.99
2004 Corte alla Flora Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 90 pts, $29.99
2006 Cennatoio Chianti Classico, 90 pts, $33.99
2004 Sanguineti, Brunello di Montalcino, 93 pts (CellarTracker), $59.99
1998 S. Niccolo Vin Santo, $59.99
 
Robert Craig wines
2009 Chardonnay, $54.99
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon blend, "Affinity," 96 pts, $67.99
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder, 93 pts, $94.99
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, $104.99
 
 
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
THUSDAY AUGUST 12, 2010 6:30 PM
 
Roland Herrmann
Maisons Marques & Domaines
PRESENTS FRENCH WINES IN OUR TASTING ROOM 
 
 
 
Erick's Cheese and Wine Shop, Grandfather Center, Banner Elk, NC 28604, (828) 898-9424 www.erickscheeseandwine.com