Hey, welcome to winter! In fact, we've had so much winter, we couldn't get to the store Monday. All that means you need to get up here and check on the house and get the skis out. And after you've carved lots of turns on Beech or Sugar, drop by the shop for some free wine. Here's what we're planning to pour:
2009 Chemistry White Wine (Oregon, $19.99). Wine Spectator 86 points: "Soft, fruity and deftly balanced, this is pleasant through and through. Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Blanc
2007 Cannon Ball Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon (California, $15.99). With juice from all over California and healthy splashes of Syrah and Merlot blended in to boot, this wine expresses zero terroir. But it does taste good, which counts for a lot in our book. Berries, spices, pepper, cocoa, wrapped around smooth tannins and refreshing acidity.
2009 Alderbrook Vineyards Pinot Noir "Heritage Cuvée" (Oregon, $29.99). This small, new family-owned winery has been at it for less than a decade and has already impressed the critics. Although not yet rated, the 2009 follows hot on the heels of the Wine Advocate 90-point rated 2008 wine. The current edition features cherry and raspberry fruit nuances with elements of smoke and spice.
2005 Abundance Vineyards Petite Sirah (California, $20.99). Some people think Petite Sirah is related to Sirah or Shiraz. Non! Petite Sirah is one of a group of grapes that took to a new home - in this case California - after moving from the relative obscurity enjoyed at its birthplace - France in this case - where it is called Duriff. While never particularly elegant or subtle, Petite Sirah can produce large-scaled, intense wines with bright flavors of blue and plummy fruits, rich with earthy tannins. Come check out this Petite Sirah from Abundance Vineyards.
A $5 donation to benefit the Avery County Humane Society will get you a good pour of the awesome 2005 Maison Joseph Drouhin Gevrey Chambertin (Burgundy, $54.99). Drouhin's winemaker, Laurence Jobard, thinks the 2005 vintage was HER best ever. From Alan Meadows, writing for Burghound (88 points): "A fascinating and notably ripe nose of plum, cassis and black raspberry nuanced by hints of Gevrey earth and underbrush that can also be found on the rich, sweet and delicious flavors that are stylish and nicely pure, all wrapped in a sappy, delicious and mouth coating finish."
