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SATURDAY JUNE 18, 2011 TASTING
THE ERICKS VALUES KEEP ON COMING
Saturday, our value focus resumes with a quintet excellent wines whose prices are comfortable for any budget. :
2009 Vinos Jeromin Zestos Malvar (Madrid, $8.99). We lead off with a fabulous value and a grape we admit we've never experienced - Malvar. Come broaden your wine experience with this nice 86 point-rated wine. Here are Jay Miller's notes from the Wine Advocate: "Vinos Jeromin's current collection includes one white wine, the unoaked 2009 Zestos Blanco made up of 100% Malvar, indigenous to the Madrid zone. Medium straw-colored, it reveals aromas of flowers and white fruits. Tasty, crisp, and balanced, it will drink nicely over the next 12-18 months."
2010 Domaine des Aubusières Vouvray Cuvée de Silex (Loire Valley, $20.99). This is one of our best Chenin Blanc in the store. Bernard Fouquet produces rich, deep wines that show strong mineral qualities and sound structure. It's distinctly opulent, with a light tendency toward sweetness to balance the laser-like acidity on a tightrope, which makes this wonderful wine so precise. While Fouquet's wines are gaining increasing acclaim and annually rank among the finest offerings from Vouvray, pricing remains friendly, as these wines offer tremendous values. As with the best Vouvrays, this wine will improve in the cellar for many years if you have any ability of deferred gratification. This vintage is not yet rated, but previous recent vintages were rated between 90 and 93 points.
NV OPN Pinot Noir (Oregon, 2/$30). Here's our summer Pinot Noir special - a blend of Oregon Pinot Noir (Reserve and non Reserve) wines from several recent vintages. We're selling this wine in twosies: pay $29.99 for the first bottle and only $.01 for the second. (No, you can't just buy the second.) Can a Pinot this inexpensive be any good? Come see. In a few weeks we have sold over 15 cases.
2006 Bogle Phanton (California, $20.99). Here's a rich blend of Petite Sirah, old vine Zinfandel and old vine Mourvedre. Wine Spectator 86 points: "Broadly appealing, showing fresh, ripe berry and black cherry flavors, with pepper, tar and sarsaparilla details. Rich and ripe, with a firm wall of tannins as a backbone."
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PAID TASTE
Our paid tasting wine is the mature 2001 Richard Hamilton "Bruton's Vineyard" (McLaren Vale, $44.99). Wine Advocate 91 points: "The Burton's Vineyard cuvee is a blend of equal parts Grenache and Shiraz from a vineyard planted in 1947 and 1963. Aged in both French and American oak, the 2001 Burton's Vineyard possesses a deep ruby/purple color as well as a rich nose of pepper, raspberries, black cherries, and licorice. Fleshy, hedonistic, and full-bodied, with a gorgeous texture, it provides an immensely satisfying mouthful of old vine Grenache and Shiraz." Proceeds from the $5 tasting fee will be donated to the Avery County Humane Society. |
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UPCOMING EVENT
SPECIAL DE LOACH TASTING
6:30 p.m. June 23
We're kicking off our post-summer solstice special events calendar with a special presentation in our Tasting Room of the premium Russian River Chardonnay and Russian River Pinot Noir wines from DeLoach Vineyards. Also from DeLoach four other wines----Central Coast Pinot Noir, Central Coast Chardonnay, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, and Estate Zinfandel. Jim Robertson, Regional Manager of Boisset Family Estates (which owns DeLoach) will join us to discuss and pour the wines. Hot hors d'oeuvres and cheeses will be served. Seating is limited, and a $15 fee (new price) will be required to reserve a place at the table for you. You may make your reservations by calling us at 828.898.9424 or signing up next time you're in the shop. |
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FRIDAY BEER TASTING
Join us on the deck late Friday afternoon to taste some fabulous craft beers. This week's complimentary pours will be Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout,$11.99 4/pk) and Ommegang Three Philosophers, $14.39 4/pk). |
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ENJOY A GLASS OF WINE ON OUR PATIO
Of course you can buy bottles to take with you, but we're now offering you a glass of your favorite to enjoy on the patio everyday. We feature one white wine and one red wine daily prices vary from $6 to $8. Add a cheese and enjoy the afternoon with us!
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A TOAST TO YOU!
A Course in Wine Identification:
Wine Types and Tastes
June 20- September 19
Mondays
4:00pm-6:00pm
Erick's is pleased to host this wine course in cooperation with Mayland Community College The class will be taught by Anne Prevatte, Wine Director Grandfather Golf & Country Club.
This course provides an overview of the major types of wines from around the world and factors affecting their quality such as growing region, microclimates, grape maturity, harvesting, vinification, cellaring, blending, and storage. Special emphasis will be on the development of sensory evaluation techniques. Local field trips will be incorporated into the instruction. Upon completion, students will have a thorough knowledge base forselecting wines for the greatest enjoyment and appropriateness of occasion or for employment in restaurants, wineries, and at wine tasting events.
4:00pm-6:00pm
$65.00 plus optional textbook
CALL 733-5883 TO ADD YOUR SPOT!
*Must pre-pay, pre register prior to start date
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RESTAURANT CORKAGE FEES
We've updated our list of local restaurant corkage fees if you're thinking about taking your own bottle of wine out to dinner. The following Banner Elk restaurants have told us they permit you to bring your own special bottle: Bella's, Hearthstone, Jackalope"s View, Painted Fish, Puerto Nuevo and Zuzda. Corkage fees vary and some are conditional on the wine you bring not being on their list. If you like to b.y.o., check with us and we'll give you the details. Remember, out of courtesy to the restaurant, the bottle should be a special one, preferably an older vintage or a prized bottle that the restaurant doesn't have on its wine list. And always tip a little more generously because the server "loses" the sale of the wine you bring.
We've surveyed many Boone and Blowing Rock restaurants also, and we'll include the results of our survey of those establishments in the upcoming newsletters.
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SUMMER WINE SPECIAL OF THE WEEK
Since we're featuring a lush Vouvray at our tasting bar this coming Saturday, we reminded ourselves of another fabulous Chenin Blanc (this one bone dry) that's always a big hit in the summer, and the current vintage follows on the unbroken line of fabulous value white wines from this producer. 2010 Cave de Saumur blanc (Loire Valley, $11.99) is a crisp, mineral-driven wine with a great bouquet of apricots and white flowers and a crisp palate of stone fruit and refreshing acidity. It's produced by a co-operative of grape growers and winemakers in and around Saumur in the Loire River valley.
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SUMMER HOURS
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend:
Monday - Wednesday: 10:00 to 6:00
Thursday - Saturday: 10:00 to 7:00
Sunday: 1:00 - 5:00 |
SPACE FOR RENT
If you are looking for a location to hold your event.....party, meeting, family gathering, club event, holiday party... you think of the possiblities.....our Tasting Room is available. Contact Randall about the possiblities and arrangements. 828-898-9424 |
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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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