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BLACK FRIDAY AT ERICK'S CHEESE AND WINE
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Now it's time for some serious shopping, starting at Erick's.
We've just checked Ray's Weather to see what the forecast is for Black Friday in Banner Elk, and it looks pretty good, or at least dry. When the frenzied crowd starts queuing up at our front door around daybreak (if past years are any indication of what to expect this year), it will be in the upper 30s, so dress warmly. (Alert: the Banner Elk police have told us that this year they will interpret an overnight parking lot encampment as an "Occupy Banner Elk" demonstration, which would require a permit.)
Temps are predicted to moderate, so by the time of the official store opening (10:00 a.m. this Friday and Saturday, regardless of what you may read elsewhere), you won't need your jacket and gloves, leaving you freer to pick up and carry away vast quantities of wine (many on sale or value-priced for the parsimonious shopper), cheese, chocolates, gourmet foods, cigars and other healthy products, plus some of our outstanding gift items you'll find irresistible for Christmas presents. Please, no pushing and shoving.
Then, come back Saturday for our world-famous mostly free wine tasting. See list of wines below.
Here's a wine idea for the oenologist in your close circle of family and friends (or yourself if you're worried you may not get this for Christmas). From one of California's most esteemed cult wine makers - Robert Foley. Robert Foley began his wine making career in the Napa Valley in 1977, working at a number of highly regarded Napa Valley wineries, including the famous Pride Mountain Vineyards, where he spent 15 years as founding wine maker. During this period he also created the highly acclaimed Switchback Ridge, Hourglass, Paloma, School House, and Engel Family wines. The boy has learned how to make good wine along the way. Make no mistake; his Merlots are for Cabernet lovers.
2009 Robert Foley Vineyards Merlot ($59.99). Ripe bright cherry-like aromas with a hint of raspberry. The palate displays a rich middle flooded with flavors of berries, chocolate, and espresso. A long finish is graced with gentle fine tannins - this is a Merlot for Cab lovers. Foley's homegrown Howell Mountain fruit again combines with Merlot from the warmer Valley floor vineyards to provide a delightful balance of structure and a big round middle. Even if you think you don't like Merlot, reserve judgment until you've tried this one. This wine has not yet been reviewed or rated, but the last two vintages tallied 95 Parker points, and unless Foley has forgotten how to make wine, look for another big score shortly. Get this wine Friday while it is only $59.99 and before the likely 97 point rating comes out and the price goes through the roof and the availability goes through the floor.
Another wine you might want to consider is the Pinot Gris from one of Oregon's up-and-coming wine producers.
2010 Walnut City Wine Works Pinot Gris ($17.99). It was serendipity to find themselves working shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of modern-day Oregon wine pioneers. For John Davidson and John Gilpin, their meeting in 1984 at one of the first wineries in Yamhill County was the start of an abiding friendship and business partnership based on a mutual love of Pinot Noir. By dint of hard work and a passion for good wine, John D. and John G. - farmers, nurserymen and winemakers - have helped grow the Willamette Valley wine industry.
They have grown, grafted, and planted more than a million vines in verdant Yamhill County over the last two decades. Currently they own or manage more than 200 acres of vineyards in the Willamette Valley. After more than 23 vintages, the WineWorks team still takes joy in the process of soils and vines producing grapes they turn into great wine. The Pinot Gris is very crisp with nice acidity with nuances of peaches and apricots with a hint of lemon.
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