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Wine Shop at Foxcroft Newsletter Weekly Newsletter of Upcoming Events
Tuesday August 11th, 2009
7824 Fairview Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28226
704-365-6550
"At the Wine Shop at Foxcroft we are committed to bringing you Charlotte's very
best selection of artisanal, small production, and naturally made wines
the world has to offer in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere."
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Le Terrazze
"Chaos"
2003 (Rosso Conero, Marche, Italy)
$39.99 BOTTLE
Here's a great wine from the Marche's leader in top notch reds at a 25% savings from regular price. Fattoria Le Terrazze is located on slopes overlooking the Adriatic sea, with vineyards situated at 500 meters altitude on Monte Conero; this unusually hilly and rocky part of the Adriatic coastline has hosted vineyards for nearly 3000 years. The area has a long history matching most of the historic conquests of Italy: it was occupied by the Gaul's, colonized by the Romans, later it was invaded by the Goths and Lombard's, then by Charlemagne. It was then mostly a papal state before finally being annexed in the mid-1800's by the kingdom of Italy. The Terni family has owned the estate since 1882, and today Attilio Pagli is consultant enologist. The vineyards are planted almost entirely to Montepulciano, with small amounts of Merlot, Syrah, and Chardonnay. These wines are rich, exciting examples of the great potential of this lesser known area - as the Tuscan coastlands are bought up by the scores for production of expensive, sexy red wines, the "other coast" of the Marche still abounds in values - and in wines with equal appeal. Le Terrazze is best known for its "Super-Conero" wine, "Sassi Neri", a special-selection barrique-aged 100% Montepulciano. "Chaos" is their flagship red IGT blend. A physicist in his previous incarnation, winemaker Antonio Terni named the limited-production "Chaos" after the chaos theory, which dictates that a particular result cannot always be explained by the interaction of its components. In this case, the combination of Montepulciano, Syrah and Merlot, matured in barrique, results in an extraordinary dark purple wine with an opulent bouquet. This wine is a winner year after year and normally runs around the 60 dollar mark. The distributor needed to make room for the new vintage and we secured all the remaining inventory and are able to offer the wine at a more attractive price. Not cheap but when compared to many of it's Tuscan neighbors, a deal for sure. If that weren't enough, Le Terrazze is a practicing organic producer. They use integrated insect and disease control in the vineyards.Great wine from a forward thinking producer who's environmentally responsible.
Villa Giada Barbera d' Asti "Ajan" 2003
(Piedmont, Italy)
$19.99 BOTTLE
I first met Andrea Faccio, the owner of Villa Giada back in 2001 at the VinItaly festival in Verona. A very good natured young man I took an immediate liking to him and his wines were priced at that time what I felt to be way under value for their quality. In the heart of Nebbiolo country, Villa Giada specializes in the making of handcrafted Barbera wines from single vineyards. With more than forty-five acres of estate vineyards, located around three ancient farmhouses, Villa Giada's aim is to fashion great wines from individual vineyards and terroirs - a goal that local cognoscenti and international wine critics alike believe they have fulfilled. Ajan is named for Agliano, a village in the heart of the Piedmont that is known for producing the region's most intensely flavored Barbera grapes, which Andrea Faccio fashions into wines of great finesse, flavor, texture, and longevity. The 2003 vintage of this wine is a stunner. Rich and plush with gobs of ripe fruit but still possessing Barbera's tell-tale acidity. This wine is an excellent food wine that can be consumed now or put back for future enjoyment. We've bought all the remaining stock so be sure to grab a few bottles while supply last.
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The Kitchen is now Open for Lunch On Saturdays!!! |
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Due to popular demand and lots of hungry customers at our free tastings we've decided to open the kitchen for lunch on Saturdays starting this weekend. We'll be running our regular menu plus seasonal specials from the Farmers' Market. (Almost good tomato season!!!) We'll see you there...
Service starts at noon and runs through Dinner |
| RECESSION WINE TASTINGS
Continuing
On
Tuesdays... |
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5:00 - 7:00 PM - Every Tuesday
Cost: FREE!
Come join us at the Wine Shop at Foxcroft this Winter every Tuesday evening for a free wine tasting from some of our favorite wine distributors. We'll be tasting an incredible array of wines from all over the world. Stop in on your way home from work. It's free and a lot of fun. As always there's special pricing on the wines of the evening.
Tuesday, August 11th - Dena Ziglar from Empire Distributors
Tuesday, August 18th - Craig Herlong from Vintner's Select
Tuesday, August 25th - Marco Laico from Vino Vino
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| FREE SATURDAY TASTING
1:00 - 400PM |
Come join us every Saturday...
Come join us for lunch and try a great assortment of wines. |
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Greetings!
It's now that time in the Summer when everything seems to slow down to a crawl. The heat has a lot to do with it but a lot of our regulars are still off to the beach or the mountains to get away from town one last time before the kids go back to school. This is our fifth summer and you get used to it. The tasting and wine dinners have definitely helped to time pass and in a couple weeks we'll again be into our season. This year's season looks to shaping up nicely. Be looking for a lot of deals this Fall. We're lining up some nice events for you and as the details are finalized we'll be posting them here. From the looks of our bare table this morning you guys are really digging the August Fab Five line up. When we first started the feature we were constantly pointing folks there for deals but now much like a baby that's grown into a child the Fab Five has a life of it's own. I love it. We have a couple great deals on Italian reds this week which you can read about in our staff picks. Be sure to check them out. Stay tuned for our upcoming tastings and dinners as well. Look for Chef Chris's new fall harvest menu in the next issue of our newsletter. We're proud to have introduced Charlotte to the wines of cutting edge importers, Louis Dressner and Neil Rosenthal and will be featuring their portfolios in the upcoming weeks. It's going to be an exciting Fall... I can't wait...
WEDNESDAY NIGHT - BRING OUT YOUR INNER HILLBILLY...
One thing I did want to hip you to is a show I just found out about on Sunday. My wife just got a new "crackberry" and was trying to figure out how to use it when a message from the Neighborhood Theater (in NODA) popped up "Shane Nicholson and Kasey Chambers live on Wednesday August 12th" You may recall I did a piece on Shane last month and mentioned that he's one of exciting new artists you should get to know. I was on Shane's Facebook page on Thursday ( yes he actually friended me...) and he had posted that he and Kasey were packing up for some more US tour dates... and here they are in my hometown! Isn't technology great?
I first discovered Australia's Kasey Chambers on "Austin City Limits" back around 2001. She had the twangiest voice this side of Lorretta Lynn and a nose ring so I knew something was up.With her strong lyrics and talent for hooks was immediately a fan. My wife not so much ( but she grows on you and now my wife is a huge fan.) Her first album "The Captain" launched her into the World Stage and she's never looked back. Her brother, Nash, produced Shane's first album and it's only natural that they would meet. Now married and with two kids between them they've joined forces musically to create what many in the press have called a masterpiece. Kasey's influence on Shane is apparent on their latest album "Rattlin' Bones" As she states " I knew that I could bring out the inner hillbilly in Shane." Not sure what it is that attracts so many Australians to American Bluegrass and Country but they have a special capacity for it. It's like an alternate universe. That's the way the country struck me when I first visited back in the 80s. If you listen closely enough to these songs - which sound like much older country, bluegrass, folk, blues and country rock tunes you'll hear that alternate universe. The sound is raw and natural. A far cry from the polished albums both released in the past. It's very organic and cuts to the chase. Check it out - I'm sure it will grow on you as well. And now they're both here to support it's release in Charlotte. Guys it's going to be a real treat. I don't go to a lot of shows these days, I've paid my dues, but this is one I will not miss. Say hello if you see me there...
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COMING IN AUGUST!!!
TORBRECK WINE DINNER
Monday August 17th 2009
Special Guest: David Powell, Owner and Chief Winemaker of Torbreck
Time: 7:00 PM
$75.00 per person plus tax and gratuity
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Torbreck founder David Powell was born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia. While he was immersed in the study of Economics at Adelaide University, an uncle introduced him to wine, and young Dave realized that grapes could be more intriguing than numbers. He began spending more and more of his spare time in the Barossa Valley. David became convinced that a market existed for old vine wines influenced by the classic Rhône styles. It can be said that the Torbreck portfolio offers the best of both worlds, old and new. David Powell is a passionate believer in the Barossa Valley and its viticultural heritage. His approach to grapegrowing and winemaking melds the region's terroir with its traditional winemaking practices. In so doing he has achieved a style that fuses his love for the Barossa with his admiration for the Northern and Southern Rhône valleys. We're excited to be hosting a dinner with the man whom many consider to be one of the greatest living winemakers on the planet....
Menu
Amuse:
Tomato Tartare and Peach "spoon" with Pecorino Romano
Torbreck Woodcutter's Red
First Course:
Truffled Cauliflower Vichyssoise with a Pan Seared Diver Scallop
Wine : Woodcutter's Old Vine Semillon
Second Course:
Pan Roasted Sea Bass Fillet, Red Wine Braised Lentils, Spiced Glazed Carrots, Leek Fondue
Wine: Torbreck "The Steading"
Third Course:
Magret Duck Breast, Swiss Chard, Chayote Squash, Black Plum Marmelade, Natural Jus
Wine: Torbreck "The Struie"
Dessert:
Wine: Torbreck "The Bothie"
Followed by a tasting of Torbreck "Descendant", Torbreck "Factor" and Torbreck "Run Rig" |
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THE AUGUST FAB FIVE...
(New Wines arrive on Thursday...) |
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Receive an additional 15% off when you buy a mixed or solid case these wines - on top of the regular bottle discount!
Ranga Ranga Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Marlborough, New Zealand)
Reg. Price $15.99
Discount Price $12.99
I can remember a time when I used to look forward to buying my case of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc every year. It was a completely new taste to me and stood out from  other wines produced from this grape in the world. Soon a sea of imitators appeared on the market and that style became about as interesting as the next instalment of "Saw IV." Ranga Ranga is Maori for "Gentle Breeze" and that's what this wine is like. We introduced this wine during our Sunday cooking classes and man did you guys love it! It's got the cheap price going for it but there's a lot more. It's clean crisp and grassy without the overblown gooseberry. Lemon-lime with some mild tropical undertones in the background. This is the way these wines should be produced in my opinion. It's a perfect summer go to kind of wine and I predict that this one is going to be an even bigger hit. See for yourself.
Frias Family Vineyard Rosé 2008
(Spring Mountain, Napa Valley)
Reg. Price $14.99
Discount Price $11.99
Here's something you don't come across every day. A California winemaker taking top dollar Cabernet grapes and making a wine that's a labor of love. The Frias  Family own prime land on Napa's Spring Mountain where they produce 100% single vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It's very good and I recomend you try a bottle some time but this is about their rosé. This wine is surprisingly good. Not overblown and heavy but balanced and delicate. As the winemaker says this wine is "The essence of summer" What you get are juicy watermelon, strawberry and delicate floral aromatics in the nose with similar flavors on the palate balanced by crisp acidity. I am continually blown away by how quickly you guys have embraced rosé wines. They're the perfect way to start an meal or any outdoor gathering.
Precept Pinot Black Pinot Noir 2007 (Leyda Valley, Chile) Reg Price $12.99
Discount Price $11.99
Guys what more do you want in life? A Pinot Noir that tastes like Pinot Noir for under 12 bucks!!! Do you really need me to pontificate about this wine? Really? First off the wine is from the Viña Leyda Vineyards in Chile so I'm thinking somebody must be working for free to get a wine like this to market. The label harkens to back to the paintings of Piet Mondrian so there must be some thought going on here. The wine is good. I've had a few South American Pinots and most have been rustic and unfocused but this one is different. It's got dark cherry, tobacco, leather and hints of herb and underbrush. The wine is juicy but not in a way that seems at all manipulative. Whatever they've done they've done it right this time. Try a bottle and I'm sure you will agree. I've said it before but this time it's really true... It's a no-brainer.
Fattoria Rodano "Poggialupi" IGT 2007
(Chianti Classico, Tuscany)
Reg Price $20.99
Discount Price $14.99
Fattoria Rodano is located in the heart of the Chianti  Classico in the famed region of Castellina in Chianti. The original farm dates back from the Middle Ages Their attitude is that the whole world can make Cabernet or Merlot but only Italy can make great Sangiovese. I find that ironic because this wine contains about 10% Cabernet and Merlot. What's undeniable is that this wine blew me away when I found out the cost. Good on it's own but what a great value! This wine is drinking so well right now I challenge you to find a better one for the money. Totally delicious with bright cherry and mocha bursting forward while at the same time maintaining that minerality that is Chianti. An austere wine by no stretch of the imagination. The Rodano estate has really outdone themselves this time. Bravo!
Bodega Sur de los Andes Malbec Reserva 2006
Reg Price $18.99
Discount Price $14.99
I went on-line to get a little background about this winery and was shocked at the high-tech website. Not sure what I was expecting, maybe a rustic little farm but certainly not Steven  Spielberg. The winery was founded by Guillermo Banfi (no relation) who started a career in banking in Buenos Aires and wanted a creative outlet like so many people do. The winery, located in the Lujian de Cuyo region of Mendoza, is equipped with state of the art equipment and has the usual crack winemaking team at the helm. These Argentines mean business. The wine is 100% Malbec, hand harvested and sorted with no crushing, only cold maceration. Aged in barriques (French and American of course) then sling-shot straight to your table. What more do you want? Textbook Mendoza Malbec at an unbeatable price. Make this one a part of your next steak cookout. You're going to love it... |
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At the Wine Shop at Foxcroft our goal is to provide you with Charlotte's best selection of quality wines and beers at competitive prices. Great service is what we strive for so if there's anything you're looking for: that difficult vintage, a special gift, whateve, don't hesitate to contact us with your requests. We look forward to seeing you in the shop...
Sincerely,
Conrad, Crystal, Alex and all the
Wine Shop at Foxcroft Staff
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| THE WINE SHOP AT FOXCROFT
7824 Fairview Road
Charlotte, NC 28226
704-365-6550 |
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