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The Wine Shop Staff Picks
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Paloma Merlot 2007
(Napa Valley)
Spring Mountain is one of those magical places where family vineyards are tended by devoted owners like Barbara and Jim Richards of Paloma. Not only did they raise the Merlot bar to another degree with their first vintage, they continue to do just that each year. We think their '06 is their most beautiful effort to date, with a big silky mouthfeel topped with a burst of berries, cocoa, fruit and cassis. This wine has been missing from the scene for several vintages and I'm glad to see it back. This is one Merlot that I want to drink...
Albet i Noya Xarel-lo 2008
$12.99/bottle
So the holidays have come and gone, but I hope everyone got to celebrate with a bit of bubbly... That leads me to this week's pick. This interesting Spanish white (non-sparkling) is 100% Xarel-lo, one of the three original grapes used in the production of Cava, Spain's equivalent to Champagne. For those of you who like the high-acid wines (bring on the food), this should be on your list of wines to try. Grapefruit zest and apricot aromas, with just a little earth and overripe banana flavors. As with many great white wines from Spain, pour me a glass and point me towards the seafood! One of the great things about wine is that you are your own critic - trust your palate and yours alone. Try something new... who knows, you might surprise yourself and find a new favorite.
FRV 1000 Sparkling Gamay Rose NV
(Beaujolais, France)
$19.99 bottle
The Domaine des Terres Dorées is located in Charnay, a village in the Southern Beaujolais just north of Lyons, in a beautiful area known as the "Region of Golden Stones." Jean-Paul Brun is the owner and winemaker at this 40-acre family estate and has attracted the attention of the French and American press for the wonderfully fruity and delicate wines he produces. Proprietor Brun is a believer in using only the vineyard's wild yeast, rather than the synthetic yeasts used by most other producers. His beautiful wines are favorites among purists. FRV 100 is a play on words which in French is pronounced "effervescent." Made in the traditional method this rose is light in alcohol and heavy in pleasure. Slightly off dry with notes of strawberries, dried fig and vanilla. It's hard to resist. Grab a bottle before the staff drinks it all...
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TUTORED ITALIAN TASTING |
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MONDAY JANUARY 25th 2010
7:00 pm
$20.00 per person
Special Guest: Clint Harris
Late year's Italian tasing with Clint Harris from Winebow, America's largest importer of quality Italian Wines was a huge hit so we're doing it again. Clint's knowledge of Italian wine is impeccable and his enthusiasm is contagious. There will be more wine that anyone can possible want and we'll be putting out the antipasti and hors d' oeuvres. This event sold out last time so don't wait till the last minute to reserve your seats. Here's a sample of some of the wines we'll be trying at the tasting. See you there...
Livernano L'Anima
Castello Di Bossi Corbaia Supertuscan
Allegrini La Grola
Librandi Gravello DueMilaVini
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre
Mastroberardino Radici Taurasi
Rosso di Altesino IGT Toscana
Argiolas Perdera IGT
plus much much more...
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Greetings!
My Top Tunes from 2009...
As most of you who have subscribed to our newsletter know by now I tend to deviate from the script. This newsletter started out like those of most retailers. You know "Here's our wine and here's why were so great and you should buy your wine from us." We still want you too don't get me wrong but I thought to myself "This is boring and if I'm going to be doing this for the foreseeable future I might as well have fun with it. I think a lot of you would like to deviate from the script as well. I thought turning you guys on to some of the music that has made an impression on me over the years has become a part of the plan. It's fun and I get a lot of positive feedback from my picks. Inventory is over and this is the time when I look back and take stock of the year that was. The year 2009 was difficult one for all of us but it was also a year that saw our introduction of our wine dinners in house as special events. It was also a year in which I discovered some great new artists and revisited a few old ones that you may not have been familiar with. I thought it would be fun to share my top tunes of the year. They're not in any particular order of ranking but each one of them holds a special place in my heart and I can't imagine the world without them in it...
One EskimO - Kandi
This London based band is the brainchild of Kristin Leontiou who had grown uncomfortable with the music and image he was pressured into presenting. They've created a sound that is both magical, ambient, filmatic, acoustic, beautiful and meaningful. Check out their single Kandi, an additively catchy tune that borrows a sample from the 1960s Candi Staton song "He Called Me Baby."
So it appears that I had Candy on the brain in 2009. Just a coincidence I assure you. This single was a beautiful breath of fresh air from Scotland's most popular pop idol. With a name like Paulo Nutini he's a testament to globalization. His voice is haunting and hearkens back to a better time in music history.
Hugely popular in his native Ireland, I somehow completely missed him until last summer while listening to Celtic Crush on XM satellite radio. Mexico is the kind of song that makes you want to put the top down on your car and drive away without a destination in mind. I love the album version but here's his solo acoustic performance of the song at last Falls Wee Craic Fest in NYC. He dedicated this song to me so how cool is that?
Caravan- Memory Lain Hugh Headloss
Certainly not new (1973) but I had all but forgotten about Caravan, one of the bands from the Canterbury scene of the late 60- early 70s. Very influential on my musical growth as a teenager during my prog-rock phase. This recording is great and still has a freshness that only comes from being a leader and not a follower. Kind of like me...LOL!
I almost missed Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson at the Neighborhood Theater last Summer. I love her music and this show was the beginning of me saying "yes" to things that are good for me and "no" to things that aren't. We all get into ruts in life and this song captures that spirit better than any other. It brings out my inner Bluegrass-Ole Time Music freak as well. Leave it to two Aussies...
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Feature Wine of the Week:
Alexandria Nicole Cellars
Shepherds Mark White 2008
Destiny Ridge Vineyards
(Horse Heaven Hills, Washington State)
$29.99 bottle
This wine was a big hit with Crystal and Alex but it was me who finished off the sample bottle. Washington State doesn't get a lot of love these days by the wine buying public. More a testament to the successful marketing of Oregon Pinot Noir. Washington State Cabernet and Syrah is top notch but we were blown away by this white Rhone blend from Alexandria Nicole. It's a blend of Rousanne (65%) and Marsanne and Viognier that has weight but possesses a freshness that is often times lacking in these blends. Alexandria Nicole is fortunate to have their own estate vineyard, Destiny Ridge, which allows their winemaker, Jarrod Boyle -along with Mother Nature-complete control of fruit quality from bud to bottle, a constant for all great wines around the world, is that quality starts in the vineyard. The vineyard is located on the bluffs overlooking the majestic Columbia River, in the highly recognized Horse Heaven Hills Appellation. Only a couple cases of this available for the vintage left so hurry... (Only a couple hundred cases produced)
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JANUARY'S FAB FIVE |
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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!
The Wines of
Fine Wine Trading Company
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THE DECEMBER FAB FIVE...
The Wines of
Fine Wine
Nessa Albariño 2008
(Galicia, Rias Baixas)
Normal Retail $16.99 January Price $14.99
This wine is produced from young estate grown vines and purchased grapes from o lder vineyards in the Val do Salnes sub-region of Rias Baixasin Northern Spain. Over the last decade Albarino has grown in popularity in the market, known as a versatile white wine that pairs with a miriad of dishes from pasta to seafood. Nessa meets the market demand for an Albarino of quality at an affordable price.The light gold-colored 2008 Albarino Nessa offers up aromas of mineral and lemon zest. It's crisp and bright on the palate. Light yellow. Spicy citrus and pear aromas are brightened by white flowers and ginger. Racy, precise and pleasingly bitter, with strong lemon zest and pear skin flavors. This tightly wound albarino shows a lively, persistent finish.
Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2008
(Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Normal Retail $14.99 January Price $11.99
First released in 1968 Simonsig has reached popularity worldwide, achieving "superquaffer" status by South  Africa's top wine critic, John Platter. Simonsig's vineyards lie in the foothills of the Simonsberg Mountain range, an area made up of shale, bringing out the wine's overt fruitiness and complex structure. Bright golden straw colour with aromas of ripe pear and honey leaping out of theglass. Layers of complex fruit fill the pallet with a rich and crisp aftertaste. Perfect balance between fruit, acidity and sugar makes the wine very elegant and greatly enjoyable for any occasion.
Sherwood Pinot Noir 2008
(Marlborough, New Zealand)
Normal Retail $19.99 January Price $15.99
The 2008 Sherwood Estate Pinot displays ripe, sweet plum notes with an edge of complexity on the nose. The palate is rich and round supported by fine grain tannins. An excellent match for most meat dishes . Produced from selected parcels of grapes grown at Sandy Creek vineyard and other sites in Marlborough, oak maturation for five months was followed by blending, fining and bottling. 91pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The wonderful 2008 Sherwood Estate Pinot Noir has a lovely cranberry and raspberry leaf nose with superb definition. The palate is very well crafted with fine tannins, well judged acidity allowing the joyous fruit to really express themselves: raspberry, a touch of blueberry and dark cherry. Given the price, this is exceptional value and comes highly recommended.
Casa de la Ermita Crianza 2005
(Jumilla, Spain)
Normal Retail $21.99 January Price $14.99
Casa de la Ermita is at the forefront of recent changes in Jumilla that have led to higher quality, more  complex wines with powerful fruit flavors. Casa de la Ermita uses modern vinification techniques and new oak barrels to make the best value wines of Spain. The Casa de la Ermita project started in 1997. The founders of the winery knew that the Jumilla area had particularly old vineyards that produced high quality grapes. Four partners,all wine lovers with strong backgrounds in producing quality grapes, started "Casa de la Ermita". What makes Casa de la Ermita special is the unquestioned focus on quality and their incredible knowledge of the land and varieties. Through inovation andexperimentation they are intent on becoming one of Spain's premier estates. A combination of Monastrell and Petit Verdot, this Crianza has an elegant cherry-red color with ruby-red hues. The aroma is initially fresh and transitions to woody as the wine aerates. The flavors are rich with spice and vanilla. There is excellent balance between the fruit, acidity, and tannins.
Ross Estate "Lights Out" Shiraz 2006
(Barossa Valley, Australia)
Normal Retail $19.99 January Price $16.99
Nestling at the base of the rolling hills of the famous Barossa Valley there is the Ross Estate vineyards. Basking in an ideal Mediterranean climate, nourished by  rich alluvial loam, age old vines produce some of the most highly regarded wine available today. The inspiration for this Estate grew from one man's dream. Ross Estate has become a formidable player in the South Australian wine scene. Their vision and commitment to quality without compromise ensure a rightful place among the finest estates in Australia. Vibrant crimson red, with young purple hue. Satsuma plums, blackberries and raspberries are supported by vanilla and spice on the nose with undertones of licorice. A rich fruit style wine explodes on the palate with well-supported oak integration uplifting the vibrant red fruit and cassis characters. Nuances of spice and pepper add to this food friendly wine. |
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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, whatever, 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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