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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...
Call to reserve you seats
704-365-6550.
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| Wine Classes
for Winter/Spring Session |
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Instructor: Anita Skogland
Wine Educator and Owner
of
Vines to Wines
A Carolina Wine School
Anita Skogland will be offering hands on, user friendly wine classes for consumers at the Wine Shop at Foxcroft. Anita has trained through the WSET program, Society of Wine Educators, French Wine Academy and Spanish Wine Academy. She currently teaches in the Culinary Arts Program at The Art Insitiute of Charlotte. Each class will be two hours long. ( Note the individual times and days of each class.) Price includes all wine, cheese, bread and light hors d'ouevres. (Tuition is non-refundable.) This promises to be an exciting and education series and we're excited to be working with Anita. We think you'll find her approach to wine both challenging and fun.
Class One
Champagne, Sparkling Wine and Chocolate
Cost: $30.00
Time: Monday, Feb 8th
7:00- 9:00 pm
Just in time for Valentine's Day! What is Champagne and why is it different than Cava or Prosecco? Taste the Sparkling wines of the World and pair them with Chocolate for a hedonistic experience that you can repeat with your favorite date....
Class Two
The Confident Wine Consumer
Cost: $60.00
(Two Weeks)
Time: Sunday, Feb 21st and 28th
2:00- 4:00 pm
We will discuss the major grape varietals of the world, what defines their flavors and why they taste different when grown different regions. Discussions will include: How to read a wine label, how to order with confidence in a restaurant, and how to describe what you like or don't about your favorite wines...
Class Three
Wine and Food Pairing
Cost: $30.00
Time: Monday, March 1st
7:00- 9:00 pm
Does Chardonnay get lost with beef? Can Cabernet really work with fish? Let's find out in an action packed class. This is huge subject area - We will bring it down to sipping size and have lots of fun making strange faces. We will provide a grid of flavors with a variety of wines and you can decide what works best for you...
Class Four
The Wines of France
Cost: $60.00
(Two Weeks) Time: Sunday, March 7th & 14th
2:00- 4:00 pm
Just The Mother Country of fine varietal wine grapes is France - but the labels are the most intimidating to American consumers. We will cover all of the major wine regions of France and discuss the grapes, style, and how to read the label to find some of the most profound and best values in the market today...
Class Five
Alsace, Germany and Austria
Cost: $30.00
Time: Monday, March 22nd
7:00- 9:00 pm
One of the most misunderstood wines are the Germanic wines. Largely due to the ocean of cheap liebfraumilch that flooded American shores in the 70s. They are also the most profound and long-lived white wines in the world and are super food friendly. We'll explore and unlock the complexities of the German wine label, learn about terroir and how it is reflected in the grape and learn that you can never judge a wine by the shape of the bottle in comes in...
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Greetings!
 We've been in the process of updating the look of our website and are happy to announce that it's up and running. We've simplified the ordering and shopping cart and there's a blog so you guys can tell us what we're doing right and where we need improvement. You can checkout our menu and events pages and we're going to do our best to keep things up to date.
check it out...
We're introducing a new series of wine class with a twist. Anita Skogland, instructor from the Art Institute and good friend of The Wine Shop will be teaching them with a focus on practical wine knowledge as well as terroir and geography. They will challenge you and will be a lot of fun as well. They will take place on Sundays and Monday nights alternating. You can take them individually or as a series so we're completely flexible. Our Italian tasting is close to being sold out already, we have about five seats left so if you are on the fence about coming you should call soon...
We'll be offering a Valentines Day Dinner again this year after the success of last year's dinner. We should have the final touches done on the menu this week so look for it in next week's newsletter.
More to come...
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Feature Wine of the Week:
Valle Dell'Acate
Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2007
$22.99 bottle
Valle dell'Acate is located in the Bidini manor among the sinuous hills of the Dirillo valley. The wine estate is one of the most enterprising in south-eastern Sicily, committed to the continuation and valorization of the ancient wine growing tradition of the province of Ragusa, in the famous triangle formed by Acate, Comiso and Vittoria.The estate was founded by the Jacono family, which has been devoted to growing grapes and producing wine since the days when Vittoria was the most active center for wine export to France in the late 19th century.On the foundation of this heritage, Valle dell'Acate specialized in the cultivation of the most prized endemic varieties, grown luxuriant in the land of the estate, and in the production of great wines, including Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOC, the pride of Sicilian wine production. The spirit of the estate lies in its interpretation of winemaking, where ancient traditions and nature form a deep combination that result in the extraordinary quality of its wines.
The Cerasuolo di Vittoria is produced from the vilification of red Frappato and Nero d'avola grapes and was first presented in 1933 at the initial Exhibition-Market of Siena. It takes its name from the magnificent color that characterizes the wine. It is a superior table wine that can be aged at considerable length-up to 30 years. This blend of 60% nero d'avola 40% frappato shows an intense aromas of black licorice, cracked pepper and black cherry spring from the glass with supporting flavors of dark red fruits, tobacco and earth. Perfectly pairs with osso bucco or mushroom stew. According to Wine Enthusiast: "Nero d'Avola and Frappato are blended to create a light and fragrant wine with pretty layers of berry fruit and almond paste. It's an easy and fresh wine that works well for everyday consumption."
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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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| Wine Classes
for Winter/Spring
(continued...) |
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Instructor: Anita Skogland
Wine Educator and Owner
of
Vines to Wines
A Carolina Wine School
Class Six
The Wines of Italy
Cost: $60.00
(Two Weeks)
Time: Sunday, March 28th & April 11th
2:00- 4:00 pm
There are more grape varietal planted in Italy than any place on Earth and with the exception of Greece, is the oldest wine growing country in Western Europe. Italian wine can also be the most daunting in terms of style and quality due to the sheer quantity of varietals planted and regions under vine. We will take apart that puzzle stepping outside the bounds of Chianti Classico and explore the history of Italian wine visiting the North, Central Italy and the South and Sicily over a two week period. We will learn that Italian wines are some of the most versatile and food friendly wines being produced today. You will be able to navigate a fine Italian restaurant list with confidence...
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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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