HORSE!
According to the ancient wisdom of Chinese restaurant placemats, people born during the Year of the Horse are "energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able." We can believe it, especially considering some of the famous people born during the year of the horse, people like known rock bassist Paul McCartney, supreme court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and bloodthirsty conqueror Genghis Khan - all among the horsiest people ever to trot the earth.  But our favorite horse doesn't need special Zodiacal arrangements to impart horsiness. This is because he is an actual horse. His name is Nestor, and he is - along with his human cohorts, sisters Helene and Catherine Thibon - the driving force behind one of our favorite Rhone vineyards, Mas de Libian. Not only is Nestor the estate's CEO and principal winemaker, but he can be found tirelessly working the vineyards during harvest, and holding court in the tasting room over a delightful spread of carrots, apples, and compacted hay pellets. Nestor won't be here this weekend, but he has asked us to kick off the Year of the Horse with a tasting of Mas de Libian's wines, so join us this Saturday in our Durham or Raleigh location as we celebrate these exceptional wines and the arrival of 2014! (See our Saturday Tasting section below for all the details)
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Wine Authorities Raleigh
Speaking of the Year of the Horse, we're ploughing ahead with a Clydesdale-like fervor at our brand new Capital City store. We've worked very hard to bring this new Wine Authorities into existence, and we could not be more proud. We're looking forward to building a new community of friends and customers in the Oak City. Keep your eyes on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages for the latest updates... Wine Authorities Raleigh Hours: - Monday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Friday & Saturday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Sunday: Noon - 5:00 PM
~~~~Classé is in Session:
BordeauxOur first class of 2014!
At our Durham Location
The wines of the Bordeaux region have influenced the world of modern wine more than any other. Do you know what Moulis, barrique, noble rot and "cru classé" mean? How was the historic popularity of Bordeaux influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic coast? We'll reveal these answers and more in our focused class on the history, taste, jargon and geography of this important region and its amazing wines.
Included: A fun evening of wine education, tastes of 7+ wines, a nibble to eat, maps and handouts.
PS: No vaccination is necessary when we expose you to the noble rot!
Class starts at 7:33pm on Thursday, Jan 30th
2501 University Drive
Durham, NC
$48 per Person
Call the Chateau Wine Authorities hotline
at (919) 489-2884 to reserve your seat!
~~~~ Monsieur Contraste Jean-Christian Rostagni
 The Carrack Modern Art February 19th through March 1st
You're invited to the film and photography exhibit of the documentary Monsieur Contraste by award-winning film maker Rodrigo Dorfman featuring the work of Jean-Christian Rostagni. Wine Authorities is proud to present wines from Rostagni's Rhone Valley homeland. Seats are limited to 50 for each night's screening at 7:30. Check out the event's Facebook page for more information.
Purchase Tickets
Jean-Christian Rostagni
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Real Customer Comments:
"They display a passion for wine and
for outstanding service that makes it a
joy to walk into the store."
- Frank M. (via Yelp)
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Perfect Post-Holiday
Budget Recovery:
Boxes of Wine!
Chase away the post-holiday budgeting blues with our unprecedentedly extensive selection of boxed wines! Old favorites like Domaine Le Garrigon's famous Vin de Méditerranée, Domaine Pinchinat's Venus Rouge, and Eric Texier's fabulous "Chat Fou" are unarguably all up in the house, but we're most excited about the new additions to our 3 liter menagerie. In a crazy bolt-from-the-blue Box event, Carussin has sent us their delicious Barbera d'Asti in a very nice-looking box. Look for the box with the donkey on it, or as we are calling it, the Boxdonkeydonk. The newest arrival is Apaltagua's "Gran Verano" Sauvignon Blanc from Curico, Chile - crisp, tropical, and delicious!
THE BOXES OF NOW:
- Apaltagua - Sauvignon Blanc "Gran Verano" 2013 $29.99
- Herdade do Esporão - Branco "Alandra" NV $24.99
- Domaine Le Garrigon - Vin de Méditerranée 2011 $29.99 [3L]
- Carussin - Barbera d'Asti "Asinoi" 2012 $34.99 [3L]
- Domaine Pinchinat - Venus de Pinchinat Rouge 2012 $29.99 [3L]
- Eric Texier - Cotes du Rhone Rouge "Chat Fou" 2011 $94.99 [5L!]
And behold our glorious box discounts!
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3 Boxes: 15% Off!!
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4 Boxes: 20% Off!!
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This Tuesday, January 21st, we present our FREE midweek wine tasting. Every Tuesday is tasty!
5:00 - 7:00 pm
 South American Specialties
South America's vineyards are dense with distinctive varietals and specialties. European grapes that had all but disappeared in their native lands are today happily thriving in Argentina and Chile. This week, we're taking a closer look at three such grapes: Torrontes, Malbec, & Carmenere! If you haven't yet had the opportunity to cozy up to each of these South American signatures, this Tuesday's free tasting will feature some of our favorite examples.
And don't forget:
Tasty Tuesday 15%
After you taste, put together 6 bottles from our Tasty Tuesday lineup, and we'll take an entire 15% off!
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This Saturday from 12 to 3 PM
in Durham and Raleigh
"try before you buy" at
our FREE tasting
Mas de Libian: Year of the Horse
In honor of our shiny new year of the horse, we venture to the home of a producer which manages to be equally iconoclastic and respectful of history. Mas de Libian is one of our absolute favorites - a family of impassioned Rhone vignerons whose sense of agricultural responsibility is matched by its quest for quality. The Thibon family has farmed its vineyards for three and a half centuries and was brought into the modern age by husband and wife Jean- Pierre and Jacqueline. Today, two of their daughters, Hélène (pictured below) and Catherine (pictured above with Nestor the Horse - 2014's perfect mascot), have taken the reigns and continue the passion and philosophy of their parents' keenly naturalistic approach. Join us this Saturday as we celebrate the very latest vintages of five awe-inspiring works. Mais oui!
Mas de Libian
Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2012 "Cave Vinum" {biodynamic} 45% Viognier,
35% Roussanne, 20% Clairette
(Southern Ardèche, Rhone Valley)
GINGERED PEACH CUSTARD, BRIGHT & EXOTIC
The soeurs Thibon of Mas de Libian are as thoughtful about naming their wines as they are about creating them. For this white offering, they play on the "cave canem" ("beware of the dog") signs that were...
Mas de Libian
Rhone Rouge 2012 "Vin de Pétanque" {biodynamic} 80% Grenache,
20% Syrah
(Southern Ardèche, Rhone Valley)
PURPLEY DELICIOUSNESS! RICH WITH TANGY RASPBERRY & BLUEBERRY
Stock up! We will blow through this limited production red from sisters Hélène & Catherine Thibon, the dynamic duo behind "next-big-thing" wine estate Mas de Libian. Certified Biodynamic in 2005, this estate established in 1670 has been organic for its entire history. The "Vin de Pétanque" is made to...
Mas de Libian
Graves Rouge 2012
"Bout d'Zan"
{biodynamic} 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah (Southern Ardèche, Rhone Valley) BLACKBERRY & RASPBERRY, WHITE PEPPER, ROASTED CACAO
This firm and elegantly structured Cotes-du-Rhone features many of the hallmarks of the more famous Gigondas and Cairanne regions nearby. Taking its title from the childhood nickname of Jean-Pierre Thibon, Libian's patriarch and father to the sisters who currently manage the estate, the...
Mas de Libian
Cotes du Rhone 2012
"Khayyâm"
{biodynamic} 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre (Southern Ardèche, Rhone Valley)
RASPBERRY & DRIED CRANBERRY, SWEET ROSEMARY, EARTH
& DARK CHOCOLATE
"Drink wine. This is life eternal," famously wrote the ever beauty-seeking Omar Khayyam, and 800 years later, his attitudes and observations resound with timelessness. The Thibon sisters of Mas de Libian have named this delicious cuvée after...
Mas de Libian
Cotes du Rhone 2012 "La Calade" {biodynamic} 90% Mourvedre, 10% Grenache (Southern Ardèche, Rhone Valley)
BRIGHT BLACKBERRY, MINERALLY EARTH, VIOLETS & SPICE
A cuvée made precious as much by its exoticism as its rarity, "La Calade" takes its name from the prized stoney soil of one of the finest growing sites in the Southern Rhone. Showcasing a decidedly elegant side of the monstrous Mourvedre grape, this wine resonates with dense purple energy, enchanted wildness, and...
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Join us, read us, communicate with us...
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Hope to see you Saturday!
Our best to you,
Grand Poobah & the Wine Authorities staff
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We don't spam you, we practice our wine love on wine drinkers by sharing our weekly wackiness.
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Six for Sixty
deal!
 Here's our deal this month; a package of six reds or six whites for $60 plus tax. You can double down and buy two: one of each or two of one for $110 plus tax. Sorry, no other discounts apply.
Show me the six
REDS
Show me the six
WHITES
[click links to see this month's selection!]
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on the Enomatic
in Durham: 
Here's what's on tap, subject to change on a whim or fancy
Whites (48˚F):
Bodegas Los Frailes
"Blanc de Trilogia"
$16.99 on sale
Domaine Gandines
Viré Clessé
$24.99 on sale
Domaine Herbauges
Chardonnay
"Moulin d'Argent"
$11.99 on sale
Domaine PinchinatCotes de Provence Rosé $13.99 on sale
Reds (65˚F): Eric de Suremain Rully Rouge 1er Cru $29.99 on sale Mas de Libian Cotes du Rhone "Khayyam" $19.99 on sale Chateau Peybrun Cadillac Rouge $19.99 on sale Tempore Garnacha Joven
"Terrae" $10.99 on sale Poderi Elia Nebbiolo "Padrun" $18.99 Chateau Jouclary Cabardès $11.99 on sale
Domaine Largeot
Bourgogne Rouge $19.99 on sale Tre Ricci Cabernet Sauvignon $29.99 on sale
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on the Enomatic
in Raleigh:
Here's what's on tap, subject to change on a whim or fancy
Whites (48º F):
Campanhia Leziras
Tejo Branco
"Samora"
$7.99 on sale
Domaine La Grangette
Picpoul de Pinet
$9.99 on sale
Domaine Herbauges
Chardonnay
"Moulin d'Argent"
$11.99 on sale
Domaine PinchinatCotes de Provence Rosé $13.99 on sale Bodegas Los Frailes
"Blanc de Trilogia"
$16.99 on sale
Bodegas Los Frailes "Blanc de Trilogia" $16.99 on sale Dr. Fischer Riesling "Ockfner Bockstein" $15.99 on sale
StuhlmullerChardonnay $26.99 on sale Reds (65º F): Companhia das Leziras Tejo Tinto "Samora" $8.99 on sale Bodegas Tempore Garnacha Joven "Terrae" $10.99 on sale Bodegas Los Frailes Monastrel $9.99 on sale Bodegas Los Frailes Valencia Tinto
"Bilogia" $13.99 on sale Pyren Vineyards Shiraz "Broken Quartz" $23.99 Hook & Ladder Zinfandel $25.99 on sale
Poderi Foglia i Vignali
Aglianico $19.99 on sale Finca Sophenia Malbec Reserve $15.99 on sale Tre Ricci Cabernet Sauvignon $29.99 on sale Chateau Haut Plantade Pessac Leognan $45.99 on sale Mas de Libian Cotes du Rhone Rouge $19.99 on sale Mas de Libian Rhone Rouge
"Vin de Petanque" $11.99 on sale Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Nouveau VV $15.99 Shea Wine Cellars Pinot Noir $44.99 on sale
Occhipinti
Il Frappato $34.99 on sale Marchetti Rosso Conero Uve Montepulciano $13.99 on sale
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Firsthand Foods
Fresh Local Sausages
- Bratwurst
- Country Breakfast
- Spicy Italian
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 Artisan Bacon Nodine's North Country Firsthand Foods Vande Rose Farms |
Crackers
Granola
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Big Spoon
Roasters
Local peanut butters
8oz Jar - $8.00 16oz Jar - $12.00
or... - Peanut Cashew
- Peanut Almond
- Penut Pecan
- Chai Spice (8oz size only)
8oz Jar - $10.00
16oz Jar - $15.00
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Counter Culture Coffee
- Rustico
- Farmhouse Blend, Equador & Peru
- Union El Triunfo, Mexico
- Finca Mauritania, El Salvador
- Haru Buna Ababa, Ethiopia
- Espresso Toscano
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Archived Weekly Emails
If for some absolutely crazy reason you feel the need to re-read our previous weekly email you can now click on this link:
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Please note:
We can not be held accountable for our previous, current or future writings.
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