Asheville’s Best Wine & Beer Tasting– Saturday February, 8^th 2011 4PM-7PM http://www.appalachianvintner.com/

EVENTS

February 27^th Oscar Party at CityMac!

Wine & Charleston Oyster Party at the Vintner! TBA

 

New Arrivals ~

Alta Vista Cabernet Sauvignon

Justin Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve– 100% free run juice!

Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster

Terrapin The Darkside Belgian Imperial Stout

Terrapin Big Daddy Vlady Russian Imperial Stout

STONE Ruination IPA

STONE Oaked Arrogant Bastard

STONE Smoked Porter

Boulder Beer Company Mojo Risin

Duck-Rabbit Barley wine

Dugges Ale & Porterbryggeri Bollox! IPA– New Import from 12 Percent!

Dugges Ale & Porterbryggeri ½ Idjit Imperial Porter

Dogfish Head Squall IPA

Dogfish Head Red & White

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

Ballast Point Sea Monster Stout

~ Free Saturday Tasting ~

This week we are heading to Spain for your tasting pleasure. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has over 2.9 million acres planted—making it the most widely planted wine producing nation but it is only the third largest producer of wine in the world, the largest being Italy and France. This is due, in part, to the very low yields in most of the country and wide spacing of the old vines planted on the dry, infertile soil found in many Spanish wine regions.

Sitios de Bodega Rueda Con Class– 60% Verdejo(80-120 year old vines!), 25% Viura, 15% Sauvignon Blanc from family owned vineyards in Rueda, which is Northwest of the center of Spain. Ricardo Sanz is a sixth generation winemaker in the Rueda region and alongside his brother Marco and his sister Alejandra, launched Sitios de Bodega in 2005. They have a thoroughly modern approach to winemaking – concentrating on the native variety, Verdejo, and organic viticulture. The winery is surrounded by the estate vineyards, which total 75 acres of vines distributed between Rueda (90%) and Pollos. The Sanz dynasty in Rueda is legendary and their importance in terms of innovation cannot be underestimated. Each generation, dating back to 1860, has pioneered some technology – from owning the first mechanical press, to producing the first fresh (non-oxidized) wines of the region, to the holistic approach to farming, incorporating organic viticulture. Local Import (Charlotte, NC). Shelf $11.99 Tasting $10.79

Yellow + Blue Rosé– Monastrell and Syrah grown in Spain’s famed Alicante region. Alicante is sculpted by a continental climate thats softened by Mediterranean Sea breezes. Low rainfall helps to reduce vine vigor and plenty of sunshine aides in achieving fully ripened fruit. The vineyard is situated approximately 2,000 feet above sea level, where the “gobelet” (bush vine) system is used to ensure proper airing of the vines. The mineral-rich soil, combined with the warm, dry climate, yields fresh and fruity wines with great structure, lively color and intense aroma. For this organic Rosé, Monastrell and Syrah grapes are harvested by hand at the end of August. The goal of Yellow+Blue(=green) is to find exceptional 100% organic wines from outstanding winemakers around the world and bring it to wine lovers like you … in a way that’s responsible and affordable. Yellow+Blue organic wines are shipped responsibly and packaged smarter — we’re talking 93% wine and 7% packaging. Their Tera Pak is perfect for maintaining the wines integrity, light weight and perfect for camping, hiking, rafting or just about anything. Plus they are a full liter, thats an additional 250ml of organic vino! Shelf $10.99 Tasting $9.89

Bodegas Tikalo Albaliza Tinto– 65% Tempranillo – 35% Garnacha in La Mancha. Tikalo is a young bodega, created only in 2002, but working with an extremely large base of medium to old vine material in the Villamanrique area of La Mancha. Owning over 990 acres, the property is committed to dry farming in this very dry area with an average annual rainfall of 490 mm. Most of the parcels were planted in the early 1970’s with some older parcels of ungrafted vines still cultivated. For a property with over 990 acres, one would not expect hand harvesting, but it is a principle by which Tikalo strictly abides. Tinto is from younger vines on a higher elevation vineyard in the region of Castilla. Dark purple. Dark cherry and anise aromas are complicated by musky herbs and dark chocolate. Chewy dark fruit flavors are firmly structured, finishing with good lift and bitter cherry quality. Much more serious than one would expect at this price. Albaliza is a typical type of soil in Spain. Local Import. Sustainable. Shelf $8.99 Tasting $8.09

Bodegas LAN Rioja Crianza– 100% Tempranillo from the LAN estate. The estates’ Viña Lanciano vineyard is located in a breathtaking meander of the River Ebro. The vineyard occupies an area of 150 acres, in which the climate, river and soil endow already exceptional grapes with a unique personality. Vines as old as 60 years are cultivated to make the wines. This wine has been voted one of the Top Wines of 2010 on two separate wine publications and received 90pts. Cherry red in color, it offers up an attractive nose of cedar, espresso, tobacco, and black cherry. This leads to a ripe, savory offering with plenty of spice and earth notes, a bit of structure, and 1-2 years of aging potential. Hand-harvested. Shelf $12.99 Tasting $11.69

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Charles & I would like to offer our sincere gratitude for an already amazing first quarter. Please keep in mind that Appalachian Vintner can access any wine or beer available in Western NC and at the lowest prices in town. Give us a call today to place your special order 828.505.7500

Asheville’s Best Wine & Beer Tasting– Saturday February, 19^th 2011 4PM-7PM http://www.appalachianvintner.com

 

~ Free Saturday Tasting ~

 

This week we are happy to be bringing another installment in our noble varietal series ~ SYRAH, or is it Shiraz? Sirah maybe, but make it Petite if you please. No matter the spelling or the country, most wine drinkers are familiar with Syrah. We use this spelling for explanation mainly because we are at heart, traditionalists. Not to be confused with transcendentalists of course.

 

 

Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Syrah– South Africa. The fruit is predominantly sourced in Malmesbury, with a small portion of Wellington fruit also used. Certain parcels are naturally fermented, but most are inoculated with selected Rhone strains. About a third remains unoaked, the balance is matured in old French barriques and on French oak staves. Intense red color with ripe red fruit and hints of black pepper. A silky full bodied texture with soft but firm tannins and some spice from the oak. Shelf $10.99 Tasting $9.89

Bodega Calle Alberti 154 Syrah– Maipú (Barrancas), Mendoza. The wines from this estate have always been a huge success here at Appalachian Vintner. Their Malbec is our second best selling wine of all time! All of this is for good reason, they use a practices called “gravity flow” to produce all of the wines at the bodega, no pumps to move the juice from station to station. This minimal handling is crucial in maintaining the fruit intensity and texture that most wine drinkers yearn for. Bright purple in the glass, with roasted aromas of dark cherry, ripe blackberry, and vanilla. Cocoa and licorice notes coat the palate, and the wine finishes spicy and direct. Shelf $11.99 Tasting $10.80

Hope Estate Hunter Valley Shiraz– 100% Shiraz ~ 100% Estate Grown ~ 100% Family Owned. Hunter Valley is the first place that Syrah was planted in Australia according to U.C. Davis. Spicy pepper and nutmeg, concentrated blackberry with black plums and chocolate. The oak fermentation and maturation have enhanced the peppery and spicy characters of the wine. Open top fermenters have increased the fruit intensity and warm colors of the Shiraz. Smooth, juicy palate with rich mocha and spicy plums leading to an earthy finish. Mildly subdued compared to the rest of the tasting wines, but still Aussy through and through. Shelf $12.99 Tasting $11.69

McManis Family Vineyards Petite Sirah– California. Again normally most people in the wine trade would insert a wine from the Northern Rhone Valley. Personally we are HUGE fans of these wines, but alas these are usually wines that require some sort of extended bottle aging( we do have some older vintages available ) or food. Our current portfolio is not quite ample enough to offer these wines at a tasting, we will certainly visit these amazing wines in the future. Changing speeds we are pouring a Petite Sirah. Inky black wines that stain teeth and counter tops. A wild cross of Syrah, the traditional name for this grape is Durif but 90% of the wine in the market is not named as such. Sirah comes from the Iranian town of the same name the apparent true home of Syrah, and petite is of course the French word for small. California growers found this growing amongst their Syrah vines and noticed it had smaller berries, and Petite Sirah was “born”. Shelf $11.99 Tasting $10.80

Asheville’s Best Wine & Beer Tasting– Saturday Feburary, 12^th 2011 3PM-7PM http://www.appalachianvintner.com

We will be hosting some local talent this Saturday to usher in the Valentines weekend~ Wine from the amazing Paitin di Pasquero-Elia. This Piedmontese Barbaresco producer has returned to its deep historic rootstock crafting wines that defy soul depleting modernism and the price tags that are usually attached. Mike Tiano of the Haw River Wine Man, is the direct importer here working directly with the Paitin family in Italy, Mike lives here in Asheville’s west side. Our chocolate for this tasting trio will be provide by David Mason, owner of Black Mountain Chocolate. David creates his delectable chocolate from single source beans from prestigious cacao farms around the world. The cheese selection will mostly be Italian and chosen for their ability to pair perfectly with these Northern Italian gems. $8 per person.

 

08′ Paitin Barbera d’Alba “Serra Boella”– 100% Barbera. Most of the Barbera on Serra Boella was originally planted in the early 1980s with clones that turned out to be poorly suited to the site. After replanting in 1997 with vine cuttings propagated from the “Campolive” vineyard the sunniest site on the estate, Giovanni has found the site to give much better wines. Its aged 12 months in 50% new tonneaux and 50% three-year-old barriques. Front line $19.99 A.V. $17.99 Tasting $16.19

Served with Fontina Val D’Aosta

07′ Paitin Nebbiolo d’Alba “Ca Veja”– 100% Nebbiolo from the family’s three-hectare plot of Nebbiolo near Alba, located outside of the Barbaresco zone and only one mile from the border of Barolo. The site was replanted in the mid-1990s after a flood and subsequent mudslide destroyed much of the original vineyard. Front line $23.99 A.V. $21 Tasting $18.99

Served with Taleggio

06′ Paitin Langhe Rosso– 50% Nebbiolo & 50% Barbera. This wine was first produced in 1985. It previously contained Cabernet Sauvignon, which constitutes a mere 1.5 acres on the estate. We have a few bottles left of 2004 which still contained a small amount of Cab. The new blend is more traditional blend that is aged in French oak barrels, creating a more concentrated wine thats darker in color and offers a long finish. Front line $24.99 A.V. $21 Tasting $18.99

Served with La Tur

05′ Paitin Barbaresco “Sori Paitin”– 100% Nebbiolo.“Sorì Paitin,” is their flagship wine sourced from 6 acres of southern exposed vines within the Sorì Paitin vineyard. It is now aged exclusively in Slovenian oak barrels (50% new) for 24 months. This is Piedmontese Nebbiolo at its finest. Beautifully elegant and traditional with tar, violets and maraschino cherry. Shelf $35.99 Tasting $32.39

Served with Gorgonzola dolce

Saint’ Evasio Brachetto d’Acqui– 100% Brachetto. While not from the Paitin estate this little bouquet of a wine is also Piedmontese. Known lovingly as the “princess wine” by a Frenchman that sold us this a few years ago, it is always a crowd favorite. An absolute perfect partner to chocolate, this is the quintessential Valentines Day bubbly. Brick red, slightly sparkling and rich with ripe, sweet fruit. Molto Bene!

Thank you for taking the time read our little newsletter. If you have any questions or concerns please give us a call. 828~505~7500

Ciao!

Asheville’s Best Wine & Beer Tasting– Saturday Feburary, 5^th 2011 4PM-7PM http://www.appalachianvintner.com/

New Arrivals ~

WINE

Quo Grenacha

Weinhof SCHEU Spätburgunder Trocken– Pinot Noir from Pflaz, Germany

LATITUDE 50° Pinot Noir– Pinot Noir from Rheingau, Germany!

McManis Petite Sirah

McManis Pinot Noir

Domaine du Prieuré Bourgogne Rouge

Columbia Winery Riesling

Healdsburg Ranches Russian River Chardonnay

Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Syrah

Baron Philippe de Rothschild Mouton Cadet Bordeaux– 80 years of affordable Bordeaux. A Kenilworth Inn favorite!

Carlos Basso Reservado Malbec

BEER

Original Sin Hard cider

2007 Brooklyn Brewery Barleywine

2008 Flying Dog Horn Dog Barleywine

Great Divide Old Ruffian

Great Divide Fresh Hop

~ Free Saturday Tasting ~

 

This week we are excited to present a classic line-up of the wine world’s sweetheart~ Pinot Noir. The name is derived from the French words for “pine” and “black” alluding to the grape variety’s tightly clustered dark purple pine cone-shaped bunches of fruit. A wild cross itself, Pinot Noir has spawned in upwards of 20 now mainstream varietals. It is grown on just about every major continent, in just about every soil type and in almost every climate. Pinot has for centuries been revered for the satin textured whirlwinds of flavor that come from cool hillsides in small pockets of countryside around the world. Popularity has in someways led to a proverbial “sea” of sometimes mediocre wine. In an attempt to part these sea’s we’ve put together a few of our favorites and none of them contain Syrah!

 

Domaine du Prieuré Bourgogne Rouge– At the entrance of the sleepy village of Savigny les Beaune resides this lovely estate. A family affair, the vines and cellar are tended by Jean-Michel and his son Stephen, whilst Yvonne manages commerce. In their careful hands they are excellent stewards of these beautiful parcels of Pinot Noir. This Bourgogne Rouge will represent the quintessential old world style at the tasting. Just this side of pale in the glass, excellent clarity in its cherry red color. High notes of crushed cherries and lush red fruit dancing provocatively with warm spice, no oak to speak of. The palate runs the line between power and finesse, it succeeds without effort drawing you back again and again. 3 cases available. Shelf $15.99 Tasting $14.39

Viña Montes Limited Selection Pinot Noir– Casablanca, Chile. Perhaps you’ve not heard much of the Pinot coming from Chile, but trust us it has shown itself worthy. Again there is a large amount of wines labeled Pinot that come from warmer sun drenched valley’s, resembling wines from other heartier varietals, they too have their place. Within Chile the Casablanca is a pre-coastal valley, leaning to cool nights and gradual heat during the day. The oldest Pinot vines in South America are planted here. The color, alcohol and fruit have intensified from the last wine here, with some oak showing but very little. Great texture, very smooth and satisfying. Shelf $14.99 Tasting $13.49

Arbor Brook Vineyards Heritage Cuvee Pinot Noir– Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley Oregon. Modern winemaking in the Willamette Valley dates back 40 years with the genius of three UC Davis refugees who believed that Oregon was an ideal place to grow cool-climate varieties. Between 1965 and 1968, David Lett, Charles Coury, and Dick Erath separately forged their way to the north Willamette Valley despite negative rumblings from their Davis cohorts who told them it was impossible to grow wine grapes in Oregon. They were the first in Oregon to plant Pinot Noir and with that paved the way to the success of the finicky grape today. Chehalem Mountains is a single landmass made up of several hilltops, ridges and spurs that is uplifted from the Willamette Valley floor. The appellation includes all land in the area above the 200-foot elevation. They are the highest mountains in the Willamette Valley with their tallest point, Bald Peak, at 1,633 feet above sea level. This raises the bar on the structure scale, a beefy wine if you will. Deep plum color, with earthy notes of under growth, classic Oregon it almost gets a strangle hold on your palate but in a good way. National Retail $35.00 AV $21.99 Tasting $19.79

Au Bon Climat La Bauge Au-dessus Pinot Noir– Santa Maria Valley, California. I am sure that there will be a few folks that would have included an additional Burgundy here in the finale, but I have a soft spot in my heart for this wine. It was possible the first Pinot that early on intrigued me to search out more quality cool-climate, small production Pinot Noir. It should be noted that the alcohol is 13.5%, very respectable when mentioning that Santa Maria Valley is sub-central California. It should also be noted that this wine is the most boisterous, with years left until its full maturation. We recommend a lengthy aeration with this one. Packaging in half bottles will limit our pouring capabilities, please come early if you would like to taste this one as samples will be limited. Shelf $21.99 Special Offer $16.00!!

As with any tasting there will always be other options available for your palates pleasure. If Pinot is your thing and you don’t find one here, just ask and we will help find your new favorite.

Cheers!

Geoff & Charles