OCT 2011
Asheville’s Best Wine Tasting– Saturday, October 29th, 2011 3PM-7PM
http://www.appalachianvintner.com/
The weather should be dipping into the low digits this weekend so we’re happy to introduce Asheville’s first Hot Hard Cider Bar to warm your spirits, complete with handmade accoutrement, whip cream and lots of love.
~Save the Date~
Thursday November, 10th 2011 5:30PM- Join Mike Bee, owner of Falcor Winery in Napa Valley as we taste our way through his massive and diverse portfolio of handcrafted single vineyard wines at up to 50% off national retail prices.
November 19th, 4PM-8PM, Thanksgiving Wine Tasting- a selection of wines offered only at Appalachian Vintner for the holiday table with light hand-made Hors d’oeuvres sourced from local farms, paired with each wine. $5 per person or free with case purchase.
December 22nd 6pm Holiday Wine, Cheese and Champagne Tasting- The perfect tasting to find the best wine to accompany your holiday gatherings and the best sparkling wine & Champagne for a memorable New Years Toast! Enjoy a local cheese selection, Pâté and other goodies.
~ Free Saturday Tasting ~
Often Imitated ~ Never Duplicated
The classical old world elegance and new world charm of the wines from the small family farms in Spain’s diverse countryside, that is! Be wary of imitations, the best, as in most things in life, are produced lovingly and with honest originality by individuals maintaining societal building blocks that are thousands of years old. While imitation very well may be the highest form of flattery, the greatest platform of all to speak your muse is truth.
Martín Códax Albariño– Rías Baixas, Spain. Located in the top West corner of Spain, in Galicia, Rias Baixas is the premier white wine region in Spain and its golden shining star is Albariño. Wines from this area frequently smell and taste of the sea. This salinity has helped cement it as a beloved partner to seafood & shellfish, a specialty of this area of Spain. The Martin Codax brand was one of the first commercially marketed Spanish Albariños exported to the United States. We’ve sampled countless Albariños through the years and have not found another that has the same quality to price ratio. Perfect for your fall soirées, refreshing yet built to work with a whole smörgåsbord of dishes. We’ve sipped this wine with everything from simple scallops to a 16oz ribeye and it carried each dish perfectly. Shelf $13.99 Tasting $12.59
Bodegas San Prudencio Cueto Rioja– 90% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo 5% Garnacha from the Rioja Alavesa in the picturesque southern Basque Country. Montelaturce, the landmark mountain in Rioja that is the inspiration for his labels and the flag of the state is where most of his wines are sourced. These are some of the highest altitude vineyards in Rioja –you can virtually see almost all Rioja from these vineyards. All the harvest is done by hand. These vineyards have belonged to his family for three generations. Ruben Saenz might be one of the most impressive and unassuming wunderkind in Rioja. Only 29, he has completed majors and a Ph.D in Chemistry and Winemaking. He has worked for several wineries in Rioja, done consulting as “driving winemaker” in other appellations and is finally achieving the dream of his life, making his own wines. First in a rented winery and, starting this year, in a small winery that he has just acquired and is renovating. Shelf $10.99 Tasting $9.89
Tres Osos Tempranillo – Cabernet Sauvignon– 85% Tempranillo, 15% Cab. Sourced from Valencia in the south east corner of Spain below Madrid. This estate lies in a beautiful natural countryside, full of holly and oak forest where trees, cattle, storks and griffon vultures all live in harmony. The estate is 2500 feet above sea level with rocky soils rich in broken granite. No chemicals are used. Green pruning takes place in spring to reduce cluster formation in the dry plots with old root stocks. It involves bud snipping and the removal of unnecessary small vine shoots. Next comes a light clarification or extraction of leaves, which must be carried out with utmost care to avoid grape skin burning. In order to remove excess load on clusters, clusters with uneven bulking or that are less vigorous are cut during the second half of July. The harvest is carried out manually using 40 lbs boxes. Following the on-field selection the grapes are sent to the selection table. Then it is de-stemmed and crushed and later transferred to the stainless steel vats. Only the estate’s native yeasts are used for the fermentation — maceration (skin contact) lasts 20 days, extracting rich flavors and soft tight tannins. Shelf $9.99 Tasting $8.99
Juan Gil Honoro Vera– 100% Merlot from Jumilla! We were very intrigued when our local distributor approached us with this wine. 100% Merlot from Spain? Sure we’ll try anything once! We’ve had blends from Jumilla containing small amounts, but never a single varietal. Intrigue does not always transpire to a pleasant experience, but with this bottling we were quite impressed. Digging a little further we find that the Gil family has been farming for centuries in this dry, rocky, arid climate. The current generation farms their old vines without the use of irrigation, forcing the deep roots even further down into the sparse soil in search of water. The weather swing from day to night is regularly over 20 degrees. The heat of the day and cool of the night, along with dry farming, yields wines with a lush texture and intensely flavored fruit, but allows for the grape to maintain a natural acidity that helps to brush that fruit across the palate and lengthen the finish. Delicious! Shelf $9.99 Sale $8.49
Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon
Domaine Paul Autard Côtes du Rhône– the 2010 has mind blowing dusty red fruit!
Weingut Tinhof Blau + Red
Dominio IV Of Poetry & Roses Pinot Noir– this is Oregon Pinot at its finest! Biodynamic!
Unibroue Diabolic Pleasures
Southern Tier Pumpking
Kulmbacher Mönchshof Kellerbier 5L– SALE $20, great for parties with over 16 pints per can.
Crispin Brown Lane English Cider– 16oz cans
Southern Tier Imperial Oatmeal Stout
Rogue John John Hazelnut
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Bison Gingerbread Ale
Thistly Cross Scottish Cider
Brasserie d’Achouffe N’Ice Chouffe
French Broad Zepptemberfest
Pisgah LEAF Amber– Growlers
Pisgah Red Devil– Growlers, new release!
Pisgah Solstice Triple– Growlers
Pisgah Porter– Growlers!
DYNAMITE Roasting Co.– Fresh batch of delicious fair-trade organic locally roasted coffee!!!!!!!!
Asheville’s Best FREE Wine Tasting– Saturday October, 22nd 2011 3PM-7PM http://www.appalachianvintner.com/
November 19th, 4PM-8PM, Thanksgiving Wine Tasting- a selection of wine for the holiday table with light seasonal Hors d’oeuvres paired with each wine. $5 per person or free with case purchase.
December 22nd 6pm Holiday Wine, Cheese and Champagne Tasting- The perfect tasting to find the best wine to accompany your holiday gatherings and the best sparkling wine & Champagne for a memorable New Years Toast! Enjoy a local cheese selection, Pâté and other goodies.
~ Free Saturday Tasting ~
Coastal Wine Brands First Press Napa Valley Chardonnay– 100% Chardonnay and 100% Napa Valley fruit. This wine really shocked us at a recent tasting, with its massive value, superb balance and premium vineyard sourcing. Coastal Brands is a Family owned and operated company that draws its roots from 1924. The company’s 12,000 acres of estate fruit are ISO 9001 Certified. The glass opens up with yeasty minerals, creamy lemon and spiced pear. In the mouth the yeasty aromas show slightly on the nutty side and the fruit tastes of fresh apple skin. Shelf $13.99 Tasting $12.59
Bright Light White– From the winery: “Bright Light is a fresh, aromatic blend of chardonnay, albariño and gewürztraminer sourced from the cool, coastal valleys of Sonoma and Monterey Counties. Jeff Bundschu(Gundlach Bundschu) and winemaker Keith Emerson have been crafting alternative white wines long before the category first heated up. With Bright Light, they’ve introduced a wine that will set it alight. By combining the crisp minerality of albariño, the fragrant spice of gewürztraminer and the bright citrus of chardonnay, Bright Light offers something entirely new, a flavor profile that defines the appeal of dry, aromatic white wines. Sourced from the cool, coastal valleys of Sonoma and Monterey Counties, this chic, ebullient white is distinguished by its originality, drinkability and bonafide quality and value. Explosive aromas of sweet mandarins & paper white blossoms. Intense summer flavors of key lime and chilled slices of crisp honeydew. We will add that most of this wine comes from the Gundlach Bundschu estate in Sonoma, upping the ante a bit for this value. Shelf $13.49 SALE $10.99
Rockus Bockus Sonoma County Red Wine– This is a Sonoma County blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Jeff Bundschu and winemaker Keith Emerson (both of Gundlach Bundschu Winery) utilize their extensive knowledge and network to access the best fruit from their estate and other premium Sonoma County sites, to produce this wine in a style that is bold, fruit-forward, juicy and very well priced. This is a modern wine with abundant deep red and black fruit along with sufficient acidity and tannins to lend a moderately serious backbone. On the nose are aromas of fresh raspberry, black cherry, baking spice and wet rocks. In the mouth there are ripe blackberries, cassis, sweet plums and some toasted cardamom. This is a medium bodied wine with a velvety texture and a long graphite tinged zesty finish. A seriously lush value from one of our all-time favorite wine families. Shelf $13.99 Sale $12.99 Tasting $12.59
Writer’s Block Cabernet Franc– 80% Cabernet Franc, 12% Syrah, 6% Merlot and 2% Zinfandel. Writer’s Block is a Lake County/North Coast California project from Quincy Steele and his father Jed Steele. The elder Steele has been in the wine industry since 1968 and his son has clearly gained plenty of experience from his father. We’ve sampled each of the nine wines under the Writer’s Block label and they are all fantastic. A minimalist approach is taken in producing each of the wines in the line-up. The fruit for the Cab Franc is usually harvested in late September to early October. The grapes are gently crushed, then fermented individually, fermentation lasts six or seven days, but juice is kept in skin contact for a minimum of two weeks. The young wine is then pressed and racked to barrel, where it is allowed to age for approximately nine months. The blending philosophy for Writer’s Block wines is simply to make wine that pleases both a general palate and that of a more discerning taster. Many blending trials were made in the process of attaining the final product. The percentage of Cabernet Franc (80%) in this wine lends an intrinsically varietal base. From this point, Syrah (12%), Merlot (6%), and Zinfandel (2%) each help to enhance the Cabernet Franc’s varietal qualities, while also playfully departing from them through the influence of their individual profiles. The winemaker’s intention here is that the Syrah, Merlot, and Zinfandel add a specific complexity of aromatic and flavor components that have made this a wine to be enjoyed by a broad spectrum of wine lovers. This blend highlights the ripeness and body of California fruit, creating a wine with a long finish and a rich, viscous mouthfeel. Shelf $15.99 Tasting $14.39
Steeple Jack Merlot
Ballast Stone Petit Verdot
Annalisa Moscato
Iron Berry Chardonnay Viognier
Bodegas Juan Gil Honoro Vero Merlot– merlot from Spain? Oh yeah and its deliciously affordable!!
Couvillion Winery Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon– if you missed last weeks tasting, there is plenty of this wine left and it is truly an amazing value, grab some by the case before its gone.
Ballast Point Big Eye IPA– its back! And its cheaper!!
Stoudts American Pale Ale
Stoudts Gold
Stoudts German Pilsner
Abita Turbo Dog
Abita 25th Anniversary Vanilla Double Dog
Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela
Mikkeller Chipotle Porter
To Øl Black Ball Imperial Porter
Duck-Rabbit Barleywine 2010 vintage– DRAFT!
The Bruery Autumn Maple– One of the greatest fall beers to age! We have a three vertical, start one for yourself today with the 2011!
Highland Thunderstruck Coffee Porter– Brewed with over 500# of fresh fair-trade coffee from our friends at Dynamite Roasting Co in Black Mountian.
Asheville’s Best Wine & Beer Tasting– Saturday October, 15th 2011 3PM-7PM http://www.appalachianvintner.com/
Just announced! Thursday November, 10th 2011 5:30PM. Appalachian Vintner is proud to welcome back to our tasting salon Mike Bee, owner of FALCOR Winery in Napa Valley. 2011 represents Falcor’s 15th vintage of outstanding wines! Every year since 1996 Falcor has produced some of the greatest single vineyard wines and blends in all of California. Each year the demand for these small production hand crafted gems has increased and each year as demand has increased they’ve been harder to find, except at Appalachian Vintner of course! We’re always well stocked, and next month we’ll be opening a multitude of these amazing wines for your palate’s pleasure and offering them at the lowest prices in the country, guaranteed! Mike will also be signing bottles as well. RSVP requested, but not required.
~ Asheville’s Free Wine Tasting ~
This Saturday we jump back into our groove with Mike Tiano, managing partner at the Haw River Wine Man. Mike, along with owner Jim Stock import some of the greatest Italian wines we’ve ever tasted. Because the Haw River Wine Man works directly with these small growers their pricing structure is just about absurd, amazing values from every corner of the Italian peninsula. Mike & Jim also are the sole North Carolina distributor of Neil Rosenthals wines. Neil is one of the oldest and most respected importers in this country. We will be sampling wines from both importers portfolios.
Mondo del Vino Luna Argenta Prosecco D.O.C.– A new Prosecco for us, the Luna Argenta is pale straw in color with tiny bubbles and aromas of delicate flowers, talc and fleur de sel with a whiff of red berries. A crisp light palate with plenty of flavors of nectarine and apple peel flavors, honeysuckle and citrus. It has lovely acidity and a creamy honey and mineral flavored finish. Lands quite squarely on the palate, delightful sparkler that just begs for the great conversation just before the start of the meal. Shelf $11.99 Tasting $10.79
Monastero Suore Cistercensi COENOBIUM BIANCO– As the name implies this wine is made by the Sisters of the Cistercens order. The Coenobium is a vino da tavola (table wine) from the hillside town of Vitorchiano, about 40 miles North of Rome and produced from vineyards organically farmed by nuns! The wine is mainly comprised of Verdicchio with small percentages of Grechetto, Malvasia and Trebbiano Toscano. The vinification occurs in stainless steel tanks but one of the critical secrets behind the special character of this wine is that Giampiero Bea is there to help guide the Coenbium into bottle. The extended lees and skin contact, results in a white wine with stunning concentration, herbal and citrus notes, fine density on the palate and a classic salty minerality. The wine is unfined and unfiltered producing a naturally delicious richness. Only 750 cases were imported to the US! Shelf $22.99 Tasting $20.69
Garofoli Colle Ambro Rosso Piceno– 70% Montepulciano, 30% Sangiovese from the Le Marches countryside, the “cafe” of the Italian boot. It is a picturesque land dominated to the west by the Apennines mountains and the Adriatic sea to the East. The Garofoli estate is run by the 5th generation of the Garofoli family. The Ambro is sourced from three single vineyards, all farmed organically. This red is rustic and robust showing deep flavors of cherry, plum, tar and liquorish. The palate is full and saturating with the aforementioned flavors showing up along side firm tannins. Shelf $12.99 Tasting $11.69
Couvillion Sagemoor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon– 100% Cabernet and 100% single vineyard from the Dionysus Vineyard, Block 18 at Sagemoor Vineyard. Vines average over 30+ years old. This is the first venture from Washington State for Haw River Wine Man, and boy is it everything we’ve come to expect from Mike & Jim. Amazing flavor coupled with an outstanding value, the best of both worlds. This is a delicate wine, more akin to Bordeaux than to California. No winery trickery here, no adjuncts or Dixie crystals either, just pure fresh bright red fruit, soft tannins and earthy leather. Perfect. Check out this cool video of the winemaker and owner Jill Noble, here. National Retail $29.99 AV $15.99 Tasting $14.39
Cueto Rioja
Pascal Bellier Cheverny
Domaine Labranche Laffont Madiran
The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz
Delas Vin de Pays d’Oc Merlot
Writers Block Cab Franc
Owl’s Eye Traminette
Familie Bauer Sylvaner Auslese
Montana-Perucchi Vermouth
Leone de Castris Donna Lisa Salice Salentino Reserva
Bodegas Juan Gil Organic Monastrell
Heinz Eifel Eiswein
Château de Caladroy Côtes du Roussillon-Villages Les Schistes
Maison Lucien Albrecht Pinot Blanc Cuvée Balthazar
Stillwater Autumnal Saison
Dugges Ale & Porterbryggeri idjit! Imperial Stout– Sweden
Braverei Hofstetten Hochzeitzbier Von 1810– this is based off the original Oktoberfest bier, brewed in 1810.
Brooklyn Lager– 16oz cans
Big Boss Harvest Time Pumpkin
Nantahala India Pale Ale– 64oz growlers
Terrapin/Left Hand Peaotch
St. Bernadus Apt 12
Brasserie McAuslan St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout– the best Canada has to offer, well almost!
Sierra Nevada 2011 Harvest Ale
Thirsty Dog Siberian Night
Anchorage Brewing Love Buzz Saison– Really cool domestic brewery, all beers are triple fermented. First in Stainless steel, then in oak barrels with Bret. And finally in bottle with an additional yeast.
Anchorage Brewing Bitter Monk Double IPA– 750ml corked and cage.
Mikkeller Nelson Sauvin Brut
Panil Barriquée Sour Red Ale– VERY traditional sour from Italy!
Ross-on-Wye Rum Barrel Medium Still Cider
Asheville’s Best Wine & Beer Tasting– Saturday October, 1st 2011 3PM-8PM http://www.appalachianvintner.com
Appalachian Vintner will be closed next Saturday, October 8th in honor of Charles’ marriage to his lovely fiancé Michelle. We will send an additional reminder next week. Appalachian Vintner will re-open the following Monday, October 10th for our normal business hours.
Since we will not be hosting our normal tasting next week we have decided to host a tasting this Saturday that will keep your palate satisfied all the way into next month! This promises to be the best tasting in town and certainly one of the best we’ve held. The majority of these wine will be limited to a few bottles. Come, treat yourself!
Elizabeth Spencer Special Cuvée Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc– This certified organic Sauvignon Blanc is so balanced it will make your head spin! Spencer Graham and his wife Elizabeth are both wine industry buffs. each having spent thirty plus years immersed in the realm of the wine grape. We actually had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. Graham a few years back and it was a pleasure, as were all of his wines. Only 2,500 cases of this wine are produced each year. Shelf $14.99 Tasting $13.49
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Chardonnay– Hamilton Russell Vineyards, one of the most southerly wine Estates in Africa and one of the closest to the sea – is located in the beautiful, cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. Grilled hazelnut, fig and pear….. Amazing. 92Pts Wine Spectator, 93pts Anthony Dias, 91pts Wine Enthusiast. Five bottles available. Shelf $27.99 Tasting $25.99
06′ Maison Louis Jadot Vosne-Romanée– Not from the greatest producer, not from the greatest vintage, but from one of the greatest vineyards in all of Burgundy, if not all of France. You more than likely will not have another chance to taste Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanée for free ever again, we just about guarantee that. If you do however, please let us know we’d love to join you. Five bottles available. Best Price $39.99
Domaine de la Noblaie Les Chiens-Chiens Chinon– This Domain dates from the 12th century. The chalk fermentation vat was dug around the 17th century. The wines are amazingly elegant, which is no wonder because the winemaker Jerome Billard studied at Chateau Petrus in Bordeaux for 6 months and then was sent to Dominus in the Napa Valley for further studies. 100% hand harvested from a single vineyard of Cabernet Franc and aged in those ancient chalk vats. The finished product is blended with a small amount of oaked wine from the same plot for added complexity. Another wonderful cellar candidate, if you can wait. National Retail $29.99 Appalachian Vintner $14.99
Di Majo Norante Ramitello Biferno Rosso– This wine is made mainly from a selection of the best Montepulciano and Aglianico grapes grown in the Ramitello vineyard of Campomarino. This estate dates from the early 1800’s and practices organic viticulture. From the Wine Advocate-“The 2008 Ramitello, a blend of 80% Montepulciano and 20% Aglianico, boasts fabulous clarity and freshness, with layers of vibrant dark cherries and plums that meld together with notable grace. Smoke, tar, menthol and licorice develop in the glass, giving the wine even more dimensions of expression.” 92 points Shelf $17.99 Tasting $16.19
Corrina Rayment Expatriate Shiraz– Expatriate Shiraz was sourced from 65 year old vines yielding a meager 1 ton per acre of fruit. It is a dense crimson/purple in color with a brooding nose of mineral, leather, spice box, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a full-bodied, voluptuous wine with layered, thick, intense flavors, well-concealed tannins, and a very long finish. Give it 5-7 years to blossom and drink it through 2025. Four bottles available. 94 points. Shelf $54.99 Tasting $49.99
05′ Domaine Albert Mann Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg– From the importer- “Aromas of baked apple, candied lime peel, honey, and brown spices mark the 2005 Riesling Schlossberg more of its vintage than its variety or site. Silken-textured and enveloping, it weaves the spicy, honeyed strands of botrytis (as well as its residual sugar) effectively into a rich, seamless, dry-tasting whole. There is more than enough primary juiciness – along with notes of salt and crushed stone – for the finish here to satisfy thirst and hold one’s interest.” Grab one for your cellar, the Domaine’s 1988 is still drinking quite well! Biodynamic. Six bottles available. Shelf $39.99 Tasting $35.99
Writers Block Cab Franc
Owl’s Eye Traminette
Alberti 154 Tempranilllo
Familie Bauer Sylvaner Auslese
Montana-Perucchi Vermouth
Elizabeth Spencer Special Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc
Di Majo Norante Ramitello Biferno Rosso– 92pts
Leone de Castris Donna Lisa Salice Salentino Reserva
SAINT COSME Côtes du Rhône
Bodegas Juan Gil Organic Monastrell
Heinz Eifel Eiswein
Château de Caladroy Côtes du Roussillon-Villages Les Schistes
Maison Lucien Albrecht Pinot Blanc Cuvée Balthazar
Gueuzerie Tilquin– for those of you craving Cantillon, try this. Its blend with it. Limited.
De Proef / Sly Fox broederlijke liefde Saison
Oud Beersel Oude Geuzue
Oud Beersel Oude Kriek Vieille
Catawba Valley King Don Pumpkin
Unita Oak Jacked Imperial Wood Aged Pumpkin Ale
New Holland Dragon’s Milk Imperial Stout Oak Aged
Bell’s Porter
Bell’s Best Brown
Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout
Victory Hop Devil
Dogfish Head Palo Santo
Dogfish Head Midas Touch
Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Imperial Stout
Founders Dry hopped Pale