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Asheville’s Best Wine Tasting

October 2, 2019 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Our Wine Wednesdays, include one *free sample from each of our hand selected fine wine features (up to four wines). This week we have Skip Hale, who’ll be pouring wines from the European Cellars portfolio out of Charlotte, NC.

Pazo Senorans Albariño
The influence of Marisol Bueno and Javier Mareque on the founding and development of the DO Rías-Baixas and its primary variety Albariño can be traced back to their purchase, in 1979, of an ancient 16th century country estate, its kiwi orchards and old-vine Albariño vineyards. Located in the town of Meis, within the sub-zone of Val do Salnes, Pazo Señorans lies in close proximity to the sea on acidic, sandy soils created by the natural decomposition of the granitic bedrock below. Early on they recognized the potential of Albariño and were instrumental in the creation of the DO just a decade after they arrived in Meis. A rich, medium to full-bodied white that has some serious oomph in its white flowers, stone fruits, and salty, marine-influenced aromas and flavors. Incredibly pure, perfectly balanced, and with a great texture, it’s a naked, raw expression of Albariño

Gramona La Cuvee Gran Reserva Cava
Gramona’s history is long and storied with the property being a quality reference point in the Penedès for decades. As far back as 1816 a member of the family has been making wine in the vicinity of San Sadurní d’Anoia. Grapes are sourced from 124 hectares of vineyards that are farmed biodynamically – 60 hectares that the Gramona family owns and 64 hectares of purchased fruit from growers that are practicing biodynamics under the Alianzas por la Terra, an organization created by Gramona to promote biodynamics in the Penedès. At Gramona time is never an issue. The wines receive perhaps the longest average aging than any other cava and are never released until they are perfectly mature. Few Cava producers in Spain begin their range with a vintage Gran Reserva made exclusively from oragnically-farmed Xarel.lo and Macabeo but then again Gramona is far from your typical Cava house. La Cuvee is aged under crown cap for a least 36 months before disgorgement and finished with a small dosage of 6g/L. Can easliy give many a Champagnes a run for their money!

Mas Doix Les Crestes
Almost all of the cellars in the Priorat are new creations. Behind many of them are venerable families who can trace their history in the region back centuries. Few, however, can claim an ancestor who was an early proponent of the region and its wines. Juan Extrems Doix made wines in Poboleda in the 19th century which won awards in Paris and Barcelona and he was the inspiration for his descendants who revived this tradition in 1998 – Mas Doix. Les Crestes is a 3 hectare vineyard planted with young-vine Garnatxa averaging 20 years old with makes up the bulk of the cuvée named for this site. About 10% each Syrah (from Mas de l’Osso) and 80 year old vine Carinyena (from Els Ullastres) are added to compliment the Garnatxa from Les Crestes. Despite its reasonable price, the same care is taken in the winemaking: a first selection in the vineyard, a second at the cellar door and a third after destemming followed aging in neutral French oak barrels.

Cellar Cal Pla Black Slate Porrera
Garnatxa Negra, Carinyena, Cabernet Sauvignon. Joan Sangenís is descended from eight generations of unruly locals who farmed various crops in Porrera. His family first started making wine in 1814 and until 1996 they sold their wines in bulk to the residents of the village. Joan’s parents Jaume and Mercé, who both still tend to the family’s vines, purchased Mas d’En Compte in 1988 greatly expanding the scope of the family business. Having worked with Joan Sangenís for close to two decades it was a logical decision to select his estate fruit for our Black Slate Porrera. With holdings in some of the top sites in the village, including the famed Mas d’En Caçador vineyard. The Black Slate Porrera is a blend of 20-30 year old Garnatxa and Carinyena with a small addition of Cabernet Sauvignon that is aged in neutral barrels for 12 months. This is rich, brooding Priorat but framed by the llicorella (blate slate) minerality that leaves its mark on the very best Priorats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*tasting free with purchase of $10 or more per guest