Monday, September 21, 2009

Taste the worlds #1 Cult Cabernet

Taste Harlan Estate
The #1 Cult Cab in the World

High End Tasting featuring Harlan Estate, Shafer Hillside Select and more!

Saturday September 26, 2009
11am - 8pm


http://www.johnmariani.com/archive/2008/080406/harlan.jpeg

It's time to get crazy again, isn't it? I mean, it's nearly the end of September and no markets have crashed and no new wars declared. Heck, let's celebrate!! Like last March (was it that long ago?), we need some crazy wine. This time, we won't have any old Yquem. I mean, old wine, what kinda fun is that?


No, this time, we're pulling out the Harlan. That's right, you heard me. Harlan Estate 2005, the wine everyone wants to have bragged that they have tasted from the winery everyone wishes would put them on their mailing list. I'm convinced that a lotta people like to say they've had Harlan, when they really haven't. But now they can. And if they're acting the part of the real wine snob, they'll be sure to insist that the last one they had was better. Cuz that's what wine people do, right?


Well, some of them anyway. The rest of us just like to taste good wine, no matter what it's called. So some of us might be focused upon the 2004 Clos D’Agon, a wine from legendary http://cache.wine.com/labels/98710l.jpgSpanish vintner Peter Sisseck (he does this little wine called Pingus you might have heard about). Clos d'Agon is his newer project near the French/Spanish border in the region known as Emporda. Others Spanish wine lovers among us might as well look to Benjamin Romeo's la Cueva del Contador 2006: it's a crazy ripe Spanish Rioja from that inveterate crazy Spanish importer Jorge Ordonez. Or maybe the Torre Muga 2005, the uber-ripest of all Riojas from one of the most consistent and multi-faceted of all Rioja producers. Or if you're like me, you'll be pushing somebody out of the way to get to the 2005 Muga Aro; it's aother Muga wine but this is less bombastic than the Torre Muga and seemingly just as intense, heck, maybe it might be more intense deep down inside itself.


http://de.millesima.ch/Media/ETQ/DESC/E278.gifBut it's not all big Spanish wine at this high-end tasting. Winestore will be pouring Robert Chevillon's Nuits St Georges 2005, just because it's lush and seductive. There's also Nicholas Potel's Echezeaux Grand Cru 2006. Do you drink enough Grand Cru Burgundy? I know I don't. Or maybe you prefer a bit more pepper to your French wine so the Auguste Clape Cornas 2005 should lift your skirts, in a manner of speaking.


Italy is represented by Fattoria Petrolo's Galatrona Tuscany 2005, a big ooey-gooey Italian Merlot; California by Whetstone Jon Boat Pinot Noir 2006, a low quantity Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir with lots of richness and French oak, and by Biale's Hill Climber Syrah 2005, an Alexander Valley Syrah. Production of that one is limited to 150 cases. Maybe the production isn't that small on Shafer's Hillside Select 2005, but the quality is superb. Indeed, as high as the media praise is for Shafer Hillside, the wine performs at a even higher level than that praise might suggest.


Make no mistake about it; the wine you want to brag about trying is the Harlan. But don't forget the important part: when you're done, be sure to say, "It's not that good. I thought the ____________ (and here you just fill in the blank) was a lot better and for half the money. NOW, you're talking like a real wine person.

Happy Tasting and we'll see you on Saturday!


Doug Frost, MS MW
Master Sommelier and Master of Wine

FREE Schramsberg Tasting

Free Sparkling Tasting
Tuesday September 22nd
6-8pm

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2374/2337678276_4be0ede05f.jpg?v=0Mutual distributing and Comanche Weaver, representing Schramsberg Vineyards, will be in the store Tuesday night pouring some very special wines from the Schramsberg portfolio. If you're into sparkling wines, you will not want to miss this event as Schramsberg is one of the top sparkling producers in the United States. As a reminder, you now have the added bonus of being able to attend our FREE tastings at either winestore location, Southpark or Blakeney. So, clear your schedule, call your friends and join us from 6-8pm for our FREE wine tasting tomorrow night! We will pour the following 4 sparkling wines:

Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs
Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs
Schramsberg Brut
Schramsberg Brut Rose

Schramsberg Mirabelle

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Charles Smith Tasting

Charles Smith Tasting
2009 Food & Wine Magazine Winemaker of the Year

Friday September 18th - Sunday September 20th

Alll Weekend Long!


http://www.kvintners.com/winery.jpg

The wine market is such a funny place. Each of us observers are confident that there are few new ideas; we will repeat certain platitudes ad nauseum: that the best way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start with a large one; that only the largest wineries can garner any attention from the wholesalers; that you have to be lucky to get anywhere. Okay, I'm sticking with that last one.


You've got to be damn lucky, that's for sure, though as they say, you make your own luck. But a small winery in eastern Washington with no big marketing budget, no big budget at all in fact, has proven that maybe you can make it if you try, as Sly Stone used to sing. Charles Smith of K Vintners has more or less thrown the playbook against the wall and tried everything you can imagine: high end single vineyard wines, regional blends to a price point, purchased and/or blended wines with funny labels and goofy names, and maybe a few consulting gigs.


And Smith has succeeded, probably beyond his wildest dreams. His Kung Fu Girl Riesling is hot stuff, seemingly on every wine by glass list. His labels with black block printing on white, looking more like tattoos than wine labels, just keep proliferating: Royal City Syrah, Boom Boom Syrah, Old Bones Syrah, Skull Syrah, Velvet Devil Merlot and the Holy Cow wines. His K Vintners wines remain powerful and delicious examples of Washington wines. And he did all with hard, honest work. Oh, yeah, and some luck.

Here is a list of some of the wines we'll be tasting (Click on the wine to learn more!):

Royal City Syrah
The Creator Cabernet / Syrah
"Morrison Lane" Syrah
Boom Boom Syrah
Chateau Smith Cabernet
Kung Fu Girl Riesling
Eve Chardonnay
Velvet Devil Merlot
The Honorable Pinot Gris

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Taste Amazing Zinfandel

Massive Zinfandel Tasting!
Saturday September 12th, 2009
11am - 8pm

http://api.ning.com/files/uAP1Q*6tmUw4QSUAsbBk59QasY9n37eWmBJzHBFQtYk_/Zinfandel.jpg

It's fall, and that means (hopefully) that the weather will get a little cooler. To celebrate the start of the season, as well as the start of the Panthers march to the NFL Playoffs, we've put together a gigantic Zinfandel tasting this weekend (and we're not talking White Zin). Zinfandel typically produces extremely robust and fruit forward wines (think fruit bomb) and makes up over 10% of all vines planted in the great state of California. It's perfect for tailgates, cool weather, BBQs and good times with friends. We've spent the last few weeks searching for a multitude of different styles and price points for you to taste and we think you're gonna fall in love with the lineup we've put together. Some of the Zins featured this weekend will include:

http://www.nataliemaclean.com/book/photo_album/3/006-Old%20zinfandel%20vines.jpgRunquist Zinfandel
Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel
Chateau Montelena Zinfandel
Rombauer Zinfandel
Klinker Brick Zinfandel
Old Ghost Old Vine Zinfandel (High End Offering from Klinker Brick)
Neyers Pato Zinfandel
Four Vines "Biker" Zinfandel
Trinitas California Zinfandel

Sooo...we know you all love the big stuff - big names, big fruit, big alcohol - and these wines deliver that in spades. Call all your friends, cancel that morning workout, and we'll see you on Saturday to enjoy some great wines!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Newton Chardonnay & Claret Deals!

2007 Newton Red Label Chardonnay

25% Off full 12 bottle cases

September 8th - September 9th, 2009 - 2 Days Only!

We are constantly working with wineries and our distributors to get you the best possible prices - sometimes the best prices in the USA. That is why we are pleased to offer you this deal on Newton Red Label Chardonnay as well as the 2006 Red Label Claret (see below). This price is so low we are not even allowed to post it in this newsletter (our competitors get really angry when we get you these prices and start to cry foul). This is 25% off our price - it's over 40% off the price at other stores.

So if you love Newton Chardonnay, or just even love California Chardonnay - heck, if you just love an amazing deal - today is your day. To get the price you can either swing by either store (South Park or Blakeney) or simply give us a call:

You can call SouthPark @ 704-442-4024

You can call Blakeney @ 704-443-2944


What a great way to start off the Fall!!

2006 Newton Red Label Claret


25% Off full 12 bottle cases

September 8th - September 9th, 2009 - 2 Days Only!

Don't worry - we didn't forget about all you red wine drinkers. We are offering the exact same deal on the Red Label Claret as we are on the Chardonnay. Same rules apply - simply swing by either store or just give us a jingle to get your case!


You can call SouthPark @ 704-442-4024

You can call
Blakeney @ 704-443-2944

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Jindalee Cabernet for $3.99 a bottle!

2006 Jindalee Cabernet

Regular Price $7.99

Winestore Price: $3.99 per bottle (net)

$47.88 per case - Lowest Price in US

Save 50%

Jindalee Cabernet Sauvignon 2005As a policy, we do not sell wines that we do not taste and approve beforehand. That is why we are loving the fact that we can offer you this great, fruit forward Australian Cabernet for only $3.99 a bottle. As the holiday weekend quickly approaches you may need some nice wine for a family BBQ, for your visiting in-laws, or just something to sip on while you sit on the back porch and pat yourself on the back for being so thrifty.

Based on the success of our mixed case sampler of Salmon Creek (which is still going on) we expect to sell this wine at an alarming clip.

The wine arrives tomorrow - so to reserve yours before it is all gone you may:


Call SouthPark @ 704-442-4024

Call Blakeney @ 704-443-2944

Order online for in store pickup by clicking
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