Mega California Cabernet Tasting this Weekend!

Mega California Cabernet Tasting!
Saturday September 29th, 2012
11am - 8pm
ALL DAY LONG!


Featuring:
2010 Caymus Cabernet
2008 Ladera Howell Mountain Cabernet
2007 Silver Oak Napa Cabernet
2009 Joseph Phelps Insignia
2005 Analog Proprietary Red (the ringer!)
2007 Laurel Glen Estate Cabernet
2009 Chateau Montelena Napa Cabernet
2008 Open Range Red

Fall is officially here (although it is still pretty toasty outside)...and nothing says fall weather like big, rich, and powerful California Cabernet. So all day on Saturday we are going to load up the red wine machine with power players like Caymus, Ladera, Joseph Phelps and a few other surprises.

Those of you with a weak constitution may want to sit this one out. This is some explosive, high octane juice we're going to be tasting, so consider yourself warned. If you happen to be around this Saturday, need a break from College Football and want to taste some of the best wine in America, we'll be waiting for you!

We hope to see you this weekend and as always, we appreciate your business!

Kunde Sale!

2010 Kunde Cabernet


Winery Price: $22.00 (click here to see)
Winestore Price: $14.99
SALE Price: $9.99 per bottle
SAVE 55% or $12 per bottle!

Only 20 cases available at this price!

Kunde has long been one of our favorite Sonoma producers, and now we are happy to bring you their superb 2010 Sonoma Cabernet for only $9.99 a bottle or $119.88 by the case! Buy some for weekday wine, buy one to watch while the NFL replacement referees keep making bad calls, buy one for friends, or just buy one because you love a good Cabernet at a great price when the weather gets cooler. As always, we strive to bring you the absolute best selection of wines at the lowest prices in North Carolina!

Thank you for your business!

To order you can:

Order ONLINE by clicking HERE

Call SOUTHPARK @ 704-442-4024

Call BLAKENEY @ 704-443-2944

Taste Some 18 Year Old Wines!

R. Lopez de Heredia Tasting!
Saturday 22nd, 2012
11am - 7pm



Featuring on the machine:

1994 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva
(It's gentle and persistent, shockingly so...)

1995 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Gran Reserva
(It's lighter still, earthier, gentle and persuasive...)

2001 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva
(It's still evolving...)

There are lots of code words in the wine business, words that are supposed to indicate seriousness, even gravitas, words like genuine, or as the French would say, typicite’. The modern wine press is filled with others: density, power, weight, intensity, elegance, balance, hell, the list goes on. We can argue about the meaning of each. More cogently, we could argue as to whether these are words that have actual meaning or they are simply words that intended to draw attention, like marketing, like some billboard, like a celebrity endorsement, when in fact that celebrity doesn’t drink said vodka at all. But all these words are intended to mean one thing: This is important wine.

And there are as many reasons why a wine is important as there are wine reviewers. Sure. Why not? It’s personal. Each of us is looking for something that might recreate the transformative experience that some particular glass of wine gave us in the past. We seek that excitement again. And because of this, and because we have differing palates, we aren’t likely to be seeking the same wines.

But the zeitgeist sometimes appears, ghostly, to express particular notions that seem to pertain now, today, to most or at least to many wine lovers. Authenticity is one such word. Too many wines are “commercial” or “shallow” or “modern” or “international” or other such code words that stand in for “I don’t like it and neither should you.” Hmm. Critics, not surprisingly, see their own taste as an extension of their egos; the more they flaunt it, the bigger they are. Can you imagine food critics pulling the same bullshit? “Scallops are soooo yesterday. You eat those?? Omg. Lol. You need to eat geoduck, then you would be cool like me.”

But we wine writers play that sad song. We should be singing the song of the wine: What does this wine mean? What world does this wine represent (even if it’s not my world)?

Which brings us back to authenticity: if nothing else, the word is supposed to portray a wine that is grounded in a time beyond the present. There are lots of places that make wines with that sort of history, but one could do worse than look to Rioja. Do that and then ask yourself: who amongst the Riojans really represents Rioja as a traditional wine? They’re not many, perhaps only a few dozen. But amongst those, Lopez de Heredia and the two women who run that venerable 19^th century producer, deserve to be top of the list.

While their wines are often lighter and softer than internationally styled wines, they have shocking longevity. With intense earth, mineral and even cellar aromas and flavors, the wines nonetheless retain vibrant fruit character. Far too many of Rioja’s great number have succumbed to New World styling; bouffants of French oak and jammy fruit are not Rioja’s legacy, a heritage nearly wiped away by the elephantine footprint of Napa Cab, Barossa Shiraz, Argentine Malbec and all the rest.

And the ladies of Lopez are not buried in the past; the winery addition they built a decade ago is one Rioja’s most modern of buildings. The wines are clean in the main, and always show preserved and even modern fruit. But the rest of the wine’s flavors and aromas are as complex as tradition could hope. Indeed, Lopez de Heredia and their bottlings: Bosconia, Tondonia and the legendary and mind-boggling Tondonia Gran Reserva, are better manifestations of history made fresh and pertinent than history itself might imagine.

Happy tasting and we'll see you Saturday!!

Cheers,

Doug Frost, MS MW
Master Sommelier & Master of Wine

90% of the Quality at 50% of the Price!

Second Label Tasting!
Saturday September 15th, 2012
11am - 8pm



Sometimes the greatest of the great wines are just simply out of our reach. That being said, you may not know that most of the world's most expensive wines produce second label "sibling" wines, often times with the left over juice that went into the $100 cuvees. It is a rare opportunity to be able to taste the flagship wine right next to its second label offering, but that is exactly what we are doing for you this weekend at our  Semi-Annual Second Label Tasting! Find out if the $100 Napa Cab is better than the $35 second offering - perhaps the $75 estate wine really isn't worth it for you compared right next to the $25 second label Cabernet from the same producer. Famed Napa Valley legend Jayson Pahlmeyer summed up his second label "Jayson", by saying “The Jayson goes into the same brand new French oak barrels [as the main label, Pahlmeyer], has the same barrel-aging regimen, same blending, same care and dedication from my winemaker,” Pahlmeyer explains. “It’s 90 percent of the quality at 50 percent of the price.”

"90% of the quality at 50% of the price" - now that is an equation we are ready to get on board with! We think you'll be astounded how close these second labels taste to the real thing! Come in this Saturday and see for yourself! We have something for everyone, Cabernet from California, Chardonnay from Napa Valley, Chateauneuf from France, and more!

Wineries featured include:

Silver Oak Cellars



2008 Silver Oak Alexander Valley
2007 Silver Oak Napa Valley


Laurel Glen Estate



2007 Laurel Glen Estate Cabernet
2008 Laurel Glen "Counterpoint" Cabernet


Belle Glos



2010 Belle Glos "Taylor Lane" Pinot Noir
2011 Belle Glos "Meiomi" Pinot Noir


Domaine Marcoux



2010 Domaine Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape
2010 Domaine Marcoux Lorentine Lirac


Miner Family Vineyards



2010 Miner Family Napa Valley Chardonnay
2008 Miner Family "Wild Yeast" Chardonnay


Trefethen Winery


2010 Trefethen "Double T" Chardonnay
2008 Trefethen "Harmony" Oak Knoll Chardonnay

World's Greatest Wine Value for $9.99?

2009 Castano Hecula

2009 Castano Hecula
Regular Price: $14.00
Winestore Price: $9.99 (net)
SAVE 29%

We take all wine hype with a grain of salt, but we know Hecula and we are certain of the value it represents. That is why when the world's most powerful wine critic starts saying things like "possibly the world's greatest wine value" we get excited and depressed all at the same time. Excited because we love Castano wines and want them to be successful, depressed because the wine will be more and more difficult to source if the praise and adulation keeps up!

But the lovefest continues - with writers from all over the world saying:

"Is the average buyer at this price point ready for this? An amazing value"

"Perhaps the most rewarding under $15 wine I have had in a long time"

"As long as I have been drinking wine this has over-delivered in the value category"

So we are pleased today to bring you the 2009 Castano Hecula for what is basically the lowest price in the US. We say basically because there is some dude out there selling it for $9.95, so we are going to let him keep the title.

We'll have the wine on the machines at both stores all week, so swing by and try some or you can just take our word for it....we won't let you down!

To order you can:

Order ONLINE by clicking HERE

Call SOUTHPARK @ 704-442-4024

Call BLAKENEY @ 704-443-2944

$4.99 per bottle!

Wagtail Pinot Noir and Shiraz


2009 Wagtail Shiraz
Release Price: $13.99
Winestore Price: $4.99 (net) per bottle
SAVE 64%

2008 Wagtail Pinot Noir
Release Price: $13.99
Winestore Price: $4.99 (net) per bottle
SAVE 64%

You may remember the $3.99 little gem we offered a few months ago...and we just found another beauty! Much like the Agoston, for $4.99 per bottle (yes, you read that price correctly) these wines are the bomb. We bought the last 30 cases of each varietal for each store and are pleased to be able to offer it to you today.

Is this wine going to change your life? Not even close. Are your friends going to taste it at your next dinner party and wax poetic about it for hours and hours? No chance. Are these some quality quaffers for lasagna and green beans (honestly not sure why we paired those together, that sounds horrible) on a Wednesday night? Yes. Are these the ultimate tailgates? Yes. Is this the perfect...well, you get the idea here.

So - $4.99 per bottle for some tasty vino. Pretty sure I've paid that for a milkshake before...

To order you can:

Order ONLINE by clicking HERE

Call SOUTHPARK @ 704-442-4024

Call BLAKENEY @ 704-443-2944

Taste The Biggest Wines We Could Find!

Thermonuclear Fruit Bomb Tasting
Saturday September 8th, 2012
11am - 8pm



Nothing says the start of football season and the beginning of fall like a big, hearty red wine. People absolutely LOVE really big wine. Wine that stains the teeth, enough alcohol to run your hybrid and thick, jammy fruit. Well, we decided to go out and find some of the absolute biggest flavored wines that exist on the planet. Big Malbec from Argentina, gigantic Cabernet from Napa, and even some monster wine from Chateauneuf du Pape (in magnum of course). There are some wine writers that would describe these wines as "Hedonistic Thermonuclear Fruit Bombs" and that is exactly what these are...

Sooo - if you are looking to enjoy some really amazing wine this weekend, here are a few of the gems that we will have on the machine on Saturday...several of these definitely qualify in the "cult" wine category:

2010 Caymus Cabernet
2009 Donelan "Cuvee Moriah"
2005 Analog Proprietary Red Wine
2010 Venge Scout's Honor Red Wine
2009 La Peira
2007 Laurel Glen Estate Cabernet
2009 Marcoux Chateuneuf (in a Magnum Bottle!)
2009 Darioush Capataz Malbec
2008 Patrick Jasmin Cote Rotie (this is more like an acid bomb)

and some other treats as well!

So, call your best friends, draw straws to see who's going to be the D.D. and bring everyone to the tasting!  The wines are going to be AMAZING!!!

Plus - FREE Tasting Tonight!


Featuring 2008 Ladera Napa Cabernet
Thursday September 6th 2012
6-8PM

Napa good! Napa wine big! BIG! Big Napa wine! Napa wine big and good! Mountain fruit even bigger!! BIG Mountain fruit! BIGGER NAPA WINE!!

As you can tell, we are pretty excited about the 2008 Ladera Napa Cabernet.  That is why we decided to add it to our tasting tonight.  The best part is that this tasting is FREE!  If that's not enough, we'll also have three other great wines to try tonight from Jeanne Courteaud & Tryon Distributing.  Remember, we host our wine tastings at both winestore locations, Southpark & Blakeney.  So, round up all your wine loving friends and make sure to join us on Thursday night.  Check out the wines below & we look forward to seeing you!

Wente "Morning Fog" Chardonnay
Mapema Sauvignon Blanc
Belle Glos "Meiomi" Pinot Noir
Ladera Napa Cabernet

Our Best Selling Cabernet for $7.99!

2010 Leese Fitch Cabernet


Whole Foods Price: $12.99
Winestore Price: $9.99
SALE Price: $7.99 (net)
SAVE 38%

SALE Runs Wednesday September 5th - Sunday September 9th, 2012

Nobody loves your more than we do (well, maybe a few people do but rest assured we do love you), and that is why every now and again we have to take some of our best products and get them to you at an insane price. With all the traffic headaches caused by the DNC this week you are probably going to need a glass of wine, and this is where we come in...$7.99 per bottle is right in our "sitting on the couch watching the convention while eating lasagna" sweet spot.

You all know and love Leese Fitch, so no real need to go into the specifics, other that this has been our best selling Cabernet since May of 2009, the very month we brought it into the store!

So order online, swing on by (we love seeing you!) or give us a jingle and take advantage of this fun deal through Sunday. Football season has started, school is back in session, the temperatures are cooling down - now it's time to get back into some red wines!

To order you can:

Order ONLINE by clicking HERE

Call SOUTHPARK @ 704-442-4024

Call BLAKENEY @ 704-443-2944

It's Back!

2011 Herencia Altes Wines


Release Price: $11.99
Winestore Price: $9.99
SAVE 17%

Save an additional 10% by the case (12) or 5% by the half case (6)

We told you back in July that Charlotte based wine importer Eric Solomon is on a roll. Like, the guy is just absolutely crushing it right now and we are super excited he lives in Charlotte so we can get access to some of these outstanding values.

We landed 60 cases of the Herencia Grenache (the red wine) back in July and you guys gobbled it up in record time. Well, we just got the red wine back in stock and for the first time in Charlotte we are bringing you the white wine - which is an insane value for $9.99. It tastes like a baby white Chateauneuf du Pape!

If you are into sub $10 awesome wine you might want to grab yourself some of this bad boy. The most powerful wine critic in the world recently said after tasting the Altes wines, "As I told Eric Solomon, at these ridiculously low prices, consumers will never suspect the wines are at this level of quality." We could not agree more...

So here we go again - more silly good wine at scary good prices from your friend and neighbor Eric Solomon. I guess now when we drink some of his Spanish gems we can really say we are drinking local :)

To order you can:

Order ONLINE by clicking HERE

Call SOUTHPARK @ 704-442-4024

Call BLAKENEY @ 704-443-2944