You've Never Tried It and It Is Amazing!

2009 Lafage Tessellae



Winestore Price: $12.99

Only 27 cases available

As we have told you many times before, Jean Marc Lafage is a master of the inexpensive, amazing wine. He makes Novellum Chardonnay, Cote Est white, Cote Sud red, Chimeres red blend and a host of other sub $15 blockbusters. The wine press continues to heap praise on Lafage, commenting that his wines have:

- "improbable price-quality rapport"
- "taken on an aura of unreality when one sees the price!"
- "mind-boggling value"

Tessellae is a new wine to North Carolina (but not to the world) and this little beauty is 100% Carignan from half century and older vines.  Rich, complex and smooth, this wine is bound to impress you for only $12 bones. If you don't believe us, we'll have it on the machine for you to taste!

As always, THANK YOU for your business!

To order you can:

Order ONLINE by clicking HERE

Call SOUTHPARK @ 704-442-4024

Call BLAKENEY @ 704-443-2944

Ventana Pinot Noir for only $16!

2010 Ventana Pinot Noir
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Winery Price: $32.00 (Click HERE to see)
Winestore Price: $16.99
SAVE 47%

The French and Spanish wine deals have been flowing lately, but it's time to bring things back to the good 'ole USA. Ventana Vineyards has been making vino since the 1970s and aside from making some darn good wine for themselves, they also make some wine for superstars such as Joseph Phelps. This 100% Pinot Noir from the Arroyo Seco region in southern California is not only a new addition to the store, it is a new staple in our home wine racks.

So if you're gonna be watching some football tonight (or the VP debate), some nice Pinot Noir to pair with the chilly weather may just be in order. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have and as always, 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 the world famous Clos Erasmus!

Taste 2010 Clos Erasmus!
Saturday October 13th, 2012
11am-8pm



Featuring:
2010 Clos Erasmus
2010 Clos Erasmus "Laurel"

(Both wines made by Charlotte resident Daphne Glorian)

(Just to begin - how cool is it that one of the most influential female winemakers on the planet lives right here in Charlotte!)

Roughly speaking, when you try to explain wine to people, you just make simple comparisons and contrasts. Oregon Pinot Gris, if you haven't had it, seems like a simple, friendly kind of Italian Pinot Grigio, only without the minerally dustiness. It's not at all like French Pinot Gris, with its pungent nose, richness, fat, earth and occasional residual sugar.

Of course, this only works if people know the wines to which you refer: if they don't know Italian Pinot Grigio or Alsace Pinot Gris, well, then it's not much help. I'd add that their lives are demonstrably impoverished as well, but that's just me. I'm trying to drink everything, as quickly as I can.

But some wines defy description: maybe Alsace Pinot Gris is one of those. Old Aussie Semillon would be another, along with some other vinous oddities from around the world, like my neighboring vine, the Norton. So while I like to describe Priorat as "dry Port", I'm not sure that really explains exactly the power, richness, intensity, fruit, earth, flora and perhaps even fauna of great Priorat. With a young Port, you can get a hefty dose of most of those, along with some sugar. Priorat is, in contrast, bone dry, hence "dry Port."

But that's not exactly it. So how about this one: think of the most intense Barossa Valley Shiraz, and then remove the sugar (okay, only a few of Barossa Shiraz have some residual sugar) and the excessive American oak, coconut-to-sawdust notes and add some dried leaves and flowers and then, most importantly, add tart fruits in the finish. You see, while Priorat is an uber-ripe bomb, unlike the uber-ripe wines of the New World, there is something under-ripe about it too. I guess you could say it's similar to Amarone in that, except it's not really like Amarone.

And to make matters worse, Priorats vary from estate to estate: some are earthier than others, some are built with more Carinena than others, others eschew the grape altogether for the more noble Garnacha, some use only French oak and so on. Along that continuum, Clos Erasmus is amongst the most intense wines the region offers. But Erasmus owner Daphne Glorian crafts wines of unabashed vibrancy and generosity, with impeccable balance.

Charlotte residents are lucky that Daphne makes her home here and so they get more than their fair share of these dynamos. The 2010 we're tasting this weekend should offer the best possible explanation of what the region does that is so incomparable and indescribable.

Happy Tasting and we'll see you Saturday!

Doug Frost, MS MW
Master Sommelier & Master of Wine

To order you can:

Order ONLINE by clicking HERE

Call SOUTHPARK @ 704-442-4024

Call BLAKENEY @ 704-443-2944

Eric Solomon Tasting Featuring New Arrivals!

Eric Solomon Selections Tasting!
Saturday October 6th, 2012
11am - 8pm



FEATURING:
2011 Herencia Altes Garnacha
2008 Benjamin Romeo Predicador
2010 Lafage Cuvee Nicolas
2009 D'Andezon La Granacha
2010 Mustiguillo Finca Terrerazo
2009 Closa Batllet "Artai" Priorat
2009 Mustiguillo Mestis
2010 Lafage Cote Est
2011 Herencia Altes Blanca

and many more!

We show Charlotte based importer Eric Solomon Selections some serious love here at winestore., but there is very good reason. There are lots of folks who import wines; and Solomon is one of the most revered and influential wine importers in the business today. His wine portfolio from Spain and France is scary good, especially if you are an importer trying to compete with him. His amazing stable of wines includes Marcoux, Benjamin Romeo, Clos Erasmus, Mustiguillo, Janasse, Herencia Altes, Mas Doix, Garrigue, Closa Batllet, Chateau Tirecul, Lafage ...and the list goes on and on. These properties are all the rage at the moment among the critics, and for good reason. They make utterly lush and delicious wines, and yet they are not wines that have sold their souls (ya know, with high alcohol, over-extraction, too much oak and the like) in order to get blessedly high scores from he-who-must-not-be-named. These wines are rich and impressive but they not only retain their souls, they HAVE soul. Character. Personality. Whatever.

Solomon's book is an embarrassment of riches. We are delighted that he lives in Charlotte and that we have the opportunity to offer so many of his fabulous wines. And we are even more excited to show you the breadth and depth of his portfolio this weekend. The wines will be up on the machine all day Saturday (and a few are already up!). We hope to see you!!

Just some of the SPECIAL DEALS:



2009 Closa Batllet "Artai" Gratallops Priorat
Release Price: $28.00
Winestore Price: $24.99
WEEKEND SALE Price: $19.99 (net)
SAVE  28%

This may just be our wine of the year....you read it here first. This wine is insane for the money!




2009 D'Andezon "La Granacha"
Release Price: $15.99
Winestore Price: $11.99 (net)
SAVE  25%

This brilliant organically farmed 100% Grenache is very much a WOW wine for under $15. Enjoy with friends over dinner tonight, or even hang on to a few because this is only getting better over the next several years!




2010 Mustiguillo Finca Terrerazo
Release Price: $44.99
SALE Price: $24.99
SAVE  45%

Epic Bobal from our friends at Mustiguillo...if you don't know Bobal you need to get to know it....like asap.




2008 Benjamin Romeo Predicador
Regular Price: $34.99
Winestore Price: $24.99
SAVE  29%

A fascinating vintage in Rioja, and a select Rioja made by the winemaker some knowledgeable Spanish critics think is one of the top two or three producers in this legendary area.

The Best Red You've Never Heard Of...

2005 Analog Proprietary Red
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Winery Price: $35.00
Winestore Price: $24.99 (net)
SAVE 29%

Only 40 cases of our original 112 remain!

Our weeknight drinking wines range usually in the $8-$12 arena. You know, the stuff that pairs well with some baked ziti and an episode of Shark Tank. Then on the weekends, we usually like to have something a little nicer, say in the $25 range, to celebrate another week of busting our rumps. This is where Analog comes in.

We picked this wine up exclusively in NC (and outside of CA for that matter) a few weeks ago and you all have been loving this stuff! It's a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese from the epic 2005 vintage in Napa. We know what you are thinking..."I don't like Merlot"...well, forget everything you've been told and taste this little gem and we think you may have found your new $25 "go to wine"

Analog is poured at some of the best restaurants in Northern California including Michael Mina, Masa, Redd, L'Auberge, Cyrus etc., and we are proud to be the only retail outlet to be able to offer this to you!

We hope you enjoy it as much as we do and as always, THANK YOU for your business!

To order you can:

Order ONLINE by clicking HERE

Call SOUTHPARK @ 704-442-4024

Call BLAKENEY @ 704-443-2944

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