Table Wine Asheville

Patricia Green Pinot Noir Tasting

josh — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:22:27 +0000

In my opinion as well as that of many wine writers, Patty Green makes some of Oregon’s best Pinot Noirs. Her specialty is small lot, handcrafted wines from specific vineyard sites, and her wines enjoy a cult-like following. I always find her wines to be slightly Burgundian in character, with beautiful aromatics and just the right amount of funk to make them interesting.

Patty preparing to pour her wines.

For this special tasting on Monday, March 5 from 7 to 9 p.m., we’ll be joined by winery co-owner Jim Anderson who will be here to discuss the wines, the vineyards and their philosophy. This will be a wonderful opportunity to taste and evaluate the difference that “site” plays in the flavor of a wine - these are all Pinot Noirs but from different vineyard sites and they all taste very different.

We have enough wine to take a total of 40 folks for this casual, drop-in style tasting and all of the wines will be available for purchase at substantially discounted prices. The cost for the tasting is $5/person or it’s free if you are a Grape Nut! Please call us at 828.505.8588 to reserve your spot.

1. 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir - 2,915 cases made

2. 2010 Estate Pinot Noir - 1,285 cases made

3. 2010 “Bishop’s Creek” Pinot Noir - 414 cases made

4. 2010 “Four Winds” Pinot Noir - 375 cases made

5. 2010 Estate Pinot Noir “Old Vine” - 682 cases made

Patricia Green Pinot Noir Tasting is a post from: Table Wine Asheville

545 Wine Tasting – Big Red Monsters

josh — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:48:01 +0000

We understand folks, many of you like big, rich, high viscosity red wines and this tasting is for you! When talking about the body of a wine, it’s nifty to compare it to the different types of milk – skim milk being light bodied, 2% being medium bodied and whole being full bodied.

We’ll try nothing but the “whole” variety, but we ain’t drinking milk! See you Friday, February 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. – cost for the tasting is $5/person or free if you’re a Grape Nut.

These guys like their wines big!

1. Marietta Old Vine “Lot 56″ - This blend of eight or so different grapes (mainly Zin) is like drinking the equivalent of raspberry/pepper jam. It is full of flavor and regarded as one of California’s top red wine values every year.

2. Mas Sorrer Montsant - No, Montsant isn’t a grape, but it is a place where grapes grow! This blend of Cab, Merlot and Syrah is going to be a real crowd pleaser. It is rich, round and ripe………the three “R’s” of wine!

3. Chateau de Brondeau Bordeaux - If you couldn’t make good wine in Bordeaux in 2009, it’s time to change jobs. Warm and dry weather resulted in concentrated, deep red wines at all price levels……….this one happens to be a stellar value.

4. Decero Malbec - This wine truly embraces the theme of this tasting………….rich, low acid/low tannin, ripe fruit, chocolaty oak and spice and on and on. This is the kind of wine that Robert Parker goes crazy about……….will you?

5. Mystery Wine - You knew you weren’t getting away without at least one “brown bagged” wine. What will it be???

545 Wine Tasting – Big Red Monsters is a post from: Table Wine Asheville

Saturday Winedown With Importer Steve Miles

josh — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:45:01 +0000

With over 30 years of experience in wholesale management and importing, Steve Miles knows a thing or two about picking good wines. Founded in just 2007, he has quickly established himself as one of the rising star importers of Spanish wines.

Steve (on left) having fun!

Come see what all the hype is about as we sample through six of Steve’s wines for a rare and unique Saturday Winedown – it’s free too!!! This shindig takes place on Saturday, February 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. and the wines we’ll be tasting can be found below.

1. Gran Sarao Cava Rosat - Cava is Spain’s most popular sparkling wine and this dry rose is a blend of Garnacha and Monastrell. It is the perfect aperitif styled wine with notes of fresh strawberry, cranberry and blood orange.
88 points – Wine Advocate

2. Eizaguirre Txakoli Getariako Txakolina - If you can pronounce this wine properly, you receive some sort of prize! It hails from Basque Country, way up in northern Spain, and the grape is Hondarribi Zuri…………it’s all making sense now right? Not quite, but don’t worry, the wine is pure joy – super dry and zesty with a little bit of spritz, we think you’ll really like it!
90 points – Stephen Tanzer

3. Can Rafols Dels Caus Terraprima Blanco - We’re heading to Penedes, not far from Barcelona, for the next wine which is a blend of Xarel-lo and Riesling. It is the type of white wine that gets me really excited! Dry, flavorful and super aromatic, it abounds with notes of jasmine, lemon/lime, mineral and baking spices. 90 points – Wine Advocate

4. Castillo de Maluenda Garnacha “Teorema” - 90% Garnacha and 10% Syrah, this is what I like to refer to as a “thermonuclear fruit bomb”! Full bodied and full flavored, with notes of ripe kirsch and blueberry, this one is packed and stacked and easy to drink. 88 points – Stephen Tanzer

5. Huerta de Albala Barbazul - You know how we love to explore lesser known grapes here at Table Wine, and this one is made up of one that is new to me. Tintilla de Rota (this is the one I’d never had before), Syrah, Merlot and Cab team up together to create and elegant, racy red wine with layers of ripe cherry, raspberry, earth and flowers.
89 points – Stephen Tanzer

6. Can Rafols Dels Caus Terraprima Tinto - This is an absolutely lovely red wine from Spain’s Penedes region. It is a “Bordeaux Meets Catalan”-like blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Garnacha and 10% Syrah. It is very, very good and will continue to be so for another 5 to 7 years. 90 points – Wine Advocate

Saturday Winedown With Importer Steve Miles is a post from: Table Wine Asheville

2009 Bordeaux – Vintage of a Lifetime!

josh — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:28:10 +0000

None other than Robert Parker has said that 2009 in Bordeaux “might turn out to be the best vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux”. From what I’ve tasted so far, I would agree that it is a super vintage full of great wines at a variety of price points. Much like vintages such as 1959, 1961, 1982 and 2000 (to name a few), the region enjoyed warm, dry weather resulting in opulent wines that will boggle the senses.

On Bordeaux’ Right Bank, the Merlot-driven wines are ripe, fleshy and flamboyant with a variety of drinking windows, whereas on the Left Bank, the Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines are full of ripe fruit, but they are firmer and more structured and will require some patience. All in all this is a vintage for the true Bordeaux lover, but the ripe personality of the wines will also appeal to those who like big Napa-styled wines.

Nicely ripened Merlot grapes on Bordeaux' Right Bank.

Read on below, and please call the store at828.505.8588 to place your orders. I will stock some of these, but I believe that distributor supplies of these wines will be depleted rather quickly………..in fact, one of the wines on the original list is all ready sold out and wine #5 is almost gone. Act now or forever hold your peace!

All of the wines are being offered at 10% off by the bottle, 15% off in mixed six packs and 20% off in mixed cases.

1. Chateau de Brondeau Bordeaux Superieur - This is just sheer drinking pleasure – great right out of the bottle, it should hold up for at least another 3 years. ”A sleeper of the vintage, this opaque purple-colored 2009 reveals oodles of black currant and boysenberry fruit intermixed with notions of graphite, smoke, and velvety tannins.”
80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc – drink now or over the next 3 years.
88-89 points – Robert Parker

Regular Price: $17.99/bottle
Pre-Sale Price: $16.19/$15.29/$14.39

2. Chateau Brisson Cotes de Castillon: This is consistently one of Bordeaux’ top values and the 2009 is no exception. ”Richly fruity with plenty of black cherry, black currant, cedar, spice box, and earth characteristics, it is a deep, medium to full-bodied, luscious Cotes de Castillon.”
100% Merlot…….drink over next 3 to 5 years.
87-89 points – Robert Parker

Regular Price: $19.99/bottle
Pre-Sale Price: $17.99/$16.99/$15.99

3. Chateau Tour Saint-Bonnet Medoc: We move to the Left Bank with Tour Saint-Bonnet, one of the most consistent Cru Bourgeois producers in the history of Bordeaux. ”This has been one of the most reliable wines in Bordeaux over the last 30+ years, and the 2009 may turn out to be the best they have ever made. This inky purple-colored wine offers up notes of creme de cassis, spring flowers, and forest floor that seem to have more in common with a classified growth than a petite chateau.”
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot – drink over the next 10 years.
88-90 points – Robert Parker

Regular Price: $22.99/bottle
Pre-Sale Price: $20.69/$19.54/$18.39

4. Domaine de Courteillac Bordeaux Superieur: This wine is made under the supervision of superstar winemaker Stephane Derenocourt who consults for some of Bordeaux’ finest estates. ”It exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color and an elegant nose suggesting a confiture of red and black fruits, spice box, licorice, and a hint of mint. It is lush, rich in fruit, and a delicious wine.”
70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc – drink over next 5 to 6 years.
88-89 points – Robert Parker

Regular Price: $24.99/bottle
Pre-Sale Price: $22.49/$21.24/$19.99

5. Chateau Cap de Faugeres Cotes de Castillon: This relatively new estate has fashioned their best wine yet – it is the equivalent of a great St. Emilion at a fraction of the price. ”It is a full-bodied, super-concentrated effort displaying excellent purity as well as lots of minerality and floral notes imbedded in black and blue fruits. The oak is totally masked, the tannins are prominent but sweet, and the wine is fresh and precise.”
85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon - drink over the next 10 to 12 years.
90-92 points – Robert Parker

Regular Price: $34.99/bottle
Special Price: $31.49/$29.74/$27.99

2009 Bordeaux – Vintage of a Lifetime! is a post from: Table Wine Asheville

Perucchi Vermouth

josh — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:01:44 +0000

I don’t claim to be a “Vermouth sophisticate”, but as Forrest Gump knows what love is, I know what good wine is! It is claimed by the Perucchi clan that this is Spain’s first Vermouth, and it is produced in Spanish Catalan – Barcelona to be more exact. As my good friend The Wine Mule says, “it is made from best-quality white wine with more than 50 different botanicals that have been macerated, ground, infused, pressed, and filtered, then aged in century-old oak foudres. ” However it’s made, it is an absolutely delicious and interesting wine unlike any I have ever tried.

The nose is aromatically complex with notes of baking spices, lemon, spring flowers, ginger and a very prominent note of mint (Wine Mule – I’m not copying………..I just agree). I’m sure it could be used to make all variety of cocktails, but I kind of like drinking it on the rocks with a wedge of lime. We sell it for $19.99 and it comes in a tequila-looking, liter sized bottle. Come getcha’ some!

Perucchi Vermouth is a post from: Table Wine Asheville

Spanish Selections from Andre Tamers

josh — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:29:31 +0000

How many of you know that one of the best importers of Spanish wines resides in our state? Chapel Hill based Andre Tamers is the man behind De Maison Selections, and he knows how to pick the good stuff! Andre’s wines are featured on some of the best wine lists and in some of the best wines shops in the country, and we are proud to stock a wide selection of his wines. His focus is right in line with Table Wine’s philosophy – wines from small family owned and operated wineries that taste good and don’t break the bank!

Andre Tamers enjoying a cigar!

The good news is that our friends at the Haw River Wine Man just picked up this portfolio, and the charming Mike Tiano will be on hand to pour and tell you about 6 to 8 of the wines – the lineup will be announced asap. The tasting takes place on Friday, February 17 and runs from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The cost for the tasting is $5/person or it’s free if you’re a Grape Nut.

1. Chateau l’Oiseliniere de la Ramée Muscadet -Andre brings in just a few wines from France, and I was struck by this wine when I tasted it on Tuesday. Stunning purity, fierce minerality and easy “drinkability” made this an easy pick to kick the tasting off.

2. Garciarevalo Rueda Blanco “Casamaro” - Old vine Verdejo and Viura taste really, really good! A little like Sauvignon Blanc, but with more zesty herb notes, this one will have you thinking about springtime, wild flowers and picnics at the park.

3. Joan D’Anguera Garnatxa - I’ve followed the “work” of brothers Josep and Joan D’Anguera for a couple of years - mark my words, these guys are going to become famous because their wines are phenomenal! 100% Garnacha, biodynamically farmed and fermented in older oak, this one is all cherry, strawberry and white pepper.

4. Mencos Rioja - Like many of Andre’s wines, I was struck by the purity of this one. 100% Tempranillo from older vines fermented in stainless steel, it is a wine that really lets Tempranillo “speak”. Will you come by Friday and listen?

5. D. Ventura Vina do Burato - 100% Mencia from Ribeira Sacra (Sacred Bank) from an 80 year old vineyard, this one really gets me excited. Think Pinot Noir infused with rose petals……….sound good? If you said no, there’s something wrong with you………..go see a doctor!

6. Vina Sastre Ribera del Duero - The Sastres are one of the top grape farming families in Ribera del Duero. Like the Mencos Rioja, this is 100% Tempranillo, but it smells and tastes a “bit” different huh?

Spanish Selections from Andre Tamers is a post from: Table Wine Asheville

South Asheville’s Best Free Wine Tasting

josh — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:35:14 +0000

We love supporting artists, whether they be artists of the vine, of the canvas or of precious metals, and this Saturday, we’re proud to welcome local jeweler Lisa Diamond to the store to show off her beautiful creations.

One of Lisa's beautiful necklaces.

Of course, we’ll have some awesome new wines to share with you as well. Join us this Saturday to get your wine and art fix for the week! The fun begins at 2:00 and ends at 5:00 this Saturday, February 18.

1. Mars and Venus Sauvignon Blanc - Textbook Sauv Blanc with a nice mix of melon, grapefruit and green apple fruit. Cheap, but really good.

2. Mars and Venus Merlot - Many unknowing wine drinkers think they don’t like Merlot and many of their opinions were shaped by a movie. We refuse to let you be sheep at Table Wine…………..thus, all of the red wines will be poured out of paper bags, so you don’t know which one is Merlot. I bet we sell a lot of this one!

3. Giguiere Family Matchbook “Tinto Rey” - Spain meets California in this superb value. Tempranillo, Syrah, Cab, Graciano and Petite Sirah all make it into this juicy, spicy, vibrant red wine from California’s Dunnigan Hills.

4. Annabella Cabernet Sauvignon - It’s hard to find good Napa Cab for less than $20, but this one succeeds in more ways than one. It offers up lots of lush black cherry, blueberry, toasty oak and mocha notes……….even better, there isn’t a hint of “bite” in the wine! Great with steak, great by itself!

South Asheville’s Best Free Wine Tasting is a post from: Table Wine Asheville

South Asheville’s Best Free Wine Tasting

josh — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:42:59 +0000

Every Saturday, we host one of Asheville’s best free wine tastings from 2 to 5 p.m. It is free to the public and the tasting typically features 4 affordable wines from small family wineries.

The “smaller guys” use a more artisan approach in the farming of their grapes and the making of their wines and they are driven more by quality than profit. Much like the local Asheville organic farmer or cheese maker is driven by the quality of their product as opposed to the quantity produced, wine farmers share a similar ideal.

At the end of the day, the proof is in the pudding, so stop by Table Wine on Saturday’s to taste what we’re talking about! We love to talk about wine, so feel free to ask questions, even if they make you uncomfortable. We won’t make you feel inadequate! Here what’s on tap for this Saturday:

1. Bodegas Perica Rioja Blanco “Mi Villa” - This super fresh blend of Viura and Malvasia will make you think of springtime. Bright, fresh and dry, it is packed with melon, lime, grapefruit and almond notes.

2. Francois Lurton Fumées Blanches - This is Francois Lurton’s version of a Fumé Blanc and it hails from France’s Gascogne region. 100% Sauvignon Blanc, it is extremely aromatic and pungent, just as Sauvignon Blanc should be.

3. Falernia Carmenere - Here’s a 90 point rated wine that sells for less than $15! If you like your wines rich, spicy and peppery, you will love Carmenere, Chile’s answer to Argentinean Malbec.

4. Montecastillo Priorat Crianza - This is one of those wines that doesn’t come along to often – an aged Priorat for less than $15. If that means nothing to you, that’s ok – stop by this Saturday and taste a wine from one of Spain’s top growing zones. You will probably leave with a bottle!

South Asheville’s Best Free Wine Tasting is a post from: Table Wine Asheville

Pairing Wine With Chocolate

josh — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:09:01 +0000

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, this will be a decadent evening of wine and chocolate tasting. Barb and Les Norman of Blue Moon Chocolatier will join us again with their wonderful handmade chocolate truffles and we’ll pair them with a range of wines from the bubbly and sweet to the rich and spicy.

We can take 36 for this seated tasting where you’ll try six different truffles expertly paired with six different wines. The average retail price of each wine will be $30, so trust me, this is a really good deal and a great chance to pick out the sweets and drinks for Valentine’s Day. It takes place on Thursday, February 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. and the cost for the tasting is $30/person or $24 if you’re a Grape Nut.

Even better, both the wines and the truffles will be available for purchase, with the wines being offered at 10% off by the bottle and 15% off in mixed six packs. Take a look at the wine lineup below and call us at 828.505.8588 to reserve your spot.

1. Domaine Carneros Sparkling Brut - Live like royalty for one night! There is no more lavish pairing than sparkling wine and chocolate. What a great way to get the night started.
Paired with Pink Champagne Truffle

2. Torbreck “Woodcutter’s” Syrah - The plump and juicy Syrah/Shiraz based wines of Australia are wonderful with chocolate. The flavor combination is almost like chocolate covered raspberry.
Paired with Raspberry Ganache Truffle

3. Brochelle Zinfandel - A big, ripe, spicy Paso Robles Zin is constructed perfectly for chocolate. This one has that almost raisin-like quality found in Ports along with a graham cracker like back note. Paired with chocolate, I get a flavor that reminds me of a s’more sprinkled with raisins or dried currants.
Paired with Chipotle Spice Truffle

4. Venge Cabernet Sauvignon - Rich, layered and complex Napa Valley Cab of this type has a ripeness and sweetness of fruit that chocolate just loves. It never sucks to taste a $45 bottle of wine with artisan chocolate either!
Paired with 72% Cacao Truffle

5. Sant Evasio Brachetto d’Aqui - If ever there were a wine for chocolate, it would have to be Brachetto. Sweet, slightly fizzy and tasting of fresh squeezed strawberry juice, this is wine and food working together at their best.
Paired with Strawberry/Balsamic Truffle

6. Surprise Wine - What will we finish with? You’ll only know if you attend, but I can promise you it will be something special.
Paired with Blood Orange/White Ganache Truffle

Pairing Wine With Chocolate is a post from: Table Wine Asheville

Free Wine and Chocolate Truffle Tasting

josh — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:20:12 +0000

This will be the perfect opportunity to “try before you buy” some fantastic wines and truffles from Les and Barb Norman of Blue Moon Chocolatiers. If you haven’t tried their truffles yet, you are doing yourself a major dis-service as they are dangerously delicious. We’ll have plenty of great wine and plenty of truffles to sell, so be sure to stop by.

The fun runs from 2:00 to 5:00 (or until we run out of truffles and wine) on Saturday, February 11 and it’s free. Here are the wines we’ll sample.

1. Garofoli Guelfo Verde - This sparkling wine is composed of Verdicchio and Chardonnay from the Les Marches region of Italy. It is somewhat reminiscent of a Prosecco with a dry, but fruit-forward personality. A great bargain and everyone should have some bubbles for Valentine’s Day.

2. Foxglove Zinfandel - Here is the best value red Zinfandel we carry! The Varner family do a great job with their Foxglove line, delivering great wines at great prices. This rich and spicy Zin should taste great with the chipotle truffles!

3. Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon - This is a stunning value in high quality Cab from one of Chile’s greatest producers. Dark berry fruit, spices and smoky mocha burst out of the glass of this “chocolate-friendly” wine.

4. Rio Madre Rioja “Graciano” - This is one of the darkest Riojas I’ve ever laid eyes on! Composed entirely of Graciano, a thick skinned varietal native to Rioja, this one take a bit to open up, but once it does, it’s all blueberry, blackberry and you guessed it………..bittersweet chocolate.

5. Sant Evasio Brachetto d’Aqui - Brachetto could be the best wine to pair with chocolate on the planet. Sweet and fizzy with ripe strawberry and raspberry fruit, this one is just simply delicious and very appropriate for Valentine’s day sipping…………..with truffles of course!

6. Surprise Wine - It’s rich, it’s sweet and it’s delicious – even more so with chocolate. What will it be?

Free Wine and Chocolate Truffle Tasting is a post from: Table Wine Asheville