Asheville’s Best Free Wine Tasting – Eric Solomon European Cellars Wine Tasting – Saturday, May 30th from 2-5 p.m. – Charlotte, NC based importer Eric Solomon has made a name for himself as one of the best in the business when it comes to finding great wines at great prices. Specializing in wines from small, family owned and operated estates throughout France and Spain, Eric works with producers who emphasize “place over process.” Stop by the store this Saturday for an expanded lineup of his highly rated, hard to resist wines. Taste, learn, and save up to 20% every Saturday at Table Wine.
The Wines
1. 2013 Burgans Albarino (Rias Baixas, Spain): While Eric deals mainly in estate wines, this is one of the exceptions. Burgans is a custom cuvée made for European Cellars by Martin Codax, the largest cooperative in Rías-Baixas. It is consistently recognized by the wine press as one of the best value Albarinos produced, and the 2013 is no exception. From 20+ year old vineyards, it is fermented in stainless steel, and then aged on the lees (with regular stirring) for three months. “A custom cuvee put together by Eric Solomon, it offers crisp, fresh, lively honeysuckle, white peach and apricot notes, medium-bodied, dry flavors, and lots of fruit and perfume. It is a perfect foil for all types of seafood.” – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate – 89 points
2. 2014 Domaine Lafage Cuvée Centenaire (Roussillon, France): This one is our Wine of the Weeks (it’s on sale through Tuesday, June 9th), and you can read all about it by clicking here. “With beautiful minerality, stone fruits, saltiness and citrus blossom, the 2014 Côtes du Roussillon Centenaire Blanc (80% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne) is medium-bodied, fresh, crisp and pure. It’s a year in, year out, spectacular value that should not be missed.” – Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate – 91 points
3. 2012 Chateau Pesquié Cotes du Ventoux “Cuvée Terrasses” (Rhone Valley, France): Chateau Pesquié is one of the leading producers in the Ventoux in France’s Southern Rhone Valley. Brothers Alexandere and Frederic Chaudiere craft this unforgettable blend of Grenache (70% from 60+ year old vines) and Syrah (30% from 30+ year old vines) that consistently ranks as one of the best red wine values in the world. “It offers up a gorgeously pure, supple and seamless profile with kirsch and berry-styled fruit, licorice and spring flower-like qualities all emerging from the glass.” – Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate – 92 points
4. 2012 Tikves Bela Voda Red Blend (Macedonia): How often do you get the chance to try a 94 point rated Macedonian red wine? We’ll go ahead and answer that for you………rarely! Coming from Macedonia and under the guidance of French wine consulting guru Philippe Cambie, Tikves continues to produce high quality, value priced wines that over deliver. “The 2012 Bela Voda tastes like a top-quality Zinfandel from California with its briar, plum, licorice and underbrush-driven aromas and flavors. A blend of 50% Vranac and 50% Plavac that spent 15 months in 30% concrete tanks and 70% in new and 1-year-old barrels, enjoy this full-bodied, beautifully balanced and silky red over the coming 3-5 years. Although, in this case, I’d be shocked to see this not still going strong at age ten. At 23 bucks, it’s a smoking value.” – Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate – 92 t0 94 points
5. 2012 Black Slate Priorat “La Vieilla Alta” (Priorat, Spain): The Black Slate line of Priorats are a joint venture between Eric Solomon and some of his top Priorat estates. The goal is to show the drinker/consumer the different terroirs of Priorat, one of Spain’s most significant wine regions. This one comes from Bodegas Mas Alta, and is made with fruit from vineyards at 1,000+ feet of elevation and from old vines. “Copious notes of black cherry and black currant fruit intermixed with subtle spice, vanillin, crushed rock and spring flowers are found in this medium-bodied, elegant, stylish 2012. A blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Carignan and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, it was aged 12 months in French oak, of which 60% was new. It should drink well for 3-6 years.”
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate – 90 points