Friday, May 22nd from 2-7 p.m. – Free Old Vine Wines Tasting – In case you didn’t know, there is no official law that regulates the use of the term “old vine” when it comes to wines. Thus, it’s a marketing term that gets put on all sorts of wines that maybe shouldn’t qualify for that status. Fortunately for you, we research all of our wines that claim to be made with old vines, and we’ve put together a stellar lineup of them for you to try this Friday. Stop by, taste, learn, and save up to 20% at our free Old Vine Wine Tasting this Friday at Table Wine!
This week, we’ve got a really special treat in the form of a 93 point rated Malbec from Argentina. It was also Wine Spectator’s #19 wine on their annual Top 100 Wines of the Year list. We’ll also have a couple of Spanish Garnatxas, one white and one red, from just south of Barcelona. The common theme among all of the wines is old vines equal intense, complex flavors. Don’t miss out on your chance to taste and talk about old vines and how they affect the flavor and style of wine.
The Wines
1. 2013 Herencia Altes Garnatxa Blanca (Terra Alta, Spain): This is a wine that is a join venture between the Catalonian based Altes family and Charlotte-based importer Eric Solomon. The wine is 100% Garnatxa Blanca from sustainably farmed vineyards that range from 25 years (quite old) to 100 years (ancient) of age. Fermented in cement eggs (we’ll talk about that), this fresh and medium bodied white wine flows with notes of white peach, golden apple, lemon and mineral.
2. 2013 Herencia Altes Garnatxa Negre (Terra Alta, Spain): The red version from Herencia Altes is a perennial best buy, and the current release is especially strong. 100% Garnatxa (the Catalan name for Grenache), it comes from vineyards that range from 40 to 110 years of age. Raised entirely in cement eggs, it is a vibrant, spicy, red fruited wine that will make some think of a fuller bodied Pinot Noir. All in all, it’s one helluva’ wine for the money. 90 points The Wine Advocate, 91 points Vinous Media
3. 2012 Luca Malbec Valle de Uco (Mendoza, Argentina): If it’s Malbec, it’s from Argentina, and Laura Catena makes it, it’s probably going to be pretty darned good! And this wine is better than good, it’s fantastic! 100% Malbec from high altitude, 50 year old vineyards, this one is super dark, rich, and explosively powerful. “Very suave and polished, with ripe, pure flavors of blackberry, hoisin sauce and black pepper. Finely textured, this is packed with tar and roasted plum notes, showing plenty of licorice snap and dark chocolate accents on the powerful finish.” Wine Spectator, 93 points – #19 on their Top 100 Wines of 2014