(828) 575-9525

 
The MULLET is Back!
but was it ever really gone?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-29/hairdressers-say-mullet-
is-making-a-comeback/11123132

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO OUTSIDE!
DISCUSS THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT OVER A GOOD BOTTLE OF WINE!

Yalumba Viognier 2019, South Australia 
** 90 Points from Wine Spectator **

This Y Series has lovely aromas of orange blossom and honeysuckle
with fresh pineapple and dried figs on the palate and a silky textural finish.

$13.97 at Wine Chateau
$12.99 at wine.com

*** $9.99 @MetroWines! ***
(mullet optional)

"Meme"

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I don't care! I am sick of seeing this word. Think about it. How long have you
been reading? I am willing to wager that this word has come up more
in the past two years than in your past paper all total. Too much!
That said: Good Bye, Aurevoir, Arrivederci, Soyonara, Adios, etc.

To Celebrate the Happy Demise of "Meme"

Winner Medaille d'or Paris 2020, 13% ALC.
LaCave du Prieure Altesse Roussette De Savoie

Savoie, a quintessentially Alpine region bordering Switzerland,
is dotted with glacial lakes, rocky outcrops and vineyards.
LaCave du Prieureis located in Jongieux on a sunny,
protected western face on Mont du Chat range.
Here the Bartlet family has cultivated the limestone slopes
by hand for five generations, employing sustainable growing practices
and minimal intervention winemaking. This 100% Altesse,
a unique white grape variety only grown in Savoie, this Cuvee
is full and textured, with ripe stone fruit, mountain herbs and bees wax.

$21 for an awesome in glass experience.

Chilling in a Chair. Chill IN the Kitchen.

https://www.malaprops.com/search/site/cucina%20fresca
Viana La Place and Evan Kleiman write in their classic 1985 book "Cucina Fresca" that "the true flavors of food" really shine at temperatures ranging from
"barely warm to cool." This book is a collection of Italian recipes designed to be served lukewarm or cold. Perhaps the greatest joy of room temperature dishes
is the way they give the cook time to cool off away from the hot kitchen!

Shop Spicewalla Mediterranean 3 Pack, Spigadoro Penne Rigate from Italy, Stanislaus Red Sauce, Greek Olive Oil and Divina Large White Beans.
All @MetroWines. Call (828) 575-9525

Cool off in the chair OR the Kitchen with a glass of ......................

The name of the estate is the first indication of its long, illustrious past.
Located in the heart of Provence, near routes traveled by Crusaders
in the early Middle Ages, the Commanderie de Peyrassol was founded
by the Knights of Templar who were dedicated to protecting the Crusaders
en route to, and in, the Holy Land.
The first recorded grape harvest took place in 1256 and winemaking
has continued uninterrupted throughout the centuries.
When the Templars were brought down in 1311 by the King of France,
who was nervous of their power and jealous of their wealth, the Knights of Malta became the fortunate owners of the Commanderie. They remained in control, flawlessly maintaining the vineyards until the French Revolution, when it was taken over by the State. The Rigord family purchased the estate in 1870.
The current proprietor, Françoise Rigord, has been making the wines
at Peyrassol since 1981 and has now been joined by her son, François.
Drink well chilled and with black olives, tomato-based dishes.

$14.99 for centuries of history in bottle.

A bright greenish yellow color with golden highlights.
NOSE A uniquely fruity aroma where the varietal is clearly appreciated,
highlighting hints of ripe apples, apricots, and peach aromas. $16.99

We love Burgans too! It's the classic version of this varietal.
And take a second look at our video on some other summer wines we like.
Here's Andy Hale, Director of The Asheville School of Wine!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYRb3QUy4Io&t=16s

100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Alto Adige, 13% ALC

Lis Neris Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Why is this the Summer Big Red?
John Kerr of The Ashevilles  School of Wine @MetroWines says:
"This is an Italian Cabernet made with very little oak so the wine retains
the bold rich flavor experience from Cabernet but, because of low oak,
the fruit shines through. Low in tannins, this wine will not conflict
with barbecue sauce even one with a touch of the sweet."

The Cabernet Sauvignon of Lis Neris winery is an elegant and precise wine,
which matures for six months in oak barrels and then for a short period in glass, before being ready for consumption. At sight, it shows a beautiful
intense ruby red color. On the nose, it develops pleasing hints of cherry
and ripe red fruit, while on the palate it comes fresh and balanced,
with delicate tannins and a persistent final. It is excellent if drunk in combination
with pasta with ragout, white meat and medium-aged cheeses.

Lis Neris winery is one of the most interesting realities of Friuli Venezia Giulia,
which has continued its success for four generations. Owner, Alvaro Pecorari,
has continued his paternal tradition by producing exceptional white wines,
trying to exalt the characteristics of the different vines and the territory at their best. The perfect conditions of the land, favored by the proximity to the Adriatic Sea
and the winds of Bora, have allowed him to produce exceptional, harmonious
and balanced wines avoiding any form of weeding and placing Lis Neris
as the authentic excellence of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

$23 (red tag)
Personal Note: You know how you have a comfort level doing business with friends? It's like that with Lis Neris. This is a really nice, competent, dedicated family that we and, hence, you can trust. And with everything going on, we need trust!

Your Discuss it Over Wine:

Red fruit flavours of cherry and strawberry give way to minty freshness
from earlier picked fruit. Lightly tinted from red grape skins, this salmon
hued wine is fruity and juicy on the palate. Low in tannins, it displays
delightful notes of melon, ripe tropical fruit and strawberry.
We picked this rosé as it is not overly acidic and just right
for a summer talk. Backsberg is also a 3 year favorite!

*** $13.99 ***

https://www.malaprops.com/book/9780062676849

ANTHONY HOROWITZ is the author of the US bestselling Magpie Murders 
and The Word is Murder, and one of the most prolific and successful writers
in the English language; he may have committed more (fictional) murders
than any other living author. His novel Trigger Mortis features original material
from Ian Fleming. His most recent Sherlock Holmes novel, Moriarty,
is a reader favorite. As a TV screenwriter, he created
both Midsomer Murders and the BAFTA-winning Foyle’s War on PBS.

Well the obvious Read it With Wine is Lafite Rothschild!
But let's say you still have a mortgage, want a new car, need to eat!

A good compromise is Rocca di Frasennili, a collaboration between
Rothschild and Italian Superstar Castellare. What started as a small expansion
in Maremma Toscana took on a new dimension, as a unique joint venture
between Castellare and Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Lafite,
the first partnership of its kind. 
The project couples Castellare's experience in the growing and vinification 
of Sangiovese with Lafite's experience in classic French varietals.
A Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah.

93 Points from Robert Parker: 
Brooding and thick, the 2014 Maremma Toscana Rocca di Frassinello
takes all the intensity of the vintage and pours it into the glass.
That's saying a lot because this vintage infamously lacked in intensity overall, although you'd never know it here. Rocca di Frassinello makes good on the excellent environmental factors that contribute to this wine. There is the sunshine of Coastal Tuscany, the light sea breezes and the reddish Maremma soils. This Bordeaux blend born in Tuscany offers dark fruit aromas,
savory spice and bitter chocolate. The tannins are soft, but the wine
does deliver solid structure to keep it firmly stitched together.

We aged for 6 years in bottle. Ready to GO
$45 @MetroWines (red tag)

From The MetroWines Book Suggestion Department
We NEED This Kind of Thinking!

How a New York Times bestselling author and New Yorker contributor
parlayed a strong grasp of the science of human decision-making
and a woeful ignorance of cards into a life-changing run
as a professional poker player, under the wing of a legend of the game.

Men rule the world she had entered, said Michael Paterniti in The New York Times.
97% of professional players are men and Konnikova endured plenty of harassment
and condescension on her way to a 2018 championship in which she beat 290 competitors
for a $84,600 prize. That said, The Biggest Bluff can be read as a feminist triumph story.
But, the big surprise in not the triumph at the table but that she "bet the house on the power
of her mind to synthesize big philosophical ideas and psychological insights" and she won.
She has found direction as to how we regard our futures, how to "see through the ups and downs to the underlying grid of chance and self determination that guides all life."

50%Grenache, 25%Syrah, 15%Cinsault and 10%Carignan

Clovis Wines is a collaboration between T. Edward Imports and some of the best small producers in France. Clovis CDR comes from Remi Pouizin.
A biodynamic producer located in Visan (the northernmost part of Southern Rhône).
This is a blend of Pouizin estate’s grapes and 3 other organic producers.
They are all located 10km maximum from the winery.
Organic grapes. Aromas of red fruit and sweet spices. On the palate,
it’s ample and silky with good concentration and a smooth finish with plenty of tannins.

*** Zoom Etiquette ***
https://www.wsj.com/articles/seven-rules-of-
zoom-meeting-etiquette-from-the-pros-11594551601
Let's face it, Zoom Life is here to stay. In studying the rules of the road,
you need a wine that knows the art of blending but remaining a voice to be heard,
how to play in the bottle with others and how to serve the purpose for which you were born!
(OK, the last virtue is a little heavy but you get the point: behave yourself!)

Maestro White 2016
A blend of 32%Roussanne, 23%Chardonnay, 23%Chenin Blanc,
15%Viognier and 7%Grenache Blanc

Winemaker Notes: The name Maestro pays homage to the Baroque music
piped throughout the vineyards and in the cellar at DeMorgenzon.
On the nose and palate, there are concentrated orange and yellow stone fruit flavors,
along with hints of citrus fruits and spice. Full-bodied, textured and nuanced,
floral, honeysuckle and frangipani notes linger on the lengthy finish.

 $24 to take control of the future!
(Personal Note: I love this wine Zoom or no Zoom)

Heat Buster even in Moscow. Read on.....

A blend of Trebbiano 80%, Malvasia di Candia 2019 Tuscany
Winemaking: Vinified in flower must bringing aromas and flavors 
of pear, quince, yeast, melon, citrus. Aging in steel and bottled in May after the harvest.
Soil typical of the Apennines, limey-clay loam, rich in shale and sandstone. 
Spontaneous fermentation in cement without adding of yeast,
enzymes and other winemaking additives. No clarification and filtering. Biodynamic.

Meanwhile, back in Italy......
Clad in masks, an adventurous group including a reality TV star,
sets off to find the perfect Italian Villa: 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-travel-restrictions-lifted-
one-reality-star-set-out-to-find-an-instagram-friendly-home-in-italy-11594833350

*** Put a Chill on It ***
It's HOT out there. Some red varietals benefit from a slightly higher chill.
https://metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/put-a-chill-on-it

*** Schiava ***

Teaching Moment: Schiava is a light-bodied red wine (like Pinot Noir) with aromas
of cotton candy, strawberry, bubblegum, and lemonhead candy. The wine is delicate
and light in color. On the palate, the flavors are quite subtle. Producers in Alto Adige
will often make a DRY style. The alcohol levels are slightly lighter
because the grape grows predominantly in a cooler climate.

Alois Lageder's great grandfather founded the winery over 150 years ago in Alto Adige, Northeast Italy. In 1934, the family acquired the Lowengang estate in Magre and continued adding other prime Alto Adige vineyards. Now in its fifth generation, the company is led
by Alois Lageder. His brother-in-law Luis von Dellemann, is the winemaker.
Color: Ruby-red with a purple shimmer. Aroma: Subtly pronounced, fresh, fruity,
floral (violet), white pepper. Flavor: Light to medium bodied, well-balanced, soft, dry. 

*** 12% alc. $15.99 ***

*** Ruche ***

Teaching Moment: Ruchè is a varietal of Piedmont in Italy that has risen
from virtual obscurity as a little-known, dark-skinned variety to having its own appellation, 
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato. Its origins are disputed, with some claiming
Ruchè as indigenous to the region, while others claim it has Burgundian roots.

Ruchè wines can be characterized by their lightness in color and complex aromas,
somewhat like the lauded Nebbiolo of the region. The similarities continue
with Ruchè having fine but forceful tannins and good acidity to stimulate the palate.

Ruchè is a very unique wine from the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato 
that exhibits roses, pepper, black cherries, and cinnamon, with moderately high tannin.

Forbes Magazine on Ruchè and Surroundings
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tmullen/2018/08/13/why-
bright-light-ruche-grapes-may-transform-the-monferrat-of-italy/#276566b338d3

13.5% alc. $23

Julie Hettiger, nationally known food stylist and photographer, lives here in Asheville.
She is working on a book about Bluffs Reastaurant and Coffee Shop (pictured circa 1949),
Blue Ridge Parkway History and Culinary Traditions.

The book will present recipes from Bluffs Restaurant and Coffee Shop
and other area cooks including a recipe for "Skillet Fried Chicken"
passed down from Julie's mother. Blue Ridge Foundation is restoring the restaurant.
Go here for the Recipe and the Story: https://metrowinesasheville.com/
wine-blogs/blog/entry/blue-ridge-history-and-eats

Andy Hale, Director of The Asheville School of Wine says the classic pairing
for Fried Chicken in Sparkling or a high acid wine. Oh yes it is!
This wine is 100% Jacquére, an Alpine varietal. Andy says the vineyards and winery
are located between the French Alps and the Swiss Border.
"It's like drinking melted snow." 
The wine is made with traditional methods passed down through generations
making it a perfect match for a treasured family recipe. 

Chill before drinking. Clear, light wheat straw color with a tiny tint of green.
Apple, peach, citrus and grassy aromas. Smooth, slightly yeasty and creamy,
but invigorating palate. Clean flavors of green apple, lemon, moist cut grass and water from a limestone spring. Plenty of bright acidity and a medium length mineral finish.
This is a mountain wine with its clean, fresh tastes and mineral core. $17.99

100% Zweigelt. The beautiful coral pink, onion skin color is mouth watering.
The bright, fruit-filled nose is filled with delicate cherry and red currant notes.
The crisp, refreshingly dry, light to medium-bodied palate is perfectly balanced
and showcases the fresh cherry and delicate red currant flavors. Elegant. Delightful.
There is also a slight watermelon note that makes it perfect for summer sipping
and a great pairing with barbecued shrimp.  A definite crowd pleaser.

The 2019 is $13.99

Brooks Brothers Files for Bankruptcy.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/business/
brooks-brothers-bankruptcy/index.html
Sur La Table, Bankrupt.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/08/sur-
la-table-store-closings-list-covid-19-pandemic-bankruptcy/5403377002/
You can keep track of 2020 retail bankruptcies here:
https://www.retaildive.com/news/the-running-list-of-2020-retail-bankruptcies/571159/
SEGWAY, Done.
Segway says it will stop production of its signature Personal Transporter,
the 2 wheeled self balancing scooter once hailed as the future of transport.

We need something structured, balanced, not too trendy but in good taste,
something we can count on, something French! to say GoodBye to these icons.

Cotes du Rhone 2018
A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah
Today most of the vines that Jean-Marc works with are 20-40 years old.
The Sablet is fermented for four weeks and aged for two years in large barrels
and wooden vats. It is bottled without filtration. The resultant wine 
is rich in body and flavor with lots of dark fruit and spice. 

Andy Hale, Director of The Asheville School of Wine @MetroWines,
says "Sablet is like a baby Chateauneuf du Pape!"

*** $19.99 ***

A blend of Trebbiano 80%, Malvasia di Candia 2019 Tuscany
Winemaking: Vinified in flower must bringing aromas and flavors 
of pear, quince, yeast, melon, citrus. Aging in steel and bottled in May after the harvest.
Soil typical of the Apennines, limey-clay loam, rich in shale and sandstone. 
Spontaneous fermentation in cement without adding of yeast,
enzymes and other winemaking additives. No clarification and filtering. Biodynamic.

Meanwhile, back in Italy......
Clad in masks, an adventurous group including a reality TV star,
sets off to find the perfect Italian Villa: 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-travel-restrictions-lifted-
one-reality-star-set-out-to-find-an-instagram-friendly-home-in-italy-11594833350

** MOUTH MAGIC **

“Mouth Magic” presents flavors of spicy black fruit dipped in nutmeg
and cocoa powder. It is silky and sleek with integrated and measured tannins
with provide a herculean foundation of intensity and concentration.

A Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for $24?

Now That's Magic!

and That's (also)The Big Red of The Week!