Free Tasting! – Sipping with a Somm – Wednesday February 26th - Chapel Hill – 4:30-6:30 PM – El Enemigo Winery is a collaboration between titans of the industry - co-owned by the youngest Catena sibling, Adrianna, and winemaker, Alejandro Vigil. Their intense Cabernet Franc-dominated flagship wines under the Gran Enemigo moniker have been a driving force for Argentina’s spotlight in the wine world in recent decades. Earning regular 97-100 pt ratings from multiple publications, we couldn’t help but pour one for you while we have the Head Sommelier and Ambassador for El Enemigo, Joaqin Diaz, here to teach us more about it! This line up features something for everyone though, so bring your friends! We look forward to seeing you there, but if you can’t make it, drop us a line and we’ll reserve the wine for you.

El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Agrelo 2019 - Sale $102.99 (NC Best Price) – 97 pts Vinous/ 97 pts Wine Advocate/ 94 pts Wine Spectator/ 94 pts Wine Enthusiast – “The 2019 Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Agrelo also includes 15% Malbec from the clayish soils of Luján de Cuyo. Aged for 15 months in foudres, this purplish wine reveals enticing cigar ash notes alongside blueberry and plum aromas, with a subtle cedar backdrop. Dry, rich and plush on the palate, it quickly tightens due to its fine-grained, reactive, clay-like tannins. This long-lasting red lingers on the ashy notes, beautifully layered and crafted with a modernist touch in a slightly cool vintage.” – Vinous

“Elegant enough to drink now, but with structure allowing for age, this version offers dusty rose petal and fresh peppercorn notes, plus a juicy core of strawberry and raspberry, with a pleasant wave of fresh acidity chiming in and carrying the flavors. Reveals subtle chocolate and gravel notes around polished tannins, with a lingering juicy berry finish. Drink now through 2035.” – WS

El Enemigo Bonarda 2021- Sale $28.99 (NC Best Price) – 92 pts James Suckling - "Impressive load of brambly fruit. Raspberries, red cherries, blue Damson plums, dark olives and flowers. Medium-bodied on the palate with fresh, well-grained tannins and a crunchy, mouthwatering finish. Long and fruit-oriented. Delicious now. Why wait?" - JS

El Enemigo Chardonnay 2021 – Sale $26.95 (NC Best Price) – 97 pts James Suckling/ 94 pts Wine Advocate/ 94 pts Vinous – “A hint of flint and gunpowder with waxed lemon, oyster shell, mango and salted green apples. Quite a textured, saline expression of chardonnay with tangy flavors and a mineral drive. Full-bodied and reductive with phenolic support. Savory, saline and mouthwatering finish. Love the austerity here. Drink or hold.” - JS

“The 2021 Chardonnay hails from Gualtallary, Uco Valley. It was aged up to 12 months in used 500L French oak barrels with a little flor. Yellow with a golden sheen. The nose presents enticing dried fruit and chamomile aromas with hazel and other nutty notes against an oaky backdrop. The palate has a lean, dry character, with a broad, vibrant mouthfeel establishing a surprising balance between the dry texture and nimble flow. A stylishly distinctive mountain Chardonnay.” – VM

El Enemigo Malbec 2021 - Sale $28.99 (NC Best Price) – 94 pts Vinous/ 93 pts Wine Advocate/ 93 pts James Suckling/ 91 pts Wine Spectator – “This 2021 Malbec contains 10% Cabernet Franc sourced from the slopes of Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. After fermenting in new oak barrels, it opens with delicate notes of violet and fresh plum, accented by subtle herbal hints. Compact yet expressive, its juicy palate reveals layers of plum and licorice, with a balanced and appealing flavor profile. A true hallmark of this wine is its unburdened texture, carrying pristine floral nuances through an enduring, graceful finish.” – VM

Free Tasting! – Hartford Court with Master Sommelier – Thursday February 27th - Chapel Hill – 4:30-6:30 PM – We have the unique opportunity to host Master Sommelier and Hartford Court Ambassador, Nick Hetzel, next Thursday! We’re pulling out all the stops with two single-vineyard Chardonnays, a single-vineyard Pinot Noir, and their unbeatable Old Vine Zinfandel to warm us up. If you haven’t tried the upper-crust wines from Hartford Court yet, this is the can’t-miss event of tasting week! You’ll get first-hand proof why Hartford makes our top selling Russian River Valley wines, and top-notch knowledge from our guest. We look forward to seeing you there, but if you can’t make it, drop us a line and we’ll reserve the wine for you.

Hartford Court Fog Dance Chardonnay 2021 - Sale $66.99 – 95 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 95 pts Wine Advocate – “Taking a darker and savory tone aromatically, the 2021 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard is a youthful yellow with a tinge of silver and lifts with notes of salty earth, hay, lime leaf, and mango skin aromas. This medium-bodied Chardonnay is ripe up front, with juicy melon followed by a nice spine of lemon-lime citrus on the finish and a more persistent sense of acidity. Give it another year and drink 2024-2032.” JD

Hartford Court Four Hearts Chardonnay 2020 - Sale $46.99 – 94 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 94 pts Wine Advocate - "The 2020 Chardonnay Four Hearts Vineyard comes mostly from 45-year-old Wente vines in the Laguna Ridge neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. It was barrel fermented and matured for 11 months in 35% new French oak. It has a beautiful perfume of jasmine, white peaches, ginger and roasted almonds, plus touches of lemon cream and baking spice in the undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate surprises with its combination of intense fruits and focused, tangy acidity. It has a satiny texture, streaks of flinty character and a very long, layered finish.” WA

Hartford Court Land's Edge Pinot Noir 2022 – Sale $46.99 – 94 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 92 pts Wine Enthusiast – “From the far Sonoma Coast, the 2022 Pinot Noir Land's Edge Vineyards was aged for 9 months in 32% new French oak barrels. In the glass, it displays a medium ruby color and offers expressive notes of red berries, cranberries, and juniper. There’s a good bit of reduction initially that benefits from a little air at this stage, but it starts to reveal darker notes as it opens, so I would recommend decanting if opening it on the young side. The palate has a wonderful, compact feel, with refreshing lift, fine tannins, and a snappy finish. I personally enjoy the bright and coiled energy that comes through in this one.” JD

Hartford Court Russian River Valley Zinfandel 2022 - Sale $43.99 – 93 pts Wine Spectator / 92 pts Wine Enthusiast – “Sleek and briary yet refined, with handsome flavors of raspberry and huckleberry accented by green peppercorn and roasted sage. Finishes with zesty tannins.” WS

Free Tasting! – Mastrojanni with Worldwide Ambassador – Friday February 28th - Chapel Hill – 4:30-6:30 PM
Join us to welcome and sample with Guido Dispenza! He’s the Ambassador for Mastrojanni, one of our favorite Montalcino producers. Founded in 1975 by Gabriele Mastrojanni, he was one of the first to believe in the potential of Sangiovese in the Southeastern-most corner of Montalcino, called Castelnuovo dell’Abate. He was most certainly correct, and today, the Mastrojanni Brunello is one of the most lovely and accessible examples you can find. From the humble Rosso to the mighty Brunello, this isn’t a tasting to be missed!

Can’t make the date happen? Reply to this email and we’ll be sure to save you some bottles.

Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino 2019 – 95 pts Wine Advocate / 93 points Wine Spectator – Sale $79.99
"The Mastrojanni 2019 Brunello di Montalcino has a pretty bouquet with dark fruit and something exotic that recalls camphor ash, wood fire ash, garrigue and dried herb. It is rich and evenly concentrated with fine chalk on the tannins and good phenolic ripeness (with no green bitterness). A great food pairing is grilled game or the French magret de canard. This straight village bottling does a great job, and it's ultimately more accessible than many of its peers." -WA
"This red is hallmarked by flavors of plum, ripe cherry, wild herbs and iron. As this develops on the palate, the purity of the fruit emerges, along with tobacco and bergamot accents. Solidly built, with dusty tannins vying for attention with the fruit on the lingering finish.” -WS

Mastrojanni Rosso di Montalcino 2022 – 91 pts Wine Advocate – Sale $39.99
“The Mastrojanni 2022 Rosso di Montalcino is a lovely, informal wine with just the right level of Bing cherry and pomegranate to give extra lift and energy to the bouquet. It proceeds over the palate with mid-weight intensity, good balance and sweet fruit flavors. Pull the cork with your next take-out Italian meal.” -WA

Mastrojanni Costa Colonne 2020 – Sale $23.99
Red currant, dried herbs and spice mixed with a touch of tobacco on the nose. The elegant, light-to-mid-weighted palate sees a mix of red fruits that overlay spicy cedar and dried herb characters. Fine-grained tannins and an earthy, rustic aftertaste complete a dry finish.

Free Tasting! – Defi NC Wines – Saturday March 1st– Chapel Hill – 2:00-4:00 PM –  While we love to show off wines from around the world, sometimes it’s good to see what’s in your own back yard! Our friend Deric McGuffey, co-owner and winemaker of Botanist & Barrel, will be back pouring his lovely, local wines. Botanist & Barrel is the South’s only natural cidery and the first producer of Petillant Natural ciders in the southeastern United States. Deric makes his wines by combining old-world methods with modern sensibilities – they’re unrefined, unfiltered, and unpasteurized with little to no residual sugar. The winery supports local farmers using only sustainably and organically sourced fruits, including blueberries, apples, grapes (of course!) and more, from their organic estate farm!  Join us this Saturday for a unique and delicious tasting!

DeFi Vidal Blanc Pet Nat 2023 –Sale $29.99- “The grapes were carefully handpicked from S&W Vineyard in Southern Virginia a short drive from our winery. Native yeast fermentation gives it a distinct character that sets it apart from other sparkling wines. With its effervescence and crisp acidity, this wine is perfect for a sunny day or a special occasion. Its got major lemonade vibes and reminds us of lemon meringue pie.” Winery

DeFi Vermentino 2023– Sale $29.99- “This Vermentino walks the line between a salty elegance and textured floral intrigue. With a delicate two-day skin contact and a rest in fresh Chardonnay barrels, it’s a white wine with whispers of the seaside. The nose greets you with salty sea breeze and a hint of caramel, mingling with lightly toasted nutty notes. On the palate, it’s light and fresh, yet carries a subtle grip and depth from its skin contact. Perfect for those who crave a little texture with their crispness.” Winery

DeFi Sangiovese Rose 2023– Sale $26.99- “This wine bursts with the essence of sun-ripened strawberries, lush raspberries, and a delicate hint of blooming hibiscus. Each sip delivers a crisp wave of wild red fruits balanced by a subtle note of blood orange. A bright finish of tangy lemon peel rounds out its vibrant charm.” - Winery

DeFi Carbonic Montelpulciano 2023– Sale $32.99- “A special collaboration with grape grower Eric Steinbicker, this wine showcases the beauty of late-harvest Montepulciano. Left to ripen on the vine for an extra four weeks, these sugar-laden grapes were treated to a 10-day enzymatic carbonic maceration to amplify their natural fruitiness. After a gentle pressing in our wooden basket press, native yeast fermentation took over in neutral French oak barrels, where the wine rested and developed for nine months. AVA Yadkin Valley. 13.7%” Winery