I had lunch Friday at BLT Steak in the Ritz Carlton in Charlotte. With a delicious "Moody Blue" burger (bleu cheese and caramelized onions and mushrooms over Angus beef) I had a glass of the 2012 Andrew Murray Syrah "Tous Les Jours" (every day) which I have enjoyed in past vintages. The grapes are from Paso Robles and Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County, CA) and the wine sells for under $20 so could also be included in the values thread. This had a sweet berry scent with a little cedar as well. It was mellow and inviting on the palate. Not profound but I enjoyed it with the burger. David Bueker, have you tried this in your exploration of domestic Syrah?
I didn't sign up for any of the Charlotte Wine and Food Weekend events on Friday so planned to go to a tasting of Italian wines at Total Wines, University location and then to dinner at an Uptown Italian restaurant, Luce. After lunch I had a Manhattan with Jefferson Rye in the Ritz Carlton lounge. I was reading a paperback mystery novel and wasn't focused as I took a sip from the broad-rimmed martinin-type glass and spilled part of the drink down my pantsuit jacket so had to go back to my hotel to change clothes before the tasting at Total Wines and dinner. I wanted to try a rye whiskey that was new to me. The Jefferson 10-year old 100% rye is actually produced in Canada and sold by a Kentucky company. It is 94 proof. I enjoyed the flavor.
I wasn't impressed by any of the Italian wines offered in the tasting at Total Wines. Even the Aglianico, a variety I sometimes really like, left me flat. However, I had looked online at some of the store holdings before going to Charlotte and picked up two 2010 Shafer Merlot. I also picked up two bottles of 2012 Christian Salmon Sancerre rose' for summer sipping. I got a surprise when I took a look at the Christian Salmon website. http://www.sancerre-salmon.com When you click on the "Wines" tab the bottles go around in a circular movement, which can also be reversed, and then as you click on a bottle, it brings up the details about that wine. Pretty clever.
Dinner at Luce was very enjoyable as was lunch Saturday at Ilios Noche on Park Road (Greek dishes and I had pita bread with Tzatziki and chicken lemonata.) At Luce I had carbonara pasta and veal piccata with a glass of Montepulciano. At Ilios Noche, where I dined on the patio in very nice weather, I had an Agioritiko red wine. After lunch Saturday I headed back to Fayetteville. I wasn't able to attend a tasting of Bob Foley wines at Arthur's at Belk, South Park on Saturday because it conflicted with the Wine 101 session but I did stop by Arthur's on Friday and picked up two rose' wines, one from Spain and the Charles and Charles that I have seen praised on websites. I also passed on a Rhone tasting later Saturday that some of the Wine 101 attendees were going to visit. Bob Foley's band was playing at a gala, I believe on Friday night. I have heard him play at a private home in North Raleigh at a previous wine tasting.