Category Archives: Blogs

Wines for the Holiday Table!

Blogs, Featured Products, Pairings, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

1. Cleebourg Alsace Gewurztraminer Prestige

Cooper’s Price $15.99 

Located 60 kilometers north of Strasbourg, Cave de  Cléebourg’s vineyards cover almost 200 hectares of the Nothern Vosges Mountains in the Alsace region of France. Wine production was introduced into the Cléebourg area by Dominican monks from neighboring Wissembourg as early as the 9th century A.D. Except for the phylloxera outbreak that swept through Europe in late 1800s and the devastation caused by retreating armies in the last days of World War II, wine production has continued to this day.

Many of Cave de Cléebourg’s vineyards share favorable south and southwest facing slopes in the villages of Cléebourg, Rott, Oberhoffen, Steinseltz and Riedseltz. Soil types in the region range from sandy loam to clay to marl.

Profile: The nose is aromatic and intense, fresh and mineral-y. Notes of quince, golden plum and pineapple combined with touches of citrus, lychee, spice and flint. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, and offers roundness, good structured acidity, and racy minerality. Ripe lemon and zest and notes of lychee, apple and hints of peach. Good length on the finish.

2. Saget Perriere “La Petite Perriere” Pinot Noir

Cooper’s Price $11.99

Since 1790, generations of the Saget family have worked to create the signature Saget La Perrière wines, melding the perfect balance — a blend of richness and elegance. The new designation of “Vin de France” offers the opportunity to explore and discover the ideal balance between the fruitiness of varieties grown in the south and their acidity when produced in the northern region (Loire) and thus La Petite Perrière wines were created. The Vin de France designation is utilized for the entire La Petite Perrière range. 

Largely sourced from estate vineyards in Touraine (Loire Valley) and part of the blend is sourced from the South of France. The 2015 vintage had lower yields, due to adverse climate conditions (heavy rains, a chilly spring, lack of sun and dry weather during the harvest time) and thus the growing cycle was delayed. However, these conditions gave a wine with excellent acidity. This vintage is well-balanced with intense aromatic richness with silky tannins and good aging potential. 

Beautiful ruby mingled with hues of garnet. On the nose, aromas of black fruits such as blackberry and blueberry. The palate is fleshy at point of entry then full, ample and generous, flowing into a crisp cherry-driven finish with an ultra-fresh sensation. A mouth-filling wine offering up the generosity and typicality of a Pinot Noir that has just hit maturity.

3. Walter Scott Dubay Vineyards Pinot Noir

Cooper’s Price $49.99

Started in 2008 by partners Ken Pahlow and Erica Landon after years of successful careers in the Oregon Wine Industry. Pahlow has worked in sales and production at St. Innocent Winery and managed sales and distribution in the Northwest for Evening Land Vineyards. In 2009, he joined the harvest team at Patricia Green Cellars and the winery crew there helped launch the Walter Scott label.

Willamette Valley AVA was established in 1983, and it is the oldest appellation in Oregon. Oregon’s modern wine industry began in the Willamette Valley in the 1960s when artists, vagabond winemakers, and U.C. Davis oenology graduates looking for new territory started their own, small, off-the-grid wineries. The appellation is the state’s largest, and it extends 175 miles from Columbia River on the Washington/Oregon border. The Willamette River runs through the area, helping to give the appellation a mild year-round climate.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of well-ripened blackberry, cassis, Asian spices, nut oil and vanilla in a moderately rich styled wine with impressive balance and a fulfilling finish replete with exuberant blackberry, blueberry and pomegranate fruit. Somewhat unyielding at this young age, but the charm and pedigree is evident. Considerably better when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, with aromas of exotic spices, lush fruit flavors, and good cut on the juicy finish. 

4. Castello de Bossi Chianti Classico

Cooper’s Price $21.99

The winemaking revolution which in the last few years has taken place in Chianti Classico and in Tuscan winemaking in general could hardly have left untouched a historic winery estate such as Castello di Bossi. Today the winery covers 650 hectares, on which 124 are under vine, planted to Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Their roots go deep into soils that are predominantly tuffs, yellow clays, silt-sand, and crushed rock, at an altitude of about 350 meters. These conditions, plus a unique microclimate and optimal exposition to the sun, yield grapes that are perfectly ripe, healthy, and of great character. The grapes ferment in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks fitted with the most advanced processing systems. The wine then matures and rests in the barrel cellar, with over 1,000 light-toast French oak barrels.

Deep, ruby-red in color, this Chianti Classico offers aromas of ripe cherries and red plums, with subtle notes of toasted vanilla beans and purple flowers. On the palate, the wine displays a superbly structured character with bright acidity and a pleasantly savory finish.

Gather. Drink. Be Happy.

Blogs, Featured Products, Pairings, Public Tastings, Wine

 Orbis Moderandi, Sauvignon Blanc Pétillant Naturel

Regular $20.99  Cooper’s Price $17.99

100% Sauvignon Blanc from a stunning single vineyard within Marlborough that is bottled during fermentation (petillant naturel or “pet-nat”).

How this stunning wine was made – Carefully harvested from the stunning sustainably farmed vineyards at Hunter’s. The fruit was pressed and allowed to settle naturally, before fermenting in stainless tanks until ready for bottling. The wine was bottled at about 14g/L sugar, which is 30% lower sugar than you would bottle a traditional sparkling wine. This means the wine is less fizzy than a regular bottle of Champagne. The sediment in the bottom are yeast lees along with a few tartrates as the juice was not cold stabilized. The wine was unsulphured at bottling so that the ferment could finish. (A small SO2 addition was used during juice handling.) It is very important to chill the wine before opening. 

Taste:  The nose has notes of kiwi, buttered croissants and preserved lemon while rich flavors of key lime, mango and watermelon wash over your palate. 

La Cantina Pizzolato Veneto Rosso Convento

Regular Price $15.99 Cooper’s Price $12.99

Located in the rich and flourishing countryside north of Treviso, the organic vineyards are situated on the plains and hillsides in this DOC area. The organic wine estate covers an area of 58 hectares (145 acres) and it also collaborates with neighboring producers contributing an additional 48 (120 acres) hectares of organically grown grapes.

The Pizzolato family has been working in the agricultural sector for more than five generations.

Pizzolato produces wines made with 100% organic grapes including Pinot Grigio, Moscato (sparkling) and Chardonnay; and organic red wines including Merlot, Cabernet, Pinot Nero and Raboso. No Sulfites Added wines produced include organic Merlot, Cabernet and Rosso Convento Italian red blend.  

This wine is 50% Cab and 50% Merlot.  Due to its northern Italian heritage and growing season, this wine is not a big red blend.  It is a light/medium complex body of wine with terrific acidity and balance.

 Folded Hills, August Red Blend 2016

Regular $36.99 Cooper’s Price $30.99

The August Red is made from a selection of the finest Syrah and Grenache vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley, including our own Folded Hills Estate. Winemaker, Angela Osborne selects the optimum picking time for each site. After harvest, the fruit is carefully de-stemmed. In order to add another layer of spice and structure, a portion of whole cluster is retained. 

The vintage and vineyard guides the choice on whether or not to include whole cluster fermentation. Angela walks the site before harvest and chews on stems in the vineyard to check their health and flavor for that year. All fermentation happens naturally with ambient yeast, and the fruit is foot-tread until fermentation is complete. To preserve freshness and vibrancy, the wine is aged for 11 months in French oak barrels. We include just 9% new oak to enhance the texture and depth of the wine. This wine is Organic – only 548 cases were made. 

Castello di Bossi, Chianti Classico 2015

Regular Price $26.99  Cooper’s Price $21.99

The average elevation of the vineyards is about 350 metres above sea level, while their exposure varies from ­­southeast to west. The Bossi Castle is located at the center of the estate. The first tower, built in about 1099, shows the area’s early strategic importance. In about 1450 the early keep was expanded into the 4-walled fortress visitors can see today.

Castello di Bossi is located in the southern half of the Chianti Classico production zone, in the Commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga. The area’s wines tend to be fuller and more highly structured than those of the rest of the Chianti Classico zone, closely resembling those of Montalcino area.

The Castello di Bossi estate extends over 650 hectares (1625 acres), 124 (310 acres) of which are under vine. Castello di Bossi’s three principal varietals are Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Castello di Bossi first planted Cabernet and Merlot about 40 years ago, and was therefore among the first in the Chianti Classico zone to plant them. The predominant terrains are tuffs, yellow clays, calcareous sands, and broken stones.  

The Cure for This Recent Cold Weather Requires Great Whiskey.

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Spirits

1. Redemption Pre-Prohibition Style Rye

– Regular $32.99 Our Price $25.98 –

Redemption Rye’s goal is to bring back the classic American Rye cocktail. While the Federal law states that a whiskey must be 51% rye grain to be classified as a rye, we chose to push our grain content to 95%. This not only pushes the flavor forward, but it also magnifies the unique profile of the rye grains.

Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley – 92 Proof

Taste: Beautiful flavored rye spice with light floral and citrus notes. Slight mint finish makes this great for sipping or mixing in a classic cocktail. (Think Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Sazerac). True Rye flavor.

Kevin’s Notes:  This has been a Rye favorite for my Manhattan’s for quite some time so I worked out a deal with the wholesaler in order run a hot price for a tasting and here it is.  Yes, this is an Indiana-distilled, MGP whiskey, but its aged, cut, and bottled in Bardstown, KY.  It’s going to become a standard in your home.

2. Mashbuild Experimental Series Bourbon Finished with Roasted Heirloom Ecuadorian Nacional Cacao 

– Cooper’s Price $49.99 –

“I filled the first bottle of what was ultimately going to be Mashbuild back in 2012. My journey to build something great began in 1996 when I took my first job in the wine business, managing sales for a Sonoma vineyard. 

I really loved the winemakers approach and process to blending. It was fun, it was experimental, it created a product that coated my palate in ways that a single-varietal couldn’t. In the wine business, flavor was everything. 

As a lifelong bourbon-lover though, it was a dream come true when I had the opportunity to go to work for Jim Beam in 2004.  When I considered making my own bourbon, I remembered what I learned in the wine business — how blending had a way of accentuating the strengths of the individual varietals and I wondered if you could create the same magic by blending a bourbon.” – RICHARD ANDERS  Founder, Mashbuild

 The Whiskey – Finished in barrel with rare nacional cacao beans from Ecuador’s heirloom cacao initiative, this batch contains one of the world’s most sought-after cacao beans, grown exclusively by small-scale farmers. Used to produce some of the finest dark chocolates available anywhere, this batch is one of a kind.

3. Mashbuild Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon Whiskey

– Cooper’s Price $54.99 –

Blended from the biggest, boldest flavors in our barrels, this Mashbuild is served at cask strength, uncut and unfiltered. 

Each batch has its own signature taste because of the Solera aging process: the continuing maturation of the bourbons that have been there longest combined with the punch of the newer stock. 

This special signature batch comes to you exactly as it came out of the barrel; without any water or filtration. This is the purest batch of Mashbuild we have ever put out!

Kevin’s Notes:  For the first time we are tasting Mashbuild whiskies, however we’re not tasting one, but two!

We only have 12 bottles of these two whiskies so I’m only going to open one bottle of each.  We may be able to get more, but for right now we’re going to limit one bottle per person!  This will be an exciting tasting.

 4. Lagavulin 16 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

– Cooper’s Price $99.98 –

A much sought-after single malt with the massive peat-smoke that’s typical of southern Islay – but also offering richness and a dryness that turns it into a truly interesting tipple. The 16 year old has truly become a benchmark Islay dram from the Lagavulin distillery.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt:

Nose: More like Lapsang Souchong tea than Lapsang Souchong! One of the smokiest noses from Islay. It’s big, very, very concentrated, and redolent of iodine, sweet spices, good, mature Sherry and creamy vanilla. Stunning.

Palate: Very thick and rich. A massive mouthful of malt and Sherry with good fruity sweetness, but also a wonderful sweetness. Big, powerful peat and oak.

Finish: Long, spicy finish, figs, dates, peat smoke, vanilla.

Cheers!

3 Stunning Wines at a Great Value, And 1 Crowd Favorite, Back Again!

Blogs, Featured Products, Pairings, Public Tastings, Wine

Jolie Laide Trousseau Gris

– Cooper’s Price $29.99 –

Jolie-Laide is a one-man operation based in a Sebastopol, CA winery. Winemaker Scott Schultz makes only 500 cases of wine a year under his own label. The name Jolie-Laide translates loosely to “Pretty-Ugly”, a French term of endearment to describe something that is unconventionally beautiful. Scott makes some of the most unique and highly sought-after wines in California that are true to their name.

Winemaker’s Notes: Recherché (rare, exotic, or obscure) at its truest sense. These rare, near-extinct vines produce unique, fascinating fruit. In turn, the wines made from this fruit are equally beguiling. Some skin contact lends an incandescent, roseate hue, breadth of palate and subtle tannin. Light and pretty, wildly floral yet savory with a visceral depth. An inebriating blend of wild pomelo, summer melon, stone fruit, white tea and sweet earth all weave with finessed length and elegant palate presence.

Kevin’s Notes: IT’S BAAAACK!!! Last year, we bought 3 cases of this wine for our weekend tasting, and sold out halfway through the Saturday session. So, the winery sent us seven more cases, and those sold out in a month! Now, what about this year? It appears the secret is out on this stunning wine…we ordered 10 cases (120 bottles), but we only received 36! This won’t be here long.
 

Domaine Miolanne, Côtes d’Auvergne Volcane Rouge

– Cooper’s Price $16.99 –

Located in the Cotes d’Auvergne in the southern Loire Valley, Domaine Miolanne allows the volcanic terroir to speak through their Gamay and Pinot Noir vines. The region is centered around one of the oldest French cities of Clermont-Ferrand, which is perhaps most famous for the Michelin tire factory. There are 2 separate areas of dormant volcanoes that have not erupted for at least 7500 years, and which have helped to shape the interesting topography of the region. The vines have been cultivated here for least 1500 years, with the appellation finally achieving AOP status in 2011.

Odette and Gilles Miolanne own 17 hectares of grain and vines. The Pinot Noir vines are 7.5 acres and the Gamay is only 3 acres. The vineyards, and wines, are organic.

Kevin’s Notes:  The nose of this wine is explosive with plum, un-ripe blackberries and spice. The weight is light and expressive with flavors of purple fruit, spice and mineral. This is going to be a great pairing for the holidays.  

Château Grand Bâteau Red Bordeaux 2016

– Cooper’s Price $11.99 –

Dating back to the 1980’s, Grand Bateau is the product of collaboration between Maison Barrière and Chateau Beychevelle. The boat which decorates this label is the mythical galleon of the famous Château Beychevelle which took part in the creation of Grand Bateau. 

Wine Education: Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world’s most prestigious, and prolific wine regions. Its three trump cards are diversity, quality, and quantity.

The red Bordeaux varieties are Merlot, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot (there’s also a very, very, VERY, small amount of Carmenere)

Kevin’s Notes: Yes, some of the world’s greatest and most expensive wines come from Bordeaux. However, the famed region is also home to some the best value in the world, and this is a strong example! This wine comes from the outstanding 2016 vintage. It is fruit driven and complex, with a stunning mouthfeel. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet.

Vicente Gandía Raiza, Crianza Rioja

– Cooper’s Price $13.99 –

The Vicente Gandía Winery is currently the largest winery in the Community of Valencia, and ranks in the top 15 Spanish wineries, and the top 100 European wineries. It has a presence in 85 international markets and is the ambassador of Spanish wines to the world!

Wine Education: Spanish wine, especially the more expensive types will often be labeled “Crianza”, “Reserva”, or “Gran Reserva”. These terms refer to the amount of time the wine has spent aging in oak barrels and in the bottle. Not necessarily a designation of style, but more of quality. A wine labeled Crianza has spent one year in oak barrels. A wine that says Reserva on the bottle has been aged for two years; one of these years has to have been spent in oak. Gran Reserva is often considered the highest quality. These are aged for two years in oak and three years in the bottle.

This wine is carried by aromas of earth, spice, cherry and plum. For a crianza, this is a serious medium-bodied wine. Spicy dark-berry flavors come with a touch of cocoa prior to the lasting finish, with leftover spice notes and slow-fading fruit.

A gorgeous display of wines this weekend!

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

CVNE Monopole Clasíco Rioja Blanco

– Cooper’s Price $27.99 –

CVNE is one of the most important wine producers of Spain, on account of its illustrious history, and its omnipresence in the contemporary Spanish wine scene. Founded by the Real de Asua brothers in 1879, it remains family-owned and family-run, with the latest generation committed more than ever to making great wine in meaningful quantities. 

From the early 20th century to the 70s, Monopole was a staple of homes and restaurants across Spain. It was one of CVNE’s main wines. Sadly, fashion turned against it, sales fell, and production in this style ceased in the 80s. They have produced this wine like it was done in the good old times, adding some Manzanilla Sherry (yes, you read that correctly); they top up the Viura with Manzanilla purchased from the Hidalgo family of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. 

Profile: Fresh, fine, bone dry, this wine had the peculiarity and originality of having some barrel aging with a percentage of Sherry wine, with written permission from the Rioja appellation. The Sherry added structure to the Rioja white, while they both integrated harmoniously in barrel and later in bottle. An amazing nose with notes of sea breeze, a slight nuttiness, and esparto grass. The palate is extremely tasty, but at the same time is light and fresh, with the acidity of Viura and the kick and pungency from Manzanilla.

Envínate Albahra Garnacha Tintorera

– Regular Price $24.99 Cooper’s Price $21.99 –

Albahra (Castilian for “small sea”) is named for the vineyard area in the Almansa region close to the town of Albacete, at the southeastern tip of Castilla-La Mancha. The Garnacha Tintorera is from a 3-parcel vineyard on clay/calcareous soils. The Moravia Agria (a high-acid, low alcohol blending grape) is from a single vineyard on sandy clay-calcareous soils in neighboring Manchuela, which is pruned to get larger grapes, since there is only 50ha of Moravia Agria left in Spain.

All grapes are hand-harvested and vinified separately by parcel. The Garnacha Tintorera is foot-trodden in vat with 30-50% stems included and 6-10 days skin maceration, then fermented and raised on fine lees in concrete for 8 months; the Moravia Agria is completely de-stemmed and sees 7 days of maceration before being pressed and raised on fine lees in used French barriques for 8 months, all without battonage (stirring of the lees). The wine is then blended and bottled unfined, unfiltered and with very little SO2 addition.

This is a wine with a pure high-toned nose, floral red fruit, with hints of spice, mountain herbs, and bursting with minerality. An extremely versatile food wine, especially with Mediterranean meats and seafood.

Cave de Serignan, Le Passage Côtes du Rhône

– Cooper’s Price $15.99 –

Côtes du Rhône is among the oldest vineyard regions on the planet. Greeks, Romans and Medieval Popes all had a liking for the native grapes and rocky soil terroir. The zone follows the course of the Rhône river southwards for 125 miles from Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône to the former, and intermediate, house of the Pope, in Avignon. (The term, Chateauneuf du Pape, comes to mind).

A small proportion of the appellation’s wines are white. However the classic Côtes du Rhône wine is a fruity, middleweight red blend based on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. As the reputation of these great wines grew, a 1729 royal edict required each cask to be branded “C.D.R.” (Côtes du Rhône), marking the best from the rest.

The Côtes du Rhône AOC (appellation) lets winemakers choose from 21 varieties (mostly red blends) for these easy-drinking and food-loving wines. Here, more than 5,000 producers, cooperatives and négociants make great value wines. This appellation accounts for 67% of wines in the region.

Profile: Grown from 55 year-old goblet-trained Grenache vines (80%) and 20 year-old Syrah vines (20%) set on clay-limestone terroir. The vineyard is surrounded by forest, which creates a cool microclimate and results in great acidity and freshness. Cool fermentation in stainless steel.

Lapis Luna Mendocino Zinfandel

– Cooper’s Price $14.99 –

Lapis Luna translates to “stone” and “moon.” The labels bring to life 400 year old Copperplate engravings to depict the relationship between the earth (stone), the moon. On our label, the heroes are depicted striving to connect with the moon and looking to it for inspiration, just as we do when creating our wines. 

Since 1999, we have grown long term relationships with established growers throughout Lodi and the North Coast. 

This is the newest addition to the Lapis Luna lineup. They get the grapes from Pauli Ranch in the Ukiah region of Mendocino. The cooler weather gives this Zin a bit more acidity along with being blended with some Sangiovese to add even more brightness. A younger style with only 10 months of age in a blend of Neutral French and American oak.

Profile: Fruity, smooth and delicious, this medium-bodied wine overflows with blueberry, blackberry and raspberry flavors that are very fresh and as charming as the engraved-style label. Made with an addition of 20% Sangiovese, the wine is still low in tannins and smooth in texture.

The historic brown spirit, Whiskey…and, Whisky.

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Spirits

1792 Small Batch Bourbon

– $25.98 –

Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the  oldest fully-operating Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. They have 196 acres, the with 29 barrel aging warehouses, 22 other buildings including an impressive still house, and the legendary Tom Moore Spring. Barton’s is now owned by Sazerac.

Profile: 1792 is sophisticated and complex. A distinctly different bourbon with precise craftsmanship. Made from their signature “high-rye” recipe. Unmistakable spice mingles with sweet caramel and vanilla to create a bourbon that is incomparably brash and bold, yet smooth and balanced. 

Kevin’s Notes:  We’re constantly searching for whiskies of value, whiskies that taste above their price point for under $40.  My sales rep for Sazerac brought me a sample of the 1792 (the year Kentucky was welcomed into the Union) and said, “I think you’re going to like this”, and I loved it!  I can’t believe it took me 4 years to finally taste it.

 Rowan’s Creek Bourbon

– $46.99 –

Rowan’s Creek is made and bottled by hand, in small lots, one batch at a time. This Bourbon takes its namesake from the creek that runs through the distillery, named after John Rowan who first settled around Bardstown in the late 1700s. The creek still bears his name carrying the best limestone spring water for making Bourbon.

This distillery is owned by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers Inc., or “KDB” which is located on the outskirts of Bardstown, Kentucky on a site that began as a farm owned by the Willett family. Operating primarily as a relatively large independent bottling company, KBD has been called “the big daddy of bourbon and rye bottling”. The company has remained under family ownership and operation at the same location since it was created in 1935 as the Willett Distilling Company. The company started doing business as KBD in the mid-1980s, but, in 2012, it began promoting the Willett name again, as its primary business name. 

In addition to this offering, KBD/Willett makes Noah’s Mill, Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon and Willett Rye, Johnny Drum, Kentucky Vintage, Pure Kentucky XO, and the Old Bardstown bourbons.

Profile:  Amber, with a dark golden cast. Reminiscent of pear, lemon, honey, and flowers. Smooth texture. Quite elegant and attractive on the palate. Stunning, velvety mouth feel of delicate fruit and spice elements.

Kavalan

Kavalan is Taiwan’s first whisky distillery. The King Car Group, founded by Mr. TT Lee in 1956, has decades of experience in food and beverage, but producing whisky has always been the founder’s dream. In 2002, Taiwan joined the World Trade Organization, which allowed the establishment of a privately owned distillery in Taiwan for the first time in modern history.

Construction on the distillery began in early 2005 and was completed in only nine months. The vision for the whisky was overseen by Master Blender Ian Chang in collaboration with world-renowned whisky consultant Dr. Jim Swan. The distillery is comprised of Scottish style copper pot stills from Scotland made by the Forsyths Company, as well as Holstein stills. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to protect it from the sub-tropical climate of Taiwan. To combat the high heat and humidity of Taiwan, the spirit vapors are cooled using both tube condensers and sub-coolers. The five-story warehouse houses 30,000 casks tied together because of the high risk of earthquakes in the region. The top floors of this warehouse can reach up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit, causing an “angel’s share” of no less than 15% annually! This is more than TWICE the evaporation seen in Scotland. What’s aged 18 years in Scotland, will only take 7-9 years at Kavalan. 

Kavalan, which means “flatland people,” is named after the Taiwanese aboriginal ethnic group that originally inhabited modern-day Yilan County, where the distillery is located. Yilan was chosen for its proximity to the cold spring water of Snow Mountain and the salty Pacific Ocean air. The subtropical heat and high humidity of Yilan cause an accelerated maturation, ensuring a rich, complex whisky in just a few years.

Kavalan Classic Whisky

– $84.99 –

This Kavalan Single Malt consists of mainly refill barrels, ex-bourbon barrels, and a small percentage of sherry barrels.

NOSE: Clean, elegant, floral (pleasant and refreshing fragrance of the butterfly orchid), fruity. Hints of honey, tropical fruits (mango in particular), pear drop, vanilla, coconut and suggestions of chocolate.

PALATE: A hint of sweet mango juice with spicy complexity and gentle warmth on a medium, oily and citrus finish.

Kavalan King Car Conductor

– $124.99 –

A vatted single malt of refill barrels, ex-bourbon barrels, sherry barrels and other specially selected barrels named for the King Car conglomerate. It is similar to the Classic in terms of flavor and aroma, but has a higher content of sherry casks.

NOSE: Excellently clean and freshly fruity single malt. A touch of papaya, banana and green apple.

PALATE: Sweet, rich, vanilla, banana, coconut, a slight pleasant bitterness balancing the sweetness.

All about France.

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

 Domaine Raoul Gautherin Chablis, Burgundy 2018

Regular Price $28.99 – Cooper’s Price $24.99

Wine Education:  Chablis is an historic wine-producing town and region in northern central France. It produces light, dry, white wines famed for their flinty minerality and crisp acidity. AOC Chablis wines are produced exclusively from the Chardonnay grape variety.

Chablis wines are made in a style rather different from those produced elsewhere in Burgundy. They are drier and fresher, rather than more weighty and richly flavored. Most basic Chablis wines are fermented and aged in stainless steel, with use of oak barrels more common in higher-level wines. Used larger barrels are more likely to be employed than new barriques, and wines will spend a shorter time in them than in the Côte d’Or.

Kevin’s Notes:  This is a stunning entry level Chablis.  It’s bright, lively and juicy with an awesome touch of minerality.  Great with scallops, other shellfish or while you’re cooking.  It’s awesome! 

 Domaine les Roches Bleues Brouilly, Beaujolais 2016

Regular Price $19.99 – Cooper’s Price $14.99

Wine Education:  Beaujolais is an important wine region of Burgundy, France, famous for its vibrant, fruit driven, luscious, red wines made from Gamay. It is located immediately south of Burgundy, of which it is sometimes considered to be a part, despite being within the Rhone administrative region.

The widespread plantings of Gamay here make Beaujolais one of the few regions of the world to be so focused on a single grape variety. The region’s highest-quality wines are those of the ten Beaujolais ‘crus’ – vineyard areas long recognized as the finest in the region, and Brouilly is one such cru.

Brouilly: Brouilly is an appellation for red wines produced from vineyards in central-north Beaujolais.  Relatively robust and full-bodied wines, they are more fruit-driven than many of the other Beaujolais cru wines; their plum and berry flavors outweighing Gamay’s traditional floral character. 

Château Argadens, Bordeaux Supérieur 2016

Cooper’s Price $16.99

Wine Education: Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world’s most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions. Its three trump cards are diversity, quality and quantity.

The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90 percent of production volume) are the dry, medium- and full-bodied red Bordeaux Blends that established its reputation.  While Bordeaux is well regarded for wines produced within specific areas, most of its wines fall under other general appellations. These include AOC Bordeaux, and Bordeaux Supérieur.

Bordeaux Supérieur  as the name implies, intended to be a slightly “superior” form of standard Bordeaux AOC wines. They therefore rely heavily on Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

 Emmanuel Darnaud Bouches Crozes-Hermitage 2017

Cooper’s Price $26.99

Wine Education:  Crozes-Hermitage is an appellation of the northern Rhone valley in France. It covers a relatively large area on the eastern bank of the Rhone River, to the north and south of Tain L’Hermitage town. Much larger than the prestigious Hermitage appellation which it surrounds.

The vast majority (around 90 percent) of Crozes-Hermitage wines are red, and made predominantly from Syrah. The remaining 10 percent are white Crozes-Hermitage Blanc wines made from Roussanne and Marsanne.

Since the very beginning, Emmanuel has made a point of separating out the production from each land parcel (specific vineyard sites) for winemaking to keep the emphasis on each terrain’s subtlety and live expression. His ideal is to strike a perfect balance, requiring the utmost care during the grape harvest. The grapes are picked manually and grouped by parcel. 

Kevin’s Notes:  This wine is 100% Syrah and it reminds me of why I love Northern Rhone Syrah.  The color is a deep purple that even a color-blind guy like me can see.  The nose is breathtaking with brambly purple fruit, white pepper, spice and a subtle funk. The flavors strongly resemble the nose with a touch of leather. The mouthfeel is rich and full-bodied with subtle tannins and long finish. It is a Crozes-Hermitage Syrah that stands above the rest.

A little high-end, and a little value!

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Uncategorized, Wine

Tasting Notes Sept 20th, 2019

Lioco 2014 “Demuth” Anderson Valley Chardonnay

Regular $57.99 Cooper’s Price $36.99

At 1700 feet above the town of Boonville, this remote windswept ridge seems an improbable place to find Chardonnay. 95% of the vines here are dedicated Pinot Noir. Chris Demuth had the foresight to plant Chardonnay here 35+ years ago in the heart of Pinot country. Planted on a 1980’s rootstock and racked by phylloxera, this vineyard has historically shown signs of stress and resulted in tiny yields. When we visited in February, the biodynamic cover crops laid down by Anthony Filiberti and his crew were in full bloom and Demuth had never looked healthier. Our 2014 Demuth displays the vintage character we have come to prize: power and clarity. 

Vinification: Fermented on wild yeast in neutral oak casks. A slow, naturally occurring malolactic fermentation completed. Aged on lees for 1yr, with no battonage then settled in stainless steel for 3 months.

Profile: Aromas of brioche, yellow plum, lemon balm. Notes of Ginger root, pulverized river stone minerality and slight hazel-nuttiness.

Domaine de Couron Cotes-du-Rhone Village Blanc

Regular $18 Cooper’s Price $16.99

This family-run estate of Jean-Luc and Marie-Lise Dorthe is nestled in an area rich with human history, between the Northern and Southern Rhône in the tiny village of Saint Marcel d’Ardèche. Located on historic lands 3 miles from the famed Neanderthal Cave Paintings of Ardѐche, France, their vineyards are laden with artifacts including 40,000 year old arrowheads. The Romans once cultivated wine here and the area is rich with ancient ruins. 

The Dorthe family has been wine growers since 1860, farm using sustainable and occasionally organic techniques of Lutte Raisonnée since 1993, naturally following centuries without ever using herbicides. The vines are close-spaced at 1 meter along each row in each of their rocky, terraced hillside vineyards. The grapes are all hand-picked by the family, hand-sorted, and native yeast fermented at cool temperatures never using oak.

Profile: Blended of organically grown, equal parts Marsanne, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, this lovely Rhône white reveals a nose of yellow stone fruits, minerals, flowers, and tropical flowers. Flavors repeat the nose in a lush, round, mouth – coating texture, finishing with lengthy echoes of the same aromatic and flavor profile. Fermented in cement, only the Roussanne ages in a neutral oak ca sk before blending and bottling 3 months after harvest.

Smockshop Band 2018 “Spring Ephemeral” Pinot Noir

Cooper’s Price $42.99

This is from a 7 acre site in the East Hills of Hood River. We farm the site with the same minimalist, nature inspired approach that we employ at Hiyu. It was picked by hand and placed whole-cluster in open top bins. The fruit wasn’t touched for the first eight days. Afterwards we kept the cap wet with a single pigeage once a day before pressing directly to barrel  after 22 days of maceration. It aged in barrel on the lees for 8 months before being bottled by gravity. 

Profile: Sublimely delicate and then, later, it’s all power. A smell of cedar, incense and dark roses floats over everything. This is a mountain wine. A sparse richness of wild strawberries and raspberries alongside a dusty trail, or plums in a neglected thicket. It alludes to sugar, but then as the swelling hits a peak, the coolness, structure and acidity comes. The finish of the wine tempers everything. There is mint, hyssop, matsutake and river-rock. It is taut and full of tannic power.

Chateau Vieux Meyney Bordeaux

Cooper’s Price $13.99

The property is located in the commune of Meyney on the edge of the Fronsac region, on the right bank in Bordeaux, where the Merlot grape thrives in clay-limestone soils. Its location ensures the optimal ripening of the fruit. Chateau Vieux Meyney is aged in stainless steel tanks to allow it to mature rapidly for early drinking and enjoyment of the soft Merlot fruit and its enticing aromas.

Taste:  Chateau Vieux Meyney offers ripe, spicy, dark cherry aromas and flavors, and soft tannins. It is very appealing for present drinking.

Food and steak, hamburgers and roasted chicken.

Kevin’s Notes:  This red wine is a perfect example of why Bordeaux represents terrific values.  Yes, Bordeaux makes some of the world’s most expensive wines, but it also provides fantastic wines for the money. 

It’s Tequila Time, Baby!!!

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Spirits

 Tequila Epifania Azul Anejo

Epifania Azul 2 Year Old Añejo 100% Blue Agave Tequila. Made in the same distillery as one of our favorites, “Dos Artes Amor Mio Afamado Mandala”. This place knows what it’s doing. This beauty is handcrafted and handmade, inside and outside of the bottle.

Kevin’s Notes:  On occasion customers have asked, “Are you paying for the tequila or the bottle”? This is a very fair question, for which my answer is both.  This is a stunning Anejo tequila. It is aged two years in oak when the minimum is 1 year and 1 day, so if they were in such a hurry to make money on just the bottle, why would they age it so long?  

Each bottle is an original as it is hand made, and hand painted. It takes roughly 72 hours to make each bottle and it is kiln-fired three times!!!

Finally, for the naysayers, we are proud to invest in two bottles for our tasting.  Once the tasting is completed on Saturday, we will have a drawing for each empty bottle!  We only have 22 bottles to sell.  Price $129.99

Patron Reposado & Anejo

History: The original Patron Tequila was produced by Tequila Siete Leguas, and brand rights were sold to St. Maarten Spirits, owners John Paul DeJoria (Paul Mitchell Hair Products) and Martin Crowley in 1989. As the brand grew, Tequila Siete Leguas was no longer able to keep up with production, and Patron built a new distillery and moved all production in 2002.  

Once the Blue Agave plants are harvested, the pinas are slowly steamed for 79 hours.  The steamed agave pina is sweet and rich, and is torn and shredded, once softened.  The shredded agave is placed in a shallow traditional stone pit, where it is macerated with large, natural stone milling wheels.  The juice of the agave is placed in wooden fermentation tanks for 72 hours and then distilled twice. The first distillation produces a sweet low alcohol brew. The second is less sweet and produces much higher alcohol content. The water source is a spring-fed deep well on the property.  Each bottle is handmade and rinsed in tequila before bottling.  

Most of you may know Patron based on its reputation, but they were just too expensive to pull the trigger, but not now!

Who says a really nice smaller downtown store has to be more expensive?

We beat Applejacks, Cosco, and Liquor Barn!!! We are the least expensive in the valley!

Reposado – SALE PRICE $37.98  Regular Price $54.99  Save $17.00

Anejo – SALE PRICE $37.98  Regular Price $59.99  Save $22.00

Tequila Corazón, Single Estate Blanco Tequila

Tequila Corazón is distilled twice before being infused with oxygen and bottled. Corazón believes this process helps to lift the delicate aromas and flavors from the 6-8 year old agave plants that have been estate-grown and harvested in the Los Altos region of Mexico since 1886. Unaged and crystal clear, this spirit has enticing aromas of sweet cooked agave, and fruity and floral notes. Perfect for sipping or in Margaritas and other cocktails, it won a Double Gold medal at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Corazón de Agave Blanco Tequila embodies the true essence of the heart of the agave…clean, clear, crisp and smooth to the finish.

Casa San Matias is one of the few family-owned agave estates in Jalisco, Mexico. Corazón de Agave Tequila is estate cultivated, distilled and hand bottled. The entire Corazón de Agave Tequila process comes straight from the heart of its producers.

This is another great sale price!  Regular $26.99, Sale Price $19.98

Its time to gather…

Blogs, Featured Products, Pairings, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

Salomon Undhof Hochterrassen Gruner Veltliner

Cooper’s Price $14.99

This landmark winery is located in the twin town of Krems-Stein in the wine-growing region of Kremstal, one of the oldest wine areas in Austria.

The region was founded in the eighth century when monks who followed Charlemagne’s army down the Danube saw the grape growing potential of its south-facing terraces.  Grape vines like the sun!

In 1780 the Salomon family acquired the Undhof – a farm building once part of a Capuchin monastery – and started producing wines there in 1792. The Salomon’s ancestors were boatmen involved in the salt trade with their wine business only a side-line. Today Salomon is one of the most progressive and quality driven wineries in Austria, making Riesling and Grüner Veltliner of stunning purity and elegance.  

In 1925, this pioneer of Austrian winemaking was the first to export its wines; now they export over half its production. 

Vinosia Fiano di Avellino le Grade 2016

Regular Price $19.99 Cooper’s Price $16.99

Vinosia is young project founded by Mario and Luciano Ercolino, whose family founded Feudi di San Gregorio where Mario was formerly the head winemaker. In 2003, Mario and Luciano set out to make their own wines and founded Vinosia, a new place of wine. 

Mario oversees the winemaking process with the highest level of precision and care, while Luciano manages marketing and distribution. Together, they are dedicated to expressing the potential and character of the region’s wines by putting a modern spin on native varieties.

Wine Education – The Grape, Region and Wine

Fiano is a high-quality, white-wine grape variety used widely in southern Italy, particularly in Campania. Used mainly as a varietal wine, Fiano is nutty and textured with floral and honeyed notes, spice and tropical fruit flavors like pineapple. Its main incarnation is as Fiano di Avellino DOCG wine.

Fiano di Avellino Wine – Fiano di Avellino DOCG is an appellation for white wine, located in the Avellino province within the Campania, Italy. It is regarded as the finest expression of the white Fiano grape

Amepelia “Unlitro di Costa Toscana” Rosso

Cooper’s Price $19.99 – 1 liter

Elisabetta Foradori, one of Italy’s top superstar winemakers, has come together with two friends, Giovanni Podini and Thomas Widmann, to develop Ampeleia: a completely unique project in the Maremma region of Tuscany, farmed biodynamically. Ampeleia includes a total of 150 hectares of which only 40 (100 acres) are planted with vines. The property slopes down towards the sea, where earlier Etruscans nourished the soil to grow grapes.

The Wine: The wine is packaged in a one liter as it is a lighter bodied red, meant to be shared with others over lunch or dinner.  The wine is a blend of mainly Alicante (synonymous with Grenache, Cannonau, Garnacha) but also Carignano (Carignan), Mourvedre, Sangiovese and Alicante Bouschet.

It aged for 6 months in cement tanks and it is biodynamically farmed.

Kevin’s Notes:  This wine is simply fun in the mouth, it’s wonderful!  Unfortunately, the wholesaler can only get 56 cases per year of this wine so we quickly grabbed 5 cases.  I can’t wait for our customers to try this wine.

 Château Couronneau, Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge 2015

Cooper’s Price $19.99

The Cartier family lived for 3 centuries on the estate and invested on the splendid domain from the XVI century. The Piat family, the proprietors of Chateau Couronneau, have worked hard and meticulously in the vineyard to coax out the best possible fruit for their wine. This hard work includes a dedication to organic farming (they are certified with Ecocert), green harvesting in Spring, and limiting yields to an average 40% below what is allowed for the appellation.  This wine is also biodynamic!

Wine Education:  Green harvesting is the harvesting or dropping of unripe (aka green) green clusters of grapes from the vine. It is a form of crop thinning to help manage yield and to enable the remaining grape clusters to fully ripen according to the winemaker’s aims. 

Wine Education:  Bordeaux Supérieur is an appellation tier applied to wines made within the generic Bordeaux AOP zone. They are produced from the classic Bordeaux grape varieties. The reds are, as their name implies, intended to be a slightly “superior” form of standard Bordeaux AOC wines.  

Kevin’s Notes:  This is deep, full-bodied red.  2015 has been rated as an outstanding vintage!