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1. Maison Saint AIX, AIX Provence Rosé 2018

Cooper’s Price $17.99

AIX rosé is the top blend of Maison Saint Aix. The domain was founded in 1880 as a truffle orchard and was converted into a vineyard in the early 1900’s. The domain is one of the largest domains in Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence area.

The cellars are renovated with one sole purpose: producing the best rosé in the world. AIX rosé has been awarded many times with a gold medal at the Concours Agricole in Paris and was elected best rosé by the club of oenologues of the French senate.

Wine Education –The Concours General Agricole Paris (CGA) is a French agricultural show funded and organized by the French ministries of agriculture, food, fisheries and rural affairs.

Kevin’s Notes – This is the best rose I have tasted from AIX in the four years I have bought this wine.  It continues to be dry with great acidity, but the fruit is more pronounced. 

2. Roger Naudet Domaine des Buissonnes Sancerre, Loire, France 2017

Tasting Price $23.99

This is a small family estate consisting of some 33 acres with 24 acres planted to Sauvignon Blanc and 9 acres to Pinot Noir. The family farms the vineyards which are mostly located in the valleys of the village Sury en Vaux. The wine making here is very natural.

Wine Education– Sancerre is a small wine district in central France, famous for its crisp, aromatic white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc. It is also known for its high-quality goat cheeses, which are an excellent match for the local wine. The vineyards here surround the eponymous town, which sits atop a bean-shaped hill overlooking the river Loire

Kevin’s Notes- Sancere sales in our store have always been very strong for obvious reasons.  The wines are brilliant with their aromatics of citrus and minerality.  This Sancere gas been our best seller for years, but realized we have never tasted this wine so I bought extra cases.  You’re going to love this.

3. Trivento, Malbec Golden Reserve Luján de Cuyo

Cooper’s Price $18.99

Trivento, was started in the mid-1990s by Concha y Toro.   This wine region exemplifies the advantages of high-altitude viticulture. Here, significant differences in day and night temperatures minimize the risk of pests and disease. Vineyards that receive barely 8 inches of rainfall a year are irrigated with natural snow melt from the Andes.

However, wind is the primary agent of change when it comes to growth and nurturing of vines in this region.  Thus, the name “ Trivento” (Three Winds), was given to the winery.

Wine Education:  The first wind, is an icy Polar wind in winter (June-August) that forces sap deep within the vines. It is succeeded by the Zonda, which races in from the Andes, its warmth rousing dormant sap to generate new spring growth. In the summer months a third wind, the Sudestada, provides a welcome respite from the searing sun and helps to temper ripening.  This is BIGGER Malbec than most that over-delivers. 

4. Matteo Correggia Anthos Dry Brachetto, Roero in Piedmont, Italy – Organic

Cooper’s Price 21.99

The Roero district is located in the lower-altitude of north-west Piedmont where young Nebbiolo and Barbera from this region have a particularly fresh and lively character. 

In 2001, Matteo Correggia tragically passed away just as he entered Piedmont’s winemaking elite. With the help of Giorgio Rivetti (of the famous La Spinetta estate), Matteo’s wife Ornella took over the estate, carrying on her husband’s passionate desire to expand the reputation of the Roero.  Their son is now the winemaker.

The Anthos vineyard sits at a 300 meter elevation, on an east/south-east facing slope. Fermentation in large steel vats lasts two to four days, with frequent pumping over. After fermentation is complete, the wine is racked to a large stainless steel tanks for eight months before bottling. Only 330 cases a year are produced.

Kevin’s Notes: This is one of the most fascinating wines I have tasted.  The grape is Brachetto and as a wine it is usually sweet, but this wine is dry and very exciting to the senses.  It is truly another one-of-a-kind.  I can’t wait to share it with you.  It will give you goose bumps of satisfaction.  It’s extraordinary!!!

Bright, Sunny, Wine Tasting, Weekend, Fun!

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

1. Domaine de la Mordoree Cotes-du-Rhone Rosé 2018

Cooper’s Price $19.99

The Mordorée is the poetic nickname used locally for the woodcock that flies over our lands during its migrations. Ideally located at the crossroads of Provence and Languedoc, the Domaine de la Mordorée produces some of the finest wines in the Rhone Valley. They own manage and control vineyards in: Châteauneuf du Pape (Castle of the Pope), Lirac, and Tavel in Southern Rhone.

Kevin’s Notes: This wine is 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Cinsault.  An important fact about this wine is the importer; Kysela.  In Atlanta as a buyer, our company imported Fran Kysela wines.  Fran is a Master Sommelier who turned his expertise by discovering and importing some of the greatest wines and wine values from France and Spain.  Whenever I read the back of a wine label and I see Kysela’s name, I am immediately interested in that wine!  One simple remark, “Due to its richness, this is one of the best Roses. 

2. Marotti Campi, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Superiore Luzano

Regular $19.99 Cooper’s Price $12.99

The Marotti Campi estate is one of the most important in the Castelli di Jesi zone and has been a leading producer of Verdicchio and Lacrima di Morro d’Alba for generations. The farm, founded in the 19th century, has 52 hectares planted to vine, all of which are cultivated using sustainable techniques. 

Verdicchio – the grape – means “little green one”, a name which holds true as the wines are typically straw colored with pronounced green tinges.

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi is a white-wine DOC located in the Marches region of east central Italy.

TASTING NOTES: Straw yellow color with light green reflections. Aromas of acacia, broom and wildflowers, chamomile with hints of almond. Dry, savory, rich texture with hints of pineapple and pleasant almond finish. 

3. Château d’Oupia Les Hérétiques Red

Great, Great, Great, wine value Cooper’s Price $11.96

Historical Notes from the Winery:  “History figures prominently in this, the main, bottling from Château d’Oupia: “Les Hérétiques” is named in recogntion of the Cathars, a heretical Christian group once based on the Languedoc but wiped out by order of Pope Innocent III in 1208 in response to the murder of a papal representative by a Cathar supporter near Minervois. The castle which is the home of Château d’Oupia dates back to this time as well. 

90% Carignan/10% Syrah. The Carignan vines average 40 years in age, with some of them being up over 100 years old. The fruit is sustainably farmed. Half of the Carignan is vinified traditionally–destemmed and fermented in used barrel and macerated with skins for 30 days–and half as whole clusters with carbonic maceration. Those wines are blended with the Syrah and aged in a combination of steel tank and neutral oak vats.”

Carignan (Cariñena in Spain) is a black-skinned wine grape variety, most likely native to Aragon, Spain. The variety is found in wines along the Mediterranean coast, particularly in northeastern Spain and in France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region.

4. Ferraris Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG 

Cooper’s Price $19.99

Ruchè is a grape variety of Piedmont, Italy that has risen from virtual obscurity as a little-known, dark-skinned variety to having its own appellation, Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato. The appellation was elevated to DOCG status in 2011. Its origins are disputed, with some claiming Ruchè as indigenous to the region, while others claim it has French Burgundy roots.

All Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato wines must be made from at least 90% Ruche grapes; the remaining 10% is left open to any combination of Barbera or Brachetto grapes.

Important Wine Education:  What does DOCG mean?  DOCG Laws – “Denominazione di Origine Controllata Garantita”

In 1980 the Italian wine board took quality control even one step beyond the regular DOC, adding DOCG.  The G means the wine was submitted to governmental controlled tasting panel and they absolutely guarantee the stylistic authenticity of a wine.  DOCG designated wines make up only 1-3% of all Italian wine produced.

Kevin’s Notes:  I bought this wine through a DI order with my wholesaler.  DI means “Direct Import”.  It is not a wine the wholesaler carries on a regular basis.  This is an outstanding floral, full-flavored red that over delivers. 

First Day of Summer Wine Tasting!

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

1. Asnella Single Vineyard Vinho Verde

Cooper’s Price $15.99

Kevin’s Notes:  Rarely, do you find a Single Vineyard Vinho Verde.  The literal translation for Vinho Verde is “Green Wine”.  Oddly however, Vinho Verde is not a grape or wine, it’s a region!  It is a well-known DOC in the Minho region of north-western Portugal, but what does DOC mean for Portuguese winemaking ad why is it important?

Education: There are 3 levels of wine quality in Portugal; DOC (or DOP): DOC stands for Denominação de Origen Controlada and means the wine comes from a strictly defined geographical area with recommended and permitted grapes and maximum vine yields (tons per acre) to control quality.

Why do most Vinho Verde have very little bubbles?  Many of the Vinho Verde wines have a light fizz that can be extremely refreshing. Originally, this occurred when carbon dioxide, which is a natural byproduct of fermentation, was trapped inside the freshly fermented wine during bottling. Today, winemakers may add it through a boost of carbon dioxide, because they know that drinkers abroad have come to associate Vinho Verde with light bubbles.

Taste:  First of all, this wine has a very light fizz and it occurs naturally.  The grapes are 60% Arnito and 40% Loureio.  The fruit in this Vinho Verde is much bolder and has a very long finish.  It’s outstanding!!  They only made 340 cases!!!!

2. Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau, Macon Villages Clos St. Pancras 2017

Cooper’s Price $21.99

Domaine Frantz Chagnoleau is a small estate run by two talented winemakers, Frantz Chagnoleau and his wife Caroline Gon (winemaker at H. du Comte Lafon.) Frantz graduated with a degree in Oenology from Bordeaux University in 2004 and cut his teeth working for Olivier Merlin in the Mâconnais. Caroline holds two degrees in agricultural engineering and oenology.

Critics and people of Burgundy call this dynamic duo as one of the most talented teams in all of Burgundy, farming the old-fashioned way and making micro-quantities of single vineyard White Burgundy from some of the finest Chardonnay terrior in the world.

Education:  What is “terrior”?  Terroir is how a particular region’s climate, soils and aspect (terrain) affect the taste of wine. Some regions are said to have more ‘terroir’ than others. Example: Palisade Peaches and Olathe Corn.

More  Education:  Mâcon-Villages is an appellation for dry white wines made from the Chardonnay grape. These are produced in selected communes of the Mâconnais wine area of southern Burgundy. This wine is rarely found in the U.S.

3. Terres Dorées, Beaujolais Rosé d’Folie 2018

Cooper’s Price $18.99

100% Gamay from vineyards across Jean-Paul Brun’s Beuajolais organically-grown holdings. Fermented and aged in concrete.

Taste: Jean-Paul Brun releases small quantities of this Beaujolais rosé each year.  Due to its organic growing conditions, the fruit is vibrant and explosive with fresh strawberries and minerality throughout the finish.

Education:  Beaujolais is an important wine region of eastern France, famous for its vibrant, fruity red wines made from Gamay. It is located immediately south of Burgundy.  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.

More Education:  You may have heard me say this in the past, “All wine gets its color from the skin of the grapes.  This includes white wine as well.”  If you pull a bunch of Cabernet grapes from a vine, and squish them in in your hand, the juice will come out clear like 7up.  Roses are made from red and purple grapes, but they are rose in color because they see little skin contact and they are fermented dry. 

4. Smockshop Band Spring Ephemeral Grenache – Columbia Gorge, Oregon 

Cooper’s Price $37.98

This is from a 10 acre site that we farm where the Gorge transitions to desert. The Grenache is planted on the banks of the Columbia in deep sand with basalt cobbles. It was fermented whole cluster in open top wooden vats and tread by foot once a day. After fermentation it was pressed directly to barrel via gravity with a basket press. The wine was bottled after 8 months of aging on the lees. 

The wine is sun warmed, very pale in color and emphatically aromatic. The kind of Grenache that reminds one of Pinot Noir, but with an entirely different set of aromas. It smells like being in a field of flowering herbs. At first the aroma of desert sage is overwhelming. It surrounds one. And then the other herbs emerge, lavender, chocolate mint, yerba buena and yarrow. As the wine sits in the glass those primal aromas transform into some sort of romantic flower. The kind you get in a bouquet, but from the desert. There are fruits of course: josta berries, strawberries and currants, all perfectly ripe, and picked in full-sun at the end of the day. The wine offers all the textural sensations that can only be conveyed by Grenache. It is totally round, sensual and enveloping, but also pale and weightless. Its is fresh, but just enough to give the barest sense of shape. There is no strident acidity to spoil the sense of warmth and gentleness. It is a red of pure summer and perfect for the foods consumed in the peak of the garden season.  

Join us this weekend, for a gorgeous wine tasting!

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

1. Smockshop Band Rose of Zinfandel 2018

$29.99

Kevin’s Notes:  This is my FAVORITE Rose!  This is a delicious dry fruit bomb with flavors of cranberry and blood orange backed with a tantalizing texture and long finish.  This NOT white Zinfandel from the 80’ and 90’s.  It’s a taste profile I have never experienced, but I should not be surprised as it’s a creation of winemaker/owner Nate Ready.  

After receiving his Master Sommelier certification, Nate worked at Frasca in Boulder and the infamous French Laundry in Napa Valley.  Once he realized winemaking was his dream and passion, Nate worked at wineries throughout Europe and the U.S before starting Hiyu and Smockshop.  Hiyu wines come from Estate vineyards while Smockshop grapes are purchased.

His wines are organic and/or biodynamic.  His rows of vines will commonly be a blend of mixed grape varieties and he co-ferments many grapes at the same time.  This wine, like all of his wines, is very limited.  This wine comes out of a 1.8 acre plot.

2. Moulin de Gassac Guilhem White 2016

Regular $12.99 Now $10.99

40% Grenache Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Terret Blanc.

Mas de Daumas Gassac was founded in 1970 by Véronique and Aimé Guibert, and at the time they didn’t necessarily intend on planting vines and making wine. They had bought the property simply because they were enchanted by the beautiful Gassac Valley.

But when their friend, Bordeaux University geologist Henri Enjalbert, visited the estate he had no doubt: the cool micro-climate and perfectly drained gravelly terroir could produce world-class wines. 

The land here was manually farmed for hundreds of years before the family settled in the valley, and the soil has never suffered from the destructive use of chemical fertilizers. The Guiberts have drawn on that ancient tradition, farming organically, harvesting by hand, and sparing no effort to respect nature.

Taste:  A bright, lively wine with crisp acidity, and powerful, fruity aromatics. Medium bodied with flavors of apple, pear and a touch of minerality.  Pairings: Linguine with pesto, chicken sandwiches, seared scallops, green salads. 

3. Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Red 2016

Regular $12.99 Now $10.99

A Mediterranean blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 30% Carignan. 100% De-stemmed. All grape varieties mixed together for maceration and fermentation. Maceration for 10-12 days. Aged 6-7 months in stainless steel.

What is Maceration? Simply put maceration is the process of soaking crushed grapes, seeds, and stems in a wine must to extract color and aroma compounds as well as tannins. This is where red wines get their color and tannins and it is the lack of maceration that makes white wines so light in color and nearly tannin free.

Cold-soaking: When extended maceration is used on unfermented grape juice.

Extended Maceration: When extended maceration is used after the grapes have been fermented into wine.

Kevin’s Notes: These wines are incredible values and should be considered for case purchases as this cost is temporary.

4. Chateau Aney Haut-Medoc Bordeaux 2015

$29.99

Château Aney was built in 1850 by the family that gave it its name, just five years before the wine classification system was initiated in Bordeaux. The domaine thrived and earned Cru Bourgeois status, but by the mid-twentieth century the land was no longer being farmed and the château had fallen into disrepair. In 1972 Jean Raimond and his son, Pierre, bought the property, rehabilitated the vineyards, and refurbished the winery and cellars. This marked a new era for Château Aney; which fittingly achieved Cru Bourgeois status for a second time in 1978. Today Pierre runs the estate along with his son, David. 

This left-bank château lies strategically between St-Julien and Margaux, at the epicenter of the great wines of the region where the terroir imparts exceptional quality and provides ideal growing conditions. The warm summer sun is tempered by the cool breezes of the Garonne River, and round, polished, gravelly, river stones cover the vineyard. Throughout the day the sun warms these stones, which gradually redistribute the heat to the vines, protecting them against springtime frosts and helping the grapes along towards full maturation in the autumn. 

The final blend of the wine matches the proportions in which they are planted throughout the thirty hectares of vineyards: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. This traditional Haut Médoc is more like what you might remember of the classic Bordeaux styles of the 1960s and 1970s. Not at all cloaked in new wood or over-extracted tannins, Château Aney’s wines have finesse and balance.  2015 is considered an OUTSTANDING vintage!

Another great tasting at Cooper!!! Fri/Sat, 5-7pm

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

Crowley Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2017

Cooper’s Price $25.99

Crowley Wines only produces 2,500 cases annually. Their small size allows for a hands-on approach from vineyard to barrel. They visit each vineyard site throughout the year and work closely with their growers to achieve a natural balance in the grapes. At harvest, freshness, lower alcohols, flavor and acidity are the touchstones of their picking decisions.

“Our friends and growers are committed to non-irrigated and low impact farming. We are members of the Deep Roots Coalition and our primary vineyard sources are LIVE certified or certified organic. “

Kevin’s Notes:  This wine is too inexpensive for the quality in the bottle.  Aromatics of unripe peach, apple and pear skins leap from the glass.  This causes you to salivate instantly as if you walked into a smoked bacon parlor.  The fruit is vibrant and very refreshing to the palate.  Your palate will NOT tire with this Chardonnay as the acidity is plentiful.  This is one of the TOP 5 white wines I have tasted this year.  Unlike most Chardonnay’s, this beauty can work with or without food.  Quite simply it is outstanding and unfortunately they make very little – less than 200 cases were produced.

Tribute to Grace Grenache Rose Highlands Vyd, Santa Barbara, CA 2018

Cooper’s Price $24.99  Only 3 cases available!!

A Tribute To Grace Wine Company is dedicated to crafting authentic expressions of Grenache. All wines are single-vineyard sourced to maintain authenticity, and remain 100% Grenache.

Angela Osborne is a New Zealand born winemaker, who moved to California in 2006 with the dream of making Grenache. In 2007 she sourced her first Grenache fruit from the Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard. Nestled high above the Pacific Ocean and 33 miles inland, this high-desert vineyard provided the perfect balance of heat and light she sought. She chose to name her label after two of her favorite things: her Grandmother Grace, and her most beloved attribute.

Wine Making-half of the clusters were gently pressed to tank, the other half foot-stomped and left on their skins for 24 hours, before joining the direct-pressed juice. 

Kevin’s Notes:  Besides making “Tribute to Grace” wines, she also make wines for other wineries.  Why?  Because she’ that good!  This is also a great rose because it is a single vineyard from Santa Barbara. 

Fosso Corno Aires Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Regular Price $16.99 Cooper’s Price $13.99

The Biscardo family owns Fosso Corno and has been producing wine since 1897. Today the estate is solely dedicated to Montepulciano vines. While Abruzzo is dominated by very large, low quality COOP’s and commercial wineries, the Biscardo family is slowly building a name for quality Montepulciano. Aires is produced from 100% Montepulciano grapes from the region Abruzzo on the Central-East Coast of Italy.

The harvest takes place in the period from the end of September to mid October. Maceration for a maximum of ten days, in steel fermenting vats. The wine is then put in steel for about 4 months for the ageing process. Finally it is kept bottled for a short while before being put on sale.

Aires is a young and immediately drinkable wine. Delicate aromas of plum and morello cherry on the nose, robust and full-bodied in the mouth, slightly tannin-rich with a dry flavoursome aftertaste. 

Sierra Cantabria Seleccion Rioja 2017

Regular Price $17.99 Cooper’s Price $14.99

Bodegas Sierra Cantabria was founded by Guillermo Eguren, a self-made bodeguero, who was, in the family tradition, a viticulturist. His family, native to San Vicente de La Sonsierra, one of the most sought after terroirs in Rioja, had grown grapes in Rioja Alavesa since the 1870’s. For decades the family sold their grapes to local producers, but Guillermo recognized the potential that his family’s vineyards had to create great wine, and founded Bodegas Sierra Cantabria in 1957. 

Today, the family still prides themselves as viticulturists first, and as a result, all of the grapes are estate grown, and they do not source fruit from any third party source. As viticulturists in Rioja Alavesa, they grow a vast majority of Tempranillo, with only a small percentage of Garnacha and Graciano.

Kevin’s Notes:  The expansion of planting any further grape vines has ended in Rioja.  Consequently, winemakers will have to begin paying more for grapes they buy from growers so Rioja wines are going up in price, but this will not be the case as Eguren family owns almost all of their vineyards.  This wine is a terrific full-bodied Tempranillo with a hint of oak.  Great for the BBQ. 

Gorgeous Weather, and Gorgeous Wine, this weekend.

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

1. HugelWeine Gruner Veltliner, Austria 2018

This is a young family-run winery located in the  northeast of Austria, in Ketzelsdorf-Poysdorf. The owners Sylvia and Martin Hugl aim to produce fruity, full-bodied wines that are typical of the region and the soils. They use of the experience of their parents and combine it with their know-how to create high-quality wines. Grüner Veltliner represents about 70 % of the winery’s vineyards. 

Education:  Grüner means “green”, which reflects the variety’s yellow-green berries that typifies Grüner Veltliner.  Veltliner – a name shared by several European grape varieties – is thought to be a reference to the varieties’ possible origins in Valtellina.  Valtellina is an alpine valley in the far northern region of Lombardy, Italy where it has been producing wine for over 2000 years.

Taste Profile:  This is an intense and concentrated wine offering pleasant citrus and grapefruit aromas, exotic tropical fruits with a hint of freshly ground white pepper; it is full-bodied with a firm mineral backbone, giving it the strength of character to work well with many cuisines.

Cooper’s Price $14.99

2. Division Villages Rose of Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2018

Division Winemaking Company is Portland, Oregon based urban winery founded in 2010 by Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe. Inspired by the wineries of Loire, Beaujolais, Burgundy, and the Northern Rhône in France (where they first learned winemaking and viticulture).  Tom and Kate have a passion to work with organic and/or biodynamic vineyards.  Division Winemaking Company represents a new generation of winemakers that are looking beyond the status quo to create unique styles of wine, with a purpose, a story and without barriers.

Education:  Gamay (Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc in full) is a grape variety that is most famous for producing the light, fruit-driven red wines of Beaujolais.  It arrived there (most likely from Germany) in the 14th Century and initially received an unenthusiastic welcome. The ruling dukes of Burgundy, France even tried to outlaw the variety, distrustful of its unfamiliar taste and texture.  

Cooper’s Price $18.99

3. Valravn Sonoma County Cabernet 2017

Owner Baron Ziegler began buying Bordeaux futures at the age of 15, the sale of which later funded the down payment for a Boston condo while in college at Boston University. At 18 he was hired by Food & Wine Magazine’s 2012 “Top Sommelier” Peter Eastlake, to work in his wine retail shop where he worked “under the radar” for three years. By 21, he was managing three stores and purchasing wines by the container. Baron deferred medical school to work for award-winning wine importer, Eric Solomon. After five years, he took over the role of national sales director, where he ran all aspects of sales for the next five years. Baron moved to California in 2007, two years later Banshee Wines became a reality followed by Averaen (Oregon), Valravn (Sonoma) and Requiem (Washington).

Taste Profile:  100% Cabernet – “Refined and well defined with a lovely play of savory and sweet. Cassis, black cherry and blackberry fruit is accompanied by opulent notes of dark chocolate, espresso roast, and graphite. Silky tannins with amazing richness on the palate.”

Kevin’s Notes:  I worked with Baron Ziegler for three years buying multiple containers directly from Spain to the tone of 12,000 cases a year.  Consequently, I am not surprised at the stunning quality and the over-the-top value of this Cabernet. 

Cooper’s Price $29.99

4. Clos Pons Jan Syrah/Grenache, Costers del Segre, Spain

Education:  Costers del Segre is a DO (Denominación de Origen) wine region located in Catalonia, on the north-eastern coast of Spain. The name means ‘Banks of the Segre’ – a river which originates in the Pyrenees mountain ranges.

Catalonia (Catalunya in Catalan and Cataluña in Spanish) is an autonomous community in the north-east of Spain.  The capital of Catalonia is bustling Barcelona, the second largest city in Spain and home to one of the biggest ports on the Mediterranean Sea.

Kevin’s Notes:  For quite some time, I’ve been searching for outstanding Spanish reds for the money and this is one of them.  This a full-bodied, rich red wine with integrated North African spices.

Great wine for the BBQ, Mediterranean foods, and lamb – Tremendous Value!  

Cooper’s Price $14.99

We’ve gone outside the box for this one!

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Recipes, Specials, Spirits, Wine

1. Château La Mascaronne, Quat Saisons Rose 2018

Château La Mascaronne is owned by Tom Bove.  He was born and raised in Indiana. The 72-year-old American engineer and businessman–turned–wine producer continues to buy and restore neglected Provence wine estates such as this Chateau.

Bove has a rare touch. In 1993, he convinced his family to buy Provence’s historic Château Miraval, and the majestic 18th-century manor, and converted it to organic farming and winemaking. In 2012, he sold the 1,000-acre package for $60M to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.  With the money, he turned his attention to the acquisition and revival of Chateau La Mascaronne.

This rose is a blend of Cinsault and Grenache grapes.

Education:  What is Cinsault?  Cinsaut (often spelled Cinsault) is a dark-skinned grape variety traditionally used as a blending partner for Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre as part of the classic Southern Rhone blend. In rosé it provides aromatics, acidity and bright fruit flavors.  It’s simply a great rosé grape! Cooper’s Price $22.99

2. Walter Scott 2017 Freedom Hill Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley

Freedom Hill Vineyard is tucked into the coast range on a gentle southeast slope. Protected from the Van Duzer coastal winds, this vineyard has a warmer climate than the rest of the Eola-Amity Hills. The soils here are a sedimentary, uplifted seabed and are thought to be among the oldest in the region. This soil, combined with the microclimate and meticulous farming, consistently produces very structured wines.

Tasting Notes:  The 2017 Freedom Hill Chardonnay has delicate aromas of fennel, yellow flowers and mixed citrus; there is an emphasis on Meyer lemon with a hint of smoke lingering on the finish. The palate is a balance of density and elegance, with juicy acidity and a stony mineral finish.   

Kevin’s Notes:  This is BIG NEWS, we only have two cases of this amazing wine, but depending on our sales this weekend, but we may get more.  Trust me, there isn’t wine shop in the country tasting this wine. This is first vintage of this Chardonnay from this amazing vineyard.  Only 200 cases were produced! Cooper’s Price $49.99

Wild Roots All Natural Infused Vodkas

Wild Roots Distillery Infused Vodka offers all-naturally infused spirits. Utilizing the flavorful and abundant fruit from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Wild Roots Distillery’s Apple and Cinnamon, Raspberry, Marionberry, Pear, and the NEW Huckleberry infused vodkas taste as fresh and ripe as nature intended. 

Starting with a 5x distilled, and 5x filtered, grain-based vodka, each bottle of Wild Roots is infused with over a pound of all-natural Northwest-grown fruit. The flavors are bold, rich, and native to this idyllic region.  

Pear Basil Martini:  PEAR-BASIL MARTINI                                   

1.5 oz Wild Roots Pear Vodka

.5 elderflower liqueur

1 oz lemon juice

1 oz simple syrup

2 basil leaves

In a shaker with ice, muddle basil and a wedge of lemon. 

Add remaining ingredients and shake until icy and strain into a martini glass with pear wedge garnishes.

HUCKLEBERRY LEMONADE

2 oz. Wild Roots Huckleberry Vodka

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

Serve over ice with lemon slices

These wines are stunners!

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

1. Domaine Lelievre, Côtes de Toul Gris de Toul 2018 

The Region – Cote de Toul:  Roughly half way between Champagne and Alsace, in s straight line between Paris and Strasbourg, is the Côtes de Toul.  Grapes have been grown there since the Romans nearly 2000 years ago.

Wine Education:  Vin Gris = Gamay Noir (the most common grape variety in Cotes de Toul) and Pinot Noir as the main grape variety. For Vin Gris, at least two grape varieties must be used, and the major grape variety is not allowed to exceed 85%. At least 10% Pinot Noir must be used, and the total proportion of accessory grape varieties is not allowed to exceed 15%.  This wine is made from Gamay and Pinot Noir.  

More Education:  All rose wines are made from grapes that are blue, purple, or red.  All wine gets their color from the grape skins.  In other words, if you clip a bunch of Cabernet grapes and squeeze them the juice will be clear like 7-Up.  If you allow minimal amount of skin contact time the wine will be rose.  Regular Price $19.99 Cooper’s Price $16.99

2. Theorize Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2016

About Sauvignon Blanc – Sauvignon Blanc is a white grape planted throughout the world, and may also be labeled as Fumé Blanc.  It is the grape variety used in making the ever popular Sancere in Loire, France.  Sancerre is a small wine district in central France, famous for its crisp Sauvignon Blanc.  It is also blended with Semillon to make White Bordeaux and the dessert wines of Sauterne and Barsac.  

Winemaking: This wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.  Fermentation: 50% was fermented in stainless steel tanks and 50% was barrel fermented.  Aging: Aged 8 months, 80% French Oak (10% New oak barrels) and 20% stainless steel.  8 months on heavy lees stirred once every other week.  Lees = dead yeast cells and other particles remaining in a wine after fermentation. They settle as sediment at the bottom of the fermenting container.  Stirring the juice on the lees adds texture, weight and aromatics to the wine.  Its very labor intensive.

Taste Notes:  Color:  Shiny gold.  Nose/Smell:  Explosive lychee, peach, apricot and white flowers wrapped in subtle toasted almond.  Taste:  Crisp yet rich texture from the lees and barrel fermentation – flavors are indicative to the aromatics.  Fantastic complexity with restraint towards the use of the oak.  Regular Price $26.99  Cooper’s Price $17.99, while supplies last

3. Yves Cuilleron Syrah ‘Les Vignes d’a Cote’ 2017

The Cuilleron family domaine, located in the hamlet of Verlieu in Chavanay (in northern Rhone) was founded in 1920.  Yves grandfather was the first to bottle wine from this region for commercial purposes.  Domaine Cuilleron are famed in the Northern Rhone for stunning Syrah and Condrieu in an impressive portfolio. They’re very well known in classic Northern Rhone appellations such as Cote-Rotie and St Joseph. 

The region – Collines Rhodaniennes: Is in Northern Rhone.  The landscape is characterized by the hills and valleys that surround the Rhône River.  The soil is granite.

Winemaking: 100% Syrah.  The grapes are harvested by hand and destemmed at harvest.  Fermentation is in open-top cuvees with two week maceration.  Maceration = Is the winemaking process where the phenolic materials of the grape—tannins, coloring agents and flavor compounds—are leached from the grape skins, seeds and stems into the must. Aged eight months is stainless and barrel.
Critic review:  Bright purple. Ripe cherry, blackberry and violet on the perfumed nose. Round and fleshy but lively as well, offering dark fruit, allspice and cracked pepper flavors that pick up a smoky note on the back half. Deftly blends power and energy and finishes smooth and long, with ****** gentle tannins coming in late. Josh Raynolds, vinous.com  Cooper’s Price $21.99

4. Chateau Couronneau Bordeaux Superior 2015

This is 100% Merlot wine from Château Couronneau, an estate certified organically and biodynamically since 2009 and 2011 respectively

Wine Education: Bordeaux Superieur wines are, as their name implies, a slightly “superior” form of standard Bordeaux AOC wines.  The key differences lie in the vineyards, which must meet higher planting densities; the more vines there are the harder each has to fight for survival, resulting in stronger, deeper root systems and healthier vines. The maximum yield per hectare obtained from the vineyards is also 10 percent lower for the supérieur wines.

Tasting Notes: Color: dark purple Nose/Smell: black raspberries, black cherry and violets. Taste: dark black fruit, subtle spice, rich full-bodied and dense texture through the mid-palate with firm, but approachable tannins.  Overall:  Fantastic value.  2015 is regarded as an excellent vintage!  

What is biodynamic to wine?  Biodynamic viticulture is the practice of balancing this resonance between vine, man, earth and stars. Essentially, biodynamics is a holistic view of agriculture.  Regular Price $22.99 Cooper’s Price $19.99

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Spirits

Tasting Notes May 3rd, 2019

Education:  

  • Tequila vs Mezcal. One thing to remember, all Tequila is Mezcal, but not all Mezcal is Tequila. 
  • Mezcal is a term that applies to any spirit distilled from agave. 
  • “Tequila” is a reference to a specific town within the Mexican state of Jalisco. Production within this region is regulated by a governing body, much like wine in France or Italy, or whiskey in Scotland. It must be produced within the state of Jalisco (and a few municipalities in the nearby states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas).
  • Tequila is (by law) the product of just one agave varietal—Blue Weber, while Mezcal can be made from upwards of 30 varietals of agave—though the majority is made with agave Espadin.
  • Mezcal was, until recently, considered a poor man’s beverage. It wasn’t until 1994, when the government decided to regulate production of mezcal, limiting the area where it could be produced to regions in the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Durango, San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas. 
  • In Mezcal production, the agave hears are roasted and smoked in earthen pits before pressing, and distillation, giving it the characteristic smokey flavor.
  • Mezcal and tequila age designations: Joven/Blanco/Plata/Silver (0-2 months); Reposado or “rested” (2 months-1 year); Añejo or “old” (1-3 years); Extra Añejo (newer category, 3+ years)

Tequila Ocho Plata – Cooper’s Price $44.98

Currently the only single estate distillery to produce vintage-designated tequila. What does that mean? It means every bottle is designated with its vintage year and the specific agave field harvested. Each vintage produces tequila with aroma, flavor and character unique to that year and agave field. Tequila Ocho is sustainably managed and produced using long standing, respected production methods.

Profile:  Classic tequila aroma is evident as soon as the bottle is opened. There is sweet grass, creamy vanilla, and fresh roundness on the nose. There is very little burn to this tequila. Definite warmth and good, weighty mouthfeel. The flavor is light on the tongue with vanilla creaminess in the background. Very flavorful. 

Milagro Reposado – Cooper’s Price $19.98

Milagro “Miracle” uses agave that are an average of eight to twelve years old for their Tequila (others use agave as young as three years old). A more mature agave develops a better flavor and terroir, due to the longer growing period according to a number of experts. Milagro also uses a number of more traditional steps than many others – again, slower, more expensive processes, but they pay off in the long run.

Profile: Citrus, savory herbs, brine/alkali with a nice mineral feel, and grassy notes. Woody oak and pepper are nicely present with hints of vanilla as well. Finish is medium-long, with lingering dry herbs, minerality, and a touch of citrus. 

Dos Artes Extra Anejo, Limited Edition Sugar Skull – Cooper’s Price $179.99

Dos Artes literally translates to “two arts”; the first being the Tequila itself, and the second, obviously being the handmade bottles. These gorgeous bottles each take around 72 hours to complete. Starting with forming and baking the clay bottle, then hand-painting and back into the oven, then glazing and one last firing in the oven. This specific bottle is a limited edition of their Extra Añejo offering. The 

Profile:  Strong toasted oak, cooked agave, and grilled banana. Dark fruit, and marzipan, with a slight salinity, and huge notes of rich caramel sauce and vanilla bean from the extensive barrel aging. This is a truly special blend of 2-5 year old tequilas!

Mezcal Amarás Espadín – Cooper’s Price $44.99

The brand, which translates to “you will love,” was founded by Jorge Rodríguez-Cano and Santiago Suárez Cordova. It’s a collaboration between 5 mezcaleros in the village of San Juan del Río in Oaxaca. It’s made from 100% Espadín grown in the surrounding hills near the distillery that is roasted for 5 days in conical ovens over Holm Oak logs. It’s made the traditional way with horse-drawn mills for grinding, open pine containers for fermenting and copper pot distilling. Both the agave and the logs used to roast, are used sustainably, with more being replanted for every one taken.

Profile:  This is an approachable, and a particularly fruity mezcal that has some interesting mushroomy and pinecone notes in the background. Hot cinnamon spice warms the path to backwoods campfire smoke. Finishes smooth, with a little bit of sweetness to round it out.

A tasting rich in history!

Blogs, Featured Products, Public Tastings, Specials, Wine

April 26th, 2019 

6 Bar California Methode Champenoise Brut

Education:  Methode Champenoise, also known as Methode Traditionelle, is the conventional method used in the Champagne region of France to produce sparkling wine. It’s a labor-intensive process whereby wine undergoes a secondary fermentation inside the bottle, creating bubbles. “Brut” is a term applied to the driest sparkling wines. Brut wines contain less residual sugar than those labeled dry or extra dry. Extra Brut denotes a wine that’s extremely dry, sometimes totally dry, and may called Brut Nature or Brut Integral.

This wine:  6 Bar refers to the amount of pressure the cork is under, which means that it can fly out at speeds up to 60mph! 

Varietals:Traditional Champagne varietals.(Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier)

Profile:  Bright aromas of bread dough and white fruit, smooth mousse-like flavors, and a tingling finish.

Regular $16.99 Cooper’s Price $12.99 

Chateau de la Font du Loup Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2017

Education:  What is Chateauneuf-du-Pape? It is one of the most renowned appellations of the southern part in the Rhône Valley. The name literally translates to “new castle of the Pope”, which originates when the Pope moved to Avignon in 1309. The move was due to issues between the King of France and the Papacy. 8 different Popes served in Avignon, and the Papacy remained in Chateauneuf du Pape until 1378.

The wine:  The vineyards are nearly pure sand, and at one of the highest altitudes (cooler climate) within the region, which lends itself to a wine of high spirit and elegance.

Varietals:  Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette and Bourboulenc. 

Profile:  Aromas of toasted almonds and brown butter, hints of yellow flowers and forest floor. The texture is intriguingly viscous, yet structured, with great weight. This wine will benefit from a little decanting or just let it open up in your glass. 

Cooper’s Price $49.99

Orchard Lane New Zealand Pinot Noir

Education:  In past centuries the Māori people hunted Moa (large flightless birds) here and cultivated vast Kumara crops in the year round sunshine. Early European settlers established New Zealand’s pastoral industry on the fertile rolling hills of the river valleys. In 1873, long before the modern day vintners recognized the extraordinary potential of the region, pioneering Scottish farmer and grape grower David Herd, planted Marlborough’s first vineyard. It was to be another 100 years before that vision took root with the development of viticulture in Marlborough on a commercial scale.

The wine:  Small batch fermented from hand harvested fruit. 100% Pinot Noir.

Profile:  The wine is gently lifted on the nose displaying red/black cherry, game and mixed spice characters. The palate is juicy and bright with smooth texture and soft tannins, making the finish silky and appealing.

Cooper’s Price $18.99

Poggio Bonelli Chianti Classico

Education:  Chianti Classico is a DOCG in Tuscany, a region that has been making wine for over 3000 years. The expression “Classico” suggests this region is the origin of the primary Chianti grape, Sangiovese. DOCG = Denominazione di Origine Controllata Garantita. In 1980 the Italian wine board took quality control even one step beyond the regular DOC, creating DOCG. The G means the wine was submitted to governmental controlled tasting panel and they absolutely guarantee the stylistic authenticity of a wine. DOCG wines make up only 1-3% of all Italian wine produced. The wines must be at least 80% Sangiovese, the remaining 20% being other grapes, including native, Canaiolo and Colorino, as well as other international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The wine:  198 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards of which, only 88, are Chianti Classico. This winery has been in existence since the middle ages.

Varietals: 90% Sangiovese 10% Merlot

Profile:  Genuine and characteristic expression of Sangiovese. Ruby red color, intense and dense. The nose is wild fruit, sour cherry, dried herbs and leather. Dry decisive flavor, balanced by the delicate sweetness of the French oak barrel.

Regular $22 Cooper’s Price $19.99