Cooper’s Tasting – March 3rd & 4th
La Viarte Friulano from Friuli, Italy 2015
From a young age Giuseppe Ceschin had a great passion for wine, studying enology as soon as he was old enough and traveling around Italy gaining experience working for wineries in various regions. With the support of his wife, Carla, he followed his dream to Friuli, where the couple worked for thirteen long years before seizing an opportunity to purchase 35 hectares (86 acres) in Prepotto. In 1984 the family finally celebrated their first harvest and the realization of their dream. They chose the Friulian word for springtime as the name of the estate since it was the beginning of a new era in their lives
Kevin’s Notes: Friuli Venezia Giulia is a northeast Italian region bordering Austria, Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea. Its home to the sharp-peaked Dolomite Mountains and vineyards producing white wines and some reds. For me, Friuli produces some of the greatest whites in the world and certainly the best white wines of Italy and this wine is a STRONG example! This is wine is tickle the buds and put a smile on your face.
Regular Price $24.99
Cooper’s Price $19.99
Hild Elbling Trocken Mosel, Germany 2015
Matthias Hild farms 5ha (only 12.5 acres) in the upper Mosel doing something that makes almost zero financial sense: saving old, terraced parcels of Elbling. In this area, however, it’s important to understand Elbling is something of a religion. It’s a culture, a regional dialect that is spoken through this wine of rigorous purity, of joyous simplicity, of toothsome acidity. The joy of Elbling is its raucous acidity, the vigor and energy, the fact that it is so low in alcohol.
Kevin’s Notes: In my 35 years of being in the wine business I have NEVER heard of the grape Elbling, but now I have. This wine is from Mosel, Germany, home of the world’s greatest Riesling. It comes from the Upper region where the soil is much different and not well suited for Riesling. You will notice the word “Trocken” on the label. It means Dry in German. This is a fabulous wine and I could not wait for Spring to buy it.
Regular price $17.99
Cooper’s Price $15.99
Chateau Bernadotte 2010
Chateau Bernadotte takes its name from a previous owner, Marshal Bernadotte, who had connections to royalty. Marshal Bernadotte was appointed the Sovereign Prince by Napoleon I. However, the vineyard was not always known as Bernadotte. In fact, that name is quite recent. Prior to 1997, the estate was known as Chateau Fournas.
The name was changed in 1997 when what we know of as Chateau Bernadotte was purchased by Madame de Lencquesaing from Curt Eklund.
The 35 hectare Left Bank vineyard of Chateau Bernadotte has a terroir of gravel and sand with some clay in the soil. The vineyard is planted to 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot . On average, the vines are 25 years of age. The vines are planted to a density of 6,500 vines per hectare.
Kevin’s Notes: 2010 Vintage is considered one of the top five vintages in Bordeaux. Once this sold out I may be able to buy it again, but I will be considerably more expensive. Cooper’s Price $29.99
Pascual Toso Estate Malbec 2015
When in the mid 1880s Pascual Toso set out towards Argentina from its home town, in Piamonte, Italy, he could not have imagined that he would become the founder of a winery, which is today one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in Argentina.
When he arrived in Argentina, he settled in Mendoza. As he had been closely involved in the development of his family wine business in Piedmont, he promptly saw the promising future for winemaking in the region and decided to use his expertise. Thus, in 1890, Pascual Toso established his first winery in San José, Guaymallén.
At the beginning of the 20th century, he decided to expand his business and acquired vineyards in Maipú. At his estate “Las Barrancas”, he built another winery, “Las Barrancas” (small Canyon) which is dedicated to producing and growing the finest grapes.
Today, Pascual Toso still makes wines of high quality under the most exigent procedures and rules. The Trophy for Best Argentine Producer awarded by the IWSC (London) in 2007 reflects this commitment to quality.
Regular Price $14.99
Cooper’s Price $12.99
