April 19th, 2019
Anne Amie “Cuvee A” Willamette Rose – Midnight Saignee is a dry, deeply fruity wine, layered with complex Pinot noir character. A saignee requires timing and balance, and like much of harvest, the right moment often occurs late at night. We produce a limited amount of this wine each year, using the saignée technique and fermenting in neutral French oak barrels. Grapes were hand-picked, meticulously hand sorted, then destemmed into open top, stainless steel fermenters. The must was cold-soaked for five days. On the 2nd day, the fermenters receive a saignee (bleeding off a small percentage of juice) in order to concentrate flavors (and control alcohol levels). This rosé wine is a blend of all of our pinot noir saignée lots, representing multiple vineyards and AVAs. Each lot was racked to neutral French oak barrels and barrel fermented using multiple yeast cultures. It was fermented to dryness and allowed to remain on the lees until blending. Aromas of lemon meringue, starfruit, kumquat, and flint. Flavors of Japanese plum, grapefruit, feijoa, and Meyer lemon. Regular $18 Cooper’s Price $15.99
Raeburn Russian River Chardonnay – Born and raised in Bakersfield California, Derek Benham entered the wine industry immediately after graduation from college. In 1990 Derek and his brother founded the Codera Wine Group and created the Blackstone brand; in 2001 they sold Blackstone, dissolved Codera, and created the Purple Wine Company based in Graton California. Derek started the Raeburn Winery only in 2014, as a nod to classic California Chardonnay. The wine is elegant and expressive, with bright fruit character and creaminess; it was aged on the lees for six months for enhanced complexity, flavor and texture. This lovely and lingering white impresses from start to finish, showing a wealth of pear and peach flavors within an inviting jasmine aroma. It finishes in swift teases of wild vanilla and subtle oak.Regular $20 Cooper’s Price $18.99
Laura Lorenzo Camino de La Frontera Tinto – Arribes is a dramatic region bordering the Duero River where it slices Portugal from Spain. Its remoteness seems to be its allure, to Lorenzo, who is a vineyard whisperer and well regarded for bringing back wild, or lost historic vines, and creating exciting wines with them. In Camino de la Frontera, Laura Lorenzo finesses the indomitable local variety Juan Garcia, co-planted and co-fermented with Tempranillo, Bobal, Rufete, Mencía, Garnacha, and more from 100-130 year-old vines in the town of Fermoselle. A wonderful mix of tangy fresh fruits and natural earthy elements with a lighter frame, with firm tannins somewhat reminiscent of Nebbiolo, while unfamiliar in a way that makes it gloriously new and riveting with every sip. This wine follows Laura’s style of allowing these ancient vines to speak in their own voices, with native yeast fermentation in tank, no manipulation, and very low sulfur. Medium body, this delicately hued red is full of interest, starting on the nose with floral tones, moist earth, and wild herbs. Brooding, structured black and purple bramble fruit leads to a velvety palate with grilled fennel, salty black licorice, finishing with flint/gravelly elements, saddle leather, currant, herbal tea spices and faint flower blossom. This wine gets more generous with food and time in the glass, bringing a riper profile forward and becomes more textural in mouth-feel.Regular $32 Cooper’s Price $29.99
Rigo Barbera d’Alba – Located in Diano d’Alba, in the heart of the Langhe region, all their wines are cultivated and produced, respecting the CEE Environmental Protection Agency rules. The Rigo Wines Estate is a family run company, managed bt Silvano and his father Secondo, who started the project. The vineyards cover a total area of approximately 10 hectares and are located mostly in the “Sori Piadvenza” at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level.Barbera is one of the Italian varieties that is sought-after around the world. This particular example is wonderfully different and expertly crafted. Usually, Barbera is heavily oaked, to allow the wines to have long aging potential. But what many don’t know is that it also makes fresh, balanced and elegant wines that drink superbly at a younger age. This particular example is made to be enjoyed young. Intense ruby red color, with floral aromas leading way to a palate of strawberry and cherry, soft tannins yet full-bodied with hints of liquorice, and herbs.Cooper’s Price $17.99
