Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2013
Founded in 2010 by Rajat Parr, the wine director for Mina Group restaurants, Charles Banks, the former owner of Jonata Wines and Screaming Eagle, and esteemed winemaker Sashi Moorman, Sandhi Wines is a boutique California winery focusing on select Santa Barbara County vineyards. The individual vineyards from which these grapes originate–some legendary, some new–have been exhaustively vetted for character, personality, and balance.
Since being founded in 2010 the wines have immediately received widespread acclaim – the Wine Advocate said recently “It is conceivable that within a few years the Sandhi Chardonnays and Pinots could become reference point, benchmark wines for Santa Barbara, and California, for that matter”.
Tasting Notes: Brimming with high-toned, youthful aromatics, the 2013 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir leads with crunchy red fruits of pomegranate, wild strawberry, and sun-warmed raspberry. The exuberantly fruited nose is undergirded with orange zest, black tea, tea rose, and faint hints of clove and spice. The bright, vivacious palate carries a taut mineral streak through to a lengthy finish lifting the red fruit notes with a whisper of anise.
Regular Price $34.99
Cooper’s Price $24.99
Hawk Crest Red Hills, Lake County Cabernet 2008
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars has produced Hawk Crest wines since 1974 with an eye towards crafting approachable, fruit forward wines of high quality and great value. Over the years, the winemaking team has carefully selected vineyards in some of California’s most promising growing areas to source fruit for Hawk Crest Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. This pursuit led us to areas like Red Hills Lake County, an emerging appellation just fifteen miles north of Napa Valley that produces well-structured, food-friendly Cabernet.
Wine Tasting Notes: Beautiful and inviting, this garnet wine beckons with rich aromas of vanilla, cedar, and plum. The palate is enveloped by the smooth and graceful structure, adorned with vanilla, Bing cherry, and black plum. The mid-palate has a perfumed lift, and the finish lingers with a hint of cedar.
Kevin’s Notes: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is one of the most prestigious wineries in California and they were one of the first wineries to create a “second label” in California (a wine without the wineries name on it, yet made with continuous high standards). Hawk Crest is NOT new. It’s been around for over 30 years, but I have not seen a bottle for over 15 years so what a surplice when this came through my door. This wine is nearly 10 years and it’s stunning. In a blind tasting even the most studious palate will come up wrong on the price of this wine! Go out, get a filet and lift a glass of this for dinner. She’ll love ya’ for it!
Cooper’s Price $11.99
Casa Bianchi, New Age White and Red from Argentina
Valentin Bianchi is a 3rd generation, family-owned Argentine winery from 1928 that is respected for its traditional Argentine wines. Their wines are staples at the finest restaurants and most chic bars and clubs in Buenos Aires and are found in the country’s best wine shops.
The fruit is hand-picked followed by crushing, cooling of crushed grapes, and pressing. Fermentation begins by inoculating with selected yeasts. Halfway through the fermentation process, the wine is centrifuged (spun) to halt fermentation, creating a slightly sweet, semi-sparkling wine.
New Age White is 90% Torrontes and 10% Sauvignon Blanc it’s a light yellow-green colored wine, with fruity and floral aromas of great intensity. Balanced acidity leads to soft, semi-sweet and slightly effervescent flavors and mouth feel. It is an extremely refreshing, vivacious and exhilarating wine.
New Age Red grapes are picked by hand from the Valentin Bianchi Estate vineyards, the grapes are crushed and cooled, followed by 12 hours of cold maceration (to pull the color from the skins) and pressing. Fermentation begins by inoculation with selected yeasts, half- way through the fermentation process the wine is centrifuged (spun) to halt fermentation, creating a slightly sweet, semi-sparkling wine. This wine should be served well-chilled as an aperitif or dessert. Also tastes great with spicy , savory and sweet dishes. It is 70% Bonarda and 30% Malbec.
Kevin’s Notes: The New Age products are wonderful for several simple reasons which have greatly contributed to the wine industry. Much like White Zinfandel of the 1980’s and 90’s, New Age is terrific link pin to American wine consumers due to its refreshing semi-sweet attributes and its ability to be prepared much like a cocktail at resaurants, clubs and consumers homes. It’s also a great wine pairing as American consumers have moved towards more spicy, bold-flavored cuisine! So reach for a glass of terrific flavored low alcohol wine and see what I mean. Cheers !!!
Coopers Price $12.99
