FVINE Vinho Verde from Portugal
Vinho Verde is place not a grape variety! Vinho Verde is the biggest DOC – The letters DOC refers to government guarantees of the wines' origins – of Portugal, up in the cool, rainy, verdant northwest. The vines grow in fertile, granite soils along rivers that flow from the mountains of the east to burst out into the ocean between golden surfing beaches. Mostly a wine made from alvarinho in this DOC is referred to as an “Alvarinho” not a “vinho verde.” Vinho Verde is distinguished by its high acidity. Most white Vinho Verde can be relied upon to be light, crisp and aromatic, often with a light prickle of fizz, sometimes with a touch of sweetness.
Kevin’s Notes: Vinho Verde wines are wonderful during the warmer months due to their bright, refreshing acidity, subtle spritzy character, and low alcohol. Being from Portugal, they’re also an awesome choice for most shellfish dishes and anything salty.
Cooper’s Price $9.99
Darting Durkheimer Nonnergarten Kabinett Riesling 2015
Many German winemakers have gone on record saying that 2015 is the best vintage in recent memory, if not their lifetime. A warm, dry summer insured ripeness while the cool fall kept the growing season long and even, perfect for Riesling. This 2015 Durkheimer Nonnengarten Kabinett Riesling comes from Weingut (winery) Kurt Darting in the Pfalz, and it’s a beauty. Winemaker Helmut Darting practices a minimal-intervention winemaking style with purity and typicity emphasized at every level. It’s lightly sweet with bright orchard fruit and lip smacking acidity, pair this delicious German white with everything from raw bar seafood to Szechuan-style Chinese cuisine.
Kevin’s Notes: Last week, we poured two different German Rieslings and we sold out of them Friday and Saturday. This week we received 3 cases of Darting ONE liters so why not show another awesome German Riesling. With the one liter size you get 1/3 more wine
Cooper’s Price $15.99
Velenosi Lacrima di Morro d’Alba; Marche, Italy
Our passion is driven by the expectation of the moment when the harvest begins, to see the birth of the wine and discover rich aromas. It is the search for the perfect balance between taste and color, in 1984, founded the winery Velenosi. The Hercules and Angela Poisonous entrepreneurs have been combined traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology, creatively reinterpreting the winemaking process. Marche is a region east of Tuscany on the Adriatic Sea. Morro di Alba is a sub-appellation within Marche. The grape is Lacrima. The intriguing name Lacrima means 'teardrop', but there is no clear and unanimously accepted story attached to it.
Kevin’s Notes: Being fermented and aged in stainless steel creates fantastic bright purple fruit and violets aromas – exotic. The wine is pure of dark raspberry, savory licorice and sweet herbs – this wine is flashy in the simplest form – way too much fun.
Cooper’s Price $14.99
Ground Effect Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet 2014
Ground Effect Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new red wine gem from the Santa Ynez Valley in California. 75% of the grapes were harvested from vineyards within the Happy Canyon AVA, with the balance of the fruit coming from sites in the Solvang area. It was hand-harvested and fermented in small, open topped fermenters, as well as larger tanks using native yeasts. Only 1100 cases were produced. Ground Effect Cabernet Sauvignon shows nice ripeness of rich, dark berry and stone fruits with hints of herbs and spice. It has a beautiful palate impression with depth and intensity of flavor while remaining bright on the finish. Predominately Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. Aged 16 months in predominately neutral, French oak, 15% new. Enjoy Ground Effect Cabernet Sauvignon over the next 5-7 years with steak, roast duck, rich vegetarian dishes and sharp cheeses.
Kevin’s Notes: Here it is – a stunning Cabernet for $20. This price point is really…hard to find for great Cabernet from California. I love this Cabernet so much I made an offer to stack this Cabernet for 3 months so the wholesaler made me a deal.
Cooper’s Price – $19.99
