Mar de Frades Albarino – Mar de Frades is a Galacian phrase for “Sea of the Friars. The Rias Baixas D.O. is located in Galicia, in the verdant Northwestern part of Spain, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Albarino is the finest grape variety in Rias Baixas and accounts for 90% of all the vineyards. Mar de Frades is 100% Albarino from Val do Salnes, Rias Baixas best sub-appellation.
Artisanally grown and made, only hand-picked and hand-sorted fruit is used. Made from 100% free run juice, Mar de Frades is the “best of the best. Mar de Frades is cold-fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
Kevin’s Notes: Yes, you’re reading this correctly – SAVE $11.00. This is an outstanding find from a wholesaler’s inventory reduction sale. It’s a terrific buy, and when it’d gone, it is gone!
Regular Price $22.99 Cooper’s Price $11.99
Scar of the Sea Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2016 – This Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is composed of 3 vineyards from Santa Maria Valley to Los Alamos. All of our Chardonnay was picked separately with grapes arriving to the winery early in the morning. After whole cluster pressing and cold settling the wine was racked to barrel where it was fermented with native yeast and aged for 8 months in 10 % New French Oak. Aromas of fresh guava coupled with citrus blossom are followed by oyster shell, lemon zest and white peach on the palate. This wine showcases vibrant acidity, a testament to Chardonnay from the cool climates of Santa Barbara County.
Kevin’s Notes: In the fall of 2017, Sharon and I were invited to a wonderful tour of Central Coast California’s wine region. While on the tour of the vineyards and facilities of Scar of the Sea we realized quickly the dedication owners Mike and Mikey carry towards making some of the finest wines in the world. This Chardonnay is their entry level Chardonnay. Its taste profile represents most wineries top level Chardonnay!
NEWS FLASH – Mikey Guigni, the winemaker for Scar of the Sea, paid us a visit Weds., and we tasted through much his wines and let me tell you, this wine is going to blow you away. I tasted this exact wine 5 months ago and it has evolved into this incredibly aromatic, richly-flavored and well-balanced Chardonnay. I mean, I thought it was great 5 months ago, but it is truly stunning at this price! Cooper’s Price $26.99
Cavallotto Bricco Langhe Nebbiolo 2015 – The Cavallotto family claims sole ownership of the beautiful Bricco Boschis cru in the Castiglione Falletto district (also home to Azelia), where they have been growing Nebbiolo since 1929 and bottling their own wine since 1948. These richly structured wines place emphasis on elegance and longevity, attributable to excellent vineyards in the Bricco Boschis and Vignolo crus and traditional long maturation periods in large Slovenian-oak casks.
“Cavallotto’s 2015 Langhe Nebbiolo is a terrific wine available at a price point far below Barolo or Barbaresco. This is a simple and honest expression of the mighty Piedmont grape that delivers extra succulence and primary fruit. You will recognize aromas of black cherry and wild rose with some tangy spice on the close. This is an elastic wine in terms of bottle production. Because the fruit can be used to make Barolo, this wine fluctuates greatly in terms of numbers vintage to vintage. For example, 26,000 bottles were produced in 2015, but that was cut to 6,000 in the 2016 vintage. Cavallotto was so happy with the 2016 fruit, they happily made more Barolo instead. On the bright side, that means more high-quality Barolo fruit went into this 2015 Langhe Nebbiolo.”(ML) The Wine Advocate (6/2018) Regular Price $39.99 Cooper’s Price $34.99
Mercedes Eguren Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 – This wine was produced from a 30-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in the Vino de la Tierra de Castilla appellation (a large swath of land in the region of La Mancha), this Cab has delicious, balanced dark currant fruit, and a subtle influence from a six-month stint in American oak.
Winemaker’s Description: Deep ruby red in the glass. Flavors of black berries, blueberries and red currants mix intensive with notes of black pepper, tobacco, toffee and precious woods. At the palate balanced, silky and voluminous. Gentle tannins providing a long, lasting aromatic, rich finish.
Kevin’s Notes: This is a terrific bottle wine for the money. The winery in Spain accidently sent the wholesaler some 2013 vintage. It was meant to be sold at the winery Spain! You rarely see wines at this price with an older vintage! Regular Price $22.99 Cooper’s Price $11.99
Wine Education:
“Free Run” is the terminology used to describe the juice that flows freely from freshly picked grapes before they are pressed. When bunches of grapes are stacked up on top of each other, the sheer weight of all the the fruit results in the release of some liquid.”
Nebbiolo is the grape variety behind the top-quality red wines of Piedmont, northwestern Italy, the most notable of which are Barolo and Barbaresco. Wines from just outside the borders of Barolo and Barbaresco may be classified as Langhe Nebbiolo, as well as, wines from young vines, less favored plots, within these two famous appellations. The high-quality red wines of Roero, just across the Tanaro river from Barolo, are further affordable alternatives to Barolo and Barbaresco.
Whole cluster: This can refer to whole cluster pressing and/or whole cluster fermentation, where pressing and/or fermentation happen without the stems having been removed from the berries.
