SPRING INTO COOPER THIS WEEKEND AND TASTE:
Domaine Magellan Le Fruit Défendu Rose 2021
One of the more inventive vintners in the Languedoc is former Burgundy winemaker Bruno Lafon, who is now based in the obscure Côtes de Thongue appellation. Lafon moved to the Languedoc in 1998 to start his own winery, Domaine Magellan, with his sister-in-law, Sylvie Legros.
When he and Legros bought the estate in 1999, it was a rundown collection of vineyards planted to a multitude of grape varieties; its former owner had planted the range to see which grapes would work best there. Today, Lafon has rehabilitated the estate and now manages 104 acres planted to a salad bowl of 13 different varieties.
The Rosé Fruit Défendu is 50% Cinsault and 50% Grenache pressed and fermented after short skin contact in stainless steel at cool temperature. This is a subtle rosé with deep pink color; notes of strawberry and cherry; light body and a dry, refreshing finish. It’s a solid match for ham, chicken, curry based sauces, an awesome BLT! Cooper’s Price $12.99 Mix & Match 3btls Price $11.69
Division Musical Chairs 2021
Division Winemaking Company is a Portland, Oregon based winery founded in 2010 by Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe. Inspired by the wineries of the Loire, Beaujolais, Burgundy and the Northern Rhone, where Kate and Thomas first learned winemaking and viticulture, Division crafts approachable and balanced wines with an emphasis on minimal manipulation in the cellar.
The 2021 Division “Musical Chairs” is a mosaic of floral, spicy, and intriguing aromatics, which makes sense given this esoteric blend. Made up of Muller Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and a touch of Gewürztraminer, this wine will pair well with Thai, Seafood and anything with salt.
Tasting Notes Playful and bright and everything nice. This melliflous mingle of blanc grapes flows out of the bottle and into your glass for immediate lip smacking approval. As ever, the amazingly talented Minneapolis based artist Ashley Mary captures our playful fun in bottle just perfectly!
Cooper’s Price $24.99 Mix & Match 3btls Price $22.49
Division Pinot Noir “Un Willamette Valley 2021
We are thrilled with the 2021 Pinot Noir “Un” which just screams “PINOT NOIR” out of the glass. A near-perfect harmony between savory and fruity characteristics. The palate is dense in fruit and character with balanced tannins and acidity that carry the wine completely and seductively to smiles and enjoyment.
In a region so well known for Pinot Noir, the challenge is creating a distinct voice that speaks to our vision of this legendary grape. Matching the right approach to the site and vintage is key to our approach. As in years past, we approach the Pinot Noir “Un” cuvée as our opportunity to make a vintage character wine in our lighter, finesse-driven style. It is a Willamette Valley cuvée wine designed to perform well above its price point.
Our Pinot Noir vineyards are farmed with a focus on sustainability. Our mission to work with only organically and/or Biodynamically farmed and 100% herbicide-free sites is almost complete, with all but one vineyard hitting our criteria. Cooper’s Price $32.99 Mix & Match 3btls Price $29.69
Chateau d’Oupia, Minervois Rouge 2019
André Iché inherited an impressive 13th century castle and a large estate in the barren Minervois region. Iché was never a member of his village coop, tended his very old vines and made his wines but sold everything in bulk to local négociants. One day, a Burgundian winemaker happened to be in Oupia, tasted Iché’s wines, and was so enthused that he convinced Iché to bottle and market his production.
Winemaking – The Carignan goes through a full carbonic maceration. The Grenache and Syrah are destemmed and macerate 30 days with two pumped over twice a day. The wine ferments with selected yeasts and ages in concrete tanks until bottling.
Taste – “Château d’Oupia has produced the ideal bistro wine. Dark, ruby-colored, the wine is wonderfully clean and pure, with an exuberant personality, and gobs of rich, peppery, red and black fruit…Bravo to proprietor André Iché!” Cooper’s Price $15.99 Mix & Match 3btls Price $14.38
