August 19th and 20th Tasting
Buy 3 out of 4 wines from this week’s tasting for 10% off your purchase!
La val Rias Baixas Albarino 2015
“Bodegas La Val was established in 1985 and was one of the first wineries in Rias Baixas. Unusual for the area, La Val produces its wines soley from their estate grown grapes rather than buying from local growers.
Quality minded producers like La Val let the new wine rest a bit longer in tank so the harsh aspects of the wines’ acidity has softened.”
Tasting Notes and Kevin’s Notes: “Quintessential Albarino…on the nose it shows aromas of lemon, melon, apple, and fresh herbs. In the mouth it is fresh and zesty, with citrus notes, a touch of refreshing minerality, and a long, clean, racy finish.” This summer I have tasted a lot of Albarino from Spain and this is my favorite. Albarino is an awesome warm weather wine that’s terrific on the patio or the dinner table. This wine is a rock star from a great Importer.
Regular Price $16.99
Cooper’s Price $14.99
Jigar Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2012
Located in the heart of enchanting Sonoma County, CA, our family-owned boutique winery places an emphasis on showcasing the terroir of the region. Our small production winemaking techniques allow us to create wines that are a worthy representation of the vineyards from which they originate.
This wine is delightfully exotic and intensely fruity, with ripe, juicy pineapple, guava and minerality. Pure, clean, and focused, it gains depth and dimension on the mid-palate, yet has an elegant and persistent finish.
The young Jigar Patel started as an amateur winemaker after two years of this and another 1-2 years running the forklift, he got the chance to be involved in the fermentation of the grapes into wine. He made his own wine under his name and received an “Editor’s Choice Award” from the Wine Enthusiast. After quickly receiving accolades he realized he had to start his winery. He built his winery in 2013.
Regular $21.99
Cooper’s Price $17.99
André Brunel Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée Sabrine
The Brunel family has been in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region since the 17th century and has been fully committed to making wine for five generations. In 1971, André Brunel took over the reins of the Domaine. His endless motivation resulted in a rapid growth for the Domaine. He also made some considerable changes in the vine management in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to use the ground covering method and to proceed with a non-chemical approach to wine-farming.
Tasting Notes and Kevin’s Comments: This wine displays notes of black cherry, minerality, licorice, leather, and wild herbs. Earthy and rich, it is a full-bodied fleshy wine fashioned in a supple open style. The wine will pair well with medium to rich flavored cheese, cured meats, BBQ, lamb and a simple cheese burger. Rarely, do you find a wine of this quality and pedigree below $25. In a blind tasting, this wine would easily be confused as a Chateauneuf du Pape!
Regular Price $18.99
Cooper’s Price $15.99
Elsa Bianchi Medoza, Argentina Malbec
The grapes for this single-vineyard wine come from Valentin Bianchi’s Doña Elsa Estate, situated in Rama Caída, San Rafael, Mendoza, around 2500 feet above sea level. One of the coolest areas in San Rafael, the grapes are hand-picked and twice sorted by hand, the grapes are then crushed, fermented at controlled temperatures in stainless steel tanks and inoculated with selected yeasts. There is minimal French oak aging in an effort to keep fruit fresh, lively and prominent, with a further one month’s aging in the bottle.
This Malbec is red-violet in color, with aromas of plums and black cherries and a subtle, smoky scent. The beauty of Malbec in Argentina is its ability to combine a rich, weighty mouth-feel with a soft silkiness normally associated with lighter wines. Elsa Malbec takes the promise of the nose through to the palate, with dark fruits that mimics the aroma. The soft, supple palate and smooth tannins lead to a round and harmonious finish.
Regular $14.99
Cooper’s Price $11.99
