Boise Coop Wine Shop

Weekend Tasting: Red, White and Rose

• May 15, 2008
• No Comments

It’s not true that all we ever sample is French wine, it just seems that way, and the past couple of weeks have done nothing to alter that impression. But despite the weak dollar, many of our best buys still come from France, so the trend continues. This weekend we will again be featuring wines from North Berkeley Imports (a Beaujolais) and Robert Kacher Selections (a white and a rosé).

2005 Michel Rey Juliènas Tres Vieille Vigne, $14.99

2005 was an outstanding vintage in Beaujolais, some say even better than 2003, which is high praise indeed. While 2003 produced wines of incredible concentration, 2005 has delivered everything we could want in great Beaujolais—abundant aromatics, sweet, juicy flesh, and a freshness that speaks of the region’s impressive terroirs. Juliénas combines the meaty structure you find in Moulin-à-Vent, with the delicious complexity of a Morgon and the flowery fruit of a Fleurie. Michel Rey’s vines are at least 90 years old, and many are undoubtedly older. Rey is truly a microproducer, bottling less than 1,000 cases a year. This wine offers a gorgeous nose of lavender and cherries with a super-chewy, delicious mouth of black and red fruits, perfect balance and a very juicy profile! Big, dark, deep and dense.

2007 Domaine du Tariquet Sauvignon, $9.99

Since 1912 Château du Tariquet has been home to the Grassa family. They first gained notoriety for Hélène and Pierre Grassa’s Armagnac, which is still produced today. In the 1980’s their children, Maïté and Yves, broke all the rules by producing their first still wines, a blend of Ugni Blanc and Colombard. Wine production is strictly controlled within the Domaine from viticulture to bottling and adheres to sustainable agriculture. To prevent oxidation the grapes are taken directly from the vines to the vats in isothermal tanks. The estate features a water treatment facility and they recycle and reuse all materials. The innovative “bottling to order” at Domaine du Tariquet guarantees consistent quality and freshness. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc displays intense floral notes, as well as great minerality. Its beautiful texture will be the perfect accompaniment to any fish or seafood dishes.

2007 Château Guiot Rosé, $9.99

Located in the Costières de Nîmes appellation, Guiot’s proprietors François and Sylvia Cornut grow both beautiful grapes, and incredible fruit (apricots & cherries), in the area where the Provence, Rhône and Languedoc regions all meet around the mouth of the Rhône River. All work is done by hand with great care and skill, and their wines reflect the authentic Provençal setting. This dry rosé is bursting with flavor and fruit, it is a blend of Grenache and Syrah, with a small dollop of Cinsault. This wine has lovely color, deeper than most Rosé.

Drop by the Boise Co-op Wine Shop this Friday, May 16, between 4:30 and 6:30 pm or Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 pm for a free taste of these wines.

Red, White and French

• May 8, 2008
• No Comments

This week we are featuring wine from two of our favorite importers: a bargain priced white from Robert Kacher Selections, and a delicious red Rhône from North Berkeley Imports.

2007 Domaine du Pouy Côtes du Gascogne, $7.99

Yves Grassa, the proprietor of Domaine de Pouy, has invested intelligently in modern vinification equipment in order to assure that this exuberant, super aromatic, dry white is the standard to which others are held. The wine is a perennial Robert Parker best buy, and year in and year out it is our top selling white wine. The estate is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the Côtes du Gascogne about two hours southwest of Bordeaux. The region is best known for Armagnac which is made predominately from Ugni Blanc and Colombard, the same two grapes for the blend in this vibrant wine. The fresh and floral nose has notes of grass, grapefruit and lime. It is loaded with fresh fruit flavors including sweet grapefruit and loquat with a crisp texture and touches of mineral on the finish. Priced for everyday consumption we call it the perfect “refrigerator white,” and just to be sure you always have one in yours this spring and summer you’ll want to buy it by the case. You’ll save an extra 15% off the already low price when you do.

2006 Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône, Vieilles Vignes, $18.99

Clos du Caillou wines arguably represent some of the finest values in all of France. Proprietor Sylvie Vacheron and winemaker Bruno Gaspard (pictured left in the vineyard) are keeping the great work of the late Jean-Denis Vacheron alive with wines that are heady, robust and mouth-wateringly lush. Caillou tends wonderfully old Grenache vines, some of which are 70 to 100 years old. With older Syrah and Mourvèdre added to the mix, it’s no wonder that Caillou wines are across the board impressive for their power, extract and deep minerality. The estate’s Châteauneuf terroir borders the impressive domaines of Chateau Rayas and Beaucastel. Yet many of the Vacheron-Pouizin family’s old vines are classified, by a quirk of 1923 politics, Côtes-du-Rhône and Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages. It’s why our Côtes-du-Rhône barrel selection shows surprisingly like its kin in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In 1996 Jean-Denis Vacheron took full control of the viticulture and élévage at this estate. Under his stewardship, the wines of Caillou steadily gained stature, and today are benchmarks for the appellation. He understood that temperature-controlled fermentation and a cool, clean cellar are necessary to craft wines with refinement and true complexity.

Think Pink for Spring

• April 30, 2008
• No Comments

If you haven’t been paying attention lately, pink wine is the big new thing. Well, not so new really. For the last couple of years rosés have been a hot ticket. They are the perfect wine for warmer spring and summer weather when a big red or oaky Chardonnay just doesn’t cut it. We’re not talking about incipiently sweet offerings like White Zinfandel, but crisp, refreshing blends from Spain, Italy or the south of France where they know something about living with the heat.

We have a bunch of new bottlings headed on their way to the Boise Co-op Wine Shop, but there’s no reason to wait for their arrival. Plenty of 2006s are still available and they are still drinking great. Okay, we admit we might have overbought and we need to make room for the new, so every bottle of pink still in the store has been deeply discounted. Our goof—your gain.

Here are just a few examples of the great buys on rosé you’ll find at the Wine Shop:

2006 Chateau d’Oupia Minervois Rosé (reg. $10.99) Sale price $7.99
A blend of Grenache and Syrah with just a touch of Cinsault, this is an elegantly structured charmer with a harmonious hit of acidity that keeps things crisp and refreshing. Still has the depth of flavor with creamy cherry and tropical fruit flavors that will beautifully match the cool spring weather.

2006 Domaine Sauvete Meli-Melo Touraine Rosé (reg. $14.99) Sale price $11.49
Sharing the same wonderful complexity and depth displayed by the 2005, this 2006 is a serious step up—so much so that you might want to make sure you’re sitting down while you enjoy it. Completely organic and mind-bogglingly fresh. Want to drink a ruby? Here’s your chance.

2006 Verget du Sud Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé (reg. $12.99) Sale price $9.99
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, all tank made. A deep, dense hue shows all the aromatic beauty and depth of Cabernet, with a bouquet of red roses and the precision of high-altitude fruit. Handfuls of black pepper keep every sip alive and vibrant.

Ketchum’s Frenchman’s Gulch Winery

• April 24, 2008
• No Comments

Location, location, location. Those three words rule real estate in general, as well as wineries and vineyards, more specifically. That’s why so many new facilities are springing up along the Snake River AVA in Southwest Idaho. But how about opening a winery at the base of Bald Mountain in Ketchum. Great if you love the snow, and at an elevation of 5750 feet the vistas are dazzling. Of course the things that make this location so visually stunning work against the growing of grapes. That’s why the family owned Frenchman’s Gulch Winery sources their fruit from eastern Washington. They work closely with the vineyard owners, paying by the acre not the ton to keep yields low. Small lot production with minimal intervention characterizes this wineries philosophy with all their wines bottled unfiltered. Check out these Idaho offerings:

2003 Frenchman’s Gulch Cuvee, $11.99

2003 Frenchman’s Gulch Syrah, $12.99

2003 Frenchman’s Gulch Cabernet, $12.99

Rhône Wine Tasting

• April 17, 2008
• No Comments

Join us for a wine tour of the Rhône Valley, April 27 at 3 pm. Bobby and Christian will present 8 to10 different wines from the Northern and Southern Rhône paired with scrumptious culinary delights prepared by Chef Richard Langston. We will take you through the ins and outs of all the different grapes and blends of this famous region of France. From Chateauneuf du Pape to Cote Rotie, we will demystify the mysteries of the mysterious Rhône Valley. Just $35 gets you a spot at the table: 4 flights of wine, 4 wonderful plates of food, and an experience you will never forget. Café Vicino is taking reservations, which are required. Please call 472-1463. Look forward to seeing you there.