Boise Coop Wine Shop

Wine Notes: A Mixed Bag

• June 5, 2008

We’re featuring a wine of every color: red, white and pink. The white is a value priced Chardonnay from Argentina, the red a best buy Pinot Noir from Chile and the rosé a favorite from the south of France.

2006 Dona Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay, $7.99

Los Cardos translates from the Spanish as the thistles. The parent winery, Dona Paula chose that name because in the Mendoza region of Argentina it is believed that where the thistle thrives, the terroir is ideal for wine grapes. The vineyards for this Chardonnay lie 3000 feet above sea level. Located in the shadow of the Andes, a perpetual cooling breeze descends from the mountains. Cold fermentation and limited time in oak helps preserve the fresh fruit flavors that are crisp and lively.

2007 Cono Sur Pinot Noir, $8.99

Founded in the “Southern Cone” of South America in 1993, this Chilean winery’s motto is: No family trees, no dusty bottles, just quality wine. They have definitely achieved the latter, combining top quality with exceptional value. Pinot Noir is not an easy grape to manage and most priced under ten bucks taste like cheap red wine, showing little of the character and charm that make this grape so popular. But the Cono Sur tastes like very good Pinot Noir with rich fruit notes of cherry, raspberry, plum and strawberry. It has excellent structure and balance with fine tannins and light notes of leather and smoked meat. If that sounds more like a $20 Pinot, then you get the idea. This is one delicious bottle of wine at a bargain basement price.

2007 Mas Carlot Rosé, $9.99

Constructed around the seventeenth century, this old Provençal Mas was brought back to life by the Blanc family, who purchased the estate in the Sixties. Located on the western edge of the Rhône River, in the village of Bellegarde, southeast of the city of Nîmes, the vineyards are in the heart of the appellation’s cailloux-based soil. In the old Provençal dialect, “Mas” means farm, and Nathalie Blanc-Marès is beautifully managing this 187 acres farm with the aid of her husband Cyril Marès, owner of the neighboring property Mas des Bressades (yes, she married the boy-next-door). This Rosé is a blend of 55% Grenache, 40 % Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre all. This is a gorgeous Rosé, loaded with wonderfully intermingled flavors of strawberry and graced by hints of spring flowers and spice. It’s lush on the palate, with a long, harmonious finish.