Boise Coop Wine Shop

An Eclectic Quintet

• October 19, 2011

This week we are featuring five very different wines from the portfolio of Idaho Wine Merchants. Two whites, one from Oregon and one from California, and three reds, one from Argentina and a pair from California. It’s and exciting line-up with something for everybody.

2009 Witness Tree Pinot Blanc, $13.99
Like many wineries in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Witness Tree Vineyard is a small producer of premium-quality wine. The vineyard takes its name from an ancient oak tree used as a surveyor’s landmark in 1854, during the Oregon Trail era. The tree was used to mark the Northwest corner of the original Donation Land Claim No. 51 and still stands today in their vineyard. Witness Tree is 100 percent estate bottled. Every grape that goes into their wines has been grown on their property. This gives them complete control (at least as much as Mother Nature allows) over the quality of the fruit. Not many Oregon wineries have this ability. The Pinot Blanc variety is grown in very small quantities in the Willamette Valley. At Witness tree they have two and a half acres in production (which includes an acre and a half that came on-line as of the 2005 harvest). This limited bottling offers delightful fruit flavors reminiscent of apple and pear, balanced beautifully by a crisp refreshing acidity. Serve it with lighter table fare, crab or other shellfish, or simply on its own.

2009 Morgan Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay, $20.00
In the early 1980s, long before the Santa Lucia Highlands became an official appellation, Dan Morgan Lee was already sourcing fruit from vineyards in the area for his new Morgan label. In 1996, he and his wife Donna Lee invested in their vision, purchasing and planting a 65 acre property in the northern end of the newly named, still not well known AVA. Named the Double L (Double Luck, in honor of twin daughters), today this vineyard is one of the most famed wine growing properties in California. Each vintage of Morgan’s Highland Chardonnay showcases the unique attributes of their Double L Vineyard and the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The 2009 cuvée includes 61 percent fruit from the Double L and the balance from outstanding neighboring estates, including Rosella’s and McIntyre. The Double L Vineyard has been “Certified Organic” since 2002 but has been conscientiously farmed in this method since the original plantings in 1997. This focused, elegant Chardonnay’s aromas feature creme brulee, walnut and lime zest. On the palate, the rich flavors are complemented by a light touch of butterscotch and refreshing grapefruit with bright acidity. Incredibly food friendly, the 2009 Highland Chardonnay is a perfect match with cream-sauced pastas, roast chicken and pork, and seafood.

2009 Bogle Petit Sirah, $9.49
The family owned and operated Bogle Winery is tucked into the Sacramento Delta among 1,000 acres of vineyard land and sits along side of Elk Slough in Clarksburg, California. Thirty-two years after it was first produced by the Bogle family in 1978, Petite Sirah is today considered Bogle’s “heritage” varietal. Once again Thirty-two years after it was first produced by the Bogle family in 1978, Petite Sirah is today considered Bogle’s “heritage” varietal. Once again the trademark qualities shine through in a wine that is the perfect integration of fruit and oak. Voluptuous and full-bodied on the entry, the heady aromas of black currants and plums awaken the senses. Lusciously jammy and inky in appearance, the concentrated fruit wraps itself around tones of pipe tobacco, leather and cocoa, to mesmerize the palate. Juniper and spice seduce the supple tannins, as this wine finishes long and lingering, but not before a final touch of acidity charms the balanced mouthfeel yet again. the trademark qualities shine through in a wine that is the perfect integration of fruit and oak. Voluptuous and full-bodied on the entry, the heady aromas of black currants and plums awaken the senses. Lusciously jammy and inky in appearance, the concentrated fruit wraps itself around tones of pipe tobacco, leather and cocoa, to mesmerize the palate. Juniper and spice seduce the supple tannins, as this wine finishes long and lingering, but not before a final touch of acidity charms the balanced mouth-feel yet again.

2010 Tinto Negro Mendoza Malbec, $9.49
TintoNegro, meaning “black wine” in Spanish, is meant to celebrate the essence of Malbec in Mendoza. Known for its dark, blackish color, Malbec is definitely a Tinto Negro. The project was born of the long time friendship and professional collaboration of Alejandro Sejanovich and Jeff Mausbach, colleagues at Bodega Catena Zapata for almost 15 years. Sourced from Mendoza’s Primera Zona of Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu the Mendoza blend is meant to showcase the exceptional value and approachable profile of Malbec. The wine’s soft, drinkable style is accompanied by light oak aging for additional complexity.

2010 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rouge, $17.99
Tablas Creek Vineyard was founded by the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel and Robert Haas, longtime importer and founder of Vineyard Brands. They chose the hilly Las Tablas district of west Paso Robles for its similarities to Châteauneuf du Pape: limestone soils, a favorable climate, and rugged terrain. The partners imported the traditional varieties grown on the Perrins’ celebrated estate, including Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Counoise for reds. ablas Creek follows the centuries-old Châteauneuf du Pape tradition of blending chosen varietals, which produces wines that are more complex, better balanced, and richer than single varietal wines. The Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas is a blend of four red Rhône varietals: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise. The wine incorporates fruit from seven top Rhône vineyards in Paso Robles, each vineyard selected for its quality. Like many red wines from the Rhône Valley, it is based on the dark fruit, mineral and spice of Syrah, with the brightness and fresh acidity of Grenache, the structure and meatiness of Mourvèdre and a small addition of Counoise for complexity.