Boise Coop Wine Shop

Think Pink for Spring

• April 30, 2008
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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
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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

Weekend Tasting: Yellow Hawk Cellar

• April 16, 2008
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Our wines are named for where we live and made for how we live.

Tim Sampson and Barbara Hetrick, the husband and wife team behind Yellow Hawk Cellars, met through wine when they both joined a tasting group in La Grande, Oregon. They’re shared interest evolved to the point where the couple moved to Walla Walla with Tim working under the tutelage of John Abbott at Canoe Ridge from 1995 to 2000. For the next two years Tim served as the cellar master at Seven Hill, then he and Barbara struck out on their own. While they appreciated the Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah that put Walla Walla on the map, they decided to concentrate on lesser known, Italian varieties. Their winery is housed in a turn-of-the-20th century horse barn next to the clear, cold waters of Yellow Hawk Creek.

2004 Yellow Hawk Cellar Sangiovese, $16.99

This is a classically styled Sangiovese with big plum, fig and smoke aromas. The flavors are highlighted by dried cherry, mild spice, soft tannins and light oak. Pair it with tomato based dishes like spaghetti marinara, lasagna or minestrone. And it would go great with spring run salmon, a plate of cheese or roasted veggies and meat.

2006 Yellow Hawk Cellar Muscat Canelli, $10.99

At just .6% residual sugar (less than many Chardonnays) this is a dry-styled muscat with fragrant tropical notes balanced by crisp citrus. The fruit flavors are rich and ripe making for a perfect match with spicy Thai, Cajun or Indian curries as well as fruit and cheese courses. Or serve it well chilled as a spring aperitiff.

Two from Chile

• April 9, 2008
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2007 Vina Quintay Clava Sauvignon Blanc

New Zealand has its Marlborough, and California has its Carneros. Yet when it comes to world-class wines that are (still) a jaw-dropping value, Chile may trump them all. Based in Chile’s Casablanca Valley, a sea-influenced region (just 12 miles from the coast near Valparaiso) that is ideal for cool-weather varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc, Clava is the value-priced second label for Vina Quintay. Winemaking there is natural and true to the land—winemaker and organic pioneer Alvaro Espinoza and his partner, Juan Carlos Faúndez, make wine no other way. Harvests are always done by hand, and a strict selection is made before the grapes are pressed to ensure every berry is perfectly ripe. Juice is fermented primarily in stainless steel, with a very small percentage (usually less than 1%) in new French oak for added complexity and body, and is aged on fine lees.

2006 Chono Syrah

Situated in the Maipo Valley, Chono sits just south of Santiago, sandwiched between the breathtaking Andes mountains to the east and the coastal range. Here the weather is hot and dry during the summer days, while evenings are cool—an ideal combination for for world-class Syrah, and that is exactly what winemaker Alvaro Espinoza has crafted. Concentrated and fruity, with a silkiness that runs from its abundant perfumes to its watch-breaking length, this Syrah is ripe, juicy and chock-full of blackberries and chocolate-dipped red berries. Spicy aromas of black pepper and tar show on the nose. The wine’s freshness is dazzling, a nod to the region’s cool climate and careful vinification that captures every bit of pure, unblemished fruit. Tannins are supple and sweet; every drop is polished and wonderfully complex. A stunning effort and a profound pleasure to drink.

Two from Italy’s Barone Fini

• April 3, 2008
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The Barone Fini label arose from the merger of a pair of titled Venetian families when the two Fini sisters married two Bonmartini brothers. Records show their winemaking history dates back to the 15th century. Grapes for both their Pinot Grigio and Merlot are sourced from mature vines situated in the Trentino region in the heart of the Italian Alps.

2007 Barone Fini Pinot Grigio

Hillside vineyards with good sun exposure receive cooling breezes in the early morning and evening helping to create a balance between sugars and acids. The 20 year old vines are harvested by hand before they undergo a soft, cold crushing. Fermentation in temperataure controlled tanks preserves freshness resulting in a wine that is soft and round with crisp, juicy flavors. Ripe apple fruit dominates the palate in this lively wine. A great spring aperitif, or pair it with shellfish, grilled chicken or other lighter fare.

2005 Barone Fini Merlot

Nicely mature vineyards (15 to 18 years old) line the hillside benefiting from a south, south-easterly exposure to the sun. Cool, dry winds descend from the 9000 foot peaks, tempering the climate of the Sarca Valley where Barone Fini’s Merlot grapes are grown. Fermented in stainless steel, all the rich, ripe cherry and plum fruit flavors shine through on the palate. This is a balanced wine with a long velvety finish. Simply prepared dishes from grilled meats to pasta will do nicely paired with this lovely wine.