Boise Coop Wine Shop

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.

Two Best Buys

• March 27, 2008
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Here are top quality wines offered at a reduced price: an outstanding Pinot Noir from Burgundy and an equally fine Sauvigon Blanc from California’s Russian River Valley. Both are drinking beautifully now, but it’s time to make way for new vintages. Regularly priced at $28 each, they are now on sale for just $21.99.

2005 Halleck Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Little Sister

Located near the town of Sebastapol in Sonoma County, an area once best known for its Gravenstein apples, orchards have given way to vineyards and Halleck planted theirs back in 1993. The balance of sun and fog, along with excellent soil and diligent vineyard management have given Halleck great success. Best know for their Pinot Noir, their 2001 Tandem won the “Pinot Noir Shootout” in 2002. This wine proves they are equally adept at crafting white wines. A delicious take on the variety, it offers both a mineral element like a nice Graves and the lightly herbal steeliness of a fine Sancere. There’s an impression of sweetness up front from the rich fruit (peach, melon and apple with tropical notes) that plays against crisp citrus in a wine that finishes bone dry. Definitely one of the top Sauvignon Blancs from California.

2005 Michel Magnien Bourgogne

Michel Magnien owns 27 acres of grand cru, premier cru and village parcels from Gevrey-Chambertin south to Chambolle-Musigny. Until 1992 he sold most of his grapes to negociants, but in 1994 he baegan to vinify his entire crop. That’s about when son Frédéric came on board. Today he’s the domaine’s winemaker, while Michel works in the fields, pruning mercilessly to maintain low yields. Frédéric calls his father “the finest vineyard worker I have,” and those low yields result in the richly concentrated wines that are the hallmark of the Magnien estate. This simple Bourgonge is anything but. Aged in the year-old barrels that previously held some of Magnien’s finest crus, the thirty year old vines provide fruit that is full, rich and abundantly spicy. Dark red fruits color both the nose and the palate, and a year after its release this wine has opened up nicely.

Tasting: Cinder Wines

• March 11, 2008
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Melanie Krause (the owner, along with husband Joe Scherr, of Cinder wines) grew up in Boise. She attended Washington State University where she graduated in 2000 with degrees in Biology and Spanish. In 2001 she went to work for Stimson Lane, beginning as a vineyard technician but working her way up to assistant wine maker at their Canoe Ridge Estate Winery. After marrying Joe in 2006 she moved back to Boise and started her own winery consulting business. It wasn’t long before she took the plunge and opened Cinder, named after the volcanic remnants found under the vineyards of Idaho’s Snake River appellation. Her wines are catching on quickly (Andrae’s already offers Cinder Viognier by the glass), but come by and taste for yourself. Melanie will be on hand to pour samples and talk about her wines.

2007 Cinder Viognier, $17

White flowers, peach and honeysuckle aromas with just a nice light touch of banana. Both rich and refreshing with good weight and bright acidity. An exceptional wine.

2007 Cinder Rosé $10

Offers lovely rose petal and red berry aromas. On the palate it’s bursting with sweet cherry fruit balanced by zingy acidity. The finish is crisp, dry and refreshing. Great spring rosé.

2006 Cinder Syrah $27

Big black cherry and oak on the nose with touches of graham flour and cocoa. The fruit is just as big in the mouth with lots of vanilla and toasty oak. A smooth wine with a lush finish.

Tasting: Wines from Mexicio

• March 5, 2008
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Wines from Mexico? You bet, in fact the northern Baja is an emerging wine region boasting 24,700 acres of vines spread across six valleys. The dozen or so wineries there account for 90% of Mexico’s wine production.

Cavas Valmar

Established in 1983 at Rancho Valentin near Ensenada, this winery started out in a parking lot at their ranch with an old basket press, hand corker, and just six barrels. Today production is up from that original 300 cases, but they stilll only bottle about 2500 cases a year. Their 2001 Valmar Cabernet shows lots of cherry fruit on the nose with touches of licorce and earth. Cherry cola and plum fruit flavors dominate the palate backed by a nice hit of acidity.

Vinisterra

Located 25 kilometers east of Ensenada, this winery began in 2002 as a partnership between local Guillermo Ropdriguez Macouzet and Swiss winemaker Christoph Gaertner. The midlevel Macouzet label consists of a Cabernet Merlot blend and a Tempranillo. The ‘03 Macouzet Cab/Merlot offers sweet, dried cherry fruit on the nose. It’s marked by a creamy palate with dark plum and blackberry fruit. A rich but well balanced wine. The 2004 Macouzet Tempranillo is filled with lush cherry and dark fruit aromas with a nice meaty quality. Equally lush on the palate, plum and cherry fruit flavors dominate, backed by ripe tannins and a touch of pepper.