Boise Coop Wine Shop

An Eclectic Trio

• July 9, 2008
• No Comments

2006 Bodegas Viña Nora Albariño, $14.99

Not that long ago the phrase “good Spanish white wine” would have been something of an oxymoron. Today modern wine-making techniques have resulted in a cascade of refreshingly crisp Spanish whites, but Albariño from the Rías Baixas region along the Galacian coast of Northwest Spain has always been a standout. This thick skinned grape does well in the damp climate along the Atlantic, producing a notably aromatic wine, rich in flavor but with balancing acidity. This charmer from Nora scored a well earned 90 point rating from Stephen Tanzer. It offers beautifully floral aromas of apple, peach, lime and fig all backed by splashes of clover, herb, mint and mineral. The creamy citrus fruit flavors are bright and lively turning crisp and refreshing on the lengthy finish. It would work well with a variety of foods, everything from paella to poultry.

2007 Chateau Guiot, $9.99

If it’s summer, you know we will be pouring at least one rosé, one of our favorite warm weather wines. This time it as an impressive offering from importer Robert Kacher. François and Sylvia Cornut are in charge at Chateau Guiot as proprietors. Located in the Costières de Nîmes appellation, François and Sylvia 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.

2007 Guelbenzu Red, $11.99

The Guelbenzu family has been crafting wine at their El Jardin facility in Navarra since 1851. Recently they opened a second winery to the south in Aragon. The vineyards were planted in 1998 with their state-of-the-art La Lombana cellars opening in 2001. Two years latter both wineries came together under a newly designated region, the Ribera del Queiles which includes vineyards in both Navara and Aragon. This red comes from La Lombana and is a destinctive blend of Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo and Graciano. The Wine Advocate rated it an impressive 90 points. The Guelbenzu website states the wine sees nothing but stainless steel, but the bottles back label indicates it spent six months in French oak. We’ll leave it to you decide which is right.

Two All Time Favorites

• July 2, 2008
• No Comments

The Wine Shop will be closed this Friday, but we’re open for our regular Saturday tasting the day after. This week we are highlighting two favorites. A white blend from Domaine de Pouy that Robert Parker has picked as a perennial best buy 20 years running, and a remarkably refreshing Rosé from Chateau Grande Cassagne.

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.

2007 Grande Cassagne Rosé, $9.99

Owned and operated by the Dardé brothers, Grande Cassagne is situated on the western edge of the Rhône Valley. Their vineyards are planted on an ancient riverbed covered with round weathered stones. The setting provides the grapes that result in exemplary red wines of deep concentration, but their best kept secret is this Rosé. A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mouvedtre from forty-plus year old vines, the wine exudes red fruits and strawberry perfume. Fermented a short time on its skins, it retains an electric pink color, soaring aromatics, and a fully dry, utterly refreshing palate. Year in and year out, one our top selling wines.

A Pair from Italy

• June 26, 2008
• No Comments

This week the Wine Shop will be pouring a red and a white from two very different regions. The red is a Montepulciano from Abruzzo, an area that runs from the Appennin mountains to the sea along the east coast of Italy. The white is from the sun drenched island of Sicily. Both provide a combination of excellent quality and value.

2006 Tenuta Rapitalà, Piano Maltese Bianco, $10.99

The Tenuta Rapitalà estate encompasses 260 acres vineyard, extending over gentle hills that between 990 and 1985 feet high, where clay and sand alternate and merge. This perfect aspect and the special composition of the soil make it ideal for the cultivation of wine grapes. Rapitalà is one of the great names in the history of Sicilian oenology. Their philosophy is that the wines must be excellent and technically perfect but above all unique, endowed with that personality that only the terrain can give. The Bianco is a blend of Catarratto and Chardonnay grapes which combine to provide  fresh Mediterranean scents and a savory, elegant flavor with a typical hint of bitter almonds. The grapes are picked and vinified separately, as they ripen at different times. The same method is used for both: crushing of the grapes and separation of the stalks; immediate cooling of the must, gentle pressing and division of the different qualities of must. The young must is cold settled before beginning a slow and steady fermentation. The wine then spends time on the lees to increase flavor and preserve freshness. The result is a refreshing white that makes a great match with simply prepared fish, cheeses, roast chicken or pork.

2006 Vino dei Fratelli, $8.99

The label shows an ancient Roman coin struck in 46 BC that depicts two of the most famous brothers (fratelli) in the Roman religion. Castor and Pollux fell in love with beautiful sisters who were already betrothed. The brothers challenged and slew their rivals, but Castor was mortally wounded. In the end, Jupiter placed the pair together in the sky (the constellation of Gemini) as symbols of brotherly love. The wine is 100% Montepulciano and features a soft, fruity bouquet typical of the grape. The vineyards, situated in Casalbordino between the hills facing the Adriatic, are picked by hand. The soil is a gravely mixture located about 600 feet above sea level. The grapes undergo a long masceration in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. The result is a smooth, well-balanced wine with bright red fruit flavors and soft tannins. Drink it at its youthful best paired with grilled meats and poultry, or cheese and charcuterie.

Highlighting Three Continents

• June 12, 2008
• No Comments

2006 Luna Vineyards Freakout White, $14.99

An exotic blend of Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The secret of Freakout is in the innovative winemaking. Each varietal is treated individually, and then married together two months before bottling to create the ultimate blend. To promote the aromatics of the wine, the Chardonnay begins fermentation in tanks before moving to French oak barrels. Meanwhile, a small portion of the Sauvignon Blanc is fermented on the skins like a red wine, and punched down twice a day until fermentation is completed. The Pinot Grigio is fermented in stainless steel for a crisp, lively finish. The distinctive Ribolla Gialla is fermented in small oak barrels and provides weight, texture and minerality. Treating each varietal separately creates a complex wine with multiple layers of exotic fruit, soft citrus, honey and spice. Intense aromas of tropical fruit and orange peel combine with rich flavors of dried apricot, spice and toasted nuts to create a lush texture and brisk mouthwatering finish.

2005 Pikes, The Red Mullet, $15.59

Englishman Henry Pike immigrated to South Australia in 1878 aboard the HMS Oakland. He settled in the small town of Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills and in 1886 established the family brewing business called H. Pike & Co. This name became well known throughout South Australia for its quality beer, soft drink and tonic ale, and the company used the English Pike fish on the label, which remains to this day - a symbol of Pikes’ long heritage. The sale of H. Pike & Co. in 1972 did not end the family tradition. Henry Pike’s great grandson Edgar was well established in the wine industry as a private vigneron and as a vineyard manager for a large proprietary wine company. His sons, Andrew and Neil, have both followed in their father’s footsteps. The Winery (renovated from an old stone shearing shed) is situated in the historic and picturesque Polish Hill River sub region on the eastern side of the Clare Valley. The climate in this area is considerably cooler and the soils are also quite unique to the rest of the region. These attributes impart distinctive flavors and aromas to the wines from the Polish Hill River area. The Red Mullet is a blend of Shiraz, Mouvedre, Tempranillo and Grenache with ripe, red berry fruits, a supple texture, soft tannins, a hint of chocolate and just the right hit of acidity.

2007 Quinta do Carmo, Dom Martinho Rosé, $12.99

Quinta do Carmo is located in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, in the beautiful Portuguese region of Alentejo. It lies some 125 miles to the east of Lisbon and is less than 25 miles from the Spanish border. The Romans created the extensive agricultural estates (latifundia) and introduced wheat, barley, olive trees, and grapevines. While grain was planted in the most fertile soils, vines were grown on (preferably sunny) hillsides and gradually overtook the olive tree groves and cork oak woods. Quinta do Carmo is part of the Alentejan tradition, with a vineyard of 375 acres and a total area of more than 2500 acres that still includes olive trees, cork oak trees and forests. This rosé pours a bright rhubarb shade of pink that serves as a nice precursor to the floral rose petal and strawberry rhubarb aromas that follow. Crisp and refreshing red fruit flavors dominate the palate in this elegantly styled charmer.

Wine Notes: A Mixed Bag

• June 5, 2008
• No Comments

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.