Boise Coop Wine Shop

Focus on Italy

• August 14, 2008
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Col Vetoraz Prosecco, Valdobbiandene Brut, $16.50

Perched on the steep slopes at Col Vetoraz, it’s hard not to get a little light-headed. Yet this vantage point—in “Cartizze,” the heart of the finest vineyard in the Prosecco appellation—puts into perspective why Col Vetoraz wines are heads and tails above the competition. Unlike the vast majority of Proseccos on the market, Col Vetoraz uses only estate grapes grown at high-altitude, and each batch is bottled to order—resulting in the most thrillingly alive, deliciously pearly and peachy Prosecco you have ever tasted. Notes of crisp pears, white peaches and green apples appear on the palate, with just a hint of tiny bubbles. Clean, crisp, dry, and as refreshing as the mountain air, it’s the perfect sparkler for before, during or after dinner. A Co-op Wine Shop favorite.

2007 Maculan Pino & Toi, $14.99

For three generations the Maculan family has been selecting and vinifying the best grapes in Breganze, an enchanting village set like a small jewel at the foot of the Alps in Italy’s Veneto region. The surrounding mountains protect the area from cold winds, creating a perfect microclimate for the cultivation of vineyards. But it is Fausto Maculan’s drive and commitment, rather than any accident of nature, which set these wines apart and distinguish Maculan as an innovative and dynamic winery.
Designed by Fausto himself, the winery is one of the most stunning small in Italy, an amazing mixture of ingenuity and style. It provides the theater for a marvelous combination of antique traditions and modern techniques using the latest winemaking technology. His Pino & Toi is a combo of 60% Tocai, 25% Pinot Bianco and 15% Pinot Grigio harvested from various vineyards in the Veneto region. It’s fermented and refined entirely in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness. Pale yellow in color, this wine is intensely perfumed, offering bright notes of citrus and apples. It is well balanced on the palate with loads of fresh peaches and pears, followed by a crisp and fragrant finish. Serve it as an aperitif, or with antipasti, pasta with shellfish and vegetables, risotto or grilled white meats.

2006 Fattoria Della Vitae Chianti Colli Senesi, $11.99

Guido Andretta and his wife Rosalba Vitanza have become big players in Montalcino since their debut release in 1995. Together with importer Fran Kysela they have selected limited lots of Chianti Colli Senesi. In the traditional mode of the region this wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese with the rest made up of black Canaiolo along with Trebbiano and Malvasia (white wine grapes). Fermentation is done in stainless still tanks under controlled temperature conditions. Long maceration accompanied by repassing the must over the grape dregs extracts all the complexity and richness. These are refined by three months aging in oak barrels. The finished wine pours a deep ruby-red with soft violet aromas, intense fruit flavors up front, good balance, and soft tannins on the velvety finish. An excellent young wine suitable for any occasion, but pairs especially well with grilled poultry and meat.

Weekend Wine Tasting: We Speak Spanish

• August 3, 2008
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They’re an ocean apart but joined by the same language. This week we are featuring a Chardonnay from Argentina, a Syrah from Chile and a Rosado from Rioja.

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.

2006 Chono Syrah, $9.99

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.

2007 Cune Rosado, $9.99

In 1879, two brothers decided to set up a business in the recently flourishing trade of the wine business. C.V.N.E., Compañía Vinicola del Norte de España (The Northern Spanish Wine Company) or la Cuné, as it is commonly known in Haro, was created. This cellar takes us back to the origins of the company and is still kept in the traditional neighborhood of the Haro station. The Cuné winery is made up of a group of buildings, mostly from the 19th century and arranged around a courtyard surrounded by pavilions for the purpose of wine production, aging, and bottling. This Tempranillo rosé is an attractive light raspberry pink color. Full of ripe summer fruit and berry aromas with some floral hints. Light and refreshing mouth feel followed by a good length and complex finish.

The Three Muscadets

• July 26, 2008
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The vineyards of Muscadet are situated at the western end of the Loire where that river empties into the Atlantic. This proximity to the ocean with its tempering climate assures the grapes will retain good balance between ripe fruit and good acidity. Here are a great trio of these crisp summer whites.

2004 Domaine Pierre de la Grange Le L d’Or Muscadet, Severe & Maine $14.99

Pierre et Monique Luneau-Papin heads this 30-hectare estate in Le Landreau, in the heart of Muscadet country, where small hamlets dot a landscape of vineyards on low hills. Their estate has been in existence since the early 18th century when it was already planted with Melon de Bourgogne, the Muscadet varietal. The harvest is done by hand, a rarity in the region, to avoid any oxidation before pressing. There is an immediate light débourbage (separation of juice from gross lees), then a 4-week fermentation at 68 degrees, followed by 6 months of aging in stainless-steel vats on fine lees. This is the classic Muscadet-sur-lie process, where the wine is kept on its lees, with a fair amount of CO2 as protection, until bottling in the spring following the harvest. The result is a wine as complex as it is fresh with suprisingly rich fruit, crisp acidity and a lengthy finish.

2006 Chateau du Poyet Muscadet, Sevre & Maine, $9.49

Chateau du Poyet is is owned by the Bonneau family who only recently started doing their own bottling. Early picking of the grapes is often utilized, sometimes before full ripening, to get good acidity (there is no malolactic fermentation). To preserve maximum freshness the wine is bottled at the Chateau straight from the vat off its lees without any racking. This 100% Melon De Bourgogne is a pale yellow color, with a touch of complexity on the nose brought about by the aging on the lees. The palate is well balanced with surprisingly good weight and concentration followed by a clean, crisp finish.

Domaine Les Hautes Noelles Muscadet, Côtes de Grandlieu, $9.99

Wine maker Serge Batard has experimented with both long fermentation and oak aging to create his personality-rich wine. The 2006 is marked by aromas of sweet peach, grapefruit and green apple. The flavors are crisp and lively characterized by orange, apple and lemon zest with a touch of spritz. An excellent wine for seafood or lighter fare.

Three Sisters and More

• July 23, 2008
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It’s all in the family for this new label, and that label that is attracting a lot of attention. The winery is called Zhoo Zhoo and the sisters who run things grew up in the wine business. Their dad is Steve Robertson, founder of Hells Canyon Winery and their uncle, Ed Robertson, heads one of Idaho’s top wine distribution companies. Artist Babette Beatty, a world traveler and former top fashion model who now lives in Oregon, designed the racy labels featuring provocative women. Hadley Robertson heads up public relations, sister Jocelyn lends expertise in marketing and brand development, and Bijou makes the wine.

And so what is Zhoo Zhoo? According to the sisters, “Zhoo Zhoo is wine; delicious, sophisticated, yummy wine. But, Zhoo Zhoo is not just wine. Zhoo Zhoo is a way of life . . . Zhoo Zhoo is a beautiful girl with a razor wit and fashion flair. Zhoo Zhoo is timeless and carefree and embodies a beguiling style.” So what about that wines you ask? We currently offer two of their wines: the 2006 Claudelle Velouté Chardonnay (tropical fruits balanced with mineral and fresh acidity) and the 2005 Veronique Claret (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc that offers lush blueberries, licorice and sage).

And of course since it is still summer we’ll be featuring a rosé, our favorite warm weather quaff. This week it’s the 2007 Ch. Mourgues du Gres, Les Galets Rosés. This estate once belonged to the Convent of the Ursulines of Beaucaire before the French Revolution from which the name is derived - “Mourgues” meaning “Nuns” in Provencal, and “Gres” meaning “pebbles.” The Galets Rosés is mostly Syrah based with a touch of Grenache to round out the blend. It is made using the saignée method where the juice is bled and blended from other tanks prior to fermentation, the wine is then vinified and matured in stainless steel tanks for six months. The result is a fresh and fruity wine with good aromatic length.

Wines from Three Continents

• July 17, 2008
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Travel the global wine world with a white from California, a rosé from France and a Malbec from Argentina. Three great wine buys from three great wineries.

2007 Estancia Pinot Grigio, $8.99

Estancia’s winemakers strive to combine the best of both worlds: a state-of-the art winemaking facility, and a traditional, hands-on approach to each grape produced. In the end, this combination allows the to deliver the hand-crafted quality for which their wines are known. While the cutting-edge facilities enable them to take advantage of the beneficial advances in winemaking technology, their commitment to old world processes results in the complexity and elegance found in artisanal and boutique wines. Their Pinot Grigio offers zesty, ripe, concentrated fruit flavors, a refreshing but creamy mid-palate, and a flinty, mineral laced finish. An outstanding value.

207 Chateau de Valcombe Rosé, $9.99

Located on a rocky plateau at the western edge of the Rhône River, the estate of Valcombe is owned and managed by Dominique and Bénédicte Ricome. The first vines were planted there in 1750, and today the property totals nearly 175 acres. After five generations in the same family, the Ricomes are producing very fine wine. Everything there is done by hand and the selection in the vineyard is severe. The Rosé Tradition cuvée (Appellation Costières de Nîmes Contrôlée) is a lovely blend of Syrah and Grenache. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks to retain the fresh qualities of the fruit and then bottled unfiltered. The perfect wine for summer sipping.

2007 Gascon Malbec, $9.49

Malbec originates in Southern France, more precisely, in the township of Cahors. It was introduced in Argentina in Mid-Nineteenth Century, and adapted very well to the climate and soil. Since 1884, the wines of Don Miguel Gascón have been recognized for the rich, smooth flavors that come from Argentina’s Mendoza wine region. High altitude vineyards situated along the Cordillera of the Andes Mountains produce full mature grapes for this classic wine. It is full bodied and elegant with soft, round tannins, layered with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry, and a hint of mocha. Goes great with barbecue.