What’s Fresh At Enoteca?

1. December Wine & Beer Club in this Friday!
2. Enoteca Flash - Learn About New Wine & Beer First
3. Classy Holiday Gift Ideas
4. The Bad Elves Have Arrived
5. Upcoming Tasting Events
6. Refer a friend, you both get Free Wine!
7. What is Wine & Beer Club?

December Wine & Beer Club is in!

The wine and beer for this month’s club has arrived and will be in your bin on Friday, December 7th! If you’re not a Club Member yet, learn about the Wine & Beer Club? This weekend is Taste of Club! Tasting is from 4-8 Friday night, Saturday from 12-8. The cost is $10 per flight (3 oz. each of 3 wines), $5 per glass (5 oz. of one wine), and $10 for the Anniversary Club Red, glass pour only. The lineup for Club and Tasting:

Vintage Club

Perezetti Sara Sangiovese 2006 (Tuscany, Italy) - (pronounced /pay-raht-ZAY-tah/) This wine has its roots in Montecucco, part of the Maremma region just south of Montalcino. Like its more illustrious neighbor, Maremma receives intense sun, resulting in bold, powerful Sangiovese that has a counterpoint of amazing complexity and aromatics. The wine shows classic, focused, cherry-drenched Sangiovese fruit, with a lavish texture and lovely notes of spice and earth that speak with a classic Tuscan accent. Alessandro Bocci, owner and winemaker at Perazzeta, named “Sara” after his teenage daughter, and is a tremendous follow-up to his wildly popular “Rita” (named for his wife, and also his mother). 90% Sangiovese / 10% Ciliegiolo. “Rita” is available at Enoteca for [Member: $17.99 / Retail: $19.99] Aliguer Brut Cava 2004 (Spain) - It is rare to find a Vintage dated bottle of Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine. This gem takes its name from the white fragrant flowers found in high mountains of Spain and is produced by Agustí Torelló, whose family has been making Cava for 85 years in the traditional Champagne method. Aliguer is a traditional blend of the 3 native white grapes usually used for Cava: Macabeo, Parellada and Xarello. This is an elegant, crisp sparkling wine that exhibits ripe apple and mineral flavors. Serve very chilled with appetizers including shellfish and cheese.

Reserve Club

Van Duzer Vintner’s Cuvée Pinot Noir 2006 (Willamette Valley, Oregon) - Aromatic, with dark plum and gentle spice notes that hint at the diverse medley of Pinot Noir clones in the estate blend. Broad in texture and generous with its pure blackberry and current flavors that persist enticingly on the fine-grained finish. This wine is unlike any Pinot Noir you have ever tasted! 100% Van Duzer Estate Pinot Noir Weingüter Wegeler Sekt Brut (Rheingau, Germany) - This is a German style of sparkling wine made from 100% Riesling! A Cuveé of Riesling wines from 3 regions combining mineral tastes of the Rheingau with power from the Pfalz and the elegance from the Mosel reflecting the respective soils of loess and loam soils and weathered Slate soil. A floral nose, combined with some champagne style yeastiness leads into a soft palate feel with fine mousseux (sparkle). Serve chilled at around 50º F.

Premier Club

Pezzi King Old Vines Zinfandel 2005 (Dry Creek Valley, California) - A classic Dry Creek Valley Old Vines Zinfandel, black raspberry and spice on the nose. Big, ripe, and expressive. Soft tannins, warm notes of caramel, melts in your mouth. Distinctive zinfandel from Dry Creek’s best Old Vine zinfandel vineyards. Saturated ruby - purple color, scents of ripe boysenberry, toasty oak, sweet vanilla and smoke. Full bodied with jammy black raspberry, pepper and hints of truffle. Multilayered flavors harmonize with ripe tannins producing a long lusty finish. Mountain Dome Cuvee Forte Sparkling (Washington) - Cuvee Forte is Mountain Dome’s reserve wine, made from the best grapes and barrels. Elegant wine with nuances of apple, pear, and light citrus. The richness that comes through this particular wine is perfect for the holidays. 90 Points Wine Enthusiast

Anniversary Club Red

Groth Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Oakville, Napa Valley, California) - The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is big and lush with huge gobs of fruit in the aroma and flavor. The texture of the wine is soft and supple, typical of Cabernet Sauvignons grown in the Oakville AVA. The sweet vanilla character derived from 20 months in the barrels blends well with the black cherry and blackberry flavors and aromas of the wine. Blending with the Merlot occurs just prior to bottling. Patience during bottle aging will reward the “steward” with an outstanding bottle over the next 10 to 15 years. Food Pairing: “A slab and a Cab”, Dennis Groth recommends you drink his Cabernet Sauvignon with steak.

Beer Club

Beer Club members receive 2 - 750ml bottles of beer this month! Beer Club selections are not open for the tasting event, but a few bottles are available for purchase. Pauwel Kwak (Buggenhout, Belgium) - Pauwel Kwak (pronounced /POW-ell kwok/), or simply Kwak, is the name of a Belgian beer, named after its original brewer, Pauwel Kwak, who first brewed it in 1791. It is now made in the family-owned Brewery Bosteels in Buggenhout, Belgium. The most famous aspect of Kwak is the eye-catching glass in which it is supposed to be served. Kwak has a round-bottomed glass that resembles a ‘yard of ale’, which is held upright in a wooden stand—rather like a piece of old scientific apparatus. The glass apparently originated in the days of the stagecoach. Travelers would often stop at an inn for refreshment, but the coachmen were required to stay with the coach and horses. Standard handled mugs were impractical for gloved coachmen sitting high up, so one enterprising innkeeper, Pauwel Kwak, had a special glass created for his beer. Its shape enabled it to be hung on the coach and be easily held in a thick glove. Be careful, the unwary often try to gulp the beer, failing to notice that the shape permits a torrent to pour out when the air reaches the bowl. This unique glassware, with its wooden stand, is available at Enoteca for $9.99 each. This beer is a full-bodied Belgian Dubbel. Amber in color with beautiful foam and slightly sweet, seductive malt character. Russell cracked one for Thanksgiving and enjoyed the rich, satisfying Belgian experience. 8% ABV. St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël 2007 (Le Roeulx, Belgium) - This beer has a generous head - compact and firm. It has a dark ruby brown color as a result of the roasted barley and a very intense aroma. The aromatic herbs and spices used greatly enhance its delicious smell. This beer is full-bodied with a smoothness that is the result of the synergy of caramelized malts, carefully controlled fermentation and long cold storage. St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël has a very subtle bitterness that is the dominant flavor in this harmonious ale that strikes a perfect balance between all the different ingredients. 9% ABV. Ageable Beer Fans: We have a special treat! We have obtained a very limited quantity of the 2004 Vintage of St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël. [Member: $11.69 / Retail: $12.99] It is Russell’s suggestion to open the aged beer at the same time as a current vintage version of the beer, in order to compare and contrast, and have the greatest opportunity to detect the nuances and changes that come about by ageing this beer. Large Format Fans: We have another special treat! We have obtained 2 St-Feuillien Triple Jeroboams. This is the 3 Liter size of this beer. [Member: $62.99 / Retail: $69.99] This makes a great Christmas gift for the Belgian Beer aficionado.

Enoteca Flash - Learn About New Wine First

At Enoteca we’re always looking for ways to better serve you and bring you more of what you want in Fine Wine & Beer.

• Do you want to be the first to know about exclusive, limited availability wines, such as Leonetti, Rombauer, Opus One, etc.?
• Are you interested in excellent deals on high quality wine that are new to the market?
• Would you like your local Wine Shop to share tasting notes and hold the wine for you?
• Do you appreciate the ease of simply sending an email to secure great wine?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Enoteca Flash is for you! Enoteca will send you email whenever we encounter excellent wine that you need to know about. This will include ultra-premium exclusive wine that comes available, as well as tasty gems from little known producers, and great wines that are new to the market. Emails may come once or twice per week, but not necessarily every week. Enoteca Flash will only be for wines of high desirability. The first Enoteca Flash came last week, and people who received the email were the first to find out about the new release of 2006 Layer Cake Shiraz, for [Member: $16.19 / Retail: $17.99]. Watch for the next Enoteca Flash, due out later this week!

How Does It Work?

If you’ve gotten this email, you’re already subscribed to the Enoteca Flash. If you wish to unsubscribe, simply follow the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the first Flash you receive. If you’re not getting the Flash, simply visit corkjoy.com and fill out the Email List form. When you get an email from Enoteca Flash, simply reply with the order you’d like to place. If you are a Club Member or have ordered before and we have your phone number and credit card on file, then we will get the wine to you or your Bin as soon as possible.

Classy Holiday Gift Ideas

For the fine wine & beer lover on your list we have brought in a bunch of great classy gift quality beverages! Be the Special Santa this year and make a big impression!

Gift of Club Membership:

Don’t know exactly what the wine and beer lovers on your list would enjoy? Give the gift of Club! You can sign up your friends and family for a monthly subscription to Wine, Beer, or both that gives to them all year long! The recipient will receive as many bottles as you specify, and all the member benefits, such as 10% off every bottle in the store, and 15% off case orders.

Beer:

Beer lovers will enjoy the St. Feuillien Brewery Cuvee Noel beer, an ageable quality Christmas type of beer. We have a special stash of vintage 2004 Cuvee de Noel’s on hand for only [Member: $11.69 / Retail: $12.99]. Also available are 3 liter “Jeroboam” bottles of the St. Feuillien Tripel, and Duvel Belgian Strong Ale for only [Member: $62.99 / Retail: $69.99]. Chimay Magnums: We still have a few Chimay Magnums in vintages of 2003 and 2005 available. Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve is in stock, as well as Full Sail’s Wreck the Halls. Don’t forget to get your favorite beer lover the official glassware for his or her favorite beer! Enoteca stocks a wide variety of official beer glassware to enjoy each beer in the perfect environment.

Wine:

An incredible selection of high end wines, champagnes, and ports are available at Enoteca. Consider the ultra-exclusive treats such as the Long Shadows Vintners wines, California Cult Classics such as Silver Oak, Caymus Special Selection, Groth, Stag’s Leap, and more. Does she like the bubbly? Take a look at our extensive French Champagne and sparkling wine shelf. Port lovers will be delighted to find in their stocking any of our Grahams or Taylor Fladgate 10, 20, 30, or 40 year tawny ports, Vintage ports from 1983, 2003, and more.

Wine, Beer, & Coffee Gift Baskets:

Enoteca is now offering custom made-to-order gift baskets that can include any mix of Wine, Beer, and Coffee, and accoutrements to match. Enoteca has teamed up with Hannah Shields of Cafe Avion (Bin #198) to offer excellent fresh roasted coffee and classy gifts that are sure to please. Come by Enoteca to see an example basket and fill out your order form. Order before December 19th to ensure availability for Christmas! With Enoteca Gift Baskets, you’re in the drivers seat. You can choose the wine, beer, and coffee that you want to give and it will be professionally packaged for and excellent impression. Of course we’re always available to help you choose if needed and a variety of budgets can be matched.

Gift Certificates:

Classy gift certificates are available from Enoteca in any denomination you choose! Any questions can be addressed at Enoteca, by calling 208-457-9885, or email us at service@corkjoy.com

The Bad Elves Have Arrived

About this time every year the holiday beers start to arrive. Watch out, this year a mischievous pointy eared fellow has snuck into the lineup. The British love their pints, and these offerings by Ridgeway are keepers for the season. Come try these, and scope out the wide selection of Winter Ales offered by Enoteca. For Starters, Bad Elf: [Member: $5.39 / Retail: $5.99] 50cl Without a doubt, the Bad Elf rocked last year. This year, just for the sake of change, it’s a different brew, and even better. Look for something a little less hoppy, a little more malty, and a little more festive this time around. This Elf is so bad, it’s way good. Olde England meets the New World in this strong, warming golden ale. A generous amount of famous English malt is masterfully balanced with an astounding 45 ounces of fresh hops – including English Cascade – per barrel. Bad Elf is brewed by Peter Scholey, master brewer for the late and much-lamented Brakspear Brewery of Henley-on-Thames, England. Peter has bought up the entire crop from the single row of Cascades grown in the U.K. ELF WARNING: Consumption of too much Winter’s Ale may be bad for your elf and may impair your ability to drive a sleigh or operate toy-making machinery. Very Bad Elf: [Member: $6.29 / Retail: $6.99] 50cl It seems like every year these Elves just get worse and worse. This Very Bad Elf is stronger and darker than its predecessor. Anyone out there remember Brakspear’s Vintage Henley? That was one very special brew. This is Vintage Henley cranked up to 7.5%, for the sole purpose of making your holiday bright. Based on an original recipe from 1795, Very Bad Elf has nutty and sweet-roasted flavors attributable to its use of an ancient pale malt, uniquely recreated for this delightful ale. A rare variety of Fuggles hops dating to the mid-1800’s gives the beer a soft, rounded bitterness and uncanny drinkability. 7.5% ABV Banned In Connecticut, Seriously Bad Elf: [Member: $7.19 / Retail: $7.99] 50cl Seriously Bad Elf is Peters’s very English interpretation of a Belgian Tripel, brewed to warming 9% alcohol, especially for his rapidly-growing American following. Seriously, you don’t want to miss this beer. Seriously Bad Elf has been banned in Connecticut! That little red speck you see in the background of the label? Why, that’s none other than Kris Kringle, Santa Claus, who, according to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, cannot appear on a beer label. Criminally Bad Elf: [Member: $8.09 / Retail: $8.99] 50cl 10.5% ABV Barley Wine style of beer. What else needs to be said? Insanely Bad Elf: [Member: $5.39 / Retail: $5.99] 33cl 11.2% ABV English Strong Ale style of beer, though the bottle says “Imperial Red Ale”, which sounds like a made-up style. This one’s crazy-strong, the Elf is straightjacketed. Flavors of molasses and fruit dominate, masking the high ABV. Malty goodness comes through in bready and yeasty flavors and aromas. Sweeter style of beer.

Tasting Events Coming Soon

Mark your calendars; Enoteca has a great lineup for the next few weeks. Join us for these excellent tasting events! More details will be available in this newsletter, as well as any changes that might come up. Friday, December 7th - Taste of Club! December Wine & Beer of the Month Club! Club tasting event, taste all the wine club wines! This is a great opportunity to see what the Club is all about, and to see what others are getting in their bins. Friday, December 14th - 4-8 pm. Boudreaux Cellars! Rob Newsom, winemaker, Louisiana native, and general character will be on hand to share his extraordinary lineup of Boudreaux wines. Taste the Cabernet that Russell calls cherry pie in a glass. We will taste these wines on Saturday, December 15th as well, from 12-8. Friday, December 21st - 4-8 pm. Join Dustin Lewis presenting a unique lineup of rich and flavorful wines from around the world selected to be great holiday accompaniments. We will taste these wines on Saturday, December 22nd as well, from 12-8. You can keep yourself in the loop on Enoteca events! Subscribe to the Enoteca Google Calendar to keep up-to-date on the latest happenings! Salute’ Russell, Sarah, and Roger Enoteca - Fine Wine & Beer 208-457-9885 service@corkjoy.com Enoteca is open: Tuesday-Thursday: 11-7 Friday-Saturday: 12-8 Directions, hours, and more about Enoteca: www.corkjoy.com We’re always looking for feedback! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to let us know. Did you like a certain wine or beer? We’re here to serve you so let us know how we can help: service@corkjoy.com