What’s Fresh At Enoteca?

1. Great Port Tasting Event This Thursday, March 13th - Make Reservations
2. Hand Picked Wine Tasting This Weekend
3. March Beer Tasting Event - Laughing Dog with Brewmaster
4. Remember the Orphans
5. Beer Recipe: Belgian Beef Stew
6. Upcoming Tasting Events
7. What is Wine & Beer Club?

Great Port Tasting Event This Thursday, March 13th

Worldwide Port Tasting Event Thursday, March 13th Beginning at 6 pm. at Enoteca Reservations: $15 per person

We will be tasting affordable Ruby and Tawny style ports from many areas around the globe, including Washington State, Australia, California and Portugal. Taste and learn more about fortified port wines. They tend to be sweeter than non-port styles of wine and often more viscious. If you’re not familiar with ports this is a good way to try a range without buying all the bottles on the shelf, and if you are familiar you will enjoy the selection. A light menu of appropriate cheeses and desserts will accompany the port selection. Space is limited; you can make your reservations at Enoteca, by calling 208-457-9885, or email us at service@corkjoy.com

Hand Picked Wine Tasting

Start the weekend out right at Enoteca - Fine Wine & Beer! This Friday from 4-7 Enoteca will be sharing a selection of wines, hand-picked by the staff as excellent beverages. We will be tasting Saturday from 12-7 as well, which is a great time to taste wine to beat the rush. Taste a flight (2 oz. each of 4 wines) for $10 per flight, and follow up for $5 per glass.



Boudreaux Chardonnay 2005 (Bishop’s and Homestead Vineyards, Columbia Valley, Washington) - Old world style Chardonnay with tropical fruit flavors of banana, pineapple and mango lingering through the full-bodied finish of beautiful acidity and well-proportioned oak. Boudreaux likes this one. It goes and goes with the gumbo, the etouffee, and all of your other spicy, greasy foods. It is full-bodied enough to be a meal in itself and surprisingly clean for one of Boudreaux’s unfiltered wonders. This is your wine for spring and summer, for white shirts and short skirts. Sip this one with your best straw hat on. Watch out for gators… they bite. Unfiltered, cold-stabilized, bottled in heavy Burgundian glass and finished with the highest quality Lafitte cork. 115 cases produced
[Member: $26.09 / Retail: $28.99]

Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Australia) - Inspired by Penfolds Bin 707, Bin 407 offers varietal definition and approachability, yet with structure and depth of flavour. A textbook Cabernet, the varietally expressive Bin 407 highlights the rewards of Penfolds multi-region, multivineyard blending, with a core of ripe fruit supported by a sensitive use of French and American oak.
Nose: An aromatic, active and distinctly Cabernet Sauvignon nose leaps out of the glass. Wafts of Asian spices, dried lemongrass, star anise and blackcurrant arise with air, dusty oak notes oscillate in and out.
Palate: True to vintage, the palate shows natural, mouthwatering acidity, balanced by complimentary stylish oak and a lithe, sinewy texture. The mid-palate is substantial; mouthfilling, yet long and defined - mandatory for the 100% Cabernet Bin 407 style. Cabernet tannins and a giveaway Cabernet flavour profile show, without astringence or greenness.
[Member: $29.69 / Retail: $32.99]

Deerfield Red Rex 2002 (Sonoma, California) - It’s blended on a base of Cabernet and Merlot with support from Syrah, Petit Verdot and Sangiovese. The condiments are Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel. Red Rex is a true expression of the best of Sonoma and the art of blending. It’s ready to drink now and will easily last four or five more years. The Deerfield winemaking style emphasizes a holistic approach that ends up with low-sulfite wines that are friendlier for the allergy prone.
Special Pricing: 1-5 Btls: $17.99 ea., 6-11 Btls: $15.99 ea., 12+ Btls: $14.99 ea.
MSRP: $25.00

Coeur d’ Alene Cellars Syrah 2003 (Columbia Valley, Washington) - With a powerful and complex bouquet, this bold Syrah melds ripe cherry/berry fruit with spicy bittersweet chocolate and a trace of truffle. Barrel aging lends a smooth mouth feel and a bold, smoky finish. Good structure and firm tannins promise great aging potential. This vintage is sold out at the winery. 90 Points, Wine Enthusiast, June 2006
[Member: $25.19 / Retail: $27.99]

Pricing disclaimer.

Laughing Dog Beer Tasting Event with Brewmaster Fred Colby

Laughing Dog Beer Tasting Wednesday, March 19th Beginning at 6 p.m. Taste 4-5 or so beers Only $10 per person

The March Beer Tasting is Laughing Dog of Sandpoint! Enoteca is hosting Brewmaster Fred Colby from Laughing Dog as he shares a selection from Laughing Dog’s lineup starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19th. Tickets to attend are $10, paid in advance. Attendees will receive a beer glass and most importantly, learn about, and taste, more great beer! Get a head start with a bottle or three of the brand new release of the hop king “Devil Dog” available at Enoteca now! [Member: $6.29 / Retail: $6.99] Email us at service@corkjoy.com to reserve space, or call 208-457-9885. To be made aware of future beer tasting events, join the email list at www.corkjoy.com

Remember the Orphans

The orphan shelf has had some recent admittants. Several bottles of wine were discovered that have been waiting for a home, and some beer has even migrated to the orphan shelf. Club members receive a 20% discount whenever they adopt an orphan. Find it in your heart.

A wide range of very delicious bottles are currently up for adoption. Come peer into the glassed-over eyeballs of these little fellas and see if one of them doesn’t tug at your heart. Pleeeze sir, can I have some more?

Carbonnade a la Flamande - Beer Recipe

Sarah’s been cooking with beer again! This time it’s called Carbonnade a la Flamande and includes some of Russell’s favorite style of beer - Belgian! Here’s the recipe followed by some suggestions of beers that qualify and can be found at Enoteca. One for the food, one for the chef.

This Belgian beef stew is dark and woodsy. It’s great over mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
Ingredients:

• 3 pounds stew meat, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 onions, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 12 ounces (1.5 cups) Belgian dark beer
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed cloves (Sarah recommends going easy on the cloves, like 1/8 tsp instead, as a good Belgian beer already expresses cloves and the combination can overpower.)

Dredge the beef in flour. Shake off any excess flour. Heat the olive oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef a few pieces at a time. Stirring occasionally, cook the beef on medium high heat until beef is browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Remove the browned beef from the skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside. Keep the beef drippings in the skillet.

Add the chopped onions and garlic to the skillet and beef drippings. Cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat, until the onions are light brown. Stir in the beef broth, beer, brown sugar, cracked black pepper, salt, thyme and crushed cloves. Cover. Simmer on low heat for 2 hours or until beef is tender. Serve stew over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
Serves 6.

Belgian and Belgian style Beers that will make this recipe sing:

Chimay Grande Reserve (Chimay, Belgium) - Here are some notes we’ve made while tasting Chimay Grande Reserve: Sweet caramel flavor, a bubbly fizz going down, a little bit of bread dough like champagne, some raisin, prune, pepper and clove spice, floral notes, sweet aftertaste, medium bodied apricots, licorice, carmel and cocoa, brandy notes, roasty. 750ml champagne style corked bottle.
[Member: $11.69 / Retail: $12.99]

Stone Vertical Epic 07.07.07 (Escondido, California) - Tasting notes from Mitch Steele, Head Brewer.
Appearance: Deep golden with a touch of haze. Foam is white, creamy and thick.
Aroma: Grapefruit/citrus, ginger, tropical fruit esters, with a touch of spice. Tropical fruit salad!
Flavor: Citrus and ginger up front, finishing with a touch of clove and more intense cardamom spice.
Palate: Med body, very effervescent, crisp, dry, and refreshing with a touch of bitterness and alcohol warmth.
Overall: Quite delicious now, and we fully expect the flavors to blend more over time.
[Member: $6.74 / Retail: $7.49]

Fish Tale Monkfish Triple (Cascadia) - Those who attended the Fish Tale beer tasting know that the Monkfish (which we had on tap only) is an amazing example of a Belgian Tripel style. We now have 12 oz. bottles in stock! This great bottle of beer sports a full creamy mouth feel with citrus notes of orange, caramel, and spice that float on top of the big malty sweetness that defines Belgian beer styles. The hops are firm but not overpowering, providing a fruity aroma and crisp finish. 9.0% ABV
[Member: $4.49 / Retail: $4.99]

St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël (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.
[Member: $11.69 / Retail: $12.99]

Recipe from The Bartenders Beer Cookbook by Paul Barbano.

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.

Thursday, March 13th - 6 pm - Port Tasting! Enoteca will be hosting Kevin Olsonberg as he pours a lineup of excellent port wines, fortified wines that are sweet and convey complex flavors. Only $15 per person, reservations by calling 208-457-9885.

Friday, March 14th - 4-7 pm - Hand Picked Wine Tasting featuring an eclectic mix of wines hand-picked by Enoteca staff for tasting so good! We will taste these wines on Saturday, March 15th as well, from 12-7.

Wednesday, March 19th - 6 pm - Laughing Dog Beer Tasting! Enoteca will be hosting Brewmaster Fred Colby of Laughing Dog of Sandpoint as he pours a lineup of excellent beer. Only $10 per person, reservations by calling 208-457-9885.

Friday, March 21th - 4-7 pm - Are you a fan of Syrah? How about Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier, Roussane and other interesting varieties? Come try a lineup of Rhone (France) wines and Rhone style wines from other regions. Learn about the unique varieties that make up these richly styled wines. We will taste these wines on Saturday, March 22nd as well, from 12-7.

Friday, March 28th - 4-7 pm - Have you had Layer Cake Shiraz? If not, go pick one up today at Enoteca, then put March 28th & 29th on your calendar to be one of the first to taste the entire lineup of Layer Cake wines, including a Primativo a.k.a. Zinfandel from Italy, a Malbec from Argentina, and a Cotes du Rhone blend from France. Jayson Woodbridge is the winemaker who creates this delicious lineup! We will taste these wines on Saturday, March 29th as well, from 3-7.

Friday, April 4th - 4-7 pm - Taste of Club! April 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. We will taste these wines on Saturday, April 5th as well, from 12-7.

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-Saturday: 11-7


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