Enoteca News: France vs. Washington Wine Tasting this weekend
What’s Fresh At Enoteca?
- France vs. Washington Wine Tasting this Weekend
- January Beer Tasting: Merchant du Vin with Jhon Gilroy
- February Wine Dinner: Chateau St. Martin – French wine with French food
- Review: Mercer Estates Wine Dinner at Fleur de Sel
- Fresh Beers at Enoteca – Fine Wine and Beer
- Visit Enoteca at Festival of Foodies this Saturday: Tickets at Enoteca
- Upcoming Tasting Events
- About the Authors
- Tell me more about the Wine & Beer Club…
- Can you tell me what Wine Tasting is like?
Looking For Your Favorite Wine & Beer:
People have learned that finding a specific wine or beer can be very easy, you can simply ask the folks at Enoteca, and we are happy to track them down for you. Especially hard to find and specialty products!
Simply fill out this form and we will do the hunting.
People have learned that finding a specific wine or beer can be very easy, you can simply ask the folks at Enoteca, and we are happy to track them down for you. Especially hard to find and specialty products!
Simply fill out this form and we will do the hunting.
A Note from Sarah
Even though we didn’t head off to the French Riviera for our vacation we were met with some warm temperatures!
Russell, Judah and I had a nice break with up to 60 degree weather in Billings! I felt spoiled to be able to
walk outside with out a heavy coat! Our time in the sun in Northern Idaho is coming though. I had a glimpse
of hope when I went to the store the other day and saw that swimsuits were for sale.
I can’t wait for those days ahead! Soaking up the warmth and sipping on my favorite Viognier!
Check out the France vs. Washington tasting this weekend, and my review of the Wine Maker Dinner at Fleur de Sel that happened Tuesday evening. If you’re going to be at Festival of Foodies this weekend, come find me and visit, I’ll be there pouring wine!
– Sarah Mann
France vs. Washington Wine Tasting this Weekend
Start the weekend out right at Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer!
This Friday from 4-7 Enoteca will be sharing a line up great wine from France and Washington. In this corner, we have two excellent reds from Washington State, one built on food friendliness and the other built for cocktail drinking. In that corner we have two reds from France, one a masculine full bodied wine, and the other a sleek and supple offering. Don’t miss this showdown.
We want to give you the opportunity to “try before you buy” so we offer a flight of wine for a low cost. Taste a flight (2 oz. each of 4 wines) for $10 per flight, and follow up with a glass. We will be tasting Saturday from 12-7 as well, which is a great time to beat the rush.
Domaine de Lagrézette Zette Malbec 2003 (Cahors, France)
In the mouth the wine is rounded and well-balanced. It shows good structure, medium body with well-integrated tannins. The finish is long and harmonious with oak flavors. Will age and mellow for many years.
100% Malbec
We first tasted this gem at Fleur de Sel in Post Falls, it’s a rich full-bodied 100% Malbec from France! The flavors are masculine and robust, it’s not just about fruit. A true European wine, with a great price point.
[Member: $12.59 / Retail: $13.99]
Chateau des Annereaux Lalande de Pomerol Gironde 2003
(Bordeaux, France)
According to local archives, the long lineage of the Annereaux Family, who gave their name to both a hamlet and a wine chateau, goes back at least as far as the late 13th century. A document written in Gascon dated 1390 sent to the local Temple Commander by Annereaux brothers confirms that this parish owed feudal allegiance to the Languedoc region.
Les Annereaux’s terroir is blessed with tremendous viticultural potential. The vineyards are planted on a plateau with good sun exposure and excellent natural drainage. The deep, homogenous, sandy-gravel soil soaks up and stores heat, inclucing early ripening. Crasse de fer (iron pan) in the subsoil is thought to be responsible for the violet aromas.
This red Bordeaux is plush, opulent and delicious. Supple, fruity and easy to drink, it would be easy to dismiss this wine as a lovely, round claret. Nuances of spice, leather, and chocolate combine with lush fruit and silky tannins to provide depth and layers of flavour in the wine. Look for cherries, plums, cassis and coffee notes as well. Ample decanting or a quick Vinturi treatment enhance the long, lingering finish.
70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
We tasted this one blind in a line up of several wines, and everyone tasting was able to note that “This is the French one!” Classic French style, this is a good example of what the French have to offer at a reasonable price.
[Member: $26.99 / Retail: $29.99]
Masset Merlot 2003
(Yakima Valley, Washington)
Greg Masset is a trained chef, from a family of chefs famous in the region for classical cuisine. All his wines are produced with dinner in mind. This Merlot shows a subtle combination of allspice and plums makes this wine a favorite among our team. Pairs well with pasta and meat dishes.
This is a food friendly wine if I’ve ever seen one. The wine maker is a chef, and rather than making a rich plush Merlot that overpowers your meal, he aims for a nice wine that plays well with others. Sarah cracked open a bottle of this the other night and it went great with some spaghetti!
100% Merlot
[Member: $17.99 / Retail: $19.99]
Charles Smith ‘Chateau Smith’ Cabernet Sauvignon
(Columbia Valley, Washington)
Red Currants, fresh tobacco leaf and cigar box spice make way for subtle aromatics such as rose hips and a hint of anise. Impressive, ripe flavors, royally delicious. Cab is king!
This wine comes from the Charles Smith “Modernist Project” – including Holy Cow Merlot and Chardonnay, Kung Fu Girl Riesling, and some ultra-high end Syrah’s that you’ll see at Enoteca. This Cabernet is the latest release from the program of putting as much flavor in the bottle as possible. Enjoy this now!
Charles Smith, rock band manager, is one of a kind. His tripped-out hairdo nearly matches his tripped-out wine making style. Rich and delicious Washington style Cabernet, this is too easy to get into with a screw cap.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
[Member: $19.79 / Retail: $21.99]
Pricing disclaimer.
January Beer Tasting
Merchant du Vin with Jhon Gilroy
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MdVs Beer Tasting Thursday, January 22nd Tasting at 7:00 p.m. Only $10 per person |
Beer Tasting around the world! All sorts of great imports, check out this list:
Attendees will receive a beer glass and most importantly, learn about, and taste, more great beer! 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 |
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February Wine Dinner: French Wine with Chateau St. Martin
and culinary arts by Laurent Zirotti at Fleur de Sel
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French Wine Dinner Tuesday, Feb. 24th Begins at 6:30 p.m. Price TBA 
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Tuesday February 24th, 2008 at 6:30, Enoteca – Fine Wine and Beer
will be holding a French wine dinner in partnership with Fleur de Sel and Chateau St. Martin Importers.
This promises to be a fun and delicious evening of French food and French wine!
Make a date of it! The restaurant seats 35, so that is the maximum number of people we can book, so make your booking early. To make reservations, call Fleur de Sel at 208-777-7600. |
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We will send out the menu as soon as we have it!
Hans Giner, the importer, will be on hand at the dinner. Hans and Catherine Giner founded Chateau St. Martin with the mission to find and import quality wine from France at reasonable prices. Hans brings a wealth of wine knowledge to the Pacific Northwest. In 1992 he was invited to join the prestigious Jurade de Saint-Emilion, founded in 1199, and has over the years built an extensive network of wine producers, negociants and courtiers. Building on his in-depth knowledge of the Bordeaux wines and the ways of doing business in the wine trade, he is now in a position to offer the ever growing population of wine consumers some outstanding wines at moderate prices. To make reservations, call Fleur de Sel at 208-777-7600. Email us at service@corkjoy.com with any questions, or call 208-457-9885. To be made aware of future events, join the email list at www.corkjoy.com |
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Review: Mercer Estates Wine Dinner at Fleur de Sel
Last night was another wonderful evening at Fleur de Sel. The mood was laid back, like you were at an intimate dinner
party with no clean up afterwards! We were served our first course of Galantine of chicken and shrimp with a lemon
mousseline. Now I know that sounds like a mouth full, but what I saw on my plate was a small roll of chicken with
shrimp in the center and cut into delicate little discs. It was amazing, but to top it all off was the lemon mousseline.
Basically a lemon whipped cream garnished with fennel. It had everyone talking and asking for the recipe. I must say it was
a pretty outstanding first course. It was paired with the Mercer Estates Pinot Gris, one of my favorite whites! Smooth with
lovely hints of honeycrisp apple and pear, and a zest of lemon.
The next course was lamb spareribs that were drizzled with a Merlot glaze. The glaze had robust clove and cinnamon notes that complimented the lamb perfectly. I overheard one woman say that she normally didn’t like lamb but that was the best she had ever tasted. Of course it was paired with the Mercer Estates Merlot, which was a big hit. One of the best Merlots out there, and for the price you’d be hard pressed to find anything more outstanding! We are told there are about 10 bottles left of this treasure.
The main course was a meaty version of Spanikopita. Tender pork loin rolled with spinach and wild mushrooms in a phyllo package and served with a demi glaze that had me almost licking the plate clean. We were even treated with a little education on mushrooms as the chef (Laurent) is a mushroom enthusiast of sorts. He went into detail of the mushrooms in our main course and where they were picked. It was nice to know what you were eating as if you prepared it yourself. This dish was paired with the big hitter of the night, the Mercer Estates Cabernet Sauvignon. The most raves came from this little gem and a lot of the attendees had to have bottles for themselves. It’s a rich and robust wine with an underlying masculinity that showed character and depth. It stood up to the rich sauce in the meal with out over powering any of the delicate nuances. An incredible experience.
The last course was the white Bavarian cake. It was paired very well with the Mercer Estates Riesling. I heard people asking if this was or will be on the main menu, but sadly Laurent said no. That was something special I noticed about these now two wine maker dinners we’ve held. Chef Laurent pairs completely unique meals that you can experience once and usually never again unless you are invited to their house! It’s a very special and unique experience that you can’t have everyday. Many people have gone to our wine maker events for their anniversary or birthdays, and when we are able to tell Laurent and Patricia they go out of their way to make it a truly special celebration. Russell and I are very pleased to be working with such a great group of people at Fleur de Sel. We also loved Mercer Estates wine, they truly make some of Washington’s best wine! We will be planning more of these dinners with Fleur de Sel so watch for more detailes in following newsletters. Thank You to everyone who attended, we hope you had a lovely evening!
Mercer Estate Riesling 2007 (Yakima Valley, Washington)
Riesling grapes grown in Washington State’s cooler Yakima Valley appellation produce a brisk, tangy and refreshing wine. Flavors and aromas of apricot, peach and tangerine along with the bracing acidity of the Mercer Estates Riesling reflect the unique character of Washington State Riesling. With little less than a percent and a half residual sugar this Riesling is a bit dryer than many Rieslings and lends itself quite well to food pairings.
100% Riesling
[Member: $13.49 / Retail: $14.99]
Mercer Estate Pinot Gris 2007 (Columbia Valley, Washington)
Ripe pear, melon and peach fruit flavors backed by a minerality and good acidity make this a refreshing, balanced wine that will go well with seafood, chicken and cheeses.
100% Pinot Gris
[Member: $13.49 / Retail: $14.99]
Mercer Estate Chardonnay 2007 (Columbia Valley, Washington)
Nice cream and vanilla, pear, melon, anise, and mango aromas and flavors. A creamy mouthfeel with good weight and richness and a hint of toasted oak in the finish.
100% Sauvignon Blanc
[Member: $15.29 / Retail: $16.99]
Mercer Estate Merlot 2005 (Horse Heaven Hills, Washington)
Ripe mature blueberry and cherry aromas with a nice oak spice are followed by forest floor, cedar and anise. In the supple mouth the same fruit flavors are complimented with chocolate and coffee bean followed by moderate tannins with good mouth feel and length.
95% Merlot, 5% Syrah
[Member: $21.59 / Retail: $23.99]
Mercer Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Horse Heaven Hills, Washington)
Anise, cassis and cedar are further scented with oak spice, vanillin and cedar to produce a complex and well balanced wine. A full, rich mid-mouth followed by long length and moderate tannins makes this a good wine to drink now and it will develop with additional cellar aging.
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot
[Member: $21.59 / Retail: $23.99]
Fresh Beers at Enoteca Fine Wine and Beer
Time for the high octane, moody, dark and brooding beers of winter. A few of these are very limited in
availability, so don’t wait to pick them up. Everything listed below will age well, and smooth out over
time. It takes patience, but the rewards are worth it. Pick up a few, drink one now, drink one later,
and save one for next year.
Laughing Dog Dogfather Imperial Stout (Sandpoint, Idaho)
Deep, dark, and luscious flavors with notes of vanilla and bourbon from the barrel aging process. When we found out that the bottles were almost gone, we bought as much as we could. This is a beer to age and see how it develops. Only 5 cases remain.
We’re going to the mattresses with this one. I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse. Try this beer! About 11% ABV, 71 IBUs, 11 months in the making, 7 malts, 4 hop varieties, and Luca Brazi sleeps with the fishes. Some of it was bourbon barrel aged, badda bing badda boom, there you go.
[Member: $7.19 / Retail: $7.99 / Member Case: $6.79 ea.] 22 oz.
Stone Double Bastard 2008
Another one we found out was almost gone! This is one of the Best Bastards Yet. We secured the last 4 cases of this one in north Idaho and eastern Washington. Get it while it’s here.
Brewery notes:
Double your double, bastard your bastard. In more ways than one.[Member: $6.29 / Retail: $6.99 / Member Case: $5.94 ea.] 22 oz.
Don’t ask to be pinched, you’re not dreaming. But when you taste this lacerative mutha of a beer, you’ll be knocked into dreamland! This malt & hop monster is not for the timid however, so beware.
For our tenth year of Doubling your Arrogance, we’ve replaced the white ink on the bottles with silver. That means all the hoarders, collectors, and stockpilers out there had better start clearing room in the ‘fridge or cellar!
Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (Portland, Oregon)
It’s Barley Wine season, which means amped up high hops, high malts, high alcohol, and ready to rumble. This Doggie Claws will scratch!
Here’s what the brewery says:
Doggie Claws Doggie Claws is a Barley Wine made in the West Coast style. Big malt and hops make this copper colored ale one of our most popular products. Produced in September and October and released in November, this Beer will improve for years to come. Alcohol: 11.5% by volume. IBU’s 70
[Member: $5.39 / Retail: $5.99 / Member Case: $5.09] 12 oz.
Avery Mephistopholes Stout (Colorado)
Mephistopholes is back, in his newest incarnation. We sort of wish he hadn’t returned, he’s a big bad boy. The rewards come with locking this demon away in a dungeon for a year or two, as he smooths out with age. Early on expect this to be really robust, even rough.
Mephistopheles is the crafty shape shifter, the second fallen angel. Amazingly complex, coal black, velvety and liqueurish, this demon has a bouquet of vine-ripened grapes, anise and chocolate covered cherries with flavors of rum-soaked caramelized dark fruits and a double espresso finish. 107 IBU’s, 15.1% ABV.
[Member: $8.09 / Retail: $8.99 / Member Case: $7.64] 12 oz.
There is a great beer tasting scheduled for Thursday, January 22nd. This is a beer tasting to definately not miss, as we will be tasting through beers of several different styles, from different countries and we’ll have the importer, Jhon Gilroy, on hand to talk about them, answer questions, and educate. The “classroom format” beer tasting is a great way to learn more about what’s in your glass and enhance your beer drinking experience.
– Russell Mann
Visit Enoteca at Festival of Foodies this Saturday
Tickets available at Enoteca
Spend a day in culinary luxury and support the Spokane Restaurant Association. Clear Channel presents the 8th Annual
Festival of Foodies. Savor signature dishes from top rated Spokane Restaurants. Taste the area’s finest microbrews,
wines and champagne, desserts and spirits. Watch the Bold Chef Challenge on the main stage. Contestants will show
off their culinary skills in an exciting cook-off using mystery ingredients.
The Festival of Foodies is from 2pm-6pm, Saturday, January 24 at the Lair Building at Spokane Community College. Tickets are $10 in advance, buy them at Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer, $15 at the door.
Find the Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer table at the event to taste some great wine!
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.
Tuesday, January 20th – 6:30 pm
Wine Maker Dinner with Rob Mercer of Mercer Estates and culinary arts by Laurent Zirotti at Fleur de Sel. For details, keep an eye on upcoming Enoteca Newsletters!
Thursday, January 22nd at 7:00 pm
Merchant du Vin Beer Tasting. Jhon Gilroy, beer aficionado extraordinaire, will be here to share some great European beer! $10 per person, reserve your tickets early!
Friday, January 23rd – 4-7 pm
France vs. Washington Wine Tasting. Try red wine from France and compare to Washington State wines. We will taste these wines on Saturday, January 24th as well, from 12-7.
Friday, January 30th – 4-7 pm
Walla Walla Vintners Wine Tasting with wine maker Gordy Venneri. Come try the line up with the wine maker, get your bottle autographed! We will taste these wines on Saturday, January 31st as well, from 12-7.
Friday, February 6th – 4-7 pm
Taste of Club! February 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, February 7th as well, from 12-7.
Tuesday, February 24th – 6:30 pm
Wine Dinner with Hans Giner of Chateau St. Martin French wine importers and culinary arts by Laurent Zirotti at Fleur de Sel. For details, keep an eye on upcoming Enoteca Newsletters!
Wednesday, February 25th – 7 pm
Missed out on the dinner? Hans Giner of Chateau St. Martin French wine importers will be at Enoteca on Wednesday, February 25th to pour some excellent wine. For details, keep an eye on upcoming Enoteca Newsletters!
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!Thank you for your support of our local family business.
Salute’
Russell and Sarah
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
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