Fun Events And News From Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer

1. September Fine Wine & Beer Club in your Bin this Friday!
       Come taste with us for only $10 / flight (lots of wine!)
2. He Said Beer, She Said Wine: Owen Roe vs. Stone Brew Tastings
3. Upcoming Wine & Beer Tastings (more details in calendar below)
   • Orin Swift Wine Tasting: The Prisoner and then some
         Thursday, September 10th, 7 pm, 1/2 price, get tickets!
   • Spring Valley, Northstar, Col Solare Luxury Wine Tasting
         Thursday, September 24th, 7 pm, 1/2 price, get tickets!
   • Stone Brewing Beer Tasting
         Saturday, September 26th, 7:30 pm, $10, get tickets!
   • Caymus, Belle Glos, Mer Soleil Luxury Wine Tasting
         Thursday, October 8th, 7 pm, 1/2 price, get tickets!
   • Iron Horse Beer Tasting
         Thursday, October 16th, 5 & 7 pm, $10, get tickets!
   • Grand Teton Beer Tasting
         Thursday, October 28th, 5 & 7 pm, $10, get tickets!
4. Congratulations Ryan and Lindsey Pugh: Wine Club Members Have a Baby!
5. Upcoming Tasting Event Calendar
6. How much fun is it to join Wine & Beer Club?
7. Will I meet Niles and Frasier at a wine tasting?

A Note from Russell

It’s time for Wine & Beer of the Month Club! Can you believe it’s September already? Our 7 year old starts school next week. Time flies when you’re drinking wine! Get a load of these tasty treats that we’ve discovered over the past few months. Truly enjoyable wine to be had in the Wine Club, and a diverse selection of beer for the Beer Club.

Learn more about the selections and events below, and consider visiting us on Friday from 12-7 as we pour these wines, or Saturday from 12-7.

We’re trying out a new format for talking about upcoming tasting events, and great wine and beer finds we’ve discovered. The people doing the chit-chatting are Russell and Sarah Mann, pictured here. While they’ve both been known to enjoy both wine and beer, Russell is taking the side of Beer, and Sarah is taking the side of Wine, at least for now. For a straight-forward event listing, see the calendar at the bottom of this newsletter, but if you want to know why you should come, check out the dialogue. This week it’s after the info on the Club Wine and Beer.

– Russell and Sarah Mann

September Wine & Beer Club is in!

The wine and beer for this month’s club has arrived and will be in your Bin on Friday, September 4th! If you’re not a Club Member yet, learn about the Wine & Beer Club?

Wine & Beer Club is rolling out this Friday, and tasting is from 4-7 Friday. We will be tasting Saturday from 12-7 as well, which is a great time to taste wine to beat the rush. The cost is $10 per flight (3 oz. each of 3 wines – red or white).


The lineup for Club and Tasting:

Vintage Club

Trivento Amado Sur Red Blend 2006
(Columbia Valley, Washington)
A deep red wine with dark blue tones and aromas of dark fruit combining with notes of black pepper, anise, cinnamon and chocolate. Lush flavors of plums and berries give way to velvety tannins and a persistent and pleasant finish.

While never reaching its full potential while in the south of France, Malbec chanced upon generous terrior in South America. In the foothills of the Andes, Malbec has grown into the fullest expression of decadence, developing what could only be described as a love of the south or Amado Sur. Distinctive of South America, this perfect blend of Malbec, Syrah and Bonarda come together to form the lovable and engaging blend, Amado Sur.

Enjoy Amado Sur with rich dishes and roasted meats including lamb, beef, and pork. This wine also marries well with spicy, fruit-based sauces and sides.

75% Malbec, 15% Syrah, 10% Bonarda

Timberrock Riesling 2005
(Yakima Valley, Washington)
Fresh aromas of spring honeysuckle pairs with flavors of honeydew melon awash with bright acidity that make a mouth watering addition to any light summer affair. Slight residual sugar makes this wine a delight with Kung Pow Chicken.

100% Riesling

Yum! TimberRock, Post Falls local winery, has a little bit of Riesling left, and Dr. Rogers isn’t going to be making more. This has .5% residual sugar, which means it just kisses you with a flutter of sweetness to balance it out. Give it a shot!

Reserve Club

Timberrock Carmenere 2007
(Horse Heaven Hills, Washington)
The lost berry of Bordeaux is back! Medium bodied, exotic pepper & spice with a long velvety finish. Try with a hearty fillet of pan-seared tuna or grilled salmon.

Pour some pepper on me! This is a delicious dose of full-bodied red wine with pepper galore. Sounds a little different? It is unique, and most people who try it love it. The winery is out of the just-released Carmenere, and there’s a little bit more left at Enoteca to pick up. Only 50 cases produced, it’s fun and fresh from our own Post Falls winery!

Saviah Cellars Star Meadows White 2007
(Columbia Valley, Washington)
Liquid summer … this classic white Bordeaux-style blend starts with brisk aromas of white peach, apricot, minerals and a hint of citrus. Rich and layered, this delicious wine is mouthwateringly fresh and crisp on the palate, with a long pretty finish. Serve it slightly chilled for a wonderful aperitif. The Star Meadows is also an excellent pairing with salads and seafood.

57% Sauvignon Blanc, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, 43% Semillon, Rosebud Vineyard

Richard Funk is the wine maker of this excellent Bordeaux Blanc wine. A delicious Sayanora to summertime!

Premier Club

Hannah Nicole Meritage 2005
(Contra Costa County, California)
This 2005 Meritage blends the best characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to produce a rich and savory wine that fills the mouth with distinct black cherry and plum, followed by the classic Brentwood Terroir note of cocoa that lingers on the finish.

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc

Last month we offered a top notch Bordeaux style blend from Washington (Nicholas Cole Camille) that was dark and deep and brooding. This month we are sharing a top notch Bordeaux style blend from California, utilizing the same grape varieties, but from Contra Costa County, California. Comparing the wines you’ll notice this one to have more of a Soprano note to it, to the Camille’s Baritone. Bright big fruit, lush mouthfeel, and creamy tannins compared to Camille’s smokiness, chewey earth, and dark dwelling fruit. Try opening them side-by-side, that would be a fun experience!

Sbragia Home Ranch Chardonnay 2007
(Santa Lucia Highlands, California)
Ed Sbragia has this to say:

Our Home Ranch Vineyard, which my family has been farming for decades, is located on the East side of Dry Creek in Sonoma County, California This thirteen-acre Chardonnay parcel benefits from temperatures that are a bit cooler than most of the appellation, resulting in a Chardonnay with bright fruit flavors, good structure and a nice balanced acidity.

When crafting the Home Ranch Chardonnay, I chose to barrel ferment roughly half of the wine in new Burgundian barrels while the other half went into once-used barrels. The wine underwent 100 percent malolactic fermentation and was aged for 10 months, with the lees stirred weekly. My goal was to create a classically crafted Chardonnay, with a wonderful richness and concentration of the fruit expression of our Home Ranch Vineyard.

The family vineyards are my father’s legacy and I get so much joy from crafting wines from our Home Ranch. The 2007 Chardonnay has wonderful tropical and pear aromas with fresh pineapple and lemon with spice notes and a hint of Dry Creek minerality that lingers through the mouth and into a rich and refreshing finish.

100% Chardonnay

Anniversary Club Red

Bocchino La Perucca Nebbiolo d’Alba 2005
(Piedemonte, Italy)
Let’s hear from the wine maker:

La Perucca is the most representative wine of our cellar, made from the vineyard on my family’s estate. The idea for a great wine starts with a great territory, one that we believe in profoundly. It’s a very calcareous terrain with compact clayey marl and very low organic content. The vines grow slowly, with their vegetation always in balance, producing small concentrated grapes without having to remove many bunches with a green harvest.

The poverty of this land is the richness of La Perucca, austere and tannic in its youth, with time it develops elegance and complexity.

–Eugenio Bocchino

100% Nebbiolo

La Perucca is the name of the single vineyard this wine comes from. It’s literally across a 10′ road to the Barolo classified Nebbiolo, but as it’s not classified with the famous name, it’s a more value driven price.

Look for a Pinot Noir like character, with intense and complex flavors, favoring the earth, spice, rose-water flavors, and nice fruit. Lay it down for a few years or decant it for a few hours for maximum enjoyment from this bottle.

Beer Club

Beer Club members receive 3 bottles of beer this month! Beer Club selections are not open for the tasting event, but a few bottles are available for purchase.

Beer Valley Leafer Madness Imperial Pale Ale
(Ontario, Oregon)
Brewery’s notes:

Leafer Madness Imperial Pale Ale as created during the great hop shortage of 2008, but there is no shortage of hops in this beer. Brewed with large amounts of 2-row malt, Munich malt, and multiple hop varieties, this 9% ABV, 100+ IBU hop monster quenches the thirst of those who crave the lupulin!

9% ABV, 100+ IBU, 22 oz bottle

Great Divide Dunkelweiss
(Denver, Colorado)
Brewery’s notes:

Think of it as hefeweizen’s older brother. A hearty mix of wheat and dark German barley malts gives it a medium body and muddy brown hue, while our proprietary yeast strain strain provides the signature notes of banana and clove. If you like wheat beers, come to the Dunkel side. You won’t be disappointed. Just don’t put an lemon in it.

Pair with roasted chicken, potatoes au gratin, pan-fried trout, Mt. Tam triple cream cow’s milk cheese, pecan pie.

6.4% ABV, 22 oz bottle

Great Divide Double Wit
(Denver, Colorado)
Brewery’s notes:

The Great Divide Double Wit is our more muscular take on the beloved white ales of Belgium. Unmalted wheat and Belgian malted barley give the beer a light body and straw hue, while coriander and curaçao provide the traditional notes of spice and light acidity. This cloudy, deceptively drinkable creation should be enjoyed without the addition of fruit.

Pair with steamed mussels, cioppino (seafood stew), Brillat-Savarin triple crème cow’s milk cheese, lemon tart.
8.1% ABV, 22 oz bottle


Pricing disclaimer.

Russell Said Beer, Sarah Said Wine

Sarah: OK, let’s start with Orin Swift. Since we got the wine shop over three years ago I can remember this being a hit. The Prisoner has been a well loved staple for everyones cellar. I can’t belive this is the first tasting we have done of them! Prisoner has never let me down, which is your favorite honey?

Russell: Don’t tell anybody, but I’ve been a coin collector since childhood, and the fantastic Mercury Head dime super-wax-glued to the bottle being the only label really caught my eye on the Cabernet. When we opened that bottle with prime rib for Christmas dinner a couple years ago, I knew I was in trouble. It’s the one, delicious, rare, stylish. What else can you ask for?

Sarah: I love the lables as much as the wine since you bring up the coin. Papillon is my favorite label of theirs. It’s basically art on a wine bottle. And it’s a crazy awesome blend!


Russell: We have some seats left for next Thursday’s tasting, it’s a rare treat to be opening all of the wines made by this winery at once. The tasting I’m looking forward to is Stone Brewing Co. on Saturday the 26th. We’ll have Jeff Porter from the brewery here to pour some fantastic San Diego beer. Since we’re having just one tasting I expect it to fill up pretty quickly, on 32 seats available! As a woman from San Diego, you have to admit this is one cool event!

Sarah: I’m excited about Orin Swift because I need a refresher on these wines. I forget how a wine tastes if it’s been over a few months. These aren’t even everyday wines for you and I so it’s like trying several “special occasion” wines all in one night! I like Stone Brewery and San Diego is my home town so I’m partial. I might be with the munchkins that night though, so save me a glass!

Orin Swift Ultrapremium Wine Tasting

Lush… consistent… soothing… melodious… rich… lovable…

These are the words that come to my mind when I think of the Orin Swift wines. Since the first drop of Prisoner I have been a Prisoner to it’s flavor and allure. The Mercury Head was the graceful accompaniment to a fine Christmas dinner, really standing out and making a special day even more special. My new favorite is the Saldo Zinfandel, it’s perfect anytime, but especially after a REALLY bad day. It’s just the thing to cheer me up. For the Bordeaux blend drinker, give the Papillon a whirl!

I’m particularly excited that Enoteca is able to offer the full line of Orin Swift wines for this special event! I have a baby-sitter scheduled to make sure I can come, I wouldn’t miss this for the world! Come join Russell and I for this truly satisfying event! We have put a cap on attendance so order your tickets ASAP. This is a tasting event you don’t want to miss….and neither do I!

Special Orin Swift Wine Tasting!

One night only! Taste them ALL, 100% of Dave Phinney’s Orin Swift line up, including everything he makes. 7 pm, pre-register only, limited space, $15 per person.

This tasting will be a “classroom style” tasting starting at 7 p.m. and will last about 1-1.5 hours.

The tasting starts at 7 on Thursday, September 10th.
Tickets to attend are $15 per seat, paid in advance.

Club members can have tickets simply added to their Bin, and anyone can order tickets by coming into Enoteca in Post Falls, calling us at 208-457-9885 or sending us email at service@corkjoy.com

Congratulations Baby Pugh!

Ryan and Lindsey Pugh, Bin #226 recently had a baby! Here are the vital stats, and a picture of the cutie!

His name is Caden John Pugh.

He was born August 4th, 2009

He weighed in at 8 pounds 2 ounces, and 20 ½ inches.

He and his mom are doing great! Dad’s looking forward to being able to enjoy wine and beer again.

Tasting Events Coming Soon

Mark your calendars, Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer 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, September 4th – 4-7 pm
Taste of Club! September 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, September 5th as well, from 12-7.

Thursday, September 10th – 7 pm
One night only! Orin Swift wine tasting – including every wine they make! The Prisoner, Saldo Zinfandel, Papillon Bordeaux Blend, Veladora Sauvignon Blanc, and the mac-daddy Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon. 7 pm, pre-register only for this classroom format tasting, limited space, $15 per person. (1/2 price)

Friday, September 11th – 4-7 pm
In honor of Patriot Day we will be tasting local legend, Mike Scott’s wine from Lone Canary winery. Come try something interesting from Spokane! We will taste these wines on Saturday, September 12th as well, from 12-7.

Friday, September 18th – 4-7 pm
Blind Cabernet Tasting! Taste these Cabernet’s blind and guess! 4 price ranges ($12-$105). 4 distinct wine making regions. This will blow your mind. We’ll also have a Chardonnay open for die-hard white wine drinkers, probably those accompanying the Cabernet guessers. You can drop by any time from 4-7 Friday or 12-7 Saturday to test your skills! We will taste these wines on Saturday, August 22nd as well, from 12-7.

Thursday, September 24th – 7 pm
Spring Valley, Northstar, Col Solare Luxury Wine Tasting! Try these ultra-premium wines from Washington State. These are brought to us by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. 1/2 price tasting, only $15 per person, get your tickets in advance for this classroom format tasting!

Friday, September 25th – 4-7 pm
Cougar Crest Wine Tasting! We will be hosting Kasee Woods from Cougar Crest as she shares the story of the winery and brand new value priced wines from Cougar Crest’s second label, Walla Walla River Winery. We will taste these wines on Saturday, September 26th as well, from 12-7.

Saturday, September 26th – 7:30 pm
Stone Brewing Beer Tasting. Jeff Porter from Stone Brewing Company of Escondido, California will be on hand to share stories and fantastic beer. Only one tasting, beginning at 7:30 on Saturday evening! $10 per person, reserve your tickets early!

Friday, October 2nd – 4-7 pm
Taste of Club! October 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, October 3rd as well, from 12-7.

Thursday, October 8th – 7 pm
Caymus Special Select, an uber-premium Cabernet, Belle Glos, Mer Soleil Luxury Wine Tasting! All wines by Chuck Wagner, all premium wines from famous California wine maker. 1/2 price tasting, only $20 per person, get your tickets in advance for this classroom format tasting!

Thursday, October 16th – 5 & 7 pm
Iron Horse Beer Tasting. Greg Parker from Iron Horse Brewing of Ellensburg, Washington will be on hand to share great beer, and as a home brewer from way back, he knows his stuff. We’ll be holding 2 tastings, one at 5 and one at 7 pm. $10 per person, reserve your tickets early! (be sure to specify 5 or 7 pm)

Thursday, October 28th – 5 & 7 pm
Grand Teton Brewing Co. Beer Tasting. Meet Brew Master Rob Mullin, and try beer with John Lundholm from Grand Teton. These guys are from Victor, Idaho in the southern part of the state, and if you’ve been in the Beer Club for a few months you probably recognize their brewery from the big 1L uber-tasty beers you’ve received. We’ll be holding 2 tastings, one at 5 and one at 7 pm. $10 per person, reserve your tickets early! (be sure to specify 5 or 7 pm)

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

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 pm and is filed under Enoteca News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.