Welcome to 2010!

I know it’s only Wine & Beer

But I like it!

Fun Events And News From Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer

1. January Fine Wine & Beer Club in your Bin this Friday!
       Come taste with us for only $10 / flight (lots of wine!)
2. Now On Tap: Grand Teton Double Vision Dopplebock (Stranahans Barrel)
       1/2 Gallon Growler Fill: $24.99, Pint: $7.99
3. Shipping Services Now Available
4. Special: Last of the 2007 Vintage Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah.
   It got 92 points in Wine Spectator and is almost gone!
5. Special: New Vintage of The Prisoner now available
   It’s amazing-tasty, right up there with the great vintages.
6. Remember the Orphans: Lots of Wine & Beer recently added
7. Upcoming Tasting Events
   • Big Oregon Pinots – Bergstrom and Amity 1/2 price! (Read about the wines!)
         Thursday, January 7th, 7 pm, with Nick Lobdell
         $5 per person, tickets required.
         Of Amity … “One of the best Pinot noirs I have ever tasted” -Robert Parker
   • January Wine Club Tasting
         Friday, January 8th, 4-7 pm, Saturday the 9th, 12-7
   • Sakitini Tasting – Sake it to Me!
         Thursday, January 14th, 7 pm
         $15 per person, tickets required.
   • Red Zinfandel Tasting – Compare the Zins
         Friday, January 15th, 4-7 pm, Saturday the 16th, 12-7
   • French Wine Class with Certified Sommelier Michael Williams (Read the story!)
         Thursday, January 21th, 7 pm, $10 per person, tickets required.
   • Joel Gott Wine Tasting – Gott To Have It!
         Friday, January 22nd, 4-7 pm, Saturday the 23rd, 12-7
   • Big Sky Brewing Beer Tasting with Joe Petrilli
         Thursday, January 28th, 5 & 7 pm, $10, tickets required.
   • Shannon Ridge Wine Tasting with Debbie Keller of IWM
         Friday, January 29th, 4-7 pm, Saturday the 30th, 12-7
   • Full Sail Beer Tasting with Joe Neese
         Thursday, February 18th, 5 & 7 pm, $10, tickets required.
8. What would be a great gift for someone who likes wine and/or beer?
9. How is wine tasting at Enoteca different?

January Wine & Beer Club is in!

The wine and beer for this month’s Club has arrived and will be in your Bin on Friday, January 8th! 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

Peirano Estate The Other Estate Red Blend 2007
(Lodi, California)

One is immediately struck by the vibrant color of this wine. The aromas of blackberries and plums are complemented by spice, toasty oak and cedar notes. Upon washing this liquid across the palate, a wave of sweet black cherries and boysenberries, with a hint of smoky, dark oak lead to a long, totally seductive, finish. A great expression of this variety, this wine will gently knock your socks off. ‘The Other’ is a perfect accompaniment to a variety of cuisine.

Not gonna lie to ya, the label on this one is sexy, and we like that! Good thing the wine is sexy too or the fine label would sit in a box instead of come home with you.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Syrah

O’Reillys Pinot Gris
(Oregon)

O’Reilly’s is Owen Roe winemaker David O’Reilly’s own label with fruit that is sourced from the young vines of the Owen Roe and Sineann estates. The result is the production of lovely wines at great prices. The vineyards and wines are treated with the same devotion as the top cuvees from Owen Roe. To maintain the cleanest expression of fruit and accessibility, the O’Reilly Pinot Gris is stainless steel fermented, fruit forward and tasty at a young age. Of all David’s wines, the ones produced under his family name are probably the greatest values because of O’Reilly’s high criteria for good fruit. About 1,000 cases leave the winery under the auspicious eye of a hand-drawn Irish wolfhound on the label and get snapped up quickly after release.

Look for lime and guava flavors and aromas in this one! Don’t hesitate to serve with fish tacos.

100% Pinot Gris

Reserve Club

Navarro Lopez Old Vines Gran Reserva Tempranillo 2001
(Valdepenas, Spain)

The Old Vine Gran Reserva has an intense ruby red color, with a pronounced darkening to brick red at the edges. Complex aromas include spicy notes of black pepper, balsamic fragrances and persistent noble woods, with sensations of leather, tobacco and fruit in liquor. Due to its acid freshness, rich phenols, glycerine, and well-structured tannins, it is balanced, tasty and persistent on the palate.

This wine is ideally served at room temperature to accompany beef, steaks and other meats, as well as mature cheeses.

90 Points – The Wine Advocate

This is one special treat! When Keith Nyquist was here in July to pour Joseph Phelps wine (including Insignia) he noticed the Wine Club Bins and asked me what they were for. I told him we look for wines of great value from all over the world to share unique experiences with our local friends. A few weeks later a bottle of Navarro Lopez Old Vines Gran Reserva Tempranillo arrived in my mailbox, he wanted me to try it and see if it fits the bill. It’s a fantastic example of what Spain can produce, and especially friendly as it is from 2001, and has matured gracefully for 9 years! Thank you Keith for thinking of us, and you hit the nail on the head. Maybe Keith was just grateful for having a chance to taste Insignia; he hadn’t tried the vintage we poured until that tasting.

100% Tempranillo

St. Clement Chardonnay 2007
(Carneros, Napa Valley, California)

This Chardonnay is barrel fermented in 30 percent new French oak, and approximately 85 percent of the blend through malolactic fermentation. The finished wine shows luscious aromas of ripe red apple, cantaloupe, fresh citrus and vanilla bean. On the palate, a creamy mouthfeel introduces flavors of honeydew, pear tarte tatin, lime zest and vanilla spice. The wine finishes with vibrant acidity and a touch of minerality.

100% Chardonnay

Premier Club

Northstar Stella Maris Red 2003
(Columbia Valley, Washington)

Rich and accessible, this wine combines a supple, smooth structure, typical of the Walla Walla appellation, with the jammy, ripe fruit-forwardness of the Columbia Valley. Concentrated blackberry, blueberry and a hint of dusty malt are featured. This full-bodied wine leads into a velvety-silky finish.

47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 4% Syrah

Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay 2007
(Napa Valley, California)

“A good portion of the 2007 blend is from Gamble Ranch, a vineyard that has consistently delivered such rich, ripe fruit flavors. There’s a richness in this wine that is wonderfully balanced by a bright citrus note. A sweet oak note weaves together the many layers of aroma and flavor, carrying through to the finish. This wine is always a pleasure to make and equally pleasurable to drink!” – Laurie Hook, Beringer Vineyards Winemaker

92 Points – Wine Advocate

Always one of California’s top Chardonnays, the 2007 Chardonnay Private Reserve has toned down the toasty oak component, exhibiting excellent nutty, honeyed, buttery notes of orange marmalade, brioche, and spice. Full-bodied, rich, and pure, it reminds me of a Burgundian premier cru from Chassagne-Montrachet or Mersault.

100% Chardonnay

Anniversary Club Red

Terre del Marchesato Marchesale Syrah 2004
(Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy)

A Super-Tuscan wine to win the hearts and minds. The color is deep, vivid, dark purple, with a black heart, and garnet to the edge. On the nose, you’ll detect rich, deep, dark, red flowers, black fruit, and maybe the slightest hint of tar. Allow it to open in a decanter, or aerate to allow the full nose to appear. On the palate it is very powerful, tight knit, with black fruit on the attack. Huge tannic presence, but forceful fruit structure has allowed tannins to integrate totally. Long, generous spicy flavors. Delicious, warm, full bodied wine.

100% Syrah

Beer Club

Beer Club members receive 2 bottles of beer this month! Beer Club selections are not open for the tasting event, but a few bottles are available for purchase.

Start your collection with these two prize bottles! Collect beer? What about drinking it? Well, imagine doing both. Some beer is intentionally made by the brewer to be saved, aged, and opened at a later time upon maturity. Collectible beers can become commodities for eBay selling, and can be the prize selections in your collection.

To learn all about the Stone Vertical Epic series, check out this faq.

Stone Vertical Epic Beer 2007 (07-07-07)
(Escondido, California)

Here are Brewer Mitch Steele’s tasting notes:

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.

22oz bottle

Stone Vertical Epic Beer 2008 (08-08-08)
(Escondido, California)

Here are Brewer Mitch Steele’s tasting notes:

APPEARANCE: Golden, creamy white head.
AROMA: Clove, banana, very fruity, some tropical fruits and a hint of pine.
FLAVOR: Banana, citrusy hop flavors, floral, a touch of alcohol
PALATE: Medium light body, crisp and refreshing. Very bitter finish.

Further Notes:
The Stone 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale is a Strong Golden Belgian style ale highly hopped with American hops (Ahtanum, Amarillo and Simcoe). The beer pours pale golden with a thick and creamy white head of foam. The aroma is full of depth: nuances of pepper, clove, and banana from the Belgian yeast strain, and the resiny citrus notes from the American hops blend together nicely to provide a complex aromatic character. The taste is spicy, hoppy and fruity, with a very dry and a pleasant bitter end. The bitterness lingers nicely, and provides a refreshing finish!

22oz bottle

Last of the 2007 Vintage Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah

Velvety, offering a plush mouthful of spicy cherry and red berry flavors, playing against plush tannins and hints of milk chocolate on the long, vivid finish. Syrah. Drink now through 2014.

The 2007 Ex Umbris Syrah is the best Ex Umbris yet. Gobs of Marionberries and black raspberries are interspersed with licorice, milk chocolate, and coffee. A superbly rich, supple texture helps carry lingering sweet fruit, violets, and white pepper through the finish.

If you remember tasting the Ex Umbris at the Owen Roe tasting earlier this year, or if any of the Owen Roe wines have been to your liking, such as the Sinister Hand, don’t miss out on this bottle! It’s almost gone, the vintage is quickly disappearing due to high marks by the illustrious wine press.

Ex Umbris’s 2006 vintage was Wall Street Journal’s Number One pick in their Dow Jones Washington Syrah Index.

Ex Umbris’s 2005 vintage was Number 69 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2007.

“Ex umbris et imaginibus in veritatem” – From shadows and symbols goes the truth.

We have a few bottles on the shelf, or you can email an order.

[Member: $26.99 / Retail $29.99 / Case: $25.49 ea.]

New 2008 Vintage of The Prisoner Now Available!

Here’s what the wine maker, Dave Phinney, says about the new vintage:

Great color, deep, dark garnet with a clean and bright red band in the rim. The aromas take a minute to come up, and then they take off into a blend of ripe berry and cherry with just a hint of new oak. We age the wine in both new and seasoned French and American oak.

The front of the wine is soft and almost immediately begins evolving into the broad mid-palate. The mid has weight, length, and structure. The acids were great in 2008 and provide an essential rounding effect to the “big fruit” inherent in the wine.

The finish is long and filled with ripe, soft tannins. The 2008 has much the same tannin structure of the 2004 which is a personal favorite.

46% Zinfandel, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 2% Charbono, 1% Grenache

For our part, we have enjoyed this wine for several vintages, and this 2008 seems to hearken back to the greats. There’s something about it that is lush and plush, brimming with full fruit flavor, and some citrus notes that come off the fine acidity. It feels just perfect and ready to drink right now, but I know from other vintages that it cellars nicely for a few years as well. We have a few bottles on the shelf, or you can email an order for as much as you want right now and we’ll fill it within 1 week.

[Member: $34.19 / Retail $37.99 / Case: $32.29 ea.]

Remember the Orphans – 20% Off Tasty Wine

What is the Orphan Shelf? It’s our fun way of closing out wine & beer to make way for the new stuff. It’s located right at the checkout counter, and we offer a 20% discount on these products to our Wine & Beer of the Month Club Members.

Why are products orphaned? Well, basically they are forgotten. Selling great one week and yesterdays news the next. Forgotten greats that need a home. Maybe the label isn’t show stopping or it’s from an area people are not familiar with so it just sits quietly, patently waiting to be adopted. Open your heat and mind these are really great wines!

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?

Big Pinots – Amity and Berstrom Wine Tasting this Thursday with Nick Lobdell

Amity Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc 2007
(Willamette Valley, Oregon)
89 Points Wine Enthusiast. This wine smells and tastes like a typical Alsatian-style Pinot Blanc with minerality notes accompanied by flavors of ripe melon, gooseberries and tropical fruits like guava and pineapple. The mouth feel is round and smooth and reminiscent of a stainless steel Chardonnay.

Amity Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2007
(Willamette Valley, Oregon)
A complex nose with aromas of cherry and wild raspberry, mixed with notes of milk chocolate and cassis, leads into a smooth, soft wine.

Amity Crannell Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007
(Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon)
91 Points Parker & Tanzer. The Pinot Noir from Crannell Vineyards has consistently been our earliest maturing wine and the 2007 vintage is no different. This wine is loaded with aromas of red and black cherry, spice and violets. It’s well rounded and smooth with a lasting finish of cocoa, spice and cherry.

Bergstrom Old Stones Chardonnay 2007
(Willamette Valley, Oregon)
Recent press on the 2007 vintage: Portland Monthly Magazine recently listed this wine as the 2nd best value wine for Oregon! “One of the best chardonnays ever made in Oregon, this is truly a top value. Quite long, intense pear flavors, with a judicious use of oak barrels.”

Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir 2007
(Oregon)
The base for the Cumberland is always the lion’s share of Bergström and de Lancellotti and Shea Vineyards. Then we add in our oldest vines from the Hyland and Durant Vineyards for structure; then the unique characters of some of our best sites such as Nysa, Temperance Hill, Palmer Creek, Anderson Family and Kalita Vineyards. Unlike many other winery blended wines, this wine is NOT a declassified wine made from the leftovers of the single vineyard program. This Pinot Noir is crafted first and foremost to showcase the Bergström style and the vintage character year in and year out. The 2007 Cumberland Reserve is dark ruby in color with deep red reflections at the rim of the glass. The perfume is, as always, complex with great spice notes, minerality, coffee and chocolate undertones and a great vein of dark red fruits such as black cherry and black raspberry. The attack is full of fruit and very supple with suave tannins and silkiness in the mid-palate and finish. This wine exudes the great possibilities that were achievable during the long and cool 2007 vintage and will drink very well now and for ten years to come if cellared carefully.

Bergstrom de Lancellotti Pinot Noir 2007
(Chehalem Mountains, Oregon)
A great achievement for us in that it could easily be confused for a young Barolo or even a Burgundy from the Cote-de-Nuits, but even better than that…..it’s from Oregon! The almost electric violet-ruby colored wine has excellent aromas of marionberry and wild blackberries with some baking spices like cinnamon, vanilla, clove, nutmeg and incense. The attack is pure and driven, with bright fruit flavors and great lithe texture which is focused and mineral-based. The finish has a long juicy acid structure with fine grained tannins. This wine will be amazing after 2-3 years of ageing and will drink well into 2020+ if cellared carefully. This wine is certified Biodynamic.

Enoteca Fun Tasting Events Calendar

Mark your calendars for tastings at Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer. Some are classroom format, which means we all sit down at the same time and can interact with the presenter with questions and whatnot. Our Friday & Saturday wine tastings are drop-in format, which means you can stop in any time during the tasting hours and try some excellent wine. We price our tastings to just break even on the quantity we pour for you, and our pours are quite a bit more than a typical winery tasting room experience. Join us for these excellent tasting events!

Bergstrom and Amity Pinot Noir Tasting
Thursday, January 7th – 7 pm [$5 flight, classroom]

Russell loves Pinot Noir! Come try these fantastic Oregon Pinot’s with some education about what to look for in Pinot Noir. Bergstrom is a high end brand, so we’ll be tasting some of their excellent single vineyard terrior driven Pinot’s and Amity provides some great values at their price point. See how different Pinot’s can be from each other, and what a range can be had.

Amity Pinot Blanc, Amity Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Amity Crannel Vineyard Pinot Noir, Bergstrom Old Stones Chardonnay, Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve, and finally Bergstrom Lancelotti Vineyard Pinot Noir.

Only $5 per person, this is a BIG lineup for a little price! Reserve your tickets early.


January Taste of Wine Club
Friday, January 8th – 4-7 pm [$10 flight, drop-in]

January 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, January 9th as well, from 12-7.


Saketini Tasting! Sake it to Me!
Thursday, January 14th – 7 pm [$15 flight, classroom]

Sarah loves Saketinis! Give these fancy creatures a try on this Thursday event. What’s a Saketini? Think Sake + martini. Learn about what makes Sake unique, and learn new and fun ways to use it at a party. We’ll be including some Sushi with this event prepared by a local Bonsai trained sushi chef.

Only $15 per person, Reserve your tickets early.


Red Zinfandel Wine Tasting
Friday, January 15th – 4-7 pm [$10 flight, drop-in]

We’ve recently had requests for Red Zinfandel wine tasting, so here it is! Try an assortment of red Zinfandel wine and see what sort of variety is possible with this grape. We will taste these wines on Saturday, January 16th as well, from 12-7.


French Wine Tasting Class with Certified Sommelier Michael Williams
Thursday, January 21st – 7 pm [$10 flight, classroom]

Learn French Wine! This class is designed to be a primer on French Wine, with something sure to please the novice and trained alike. Try various wines during the class, learn to read French Wine labels and understand what is in the bottle, and perhaps discover some tasty French treats! If you’ve ever found French wine to be unapproachable, unfriendly, and just well… French, come to this class and discover a new side to the French!

Here’s Certified Sommelier Michael Williams’ description of what to expect:

For hundreds of years, the world has coveted and paid staggering prices for the great wines of France. As a result, regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, and Champagne have imprinted themselves on a wider consciousness than just the wine world. This has created a pervasive belief that great French wine is expensive. Come find out why this is not true while enjoying some fabulous (and affordable) French wines in a fun, relaxed environment. Learn about regions such as Beaujolais (the truth, not the “nouveau”) and Alsace while discovering some hidden treasures from the heavy-hitting Bordeaux region. Allow Michael Williams, Certified Sommelier, to help you turn up your nose at snobbery by introducing you to the rich winemaking traditions of France you can enjoy without jeopardizing your retirement.

$10 per person, Reserve your tickets early.


Joel Gott Wine Tasting
Friday, January 22nd – 4-7 pm [$10 flight, drop-in]

Kevin Olsonberg from Odom will be on hand to share the unique story of Joel Gott’s winery, started from a hamburger stand, and to share a line up of solid, focused wines from Joel Gott! We will taste these wines on Saturday, January 23rd as well, from 12-7.


Big Sky Brewing Beer Tasting with Joe Petrilli, Matt Long (Head Brewer), and another brewer
Thursday, January 28th – 5 & 7 pm [$10 flight, classroom]

Think Big Sky is all about Moose Drool? While it’s a good example of an English Brown, they make more stuff, and we intend to explore it all! After tasting a bunch of beers, you get to take home a glass from the brewery. We’ll be holding 2 tastings, one at 5 and one at 7 pm.

Bring Your Growlers! We’ll have a very special beer on tap for this event only!

$10 per person, reserve your tickets early! (be sure to specify 5 or 7 pm)


Shannon Ridge Wine Tasting
Friday, January 29th – 4-7 pm [$10 flight, drop-in]

Debbie Keller will be here to share a lineup of fantastic, easy drinking California wine from Shannon Ridge. The prices on these wines are recently reduced and make great every-day drinkers, with lots of flavor and body for little prices. We will taste these wines on Saturday, January 30th as well, from 12-7.


Pinot Noir Tasting with Dan Gordon
Thursday, February 11th – 7 pm [$15 flight, classroom]

Dan Gordon represents a bunch of fantastic Pinot Noirs as part of the Northwest Core Collection, and will be sharing several of them. Come to find out more about Pinot Noir, taste some great examples of the wine, and have a good time!

$15 per person, Reserve your tickets early.


Full Sail Beer Tasting with Joe Neese
Thursday, February 18th – 5 & 7 pm [$10 flight, classroom]

Joe Neese is coming back to Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer for a Full Sail beer tasting. Full Sail of Hood River makes a fantastic set of Reserve Line beers and we’ve been stashing some here and there to fill out a great tasting lineup. Joe is excited to hold his 2nd tasting at Enoteca, and this will be one fun event! After tasting a bunch of beers, you get to take home a glass from the brewery. 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 Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 at 12:24 am 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.