The Odyssey, Top Le Secret, and This Just In

The Odyssey, Top Le Secret, and This Just In

This newsletter is a little long, so here's a nifty little table of contents in case you want to skip down:

- Winemaker Tasting: Odysseus wines from Priorat

- New Arrivals

- Wine Tasting Schedule

- Recent press on some of our wines

- Auntie Em's Farmer's Market Dinner 

 

***Check out today's LATimes piece on new restaurant openings in Eagle Rock !***

 

    

     Yes, for our first foray into mighty Thursday for wine tasting, Legendary Spanish winemaker Joseph Puig of Vinedos Ithaca in Priorat, Spain is making one tasting stop in Los Angeles and we're happy to say it's gonna be at CoWineCo.  This Thursday the 23rd, from 6-8:30pm, we will be hosting this special tasting and Joseph will be pouring his three wines from the Odysseus label:

2000 Odysseus Tinto

A blend of 38% Grenache, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cariñena and 7% Touriga Nacional

*This wine was Wine and Spirits Magazine's 2004 Priorat of the Year with 93 pts*

2003 Odysseus Blanco

100% Garnacha Blanca

Odysseus Pedro Ximenez

This is still the only non-fortified wine made from the Pedro Ximenez grape in the world

 

Joseph also invented a new wine opener called the Puig-Pull that we're hoping he has with him.  It's kind of a cross between a waiter's corkscrew and an industrial winch and insures the cork comes straight up and out, rather than angling and risking breakage.  Wine dorks of the world, unite! 

This will be a limited tasting by RESERVATION ONLY so please, please grab a spot now if you're interested! (see below in the 'wine tasting schedule' for more details)

RSVP: (323) 478-1985 or info@cowineco.com

 

 

This Just In!

     We've recently added a few new, wines to our higher-end section, and a truckload of new ones to the rest of the store.  

 

Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Napa Valley, California -- $67.99/btl

Unless you avoid the wine lists at fine restaurants for fear of heart failure, you've seen this name quite often.  Cakebread is one of the most respected names in all of Napa Valley and not just because the name sounds cool.  Jack bought the land that now makes up the core of Cakebread Cellars for just a few thousand dollars back in the 70's when we was splitting time between his auto-mechanic job, and apprenticing with Ansel Adams.  Since then, he has grown Cakebread into one of the most respected names in the wine world (and remained a generous, stand-up guy at the same time).  We were only able to get our hands on a small amount of this highly sought-after wine this year so grab 'em while you can.

 

Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Walla Walla Washington --  $84.99/btl

Leonetti Merlot 2004, Columbia Valley, Washington -- $79.99/btl

Why haven't you seen much of these wines around?  Currently there is a 5 year waiting list to get into their wine club.  Yes, they're doing rather well.  One of the reasons for their popularity is winemaker Gary Figgin's attention to detail.  Apparently, he has been known to actually hand pick the oak logs used to make the barrels where he ages his wine.  'Type A' is a good thing when it comes to wine.  We were lucky enough to get our hands on just a few bottles so it is first come, first served with a limit of one bottle per household for the Cab, and three bottles per household for the Merlot.

If this looks like your cup of tea, click the names of the wines below for further information:

2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

2004 Merlot  

 

Cabernet Sauvignon - New Arrivals

Obsidian 'Red Hills' Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - Paso Robles, CA  - $24.99

Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 – Columbia Valley, Oregon  - $24.99

Kenneth Volk 'Carmody McKnight Vineyard' Cabernet – Paso Robles, CA - $22.99

Grenache (red) - New Arrivals

Andre Brunel Vin de Pays Grenache 2004 - Vaucluse, France - $9.99

Santa Cruz Mountain Winery Grenache 2003 - Santa Cruz, CA - $10.99

Ramian 'Page One' Estate Rose Grenache 2003 - Napa Valley, CA - $TBD

Other Reds - New Arrivals

Gironia Biferno Rosso 2000 – Montepulciano, Aglianico  - Molise, Italy - $17.99

Vignalta Rosso Riserva 2001 – Merlot, Cabernet - Veneto, Italy – $17.99

Vaona Pegrandi Amarone 2001 – Veneto, Italy - $49.99

Rosenblum 'Richard Sauret Vineyard' Zinfandel 2004 – Paso Robles, CA - $21.99

Zenaida ZC Red (NV) – Paso Robles, California - $15.99

Copertino Riserva 2000 – Negro Amaro, Malvasia - Puglia, Italy - $14.99

Vina Ijalba Livor Tinto 2004 – Rioja, Spain - $10.99

Plauso Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo 2004 – Montepulciano – Abruzzi, Italy - $ 16.99

Whites - New Arrivals

St. Paul’s Berg Pinot Bianco 2003 – Alto Adige, Italy – $13.99

Quivera 'Fig Tree Vineyard' Sauvignon Blanc 2004 – Dry Creek, California  - $14.99

Honig Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc 2004 - Napa Valley, California - $20.99

Burton Sauvignon Blanc 2003 – California  - $9.99

Remo Farina Bianca 2004 – Garganega, Chard, SB, Riesling, Tocai – Veneto, Italy - $10.99

 

 

Wine Tasting Schedule

 

Special Thursday Winemaker Tasting: Odysseus - Priorat, Spain

This Thursday, the 23rd

6:00-8:30pm

$15/person

3 wines, cheeses from Auntie Em's Marketplace  

This tasting is by reservations only!   info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985

Three wines from Priorat made by Joseph Puig (see further info in the opening paragraph)

2000 Odysseus Tinto

A blend of 38% Grenache, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cariñena and 7% Touriga Nacional

*This wine was Wine and Spirits Magazine's 2004 Priorat of the Year with 93 pts*

2003 Odysseus Blanco - 100% Garnacha Blanca

Odysseus Pedro Ximenez

 

Spring Forward, Fall Down

This Friday the 24th

5:30-8:30pm

$15/person

5 wines, cheeses from Auntie Em's Marketplace

Reservations recommended!  Fridays have been busy lately and we hate turning people away, so call ahead anytime and get your name down in advance:   info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985

Technically, we've entered Spring 2006 this week which makes our mouths start watering for specific wines and foods.  Red Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc are our drinks of choice this time of year so that's what we're pushing this Friday, like it or not.  Ok, sometimes the power goes to our heads.  We hope you like it.  And if you don't, Drew has a trap-door lever behind the bar which he is allowed to use at his discretion.  Oh, and a crossbow.  And maybe an attack squirrel.  Hmmm...and throwing stars... 

wines

Quivera 'Fig Tree Vineyard' Sauvignon Blanc 2004 – Dry Creek, California 

Honig Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc 2004 - Napa Valley, California

Andre Brunel Vin de Pays Grenache 2004 - Vaucluse, France

Santa Cruz Mountain Winery Grenache 2003 - Santa Cruz, CA

Ramian 'Page One' Estate Rose Grenache 2003 - Napa Valley, CA

 

Lazy Sunday Tasting

This Sunday the 26th

1:00-4:00pm

$10/person

4 wines and gourmet cheeses provided by Auntie Em's Marketplace

No reservations necessary     

This Sunday we'll be pouring two whites and two reds.  Email or call in this weekend for specific wine selections info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985.

(Wines TBD)

 

April Fool's Eve Wine Tasting

Friday the 31st

5:30-8:30pm

$15/person

5 wines, cheeses from Auntie Em's Marketplace

Reservations recommended!  Fridays have been busy lately.  Call ahead anytime and get your name down: info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985
Yes, it is this day of every year where everyone gets extremely, extremely honest and literal before they let loose with all their CRAZY antics on April Fool's Day.  For some reason, that means we're pouring all Syrahs.  Check back next week for the Syrah selection.        

wines

(Wine selection TBD.  Check back next week --> www.cowineco.com/calendar )

 

Lazy Sunday Tasting

Sunday, April 2nd

1:00-4:00pm

$10/person

4 wines and gourmet cheeses provided by Auntie Em's Marketplace

No reservations necessary 

Every Sunday we pour a variety of wines for your gustatory pleasure.  Email or call next week for specific wine selections info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985.

(Wine selection TBD.  Check back next week --> www.cowineco.com/calendar )

 

 

Great Press for Wines Already On Our Shelves

Last week's LATimes Wine of the Week was the

2004 Le Secret Ivre Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes - $21.99/btl

This is a white Rhone blend that we fell in love with a few weeks ago.   Here's what the LATimes had to say:

"From the Côte Rotie producer Earl Pierre Gaillard comes this delicious

Northern Rhône white. He makes an exceptional Condrieu too, but Le Secret Ivre is a

blend and that's what makes it so much more affordable. This year it's 75% Condrieu — both young and older vines — plus 25% Roussanne.  Perfumed with honey and white peaches,

it's lush, but minerally, clean and refreshing. In short, a great food wine that can accompany

a roast chicken or an earthy Mediterranean vegetable soup as easily as a grilled

fish, a seafood risotto or a bouillabaisse. It's also an interesting match with cheese.

At this price, it can make any weeknight supper a celebration."

~ S. Irene Virbila

 

And from the NYTimes, a nod to one of our best Rioja deals, the

Conde de Valdemar Crianza 2001, Rioja Spain - $10.99/btl

BEST VALUE
"it had an intensity without weightiness which is something I always look for in a wine"

~ Eric Asimov   

 

March Farmer's Market Dinner at Auntie Em's!!!   

On Wednesday, March 29th, Auntie Em's Kitchen is back with their 2nd Farmer's Market dinner of 2006.  Check out the menu below, choose your entree, make a reservation with Auntie Em's and grab a bottle of wine from CoWineCo on your way to dinner.  We've paired some of our wines to go with the menu and there's NO corkage!

 

Starter
Assorted Lettuces and Baby Jeweled Beets from Terri's own garden

Main Course
Mustard Roasted Chicken with Fingerling Potatoes with Sea Salt, Creme
Fraiche and Chives

Wine Pairings: We'd suggest a crisp Chardonnay that comes closer to the
style of white Burgundy, such as our Terlano Alto Adige Chardonnay ($16.99)
or our Michel Rey 'La Roche' white Burgundy ($19.99). The minerality and creaminess will
enhance the chicken and richness of the creme fraiche without bogging
it down or getting in the way. We also have a great Rhone style blend
called Le Secret Ivre with that richness but a little more floral on
the nose at $21.99 per bottle.

or

Portobello, Potato and Artichoke Pie topped with Arugula Pesto

Wine Pairings:  We think this calls for a dry but more intense white, since
artichokes can make wines taste sweeter than they actually are. A brut
sparkler like our Gruet Blanc de Noir ($14.99) would be delicious, as would
our new Quivira Sauvignon Blanc ($14.99). If you want to go red with either
of these dishes, We'd suggest a light but dry red such as our Domaine de
Triennes from Provence ($15.99), a Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc blend, or a dry Pinot
Noir like our our Campion from Edna Valley is great at $17.99.

or

Pan-roasted Hanger Steak topped with Point Reyes Blue Cheese Sauce
with Mashed Potatoes

Wine Pairings: This dish needs a big hearty red with enough fruit and body
to counter the sauce. Our Kenneth Volk Cabernet is big, balanced and earthy
enough for hanger steak ($22.99). Also, we have a bold spicy/fruity Syrah
called Esca that we love, and it's a great, nuanced buy at $19.99.

 

Jodi's Cheese Course
a Selection of Cheeses from our Marketplace

Dessert
Chef's Choice

 

$32.00 Per Person

 

Children's Menu
Barbecued Chicken Legs
Mashed Potatoes
Banana Split

 

$8.00 Per Child

 

(This menu is subject to change according to market availability.)

Reservations

There are two seatings: the first at 6:30, to which Auntie Em's encourages
you to bring the kids; the second at 8:30. Please e-mail your
reservations to info@auntieemskitchen.com or call 323-255-0800.
They'll get back to you right away about the availability of seating.
The Market Dinners usually fill up quickly, so contact them right away!

 

See You Soon,

John and Jen

 

"The wine urges me on, the bewitching wine, which sets even a wise man to singing and to laughing gently and rouses him up to dance and brings forth words which were better unspoken."
~ Homer, The Odyssey