   |  Newsletter ArchiveAttack of the Killer Abejas, The Definition of Cool, and How Much Wine Could a Wood Chip Chuck? Attack of the Killer Abejas, The Definition of Cool, and How Much Wine Could a Wood Chip Chuck?Attack of the Killer Abejas Continuing with our Thursday winemaker series, we're proud to announce that winemaker John Abbot of Abeja Winery in Walla Walla, Washington will be joining us later this month on Thursday, April 27th from 6:00-8:30pm. John Abbot made a name for himself over 10 years as the winemaker for Canoe Ridge Vineyard, producing award-winning vintages of Cabernet, Chradonnay and Merlot. That is until opportunity knocked in the form of Ken Harrison, a banker with a penchant for wine. Together they opened Abeja Winery (and Bed and Breakfast - see below.... it ain't ugly) which focuses entirely on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. John's Cabernet style is rich, complex, and delicately balanced, a combination that seems to be universally synonymous with YUM. Every year, the release of the Abeja Cab is one of the most anticipated arrivals of all the wines in the Pacific Northwest (no pressure), and I just tried the 03 Cab about 15 minutes ago. Based on what I'm still tasting, we may have to call this off and keep all the bottles to ourselves. Toasty, smokey, bacon-y (Mmmmm, bacon), spice, cigars....wow. Also, the Chardonnay will be poured at our tasting which is currently sold-out at the winery (their wines are almost always sold-out the week they're released). Because of the limited quantity, we can't taste it first. I tried out the crying routine I use to get out of speeding tickets but that didn't get us a taste either. I guess we'll have to join in this tasting with the rest of you. Oh, well. We'll offer it up.
**Abeja: this tasting consists of just two wines ** **by reservation only** $12/person Includes a variety of fine cheeses from Auntie Em's Marketplace 6:00-8:30pm Thursday, April 27th RSVP: info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985 Abeja Chardonnay 2004, Washington Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Columbia Valley, Washington (bottle purchase amounts may be limited depending on availability) (other wines will be available at normal by-the-glass pricing)
Abeja Winery and B&B
The Definition of Cool Though we have promised a few of you that beer will be added soon (still the plan, don't know when yet), that the first 2006 Sake tasting is imminent (nope, no date, but very, very soon) and that you will become smarter by drinking our more expensive wines (sorry, Chris), we can now announce that we have at least come through on one of our promises for April... *** COLD WHITE WINE *** Yes folks, we finally have our Wine Well which is a gizmo not unlike the flux capacitor in Back to the Future. Through some sort of voo-doo, Kung-Fu trickery, It will chill anything in our store in about 5-7 minutes. So call ahead if you're heading to dinner and a cold bottle will be waiting. Or, just come in, pick out the whites first, and by the time your John Hancock is dry (or 'Steve Manfrengensengen' or whatever your name is), your wine will be cold.
Wine Tasting Schedule
Italy and Austria: Two Lovers From Opposite Sides of the Tracks This Friday the 7th 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 We hear the weather may clear by Friday, and it may not. So we're covering all our bases -- we'll have two Austrian whites in case the weather gets all pretty, shiny and such, and three manly Italian reds for the rain-soaked and hard-bitten (including four new additions to the walls of CowineCo). wines Wenzel Pinot Gris 2003, Burgenland, Austria Gretsch Gruner Veltliner Villa Giada Suri Barbera D’Asti 2004, Piedmonte, Italy Corina Barbera D’alba, 2004, Piedmonte, Italy
A-Mano Primitivo 2001, Puglia, Italy
Lazy Sunday Tasting This Sunday the 9th 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)
Best Supporting Actress - Merlot Friday the 14th 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
So maybe you're part of this new wave of anti-Merlot wine drinkers, or maybe you've always loved Merlot and hope it doesn't come back in vogue so the prices stay down and you can stock your cellar full of tasty treats and die, happy and rich. Well, from Bordeaux to Meritage wines, Merlot has always been an excellent blending grape, so this tasting is dedicated entirely to Merlot blends. wines (Wine selection TBD. Check back next week --> www.cowineco.com/calendar )
Lazy Sunday Tasting Sunday, April 16th 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 )
****A New Week-O-Wine 4-Pack for April 2006 - $42.99/4-pack**** We pick 4 affordable wines a month that we think deserve more attention than they're getting, put them in a pretty white box, take a couple bucks off, and include a write-up for your educational pleasure. Remo Farina Bianco di Custoza, Veneto, Italy This is a skillful blend of Garganega, (yes…yet another Italian grape variety to drink!) Tocai, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. It is a fresh, stainless-steel fermented modern-styled white with great scents of golden apples, pears, and true to Italian whites elsewhere, hints of basil. Great acidity and a crisp, clean finish. Santa Cruz Mountain Winery Grenache 2003– Santa Cruz, CA
Made from 100 year old vines, its big spice and luscious nose are reined in by a bit of white pepper and a firm tannic structure.
How Much Wine Could a Wood Chip Chuck? France is not having such a great 2006 thus far. First, riots over the new youth job laws and now, worst of all, the government is going to allow oak wood chips in the making of wine!! If you read most of the reactions in France, you would think the subject was armageddon. Their "reign is over" and "all wine will be made like McDonald's food" according to many, but really, will it? Will everyone trash their very expensive French Oak barrels and just toss a handful of oak chips into all the $300+ bottles of Bordeaux? Not likely. Let me back up a second... The use of oak chips to give wine an oaky flavor to wine originated in Australia (where most modern, revolutionary winemaking techniques have originated), where winemakers tend to take a very pragmatic attitude towards their craft. Throwing oak chips into the wine is a shortcut to soften and stabilize the tannins and generally make the wine drinkable at an earlier age. This process saves a lot of money for the winery and is a sin to many oenophiles. It shouldn't be used for all wines but it could even the playing field for the thousands of French winemakers who feel hamstrung by the strict government controls on current winemaking methods. Up until last week, only wines at the Vin de Pays level and lower could use chips in the making of wine. If suddenly all the French bargain wines in a couple years taste like you're sucking on a Louisville Slugger, we know the paranoia was well-founded. Otherwise, wouldn't it be nice to find a few more deals from the golden land of wine? We'll see...
See You Soon, John and Jen
"If Plato is a fine red wine, then Aristotle is a dry martini." ~ Chet (Eric Stoltz), Kicking and Screaming , 1995 |