IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, MEERKATS LOVE MUSIC, AND JOAN LOVES CHACHI 

MartyFest 2006 in Review

MartyFest struck again last week with a sold-out house and some truly fantastic smoked BBQ.  Thanks to everyone who made it out that night.  We've got big plans for MartyFest 2007....maybe black-tie....maybe a skywriter or two...just maybe.

October Events  

Thursday, October 5th : Oh, So Fancy High-End Tasting : For one night only, we'll pop open new selections from our over-$25 section including some limited-release California Cabernets.  Please check our email announcement next week for specific wine selections. 

$20/person (by reservation only), 5 wines, Gourmet Cheeses from Auntie Em's Marketplace.

Saturday, October 7th: Eagle Rock Music Festival!  This year's Eagle Rock Music festival is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever with Colorado Blvd. shut down to car traffic, three outdoor main stages, and headlining band, Monsters Are Waiting .  Those of you that remember last year understand how fun (and crowded) this event can be so, CoWineCo will setup two bars and pour a limited selection of wines by the glass to keep up with demand!  Click here for more info:  http://www.centerartseaglerock.org/musicfest.html

Wine Tasting Schedule

Wine Cellar Wednesdays 

400 Wines By the Glass? 

Kinda.  On Wednesdays only, in addition to our regular 6 wines by the glass, pick any bottle off of our shelves and make it your by-the-glass selection for the price of the bottle plus a $10 corkage. 

Wine Tasting: Joan Loves Chachi

Friday, September 22nd

$15/person

5 wines and gourmet cheeses from Auntie Em's Marketplace

Reservations recommended!   Call ahead anytime and get your name down: info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985

Oh, we've got some tasty wines this Friday.  We're biased, yes, but we're feeling a little cocky about this one.  Earthy Santa Barbara Pinot, a lush Chenin Blanc, a new vintage of an old favorite white from Remo Farina, a red from Corbierres that tastes like bacon-earth in a bottle, and a Bordeaux that tates a whole lot pricier than it really costs.  And if that's not enough, and you still need a reason to get out on a Friday, it's Scott Baio and Joan Jett's Birthdays.  You wouldn't want to offend them, would you?  You don't want to see Charles Arcola when he's mad.  Trust us.

wines

Remo Farina Bianco di Custoza 2004, Italy

Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc 2005, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Chateau de Caraguilhes Corbierres, Languedoc, France

Lucas & Lewellen Hilltop Pinot Noir 2003, Santa Barbara, California

Chateau La Fleur Bibian Bordeaux Listrac-Medoc 2003, France

Sangria Saturdays

There are only two Sangria Saturdays left!  Get 'Em While They're Cold

$5/glass

Lazy Sunday Tasting

Sunday the 24th

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 on Sunday for specific wine selections info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985.

(Wines TBD)

Wine Cellar Wednesdays

400 Wines By the Glass?

Kinda.  On Wednesdays only, in addition to our regular 6 wines by the glass, pick any bottle off of our shelves and make it your by-the-glass selection for the price of the bottle plus a $10 corkage.

Wine Tasting: Theme TBD  

Friday, September 29th

5:30-8:30pm

$15/person

5 wines, cheeses from Auntie Em's Marketplace

Reservations recommended!   Call ahead anytime and get your name down: info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985

wines

(check back next week for specific wine selections www.cowineco.com/calendar )

Sangria Saturdays

This is the last Sangria Saturday of 2006!  Get 'Em While They're Cold.

$5/glass

Lazy Sunday Tasting

Sunday the 1st

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 on Sunday for specific wine selections info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985.

(Wines TBD)

In the Mouth of Madness

     Years and years ago, my former boss stopped me when I was ordering wine at a restaurant and said, "let's not go with that one...you really shouldn't order a wine below 92 points."  Hey, he was the boss (and he was paying) so I was happy to up the ante a bit.  I didn't know much about wine at the time and figured he did.  He spit out his 92 point rule so quickly he MUST know what he's talking about, right?  Well, this is just one of millions of stories illustrating why wine critic Robert Parker is the most powerful force in the world of wine today. 

     Since the late 70s, Parker has been exercising his 100 point scoring system which began as a way for less-informed wine buyers to gauge how they were spending their wine allowance.  The origins of 100 point system are honorable enough, but today, rather than using this system as one tool in the toolbox of wine purchasing, too many consumers use it as the ONLY tool.   If you're one of these people, you may as well pack your things and go live in this guy's mouth.  And while you're at it, grab that Members Only jacket he has on, buy the same Thomas Kinkade cozy cabin art he has on his walls and steal his Drakkar Noir cologne.  Because his taste is THAT GOOD, right?  Well, the reason we don't make it a habit to post wine scores at CoWineCo is because we don't always agree with the ratings.  We've had 94 point wines as flabby as pancakes and 78 point wines that were stunning deals.  Also, not all wineries (especially the small ones) are able to get their wines reviewed at the big three wine periodicals.  It's not easy for them, there's politics involved and if by chance they get a bad score, their fledgling winery could be ruined whether the review was fair or not.  And lastly, where's the adventure in a number?  Granted, if we hear of a 93 point wine for $12, we're gonna try it.  But what do you do with that sea of 88 point wines that fall in all price ranges?  Isn't a ten dollar 88 point wine comparable to a 94 point forty-dollar bottle?

     Taste, don't read. There's too much good wine out there to keep your nose in a book.  Tasting is the fastest and best way to learn what it's like to live in your mouth, not Mr. Parker's.

See You Soon,

John and Jen

"If wine vanished from human production, I believe that  a void would open up in health and intellect, a defection, a vacuum much more frightful than all the abuses and deviations that wine is accused of causing."

~ Charles Baudelaire