Coopers Hawk - Wine and Dine

Okay its not really a winery by many standards - Coopers Hawk Winery and Restaurant buy grapes or they buy grape juice from producers and then put it in bottles with their own label. All are non vintage selections. They serve a purpose educating many about wine - witnessed by the crowds in their popular eateries and wine bars. They provide a broad wine list all at reasonable modest prices with an extensive menu. For those (of us) that may be more discriminating and wish to bring our own wine to enjoy with their food - they are graciously accommodating and inviting with reasonable corkage fees. So you can have it both ways. We selected Coopers Hawk at Burr Ridge Village Center as it's a favorite of our kids who live nearby. They're also CH Wine Club members, and, for their Wine Cellar private dining room that provided a fabulous atmosphere for our gala family and friends multi, three birthday party celebration. Good food, good wine  - some our own BYOB - great selection of both at fair prices, decent service. They serve over forty different wines of all styles and varietals. They offer five different wine flights - for each type, and a Design Your Own Flight. Whats not to like? 

Coopers Hawk Petit Syrah - definitely consensus favorite of the group (of the Coopers Hawk selections) - great value at $26/bottle. RM 88 points - Medium-full bodied, dark inky color; flavors of black berry, black raspberry fruits - slight mocha and spicy oak - hint of cedar and earthiness on a smooth moderate tannin finish.

Coopers Hawk Shiraz - medium bodied - red and dark berry fruits, hint of sweet mocha. $26/bottle. RM 86 points.

Coopers Hawk Cabernet Sauvignon - The only selection they offer in large formats - all the way up to a nine liter Salmanazar (great fun for a special occasion - $219). Medium-full bodied - black cherry and black berry fruits, turning to subtle tone of vanilla on the lingering moderate tannin finish. $26/bottle. RM 85 points.

Coopers Hawk Merlot - Medium body - black cherry, spice and hint of cedar - a slightly tart edge detracts from the fruit - with a lingering modest tannin finish.  $25/bottle. RM 84 points.


Liparita Napa Valley Howell Mountain Merlot 1995 - BYOB from our cellar in magnum. Great benchmark wine against which to compare the CH wines - it was definitely a stand-out. Dark color - medium-full bodied - black cherry, black berry fruits still holding for this fifteen year old - perhaps aided by larger format magnum, tones of cedar, spicy oak, subtle leather and earth - moderate smooth well integrated tannins on a lingering finish. $66 at Dean & Deluca in Napa (upon release) RM 89 points. http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=219362  

 

Not pictured/taken by Will C.

Columbia Valley 2004 Horizontal Red Wine Tasting

Perfect example of a horizontal tasting - three varied but complementary wines from the same region and same vintage - each mapping and highlighted perfectly with artisan cheeses and a dinner course. Listed in tasting order from lightest and simplest to heavier, more complex.Tasted at home w/ L, Mark & Shirley.

Northstar Merlot Columbia Valley 2004 - http://cellartracker.com/w?408341 - RM 91 points: Deep dark purple color - medium-full bodied - may be the most expressive Northstar I have had with full burst of black berry, plum and red currant flavors giving way to sweet oak, spice and subtle vanilla with nicely integrated firm but silky smooth tannins. Lots of fine sediment coats the empty bottle. Consistent notes with earlier tastings.

Mapped well w/ soft cows milk cheese and the twiced baked potato.

Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah Walla Walla Columbia Valley Red Wine blend 2004 - http://cellartracker.com/w?215438 - RM 89 points: Slightly brownish color, perfect cork, medium bodied - initial front of black pepper disappeared after twenty minutes - subtle black cherry and red berry fruits were diminished from last tasting a year ago giving way to hint of anise, slight mocha and leather with a moderate tannin finish.
Blend of 60% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot.

Mapped well with the Madam Chevre cheese course, and bacon infused green beans.

 Spring Valley Vineyard Walla Walla Columbia Valley Frederick red Bordeaux blend 2004 -  http://cellartracker.com/w?7267 -  RM 92 points - Better than earlier vintages (2002-03) I have tasted of this wine - full bodied, dark inky color - big, firm, complex, brooding dark berry - blackberry & black raspberry fruit flavors, tones of cassis, spice, lead pencil - firm but smooth polished tannins on a full lingering finish. Blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.

Perfect complement to hearty blue cheese, toasted herb bread and the steak course.

Liparita Napa Valley Howell Mountain Merlot 1996

The black fruits were subdued but still holding - dark inky purple color - medium bodied - aroma's and tastes of floral, tastes of black berry, black raspberry with subtle spice, leather and anise on a moderate soft tannin finish. 88 Points.

Ricks Winesite Journal Beta Testing Blogger

Today I started using Blogger as my new Wine Tasting Journal platform. I am experimenting incorporating it into my unwindWine.com website. Stay tuned and please bear with me as this experimentation evolves.

Mt Veeder Wine Flight

Mt Veeder Wine Flight 30 Jan 2011 Warm up for our upcoming Napa Mt Veeder trip. January 29, 2011 -

Tasted Marco Di Giulio Mt Veeder Progeny Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - RM 92 - Dark inky color. Full bodied, big floral nose. Mouthful of black berry, cedar, spicy oak; full finely integrated polished tannins on a long flavorful finish. Reopened several days later and revealed a slightly sweeter black raspberry and a slight hint of anise on the finish. http://cellartracker.com/w?42933;

Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 1997 - RM91; Medium - full bodied, black cherry and dark berry fruits are accented by leather, floral, tobacco and tea. Seems to be at peak now as the dark berry fruit is starting to give way to the leather. http://cellartracker.com/w?6532;

Freemark Abbey Mt. Veeder Carneros Zinfandel 2007 - RM 90 - Dark color inky almost black coffee color, full bodied, forward full fruits blackberry, black raspberry and black cherry accented by spice and clove turning to cedar and creosote - moderate tannins on a full lingering, fruitful finish. http://cellartracker.com/w?965396; Brought by friend Bill - sourced from winery wine club - consensus favorite of he ladies. This would be perfect complement to bar-b-que ribs!;

Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - RM89 - Medium bodied, dark purple color, black cherry, black berry fruits with hint of cedar on the moderate tannin slightly tart cherry finish. http://cellartracker.com/w?893546;

This wine is on sale now at Binny's for $20. While a good value, I am not tempted to rush out and buy more.

Tasted at home w/ L, Bill & Beth over artisan cheeses and beef tenderloin dinner.

An evening with Angelo Gaja

An evening with Angelo Gaja Tasting the Gaja Portfolio of Wines 

March 9, 2004  at the Peninsula Hotel, Chicago
Hosted by Binny's and Paterno Imports 

 

Wines tasted:

• Alteni Brassica 2000
• Gaia & Rey 2001
• Sito Moresco 1999
• Darmagi - 1999
• Sperss 1998
• Sori Tildin 1998
• Gaja Barbaresco - 1978, 1989, 1999, 2000

 

April 9, 2009 - Gaja Ca' Marcanda Promis Toscana IGT 2002 - RM 90 - $39  Much more fruit and more approachable than earlier tasting. Medium bodied, juicy black cherry, blackberry, red raspberry, with hints of pepper, oak and vanilla. Interesting blend of Merlot 55% Syrah 35% and Sangiovese 10%. September 24, 2008 - Gaja Dagromis Barolo 2003 - RM 90 WS 92 - $95 - True to the Gaja Piedmont Barbaresco style - full bodied - intense firm dark black berry, bark, a hint of tar, licorice, anise, and slight smoke on a moderate finish. A new label from Gaja from the Dagromis Family property in nearby Barolo near the village of Barbaresco. - 100% nebbiolo. Tasted at Ciba Wine Bar & Trattoria at DCA - Reagan National.
Sept 14, 2005 - Gaja Ca' Marcanda Promise 2002 - RM 88 - A new estate of the famed Gaja family, planted in cab, merlot, and shiraz in Bolgheri. Medium bodied and firm - the dark berry and black cherry fruit is accented tones of vanilla and oak.  This wine and the one above are featured and were tasted at the wine bar at the fabulous China World Hotel in Beijing.
Mar 9, 2004 -
Sito Moresco 1999
	Appellation: Langhe D.O.C.
	Varieties:  Nebbiolo 35%, Barbera 35%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%
	Vineyards: Barbaresco, Trieso and Serralunga
	Notes: Scents and flavors of smoke and charcoal give way to berries on the finish.
Gaja Darmagi 1999
	The only Gaja wine with 'new world' grapes or Bordeaux style blend. Darmagi is Piedmontese for "what a pity", a comment by Angelo's father Giovanni on converting the vineyard from Nebbiolo to Cabernet Sauvignon. This big brawny cab based wine should've been tasted last. As it was it overpowered the more complex Nebbiolo's that followed. It took some time for the mind and palate to 'recover'.
	Appellation: Langhe D.O.C.
	Varieties:   Cabernet Sauvignon 95%,  Merlot, 3%, Cabernet Franc. 2%
	Vineyard (s): Darmagi located in Barbaresco
	Notes - Very dark in colour - almost looks like coffee! Huge nose of floral and a hint of mocha! Soft smooth but chewy tannins. Complex tastes of blackberry, black cherry, mocha and a bit of cassis. Medium body - not overwhelming.
Gaja Sperss 1998
	Sperss is Piedmontese for "nostalgia" - referring to the family's affection for the powerful character of the Serralunga wines. They purchased 30 acres in one of Serralunga's best areas in 1988 for this single vineyard designated wine.
	Appellation: Langhe Nebbiolo D.O.C.
	Varieties: 94% Nebbiolo, 6% Barbera
	Notes: Scents of flowers and mocha. Huge mouthfeel of ripe and full tannins. Very subdued tastes of licorice, tar, and touch of truffles.
Gaja Sori Tildin 1998
	Sori means hilltop with a southern exposure; tildin was the nickname of Angelo Gaja's grandmother, Clotilde Rey.
	Appellation: Langhe Nebbiolo D.O.C.
	Vineyard: Sori Tildin in Barbaresco
	Varieties: Nebbiolo 95% ,  Barbera 5%
	Notes:
Barbaresco 1978
	The flagship wine of Gaja, named after the village of its origin.
	Appellation: Barbaresco D.O.C.G.
	Varieties: Nebbiolo
	Notes: Scents of sweet licorice ala "Snaps" candy and wet earth. That same sweet licorice taste predominates with a tar side note. Long finish of complex but smooth and chewy tannins.
Barbaresco 1989
	Notes: Ala the '78 but much more forward and more fruit which is still very subdued. That same nose of sweet licorice. Huge mouthfeel of tannins and 'Snaps' licorice and tar on the opening that give way to a long smooth complex tannic finish with a subtle floral aftertaste. Best and personal favorite of the tasting.
Barbaresco 1999
	Notes: That same distinctive characteristic predominant licorice and floral nose and tastes. Huge 'Snaps' licorice taste accented with floral then revealing a slight earthy taste but then falling off. The fruit falls off at the beginning.
Barbaresco 2000
	Notes:  More subdued than the 1999, as if in 'neutral'.