At The Traveling Vineyard, we’re passionate about wine!
Our mission to demystify wine, by offering fun and
informative in-home wine tasting events.
Taste wines from boutique wineries from all over the world,
while enjoying a wine tasting lesson.
Email Shannon for more information.
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Read about it today, experience it tonight.
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Cocetti 2004 Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California
Perhaps the knowledge that David Cocetti took away from
working with Rombauer in the nineteen-eighties
is what makes this chardonnay so special.
It reminds me of white Burgundy with its slightly flinty flavor.
It is fragrant and floral.
On the palate a complex canvas of flavors evolve including
lime zest, lemon meringue, anise, hints of vanilla and apricots.
The acidity is perfect.
The long lingering finish is luscious and elegant.
-BF
$14
Heritage Wine & Liquor carries this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Cocetti 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, California
Aromas of ripe melon waft from the glass.
Although this sauvignon blanc has great acidity, it is polished and rich.
It has a honey'ed note on the mid-palate and finishes with
a hint of fresh lemon zest.
Not grassy and in your face,
this sauvignon blanc is elegant and very easy to drink.
$13
Heritage Wine & Liquor carries this wine.
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Cocetti 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California
Concentrated and extracted,
this Napa-cab represents the region well.
Black licorice, eucalyptus, cassis, talcum soft tannins, black cherry, espresso.
Concentrated, perfect with chocolate.
Exceptional juice for the money!
I tasted it again a few weeks later at Sansone's with
some Osso Bocco and really enjoyed its synergy with the dish.
$16
Heritage Wine & Liquor carries this wine.
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Cocetti 2004 Zinfandel, Sonoma, California
Aromas of ripe berries waft from the glass.
This wine is deeply colored and fragrant.
Flavors of blueberries, raspberries, and chocolate cupcakes marry together
in this smooth red wine.
The tannins are soft and the finish offers a touch of perfume.
The perfect barbeque wine for steaks, burgers, and grill portabellas.
$16
Heritage Wine & Liquor carries this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Cocetti Wines
David and Patricia Cocetti have been in the wine business for over 25 years. They use their long time relationships with growers in Napa and Sonoma to produce a line of outstanding artisan wines. They started out working with Rombauer Vineyards, but wanted to work in a smaller capacity, so they ventured out on their own in the early nineteen-eighties.
They believe that they can consistently produce a high quality wine at a reasonable price. It is this dedication to quality and awareness of what the market will bear that allows them to sell out their wines each vintage. It is also what keeps the retailers reordering their wines case after case.
David believes that "the cooler the grapes ferment, the slower the fermentation. You get more aromas and ripe fruit flavor come through on the palate." He talks about the use of oak and how his wines are aged in older oak barrels, because he believes it adds elegance and softness to the wines.
David's family hales from Verrazzano, Italy, a sleepy little village in Tuscany. The wine label captures the image of this village's church. David and Patricia also wear hand made gold rings, cast with this image as well. They traveled to Tuscany and reaffirmed their wedding vows a few years ago, in the very church that graces their wine bottles and rings. The symbol not only represents their wine, but also their heritage and family.
Pat teaches wine classes at Colorado Free Anniversary and is the consummate front woman for her wines. She can rattle off a long list of retailers who carry them and loves to talk about the restaurants who pour Cocetti Wines. The list is heavy with small, gourmet eateries and as she speaks of each chef, she reminisces about their menu.
Although they live in Englewood, Colorado, they are very hands on when it comes to producing their wines at the Adler Fels winery in Santa Rosa, California. David works closely with Harry Parducci Jr., the on premise winemaker at Adler Fels. They produce around 1,000 cases of Cocetti wines a year and are sold in over 100 retail outlets in Colorado.
The Cocettis discuss their wines with the expertise of well seasoned winemakers. Occasionally they disagree, but they unquestionably share a common goal to create wines that are a great value. Grapes from some of Napa and Sonoma's finest vineyards, produced in small batches, offer a well crafted wine with Colorado roots.
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Columbia Crest 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, Washington
The nose offer aromas of flowers.
Concentrated notes of melon and honey on the palate are rich.
The finish offers a hint of spice.
The perfect wine for light fare, chicken, fish, seafood, and light pasta sauces.
An excellent value for money.
-BF
$11
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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House White 2005 Walla Walla Valley, Washington
This is a blend of
chardonnay, gewurztraminer, riesling and pinot gris.
It is floral, with notes of tangerine and honey.
Crisp, with good acidity, its finish is very zesty.
A lovely refreshing wine.
-BF
$12
City Wine and Total Beverage carry this wine.
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Domaine Ste Michelle NV Brut, Columbia Valley, Washington
Honey, biscuits, rich, notes of golden delicious apples and raspberries.
A blend of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes in true Champenoise Methode.
A great bottle of wine for toasting, eating sushi, or starting off a relaxing evening.
-BF
$13
Total Beverage carries this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Potager
It would be really hard to fall into a rut at Potager. The menu changes every few weeks. Each new menu ushers in the ripe and the in-season. Chef Teri Rippeto focuses on what is at its peak and then makes a masterpiece from it. The first time I visited Potage was in November of 2006. It was winter squash season. About half the menu included the rich, sweet, creamy texture of squash in one form or another. My husband had tender monk fish with red beans and sausage, perfectly seasoned so that the firm fish remained the star of the dish. I had a pasta with an exotically spiced squash sauce topped with seasoned fried bread crumbs, crab meat, and fennel.
Most dishes on the menu are paired with a glass of wine, carefully chosen by Karin Lawler, Potager's sommelier. Karin's selections were outstanding for each dish we tried that night. Unfortunately, I did not take notes that evening. The food was so exceptional, I vowed to return with pen in hand.
We finally returned on Valentines Day to have a meal
that was both scrumptious and exciting. Pomegranates were the theme.
We started with a duck liver pate on a gingered fruit compote of pomegranate seed,
currants, cherries, and papaya, waking the palate with intensity and balance.
Paired with Domaine du Roc 2004 Chardonnay. It was smooth and polished with notes of lemon meringue. It had a soft apple flavor. A salad of wilted field greens consisted of young bright green leaves tossed with aromatic virgin olive oil. The vinegar was a touch tannic, while it finished with a lemon zest polish.
Okay, I never thought that tangerines and mashed potatoes would go together, but Potager pulled it off. Pistachios garnished the dish making the perfect transition from weightless, cream imbibed potatoes to the citrus sections. The pomegranate seeds dressed the duck with seared perfection. The whole combination was a slightly sweet and very sultry accompaniment to the duck.
For dessert, we ordered fallen chocolate soufflé with homemade pomegranate ice cream. Pomegranate ice cream should be served to you on your wedding night, when celebrating a big promotion, or any other milestone in your life. Forget the scotch; forget the bubbly. It was like no other confection I've ever had before. It had a candied apple and red raspberry flavor. An ice cream that was sweet, yet tangy and zesty in a mouthwatering way. The fallen chocolate soufflé was dense and rich. Bitter on the fore-palate with a crescendo of sweet chocolate flavor to the finish. The pomegranate ice cream and soufflé were perfect together.
I drank Dashe 2005 Late Harvest Zinfandel with this heavenly dessert. This dessert wine had notes of currants on the nose. On the palate it is packed with black raspberry flavors and black licorice. It is soft, with little to no tannins and a nice snap of acidity. An elixir of berry flavor.
Since that time a new menu has come and will soon go. There is a touch of sadness knowing that I might never have pomegranate ice cream again, but the excitement of knowing that there is always an adventure awaiting me on Potager's new menu is more than enough to make up for it.
Potager
1109 Ogden Street, Denver, CO 80218
303-832-5788
Potager is closed Sunday and Monday
Reserve List Denver carries Dashe Late Harvest Dessert Wine.
County Line carries Domaine du Roc Chardonnay.
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Education
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The Essential Wine Tasting Guide
It comes in a handy little clear plastic case.
It unfolds to show information on flavor descriptors, recommended serving temperatures,
a color reference, and descriptions of flaws.
A wine reference that offers color, aroma, and flavor descriptors for specific
grape varieties.
If you like to take notes about wine,
or like to be able to describe wine with exact descriptors,
this is a great reference for you.
The size of a standard playing card,
it is perfect for carrying in a wallet.
Look for The Essential Wine Tasting Guide at these retail outlets:
Reserve List, Colorado Liquor Mart, Total Beverage in Northglenn, Tony B's Winelist at Tony's Market on Dry Creek,
Mondo Vino in the Highlands,
Ken Caryl Village Liquors on West Ken Caryl Avenue--off 470,
Divino Wine & Spirits, Davidson's Liquors, Daveco Liquors, Total Beverage, and Wine Complements
$6
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Experience Wine is a wine education company dedicated to helping people increase
their knowledge and appreciation of wine.
Experience Wine organizes events in Colorado Springs centering on wine tasting and
wine education in the form of public and private events.
Our public courses are held in local restaurants and our private events take place in homes and businesses.
Take a look at our website to see all they have to offer:
http://www.experiencewine.net,
or give them a call at 719-282-8688.
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Brews
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Do you make your own beer?
If you make your own beer we are interested in your thoughts, recipes, and experiences.
If you would like to share with our readers, we will include you on our weekly newsletter and-or
add your contribution to our Do It Yourself section.
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Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
Bright, golden ambler colored ale with a generous head.
Edgy, yet rich with orange liqueur and caramel malty sweetness.
Balanced with obvious bitterness and a pronounced hoppy floral tone.
The bitterness softens as the beer warms.
A powerhouse of flavor.
-BF $7 a six pack.
Total Beverage carries this beer.
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Mendocino Eye of Hawk, India Pale Ale, California
This IPA is a nice change of pace.
It is intensely hoppy, but very smooth.
I drank it with a piece of trout and it paired nicely.
The hops didn't strangle the back of my tongue like other IPAs do.
It offered sweet honey notes, hints of almond,
allspice, and apple.
The hops offers a nice edge and abundant floral tones.
A very well made IPA.
-BF $8 a six pack.
County Line and Total Beverage carry this beer.
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Oskar Blues Old Chub Lip Balm
Notes of almond, macadamia nuts, and Scottish Ale?
Yep, this is one tasty lip balm.
It is made from almond and macadamia nut oils with a splash of Old Chub Scottish Ale.
Perfect for skiing with its SPF15 protection.
A great gift for the beer fan in your life.
Order it online
http://www.oskarblues.com
Tasted all day long!
-BF $3 a tube
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Events
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Paws and Ruffresh
Join some of Denver's finest restaurants for a food and wine tasting
event to benefit the
MaxFund Animal Shelter.
MaxFund is a true no-kill shelter and specializes in helping stray animals who have been injured.
They also house and adopt out thousands of cats and dogs a year.
The shelter is run by the generosity of donors and over six-hundred volunteers,
who do everything from clean cages, walk dogs, assist the veterinarians,
fundraising and more.
Enjoy food from over 25 local restaurants and wine from
various distributors in the Denver area.
There will also be a raffle and silent auction.
The event features the sultry songs from
Gary Meyers
new CD A Flamenco Journey,
performed live.
Participating restaurants include Racines, On The Border, Gennaros, Old Chicago and more!
Micros from Flying Dog and Left Hand will be there too.
Join in the fun and support a very worthy cause.
Buy your tickets online today at
http://www.pawsandruffresh.org/
or buy them at Reserve List Denver, 1886 South Pearl Street, Denver, 80210. 303-722-LIST (5478).
Your contribution is tax deductible for those who itemize.
When: Tuesday, May 1, 2007 from 5 PM - 8 PM
Where: Sheraton Four Points -- Interstate 25 and Hampden
6363 East Hampden Avenue, Denver, 80222
Adults: $25 ($30 at the door)
My name is James.
I was mysteriously abandoned by my previous owner.
When I was brought to MaxFund I was completely blind.
I am now regaining some of my sight through
the assistance of all the great MaxFund veterinarians.
Through it all,
I have remained good natured, gentle, and loving.
Visit me and take me on a long walk.
I am well-mannered boy that loves to take a stoll.
My name is Oscar.
My previous owner brought me to MaxFund because
I was injured and she could not take care of me.
The veterinarians at MaxFund have patched me up
and now I am healthy, happy, and ready to find a new home.
I get along with kids, but I am not fond of dogs.
I am cautious about approaching you for attention,
but once I am comfortable,
I will curl up in your lap and purr myself to sleep.
I am a favorite of MaxFund staff, but they really want me to go home.
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