2009 La Mancina Barbera, Colli Bolognesi, $15.99/Sale $13.99: Lordy, you don’t see a lot of Italian wines from the Hills of Bologna in the province of Emilia Romagna over here. And judging from this wine, we would like to see a lot more.

It’s a gem. It comes from hillside vineyards, of course, that are composed largely of clay soils. They give a Barbera of rousing priapic color with essences of black cherries and plums in the mouth. The wine is smooth, but firm, not enough to hurt you. It’s a bit rustic with a bracing burst of acidity at the finish.

It would be a superstar with Emilia Romagna cuisine (thought to be Italy’s best traditional kitchen). In America we’d down this “jolly fellow” with virtually any Italian dish and we’re not just talking food.

White Wine

2010 Caves de Lugny Macon-Villages, $11.99/Sale $9.99: What a joyful wine. It’s light and fresh, but with lots of delight. There are the Granny Smith apple notes you would expect from a Macon-grown Chardonnay.

It is pale, primrose yellow, clean, fresh and fruity with an invigorating acidity. It’s one of the lightest of white Burgundies and would shine with hors d’oeuvres, “charcuterie,” fish or poultry. All alone it’s most agreeable as well.

It comes from a “cave cooperative” as do many wines in the Macon region, which stretches about 25 miles from Tournus to Macon, in Burgundy.

It is one of the Gil “familia’s” consistent stars and it is generally allocated. It is grown in central, southern Spain in the Jumilla wine district.

Monastrel (Mourvedre) is the dominate grape and in this arid climate it gives wines of unbelievable power and concentration.

This beauty coats your glass and gives dark fruit flavors and aromas. It is certainly not a wine for whiners.

• 2008 Clio – $49.99 Wine Advocate 94 Points
• 2009 Clio – $49.99 Recently released

2010 Tangent Sauvignon Blanc, Edna Valley, $12.99: From the original Chalone boys. It’s kind of a cross between the Loire style Sauvignon Blanc and New Zealand’s. Thus, you get a touch of the Loire gooseberry and touch of New Zealand’s citrus and pineapple. We didn’t think California could come up with zesty Sauvignon Blanc like this.

2008 Fort Ross Chardonnay, Fort Ross Vineyard, Sonoma Coast: $31.99/Sale $23.99: Fort Ross is the closest vineyard to the Pacific Ocean in the Sonoma Coast and we understand it will be given its own AVA (American Viticultural Area) to differentiate it from other Sonoma Coast vineyards that are miles from the ocean. Being in the same neighborhood as Martinelli, Peter Michael, Flowers and Marcassin, it is not surprising that this is an outstanding Chardonnay. It has delicious full flavors of pineapple, tangerine and pear with nicely integrated French oak. Only 900 cases were made of this gem. It is an incredible value at this amazing sale price. Wine Enthusiast – 93 Points

2008 Beckmen Vineyards Marsanne, Santa Inez Valley, $18.99: Marsanne is, of course, a big Rhone Valley grape. Here they show it can do quite nicely in California too. It’s quite rich with really delicious baked apple and pear flavors. More to enhance food than as straight refreshment.

2009 Klee Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley, $22.99/Sale $19.99: Hard to miss this one with its Paul Klee inspired label. It’s not an overtly fruity Pinot Noir, but it is not thin. The texture is smooth and it has nice complexity for a wine at this price.

2008 Gifford Hirlinger Stateline Red, Walla Walla Valley, $18.99/Sale $16.99: The nose here is almost pornographic. The flavors are big but certainly not painfully such. There are dark fruit flavors, seasoned with a “shake” of cocoa. It’s a blend of Cabernet and Merlot… a shining exemplar of what fine work the “cinematographers” are doing up the dry, eastern reaches of Washington.

2009 Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Claret, California,$16.99/Sale $14.99: The cinematography grinder has made a box office hit Bordeaux blend here, thus the British term, “claret.” It’s round and full. You can’t take your eyes off it. Try a bottle while watching The Godfather again.

2009 L’Argentier Cinsault, $15.99: Cinsault is another Rhone Valley grape that is normally blended with several others like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and the rest of the pack. This Cinsault is far more passive and delicate than a lot of Cotes du Rhone blends. Its supple fruit reminds you almost of Pinot Noir.

2010 Domaine Laguille, Cotes de Laguille, $9.99: Another one of those frisky whites from the southwest of France. It’s fresh and animated, no oak. Its relatively low alcohol makes it a good lunch or afternoon delight.

2010 Jean Francois Roy Touraine Sauvignon, $11.99: Attention all Sancerre and Pouilly Fume adherents. Here you have the nervous, steely aspects of Loire Sauvignon Blanc at a scary price. Touraine, of course, is the chateaux ghetto of France. Drinking this takes us to the majestic towers of Chateau Chambord. Throwing in a little goat cheese and you complete the vision…all the maidens atop the towers watching men carry on the hunt.

2009 Chateau La Gravette, Minervois, $11.99/Sale $10.99: Often Minervois is the ugly “canettte” (duckling) of southern France. But here you have a pretty duckling. It is smooth and mouthwatering. It is full-bodied, but not plastic surgeon buxom. A comely value as well.

2010 Fattoria il Palagio Vernaccia de San Gimignano, $12.99/Sale $10.99: Yes the Tuscan town of the towers, under constant siege by German tour buses. As expected, this is a straw hued wine that is medium bodied with a scent of almonds. On the palate, it is complex and fairly concentrated with refreshing apple flavors. For some reason it takes us back to the local 13^th Century poet, Folgore da San Gimignano, and some of his love sonnets.

2008 Scala Ciro, $12.99: “Mama mia.” Here’s a mouthful of Italian red wine. It comes from way down south in Calabria. For anyone interested, the grape is Gaglioppo. Bring out the pizza and pasta for this “naughty boy.”

2009 Resalso, Ribera de Duero, $14.99: It’s pretty rare when you can get a good Ribera del Duero at this fair price. Perhaps it’s a sign of the collapsed Spanish economy, though most of their fine wines are made for the international market anyway. This is round and full with black cherries and a little, petulant spice.

Call Coaltrain at 475-9700 to make your required credit card reservation. You may pay in advance over the phone or in person at Coaltrain. Our 3-day cancellation policy is in effect; ‘no-shows’ or late cancellations will be charged half price ($24).

Beer Menu

Welcome Beers

Odell Saboteur

Coney Island Barrel Aged Human Blockhead

Import Flight

La Trappe Isid’or Oak Aged Trappist Ale

2009 J.W. Lees Harvest Ale matured in Calvados Casks

HaandBryggeriet Imperial Porter Aged in Aquavit Barrels

La Trappe Quadrupel Oak Aged Trappist Ale

Brew Dog’s Paradox Imperial Stout Aged in 1966 Port Dundas Barrels

Intermission

Firestone Walker 15th Anniversary Ale (an 8 Barrel Blend)

Whiskey Flight

Hoppin’ Frog Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S. Imperial Stout

Victory Dark Intrigue (Bourbon Barrel-aged Storm King Stout)

North Coast Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin

Dry Dock Signature Series Bligh’s Barleywine Ale

Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad

Dessert

Odell Friek

2009 Kracher Zweigelt Beerenauslese, Burgenland, $29.99/375ml

It’s a sweet, fruity, red “fraulein” from Austria and has a touch of botrytis, just like the best ice wines.

The grape was bred by Dr. Zweigelt, who like, Freud, specialized in these sorts of matters.

Good luck!

2010 Domaine des Fees, Cotes du Rhone, $14.99: Quite justly, “fees” in French means fairies. This because estate owner, Carole Martinez, likes to believe that all the forest spirits contribute to the wines mysterious qualities. The wine is 90 percent Syrah and it says so right away with some smoke and spice in the nose. The flavors are round, rich and mouthfilling. Yet another amazement from the fab 2010 Rhone vintage.

2009 La Granacha, Signargues, Cotes du Rhone Villages, $14.99: The name, “Granacha,” is a nod to “Garnacha” of Spain, the country whence the Grenache grape is thought to have originated. This wine is 100 percent Grenache, made from 80+ year old vines. It is full-bodied with a long, juicy finish. Magical in all aspects. Not fined or filtered, it is able to give you all this.

THE WINES OF NAPA VALLEY

Coaltrain Wine and Spirits, in conjunction with The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, will present the 21^st Annual Wine Festival of Colorado Springs on Friday and Saturday, March 9^th and 10^th, 2011. For the first time in the history of the Wine Festival, the Wines of Napa Valley will be featured.

Considered the premier wine region in the United States, California’s Napa Valley has been producing wine since the nineteenth century, but premium wine production dates back only as far as the 1960s. Defined by mountain ranges and influenced by the proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the Napa Valley enjoys a temperate climate perfectly suited to the growing of fine wine grapes. The region got a boost from the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, which featured a Napa Valley Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon besting several famous French labels in a blind tasting format. Today there are more than 450 Napa Valley wineries and the region is a top tourist draw, internationally recognized as one of only nine “Great Wine Capitals” on earth.

This year’s distinguished guest line-up includes Mike Richmond of Bouchaine Vineyards, Jean-Noël Fourmeaux du Sartel of Chateau Potelle Winery, Andrew Raifaisen of Flora Springs Winery & Vineyard, Michael Keenan of Keenan Winery, Rob Sinskey of Robert Sinskey Vineyards and Dave Vella of Chateau Montelena Winery.

The weekend-long Festival kicks off at the Broadmoor Hotel on Friday evening, March 9th, at 5:30pm with a Here’s Napa! seminar. Our illustrious Napa wine ambassadors will offer a tasting and discussion of their world class wines. Tickets are $30 per guest.

Also at the Broadmoor at 5:30pm, renowned sommelier James Hayes of Araujo Estate Wines will host a special seminar, The Best of Napa: Then and Now. Guests will compare and contrast older vintages (’97 or older) of Napa’s top Cabernet Sauvignons, including Araujo, Caymus, Chateau Montelena, Dominus, Flora Springs and Robert Mondavi, with their current releases. Due to the extreme rarity and high quality of the wines that will be tasted, seating will be extremely limited at this Seminar. Tickets are $100 per guest or $150 per guest for a combined Best of Napa/ Grand Tasting ticket.

Next up is the fabulous Grand Tasting, which starts at 7pm. This sell-out event will feature our Napa wineries and over 300 other wines, as well as culinary delights from a wide assortment of the region’s finest restaurants and caterers, a silent wine market auction, music and dancing. Tickets are $65 per FAC member/$75 per non-member.

During the day on Saturday, March 10th, you can educate your palate at the Napa Wine, But What Cheese? seminar taking place at 10:30am at the Garden of the Gods Club. Wine & cheese – a natural? Only when paired perfectly. Learn how the experts and winemakers choose the wine and then carefully match the cheeses to accompany it. Tickets are $35 per guest.

And, back by popular demand on Saturday, but with a new twist is the lunch-time Food & Wine Seminar. Top New York Chef, Soa Davies, Pairs Napa Wines at the Fine Arts Center. Chef Soa Davies has served as Chef de Cuisine at the famed Splendido at the Chateau in Beaver Creek, and was selected by celebrity chef Eric Ripert to join his team at New York City’s three Michelin-starred Le Bernardin. Chef Davies will prepare a remarkable meal featuring exquisite pairings of Napa wines and her unique cuisine. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to enjoy the work of an internationally-acclaimed chef at this delicious, sell-out luncheon Seminar! Tickets are $75 per guest.

The culmination of the Festival is the Gourmet Winemaker Dinner and Live Auction held at the Garden of the Gods Club on Saturday, March 10th, at 6:30pm. This magical evening begins with a five-course, world-class gourmet dinner, each course paired with the elegant wines of our guest vintners. Things get even more interesting when our auctioneer takes the stage to lead you through the bidding on rare and one-of-a-kind collectible wines and wine-related lifestyle packages. Truly a night to remember. Tickets are $125 per guest.

So mark your calendar and get ready to enjoy some world-class wine, food and art!

For tickets, call the FAC Box Office at 719.634.5583, or visit csfineartscenter.org and click on the Events Page.

Buz will take us from the elegance of the Speyside region to the earthy pungency of Islay. Buz’s Scotch tastings are always fun and entertaining.

Tuesday, March 27^th, 6pm. The Colbalt Club, 124 E. Costillo St. $25 per person, all inclusive.

Call Coaltrain for reservations: 475-9700.

Contents:

• Features & New Arrivals
• Clio’s Many Amazements
• Coaltrain’s Red Dot Bin End Wine Sale
• Coaltrain Interview with Becky Wasserman, Impresario of Burgundy
• Wines of Ken Forrester at the Conscious Table
• Pizzeria Rustica Wine Dinner
• Barrel-Aged Beer Tasting at The Warehouse
• Scotch Tasting at The Colbalt Club
• The 21st Annual Wine Festival of Colorado Springs
• The Sorcerers Of The Southern Rhone, Les Vignerons D’estezargues
• A Bottle For Valentine’s Eve

The cost is just $39 per person (plus tax and tip) and profits will benefit Canine Companions for Independence. Tom Witham from Volio Vino will be on hand to walk us through the lineup of delicious Italian wines.

Call Coaltrain soon to reserve: 719-475-9700.