DECEMBER - IDAHO TRIP (4 0F 4 wines)

Keonig Vineyards
20928 Grape Lane
Caldwell, ID 83607
(208) 455-8386

www.koenigvineyards.com

2007 Cabernet-Syrah
(Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Syrah 50%)
$25.00
$21.50 for wine members

Winemakers Notes:
This special blend from the two best vineyards we work with showcases the structure and finesse of cabernet sauvignon and the richness of syrah in a rich, mouth-filling wine. With dark berry flavors and aromas of blackberries and fine oak, we hope you enjoy this limited offering. Pair with richly flavored foods like roast lamb, barbecue, and tomato based pasta.
242 cases produced.

A waltz and a glass of wine invite an encore.
~ Johann Strauss

Winegirl15:
VERY GOOD bottle! I definitely recommend this bottle of wine. I ordered 3 cases of the 2006 for my red wine selection at my wedding this year. Koenig Vineyards offers even more than just wine... Go online and check it out. They also distill brandy and vodka. My parents have been members of Koenig for over 4 years. They have very good quality wine. The owners are very friendly too! If your in the Caldwell area, stop in!

"The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars."
~Benjamin Franklin

Cheers,
xoB

DECEMBER - IDAHO TRIP (3 0F 4 wines)

Bitner Vineyards
16645 Plum Road
Caldwell, Idaho 83605
208.899.7648

www.bitnervineyards.com/

2006 Merlot/Petit Verdot Reserve
Merlot 60% and 40% Petit Verdot
$22.00

Winemaker notes:
International Bee Biologist Dr. Ron Bitner and his wife, Mary 3 decade old vineyards. Southwest Idaho's Snake River Valley appellation. This high mountain desert regions long hot summer days, short growing season, and cool evenings allow long hang time that result in intense, dark cherry flavors in the reds and crisp fruit flavors in the whites. Enjoy our wines in your home, while dining out, or on our deck over looking the vineyards, the Snake River, and the majestic Owyee mountains.

Like human beings, a wine's taste is going to depend a great deal on its origins and its upbringing.
~ Linda Johnson-Bell, Pairing Wine and Food

Winegirl15:
This wine was OK. It wasn't great and it wasn't bad. I would not recommend this bottle. For $22 I would have liked a better bottle of wine. If this bottle was $10 I probably would have like it a little more. I would however, keep trying other bottles of wines with Bitner. The wineries in that area all work together, so next bottle I choose wont have merlot in it. I didn't like the nose on the bottle... but, the longer it sit out the more mellow it became.

There are no standards of taste in wine... Each man's own taste is the standard, and a majority vote cannot decide for him or in any slightest degree affect the supremacy of his own standard.
~ Mark Twain

Cheers,
xoB

DECEMBER - IDAHO TRIP (2 0F 4 wines)

Keonig Vineyards
20928 Grape Lane
Caldwell, ID 83607
(208) 455-8386

www.koenigvineyards.com

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Bitner Vineyard, Snake Valley)
$20.00
$17.00 for wine members

Winemaker notes:
Dark berry and black current flavors typical of this tiny vineyard block are enhancing by aging in fine oak barrels for 22 months. Smooth and enjoyable now, cabernets from this vineyard typically are well soften with additional cellaring.
250 cases produced.

"Wine is sunlight, held together by water!
~ Galileo Gallilei

Winegirl15:
Good Cabernet. I like Cabs and Pinots though... So, I will definitely buy this wine again! My parents are members at Koenig, so we bought 6 bottles of wine and got 35% off the 6 bottles! Great deal! This bottle was a winner at the house once we opened it. Our visitors and family drank this bottle and commented on it.
I got married in Boise back in April, and we had 3 cases of Cabernet-Syrah blend as well as 3 cases of Cardonnay. That went along with our open bar! :) Needless to say we had great wine and it was all due to Koenig. I recommend stopping in and tasting at Koenig. They are also a distillery and make their own brandy and vodka. They come in all flavors!

Wine is bottled poetry.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Cheers,
xoB

DECEMBER - IDAHO TRIP (1 0F 4 wines)

In my Wine Enthusiast Magazine for October 2009 there was an Idaho winery/wine mentioned. Thought it would be nice to add this in my blog:

Indian Creek Winery
1000 N. McDurmott Road
Kuna, Idaho 83634
208.922.4791
www.indiancreekwinery.com

WineEnthusiast:
Indian Creek 2005 Star Garnet (Snake River Valley)
85 (Good: Suitable for everyday consumption; often good value)
$14
WE: Indian Creek Garnet offers rich leather, spice and pepper on the nose and a balandced, savory blend of red fruit, pepper adn warming spice on the palate. The tannins are smooth and the acidity good, through the wine could use food to soften its peppery character. Think spiced grilled ribs, burgers.

2007 Star Garnet
Indian Creek Winery
(Cabernet Sauvigon 72%, Merlot 15%, Malbec 8%, and Petit Verdot 5%)
$10

Winemaker notes:
This red blend boast a beautiful ruby red hue similar to Idaho's State gem stone, the star garnet. Dense layers of rope cherries, plums and cassis linger with hints of vanilla, black licorice and well-integrated oak. Offerings of soft, velvety tannins create a wonderful mouth-feel and a long, smooth finish.

I have enjoyed great health at a great age because everyday since I can remember I have consumed a bottle of wine except when I have not felt well. Then I have consumed two bottles.
~ A Bishop of Seville

Winegirl15:
Since my parents moved to Idaho 5 years ago, I wine taste with them every visit. I have met the owners of this winery and they are good people. Their wine is good too! :) Since they were closed for the holidays I'm blogging about a bottle I bought at The Boise Co op! It was a bummer they were closed!
My take on this bottle is that its a dry, medium to full body red table wine. On the bottle it states to drink this bottle from now to 7 years. I thought that was kinda neat to have that on the bottle. It was a good bottle, and its an everyday drinking red. I got a tweet message from @ICwinery stating they were sorry for not being there, but they would set me up on a wine tour for my next visit! I will blog again soon about Indian Creek.

Making good wine is a skill. Fine wine is an art.
~ Robert Mondavi, Harvests of Joy

Cheers,
xoB

**SPECIAL**December - Idaho trip

This month I went to Boise, Idaho to visit my parents for the holidays. I actually wine taste every time I'm up there visiting. Since I am now blogging about wine I thought I should perhaps blog about the region that I frequent about 4 times a year. You may not know much about Idaho or even think they have wineries...but, they have very good wine! My favorite wineries there are Koenig Vineyards and Indian Creek Winery. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! Enjoy my blogs!
Cheers,
xoB