20 Dec Wine #2 in our 5-wine countdown to the holidays: Coppola 2015 Black Label Claret
My expectations were quite low.
Visiting the Coppola winery in Geyserville, California this spring, I thought the experience would be “touristy”. While I looked forward to seeing Francis Ford Coppola’s movie memorabilia, I figured the wine would be mediocre at best. Boy, was I proven wrong.
Nearly everything we tasted on the Coppola winery tour was at least good. In some cases, it was great. That includes Coppola’s Black Label Claret.
We continue our wine Christmas countdown with one of the best Bordeaux blend values I’ve come across in years. Coppola’s 2015 Claret is over three-quarters Cabernet. Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc make up the difference and add a tremendously interesting dimension. This is well balanced. The tannins are just right. Vanilla comes through as the predominant flavor but you’ll also pick up the taste of dark berries.
This California product gives the real Bordeaux blends…those actually from Bordeaux…a serious run for their money. It’s not neither a weeknight wine nor a holiday dinner wine. It’s both.
Heads up: there are many Coppola wines on your grocery store shelves. But this Claret is the only Coppola wine that comes wrapped in gold netting.
As of December 18, we found Coppola 2016 Black Label Claret at:
Eastside
Costco near the airport $13.89 Fred Meyer Hollywood $14.99
Fred Meyer Hawthorne $14.99 Safeway NE 69th & Sandy $15.32
Safeway Hawthorne $15.32 Whole Foods NE 43 & Sandy $17.99
New Seasons NE 32 & Broadway $18.99
Westside
Costco Beaverton $13.89 Fred Meyer Stadium $14.99
Fred Meyer Beaverton $14.99 Fred Meyer Raleigh Hills $14.99
Fred Meyer Walker Road $14.99 Safeway NW Cornell $15.32
Bale’s Thriftway NW Cornell $17.99 New Seasons Raleigh Hills $18.99
QFC Barnes & Miller $18.99
South
Costco Tigard $13.89 Fred Meyer SW Barbur $14.99
Fred Meyer Tualatin $14.99 Safeway SW Barbur $15.32
Safeway Lake Oswego $15.32 New Seasons Tualatin $18.99
New Seasons Mountain Park LO $18.99