Last night, we hosted our first wine dinner with Copain Wines and I have to say the wines were amazing and inspired spirited dialogue on a wide range of topics among our guests!  I dare say a good time was had by all.  Unfortunately, not everyone could join us for this inaugural event, so we thought we would share a couple of the wines from the dinner as our features today.

The 2010 Copain Tous Ensemble Chardonnay was a hit when paired with a salad of arugula, crushed Marcona almonds, heirloom tomatoes and a light dressing of truffle vinaigrette.  A stainless steel Chardonnay, it has a lovely mouthfeel and complexity due to lees contact and malolactic fermentation.  Made in a style inpsired by Petit Chablis from France, this has a clean acidic finish and a level of balance more typical of French Burgundy than California Chardonnays (though it has the flexibility to appeal to lovers of both).  We even made a believer of one non-Chardonnay drinker!

Our other Copain wine of the evening is the 2009 Tous Ensemble Pinot Noir.  Blended from a small handful of vineyard locations primary around Mendocino and California’s Anderson Valley, this Pinot Noir is elegant with a wonderful harmony of fresh fruit and darker and more brooding fruit and spice notes.  It is eminently drinkable!  It would make a fine companion to a burger, cheese plate, cajun chicken and pasta and many other selections on our menu.

Come see what you missed out on!  Copain Chardonnay $14/glass; Copain Pinot Noir $16/glass.  You are not likely to see these wines as by the glass offerings at these prices for long or anywhere else!