How did the name Cooper & Thief come about? The vanilla and spice is the bourbon influence from the additional bourbon barrel aging.Įverything! From aging the wine in carefully selected spirits barrels that impart bold, rich flavors to the high ABV, to the spirits-inspired packaging that stands out against regular bottles, Cooper & Thief wines taste and look different than anything else out there. The combined result is a rich flavor with a long, lingering finish. Aging for three months in used bourbon barrels gives way to soft velvety tannins, with a subtle heat (higher ABV at 16%). It is a dark, jammy red blend loaded with bourbon-inspired flavors and aromas. How and why?Ĭooper & Thief is not your average wine. I detect vanilla and spice in Cooper & Thief Red Blend. Like a fine bourbon, Cooper & Thief Red Blend is smooth with fantastic balance, and has big bold aromas and flavors imparted by the barrel aging process with a long lingering finish. What are the challenges/considerations when making wine with this technique?Ī challenge that we face with spirits barrel aging is ensuring that the purity of fruit is maintained and that the tannins are well integrated. The barrels introduce aromas and flavor characteristics that you won’t find in other wines. Leamy: In addition to traditional barrel aging, we take a portion of the wine and age it for three months in used spirits barrels including bourbon barrels for our Red Blend, tequila barrels for our Sauvignon Blanc, and whiskey barrels for our Cabernet Sauvignon.
What does Bourbon-barrel aged wine mean? How does this differ from normal wine aging? Here, he breaks down the bourbon barrel-aging concept, and explains what makes his brand unique.Ĭhris Leamy conducts a seminar on barrel aging. Leamy’s hope is that his Cooper & Thief wines get people talking, sharing and bonding. He enjoys all aspects of the winemaking process, especially its ability to bring people together. From there he transitioned to winemaking. Following a foray into beer brewing, he turned his attention to the wine world as a lab tech in Lodi, California where he found his true passion. He first worked as a microbiologist, developing a keen understanding of the technical side of the food & beverage world.
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His California based Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters celebrates doing things a bit differently, such as aging its full portfolio of luxury wines in not only bourbon barrels, but also in carefully selected spirits barrels, achieving bolder flavors not typically found in regular wines.Ī California native with more than 20 years of award-winning winemaking experience, Leamy graduated from the University of California, Davis with a degree in Biological Sciences. Serving as ‘cellarmaster’ at one such wine brand is Chris Leamy. Typically featuring higher alcohol percentages than classic wines, bourbon barrel-aged wines are targeted to adventurous imbibers, those who enjoy experimentation and aren’t afraid to break with tradition. Bold and rich, bourbon barrel-aged wines seem to have found a permanent niche within the wine and spirits world.
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