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When Leonard Cohen took the stage at the Isle of Wight in the early morning hours, he captivated an agitated crowd with his mesmerizing stage presence and his songs that told stories. Like Leonard Cohen, Teira Wines have a certain charisma, a captivating presence, and each bottle tells the story of its terroir. Teira Wines are the perfect accompaniment for Leonard Cohen’s legendary performance, and this commemorative recording and DVD, Leonard Cohen: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970.

Whether you chose to begin your Leonard Cohen experience watching the DVD footage, or simply listening to the stunning recording, you’ll want to begin your wine experience with the 2008 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc. This full, bright wine was recommended as the top Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc by the San Francisco Chronicle. As Cohen’s Introduction leads into Bird on The Wire, aromas of lemon zest and nectarine awaken the senses just like Cohen’s hypnotic voice held rapt an audience of thousands at Isle of Wight. This classic Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect start to an evening of contemplation and reflection, with mineral notes, flavors of lemongrass and green tea that dance to the lilting So Long, Marianne and come to a clean crisp finish as Cohen calls the crowd to renew (Let’s renew ourselves now…).

Let the renewal begin with the 2006 Zinfandel. This rich, delicious wine hails from the Dry Creek and Russian River valleys, both known for their high-quality fruit and the complex wines they yield. You Know Who I Am sets the tone for aromas of dark fruit, black currant, vanilla and black pepper that lead to flavors of black cherry and a creamy spice. The wine begins to open up as Cohen regales us with his poetry. Take your time. Breath deeply, sip slowly and relish the time you have to contemplate life’s mysteries over Lady Midnight. The Zinfandel begins to offer flavors of dark chocolate and currant as Cohen insists One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong.

The 2005 Estate Merlot is a rare, special wine – only 175 cases were produced. As The Stranger Song rings out its thoughtful lyrics (“He was just some Joseph/Looking for a manger”), aromas of wet earth and saddle leather waft from the glass. The ever popular Tonight Will Be Fine sways lightheartedly as you take first sip – a light attack that grows more intense through the mid-palate and into the finish. Raspberry and dust complement Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye. Cranberry and dark chocolate take center stage with Diamonds In The Mine and Suzanne. Each song and interlude leading to the performance’s finale unveils new dimensions of this complex and complete Merlot. The wine’s softness and strength counter beautifully with Cohen’s thoughtful lyrics and deep voice.

A special recording. The never-before released DVD footage confirms what we always knew from listening to Leonard Cohen. He was a story-teller, a one-of-a-kind singer-songwriter. His performance in 1970 at the Isle of Wight brings out nuance and depth in complex, well-made wines. Enjoy.

About the Music

Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 Leonard Cohen

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“‘All those people had been sitting out there in the rain, after they’d set fire to Hendrix’s stage,’ Bob Johnston recalls, ‘and nobody had slept for days. And then Leonard came out and he started out singing ‘Like… a … bird’ – singing it so slowly that everybody in that audience was exactly with him. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard. And that’s what saved that show and saved the festival.’”

– Bob Johnston, as told to Sylvie Simmons, from the liner notes to LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT 1970

Nearly 40 summers ago on August 31, 1970, 35-year-old Leonard Cohen was awakened at 2 a.m. from a nap in his trailer and brought onstage to perform with his band at the third annual Isle Of Wight music festival. The audience of 600,000 was in a fiery and frenzied mood, after turning the festival into a political arena, trampling the fences, setting fire to structures and equipment – and stoked by the most incendiary performance of Jimi Hendrix’s career. Cohen

As Cohen followed Hendrix’s set, onlookers and (fellow festival headliners) Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Judy Collins and others stood sidestage in awe as the Canadian folksinger-songwriter-poet-novelist quietly tamed the crowd. Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Murray Lerner (From Mao To Mozart, Festival, Message To Love), perfectly captured Cohen’s performance. Likewise, Columbia Records staff A&R producer Teo Macero did a brilliant job of supervising the live audio recording.

This CD/DVD package contains the new, beautiful film documentary by Lerner featuring interviews with fellow festival performers, as well as Cohen’s full performance on CD. All tracks are previously unreleased (sans bits of “Suzanne” which were featured in the documentary Message to Love, also by Lerner). Included are live versions of classic songs from the first two Leonard Cohen LPs: “So Long, Marianne,” “The Stranger Song,” “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye,” “Suzanne,” “Bird On The Wire,” “You Know Who I Am,” and “The Partisan” as well as spoken word and poetry.

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Teira Wines

Wine Maker’s Notes: This 3-pack perfectly introduces you to the key varietals we make at Teira Wines which also provide a little something for every kind of wine drinker. Our Sauvignon Blanc: "Light bodied with pretty lemon-lime floral, key lime and passion fruit flavors that are bright, ripe and extremely refreshing. Candied pear…