R&B CELLARS BLUE NOTE NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2010
R&B Cellars
is Alameda's largest family-owned winery. Since 1997, R&B Cellars
has grown from 230 to 12,000 cases produced annually across nine
varietals.
  
Winery: Alameda Point Vintners at Rock Wall Wine Company ยท 2301 Monarch St., Alameda, CA 94501
Office: 1835 San Jose Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 | 510-749-8477 office | 510-749-8481 fax
info@rbcellars.com
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R&B Cellars 2005 Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon
"BEST OF CLASS" "JUDGES' CHOICE"
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
This award validates R&B Cellars' commitment to
a traditional, European Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon program.
To
stand out amongst almost 5,000 wines tasted this year, is an incredible
proof point that using new French Oak, the finest Napa Valley estate
grapes and the magic of an experienced wine-making team, allows us to
offer the finest Napa Cabernet available on the market.
About the San Francisco Chronicle
Wine Competition
In 1983,
45 wines from 15 wineries entered the first competition, then called
the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition. Since 2000, when the San
Francisco Chronicle took over naming rights for the competition and
moved the judging to The City, it has grown by leaps and bounds.
In
2006 over 900 wineries in the U.S. entered over 3,300 wines, making it
the world's largest competition of American wines. This year, over
4,900 wines were tasted. R&B holds the honor and proud recognition
to stand out amongst the competition.
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ZAP presents:
Zin in Paradise
19th Annual Zinfandel Festival
Thursday, January 28: Good Zin and Eats
R&B Cellars will be pairing their zins with Asena Restaurant of Alameda at ZAP's Good Eats & Zin. We came up with the unusual pairing of Caramel Panna Cotta, delightful and delicious.
Don't forget to visit our table at the Grand Tasting on Saturday. We'll be there pouring our 2007 Swingsville Zinfandel and our 2007 Zydeco Zinfandel.
Saturday, January 30th: Grand Tasting at Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA
10:00am - 1:00pm Trade
1:00pm - 2:00pm Zap Members
2:00pm - 5:00pm Public Tasting
Click here to see R&B Cellars' member profile.
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Join R&B Cellars at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition's Public Tasting
February 20 - 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Fort Mason - San Francisco, CA
Click here to watch a video of the SF Chronicle Wine Competition Grand Tasting
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From the Winemakers
Happy New Year!
2010 will be great.
Hello Friends:
Last week was the kind of week we like! First, we learned that we were big winners at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, then, we got two great reviews, one on the 2007 Zydeco Zin, and the other on the 2006 Saxy Syrah. Our wines just keep on bringing in the good scores, reviews, and medals, for which we are very pleased!
It is fun to look at the history of a particular wine. The wine that we have the most history with is our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The first vintage dates back to 1997. And as many of you know, our Reserve Cabernet takes at least three years to make - two years aging in 100% brand new French Oak and then aging for at least another year in the bottle before releasing. So, it was not until the year 2000 when the 1997 Reserve Cabernet was released. That year it was entered in the Vinalies Internationales in Paris, where it won "Vinalies D'Argent: Vin A Haute Expression Du Monde Entier" - a very impressive distinction! We have the award framed and hanging in our office, surrounded by all the other bling this wine has picked up over the years.
In the last few years, the number of Gold and Double Gold Medals for the Reserve Cabernet has been ever increasing. The 2003 won four Gold Medals, the 2004 won 5 Gold Medals and 2 Double Gold Medals, while the 2005 Cab has already earned two Gold Medals and two Double Gold Medals, and it has just been relesased!
It is important to keep in mind that however one makes wine, it is, in fact, a personal expression, an artistic expression, of the winemaker. We have refined our Cabernet "recipe", if you will, over the years, adding different cooperages to the mix, using only brand new barrels, and expanding the amount of time it sits in barrel and in bottle. This is the way we lke our Cabernet: A huge wine with depth and complexity, with lots of dark black berry and black cherry fruit, currents, Baker's Chocolate, and exotic spice. Yumm! We are just pleased as can be that apparently others feel the same way.
Best
Regards,
Kevin
& Barbara Brown
Owners/Winemakers
PS The tasting room is now open Wednesday
thru Sunday from 12PM to 6PM at Alameda Point Vintners @ Rock Wall, on the old Naval Air Station. The address is 2301 Monarch Street Bldg. 24 Alameda. Come by and share a glass of wine! We would love to
see you.
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New Offerings
R&B Cellars Fortissimo Port
(Available mid-February)
Meet the newest member of R&B's family of wines,
R&B Cellars Fortissimo Port.
Varietal Breakdown:
50% Tinta Madeira
50% Touriga
Produced with a blend of the 2005 and 2007
vintages of both grapes.
375 mL - $19.99
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New Offerings
R&B Cellars Soaps
R&B Cellars now offers spa-quality soaps at only $5. The Champagne soap and the Cabernet Sauvignon soap are both delightfully scented and rich with natural emollients. FREE SHIPPING from January 31st - February 28th. Order now for a great wine-lover's stocking stuffer!
2 Options:
Champagne
Cabernet Sauvignon
$5.00/bar
Free Shipping
Don't forget to buy your blinking wine glass
lapel pin!
$5.00/pin
Free Shipping
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R&B's Upcoming Events and Tastings
January 28-30: ZAP's 19th Annual Zinfandel Festival "Zin in Paradise", Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA. - January 28: Good Eats & Zin pairing with Asena Restaurant's Caramel Panna Cotta, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- January 30: ZAP Grand Tasting, 2:00PM - 5:00pm
Click here for more info.
January 31 - February 1: Glunz Consumer/Charity Tasting, Union League Club of Chicago, IL
- January 31: D'Vine Affair (charity tasting), 2:00pm - 5:00pm
- February 1: Grand Tasting, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
February 13: Valentine's Rock at the Alameda Theater. Music by the Sun Kings (Beatle extravaganza!). This event is sponsored by the Alameda Theater, Pappo Restaurant and R&B Cellars. Come and dance the night away - great music, great food and wine! the proceeds go to Alameda Hospital foundation, the Boy's and Girl's club of Alameda and the Haiti Relief Fund.
February 19: PS I Love You's "Dark & Delicious" Petite Sirah and food event. R&B will be pouring their barrel samples of their upcoming Pizicatto Petite Sirah. Alameda Point Vintners @ Rock Wall Wine Co., 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- 41 Petite Sirahs along with 26 restaurants and caterers
Click here for more info.
February 20: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting, 2:00pm - 5:00pm, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA
Click here for more info.
February 26: 2010 Pacific Orchid Exposition, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA
Click here for more info.
*For additional information please email info@rbcellars.com or call (510) 749-8477.
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Alameda Point Vintners is right here in Alameda! 2301 Monarch Street (on the old Naval Air Base) OUR TASTING ROOM IS OPEN Wednesday - Sunday, 12pm-6pm Come and enjoy the Urban Wine Country Experience Seven wineries and lots of different wines to taste.
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Free Shipping!
Jan 31 - Feb 28
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http://www.kgoam810.com/article.asp?id=1680069&spid=32216
Listen to Kevin & Barbara Brown on KGO-AM's "Dining Around With Gene Burns"
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The following recipe is courtesy of Sam Sifton and the food section of the
New York Times magazine. We loved this recipe from Savoy and Crosby
Street's Peter Hoffman not only because it pairs superbly with R&B
Cellars' Zydeco Zinfandel, but because it does double-duty in frugal
times. Check out the suggested side dish, pan-roaasted root vegetables
from Balthazar.
Serve once for dinner as a hearty, elegant roast, then enjoy a hearty breakfast of Roast Beef-Hash and eggs.
We'll let you decide on pairing our Zydeco Zin before the banks open.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/magazine/24food-t-000.html?ref=dining
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Oven-Roasted Weekend Beef
2 tablespoons kosher salt 1 tablespoon sweet Spanish paprika 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander Red pepper flakes to taste 1 sirloin tip roast, approximately 3 pounds
Preparation:
1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (or light a charcoal fire on one side
of a large kettle grill, using a small pillow's worth of briquettes).
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2) Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Place the roast in the
bowl and rub the spices all over the meat, pressing down so they adhere.
3) Place the roast on the baking sheet and cook for 45 minutes to an hour,
until the meat registers an internal temperature of 130 to 135 degrees
for medium-rare. Remove from the oven and let sit, loosely tented under
foil, for 15 minutes before slicing. (Alternately, when the coals are
covered with a fine ash, place the roast on the side of the grill
opposite the fire. Cover, cracking the vent open a little, and cook for
40 to 50 minutes, or until the meat has reached an internal temperature
of 130 to 135 degrees for medium-rare. Remove from the fire and let
sit, loosely tented under foil, for 15 minutes before slicing.) Serves 4.
Enjoyment:
Crack open a bottle of R&B's 2007 Zydeco Zinfandel, pour, and enjoy.
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R&B Cellars Christmas Party, 2009
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Tasters Guild Wine Lovers' Consumer Wine Judging
R&B Cellars 05 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Double Gold Medal
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Awards
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2010 San Francisco Chronicle
Wine Competition:
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Double Gold Medal, "Best of Class" "Judges' Choice"
2009 California State
Fair Wine Competition:
2007 Serenade in Blanc Sauvignon
Blanc -
Best of Class of Region North Coast Appellation Gold Medal, 94 Points
One of California's top 11 white wines!
Critics Challenge International Wine Competition:
2007 Zydeco Zinfandel - Gold Medal
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Gold Medal
Florida State Fair
International Wine Competition:
2007 Serenade in Blanc Sauvignon Blanc - Double Gold
2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Gold Medal
2006 Saxy Syrah - Gold Medal
Tasters Guild
International Wine Competition:
2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Double Gold
2006 Saxy Syrah - Gold Medal
Dallas Morning News
Wine Competition:
2006 Counterpoint Cabernet Franc - Gold Medal
Lodi International
Wine Awards:
2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Distinguished Gold
Just Wine Points:
2006 Counterpoint Cabernet Franc - 93 points
2007 Zydeco Zin - 94 points
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R&B Cellars, home of the wine that swings!
Keep on swingin'!
www.rbcellars.com
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