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Inspired California Wines
Three highly recommended
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Greetings!
A very cool (and delicious) threesome for you today. Every so often a winery owner and winemaker (in this case it's usually one and the same) come in with a little more passion, thoughtfulness and love for wine than many. I've picked out three of these wineries, and a wine from each, that taste great as all get-out AND have soul. I mean it-I can "taste the love" in these wines. Now, wines like these aren't to everyone's taste, but I know many of you who love the artisanal wines with a taste of place. If this is the case, you'll enjoy these.
Almost goes without saying that with so little wine made, I expect these wines to be plucked up pretty quickly. I hope to fill your order in full, and get it to you quickly (deliveries to me can take a little longer when the wineries handle their own shipping).
Enjoy my notes.
"Taste Tour of France" Wine Dinner is just a one and a half weeks away! Yours truly will be leading the tasting and discussion. It's a week from Monday, April 6. Reservations time is now. See below for more details please.
too ra loo ra loo ra
Dan.
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Inspired Wines
Three from CaliforniaCOURIER Sauvignon Blanc "Ryan's Vineyard" Napa Valley 2007 $45 net Owner/Winemaker Jason Berthold started shopping at Back Room Wines in 2004. A lover of unique wines of the world and of flavors in general (he's a chef and restaurateur by trade), he felt the urge to make time in his impossibly busy schedule to make wine. He makes his wines with the same attention and passion he puts into his food.
Jason loves Sauvignon Blanc. The subtlety of flavors are more exposed in the wine's transparency. The food pairing possibilities are only limited by one's mind. I like to take this wine to Ubuntu Restaurant, around the corner, and have it with their rich, amazing, byodynamic vegetable menu.
Courier Sauvignon Blanc "Ryan's" 2007 was fermented on the skins, giving the wine a bite of tannins that
you don't normally get in Sauv Blanc. The initial surprise quickly moves to pleasure. Tastes of candied grapefruit wedges, peach cobbler,
Granny Smith apple (especially the skins), Provence herbs (just a
touch) and that nice, unique, Sauv Blanc of-the-earth flavor (gravel?
minerals?). Only 34 cases made.
BIG TABLE FARM Syrah, California 2006 $45
This is 100% "White Hawk Vineyard" Santa Barbara County Syrah. Because the grapes were made into wine in another state, the label can say no more than "California." Big Table Farm captures the royalty of the Syrah grape: complexity, flavor, intensity, deliciousness, ability to age with grace. As the Big Table Farm Syrah arrived just last week, this is the wine I show folks who ask, "what's new and exciting to you now?"
Tasting notes: Perfect example of fine, "artisan" California Syrah: rich, dark fruit
(mulberry, sweet blueberry, black currants) and Rhone-esque black
pepper, olive and baconfat. Ample spice. Good acidity to support the
big flavors. Fine match with red meats. 175 cases.
ANTHILL FARMS Pinot Noir
"Comptche Ridge"  Mendocino 2006 $48 netThe threesome that make up Anthill Farms are Anthony, Wed and David. They met and worked together at Williams Selyem in 2003 and launched Anthill Farms in 2004. Their mantra is common, but few practice what they preach as well as
they. The wines are about expression of vineyard, nuance, bottle
development and deliciousness. Winemaking is as natural as possible and
the oak regimen is just enough to lift the wine (I believe it's in the
10 to 33% new French oak, depending.) When a little more '06 "Comptche Ridge" came available, we jumped on it. All the Anthill Pinots are excellent, but this wine particularly stands out for us. My tasting notes: unique Anderson Valley Pinot, showing more earth than most from here. Organic vineyard. Nose of wild cherry, earth, petuli and rose-scented perfume. Pretty flavors, with strawberry, cranberry and wild plums. Earth, olive and bright berry fruit on the finish. 200 cases made.Mixed case:
4 bottles of each: $535
Or a half case:
2 bottles of each: $270
To order, call toll free at 877-322-2576
Order online here,
Reply to this email, or COME TO THE SHOP.
Thank you for reading.
Shipping discount special through March
2 cases, 10% off shipping
3 or more cases, 15% off shipping
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TASTING EVENTS
DINNER & A TASTING is one week from Monday.
Monday, April 6, 6 P.M.
"Taste Tour of France" is the theme.
Dan Dawson (hey, that's me!) will lead the tasting, tell you about the wines, try to make a joke, fail most likely, and tell you about the wines in your glass.
Neat wine line-up: Quincy (Loire Valley), Côtes du Rhône Blanc,
Alsace Pinot Gris, Premier Cru Red Burgundy, Bordeaux and
Northern Rhone Red. Check out the wines here.
Zuzu Restaurant will provide the dinner, which will include:
- Sonoma County Duck Confit with Beluga Lentils
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Roasted Neiman Ranch Pork Loin with Pineapple Ginger Glaze
- And two more tasty treats!
Dinner & A Tasting is $40/person (plus tax).
Reservations are being taken now.
Call or email to reserve your spot.
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, MARCH 20 (tomorrow), 5 to 8 P.M.
California wines under $18/bottleSome of our favorites like TALLULAH Sauvignon Blanc, Fortitude "Shake Ridge" Red and CHUKKER 08 will be poured. Seven wines to enjoy. Here are the wines and notes. Just $10 a person! Be here or be pentagonal: BACK ROOM BLOW OUT XXXI is next Friday April 3. Will be glorious!
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I am one of the many with an NCAA Basketball Tournament bracket.
Been in the same pool for 23 years, thanks to the efforts of Commissioner "JC" in Redding, CA. (Readers, all are welcome to enter next year if you can handle the $25 entry fee. Just let me know and I'll alert you when the 2010 Tourney rolls around...sooner than we'd like unfortunately.) My team is Louisville. Not that I can name one player on the team. My folks retired to Tucson over ten years ago and are HUGE Arizona basketball fans. They'll be watching their Wildcats tomorrow night.
Drink more infused vodkas.
Dan
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Daniel Dawson
Back Room Wines
Corner of First & Main Streets (First Street Entrance)
Downtown Napa, California 94559
Phone: (707) 226-1378 Toll Free # is 877-322-2576
Visit our website here
email: daniel@backroomwines.com
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Excellent California wines for under $18
This Friday,
March 27
5 to 8 P.M.
Seven really good California
"value wines."
$10/tasting
Here are the wines and tasting notes.
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BACK ROOM
BLOW OUT
XXXI
Next Friday,
April 3,
5 to 8 P.M.
Visit & taste with
3 local winery owners/winemakers and one importer.
Tonight we welcome Jules, Napa Valley Farms, Lioco Wines and Vigneron Imports
$15/tasting
*$5 credit for each bottle of Blow Out wine purchased.
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