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New Whites from Europe
A Goodie Bag of White Delights!
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Greetings!
I'm just giddy with excitement for the Austrian and Italian wines that arrived this week. I briefly describe six of them just below, but you should visit to get the full show. But first, consider this: AUSTRIAN ROAST PUMPKIN SEED OIL SUNDAES. Heidi Schrock (I promote her Furmint below) suggested a drizzle of this toasty, super-nutty, magical oil on vanilla ice cream when she visited the shop last January. Soon after, I took "dessert duty" at a friend's pot luck and served it up (using my old French Laundry flair and neatly drizzled the oil on the ice cream tableside). In the spirit that the best salesmanship is that unintended, 3 of the guests that night came in and bought all the the Pumpkin Seed Oil I had.
Alas, it's now back: HIRSCHMANN 100% Genuine Pumpkin Seed Oil from Styria, Austria.
$20/250 ml bottle and $35/500 ml bottle. Finish creamy soups, risottos and pastas with it. Do the ice cream thing (any will do...I choose Haagen Dazs). It tastes familiar yet is unlike anything you've had before. Could say makes a great gift but get one for yourself first. In stock at Back Room Wines.
Back Room Blow Out XXXII is this Friday, June 12 from 5 to 8 P.M.
Visit and taste with three local vintners and one wine importer.
Our 32nd walk-around tasting features these vintners: - Kenny Kahn of Blue Rock Vineyard (Alexander Valley Cab Sauv and Syrah)
- Adam Webb
of Odisea Wines (Lodi Albarińo and "Unusual Suspects" Spicy Red Blend)
- Akiko
Freeman of Freeman Winery (Sonoma Coast Chard & Pinot Noir)
- and our importer, Dan Lavorel (Pouilly-Fumé and to finish a
little Banyuls for dessert).
9 great wines to drink and learn from those who know them best!
The Blow Out tasting fee is
$15, with $5 credited back for each bottle of Blow Out wine purchased.
And, all wines poured will be sold at 10% discount during the tasting. Here's the skinny.
Wish they all could be California wines (not really).
Dan.
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Six Import Whites
Just in, and just fabulous
BELE CASEL Prosecco $17 Enjoyed a bottle late Friday night as we wrapped up our Cabernet Franc tasting. What a delightful, dry, fruity white wine. Peaches, green apples, nectarines, a whiff of almond. Such a fun drink. We'll have a bottle in the fridge all the time for your drinking pleasure.
HEIDI SCHROCK Furmint
Austria 2007 $32
One of my favorite wine salesmen, Terry Theise, writes "as if Mosel Riesling and Vouvray were mixed in your glass." Rosewater, quince, pear and Kaffir lime. This high acid grape, best known as the base wine for sweet Tokay from Hungary, is as zingy as it is exotic...and rare...and dry.
PIEROPAN Soave Classico 2007 $16
From the best (Classico) region of Soave, in the hills. Pieropan makes wonderful, benchmark Soave...the way it's SUPPOSED to be made. Taste green apples, grapefruit, white peaches. Fermented and aged in cement vats, so it's all about the fruit here. Best representation of Soave out there, and a great value, to boot.
JERMANN Ribolla Gialla "Vinnae" 2007 $32
Had much Ribolla Gialla? It's been a grape of fashion for a decade or so. Perhaps you have. Jermann has been making wine in Collio, Northeast Italy since 1883. Tradition and modern are blended just as Tokai and Riesling are blended into the Ribolla Gialla to make this delicious, untuous, fun white. Peach puree, grapefruit, fresh pears, flowers in springtime. So fresh.
SCHLOSS GOBELSBURG Riesling 
"Heiligenstein" 2007 $48Another Terry Theise contribution: "An insanely complicated fragrance leads to a cool symposium of terroir; the aromas are hyperactive yet the palate is luminous and serene; a great wine full of ease and confidence. Not an eyelash out of place." I'd like to date her. BRUNDLMAYER Grüner Veltliner
"Alte Reben" (Old Vines) 2007 $52
If I could use benchmark wine twice in one line-up I would. This is good. Terry Theise again: "Flavors in a lusty baritone yet with a creamy, whispery side." Peach, pear, grapefruit, minerality, spicy spice and such intensity. Cool people take such a wine to an al fresco fish fest. The California Chardonnay equivalent in name & quality would go for $65+. Think I'm writing this late and been drinking? Right you are.
Import White Case
Two of each: $350 (Includes 10% discount)
Import White Half Case
One of each: $185 (Includes 5% discount)
To order, call toll free at 877-322-2576
Order online here,
Reply to this email, or COME TO THE SHOP & BUY.
Thank you for reading.
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Fellow Napans: Come see me tonight (Thursday) talking and pouring wine at Downtown Napa Chef's Market. I'll be with Napa restaurants
Fumé Grill and Zinsvalley, pairing a wine to match the chef's dish. Wonder the last time Pic Saint Loup was poured by the glass at Chef's Market?
We re-set the meter tomorrow with Bergerie de l'Hortus Pic Saint Loup 2005 ($16). Want white? We have a glass of Etude Pinot Gris Carneros 2008 ($16) for you tonight.Not finished: Odisea "Unusual Suspects" Red, Lodi 2007 ($17) will be flowing freely, for a fee, as well. Full team tonight. I'll be on the stage, "Mr. Friday Night" will be making a Thursday appearance and pouring at the Chef's Market wine booth, Dan Lee will be at the shop selling you wine (discount on Chef's Market featured wines tonight) and Holly will be where needed. Looking forward to it. See you tonight.
It creeps ever so closer:
7th Annual Hot Dog Weekend
Friday, June 26 5 to 8 P.M. and Saturday June 27 Noon to 5
All Beef Hot Dogs served 3 ways: Classic ("Chicago Style"), Chili Dog and Sauerkraut Dog. Glass of wine, perfectly matched, served with each dog. $10 gets you a dog & a glass. We'll have a lot of dogs on hand, but when they're gone they're gone!
Paul Krassner Book Reading & Signing
Saturday, July 18, 5 PM
His new book: Who's To Say What's Obscene: Politics, Culture and Comedy in America Today. Read Arianna Huffington's forward here.
Drink more Collioure. 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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BACK ROOM BLOW OUT XXXIII
This Friday,
June 12,
5 to 8 P.M.
Visit & taste with three local vintners and one importer.
Tonight we welcome
Freeman Winery, Blue Rock,
Odisea and International Vineyards.
$15/tasting
$5 credit back with each bottle of Blow Out wine purchased.
More Information
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Guess the Grape
Next Friday,
June 19
5 to 8 P.M.
Taste six wines triple blind (all you know is the color). Can you tell what the grape is? Guess at least 4 of the six grapes and win a prize.
$10/tasting
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