Your favorite fresh tomato wine?
We have some ideas for you

August 20, 2009
Greetings!
Harvest 2009 has begun with sparkling wine grapes and some Sauvignon Blanc fermenting away. First grapes came in last week. A relatively cool summer has most grapes 5-10 days behind in ripening and flavor development. I've written this before, and I will again no doubt: the vintage is looking good so far, but a dry, warm, long Indian summer is key for an extraordinary vintage. Truly, there are no poor vintages here, just some better than others. For the big, powerful Napa Valley reds, long hangtime, stretching well into October, with enough heat to allow more ripening, is what sets the best vintages apart from the rest. The next 45 days will be key. As for the whites and lighter reds (Pinot Noir), the "coolness" of Summer 2009 is a great thing. I'm liking the set-up for ripe, juicy, balanced, Pinots, Chards and Sauv Blancs. k
Speaking of Pinot Noir: 2007 best vintage ever, states the Wine Spectator. Reminds me of my comments on the vintage a few months back. The 2007 California Pinots are outstanding, and there's so, so much from which to choose. Many need another 6-12 months to blossom. They're fun to sell and drink.

THURSDAY EVENING TASTING EVENTS START SEPTEMBER 10
Back Room Wines Friday tasting events have become a Napa tradition. For seven years we've introduced new, delicious, interesting wines to locals and visitors both. Starting in September, Back Room Wines brings a different type of tasting to Thursday evening.

Thursday tastings combine fun & tasty wines of the world with an even greater focus on education.
For example, September 10 tasting is "Chardonnay Zero to 100 Malolactic." Taste the difference as you scale up the ML (i.e. butter) ladder.
Also on the calendar for Thursdays:
  • A tasting of Jean Louis Chave & Didier Dagueneau wines
  • Merlot: Napa vs Bordeaux
  • Red Burgundy from six Cote d'Or villages
  • A tasting and lesson about the different styles of Sherries
Thursday tastings, just like Fridays, are from 5 to 8 P.M. (we're usually ready to pour a little earlier however) and reservations are not necessary.
We're scheduled into November on Thursday tastings (and Fridays too).

Check out the Calendar of Tasting Events here.

Keep drinking the good stuff. Dan
Wines to match with summer tomatoes
Yesterday, I was on the Bay Area TV Show "The View From The Bay," presenting Wines to Pair with Summer Tomatoes. I tasted the three wines below for co-hosts Janelle Wang & Spencer Christian.
Watch me on The View From The Bay here.

Wine recommendations with beef, lamb & chicken are numerous and easy. Ribeye & Cab, Lamb Shank & Syrah: wonderful!
But what about our favorite foods that we don't think about pairing with wine? The summer's bounty is full of great tastes, and today we consider the vine-ripe tomato. This Friday, August 21, from 5 to 8 PM, 
Back Room Wines pours wines to pair with summer tomatoes.

Here are three wines we'll taste
along with spectacular heirloom tomatoes (served three different ways):
Brick Angel Sauvignon Blanc
BRICK ANGEL
Sauvignon
Blanc
"Mello Vineyard"

Yountville  2007   $15/bottle

We suggest you taste this crisp, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc with a pure, unseasoned tomato (not even salt). Pay attention to the contrast of the sweet tomato and the citrusy, slightly herbal Sauvignon Blanc. The wine takes the place of the vinaigrette you might use.
We can't get enough of this bright & tingly local white. Taste green apples, lemons, mandarin oranges and white peach. It's very dry and very fruity. Makes a superb "house white" from Napa Valley. 120 cases made.
 
ETUDE Pinot Gris
Carneros 2008 $16/bottle
Etude Pinot Gris Carneros
Where the Brick Angel Sauvignon Blanc was a flavor contrast (sweet & tart), this Pinot Gris has comparable flavors: sweet & rich. That said, the Etude Pinot Gris is dry...with rich, fruity, exotic flavors a la summer tomatoes. To offer a little contrast, and to heighten the flavors of both wine & tomato, we suggest you try this pairing with Fleur de Sel-sprinkled tomatoes.
This is from Etude's Estate Vineyard and "Hudson Vineyard." This is DRY, Alsatian style Pinot Gris, and it's really nice. Nose of juicy pears, cream and light caramel. Richness of fruit (pear, apple, nectarine) and lovely round mouthfeel. So versatile with food-from appetizers to pork, fish and chicken on the grill.

GREEN & RED Zinfandel Green & Red Zinfandel
Chiles Canyon Vineyards
Napa Valley 2007  $23/bottle
We've chosen this delicious Zinfandel to match with our tomatoes dressed in basil, balsamic, extra virgin olive oil and cracked black pepper. A rich Red Zinfandel doesn't come to mind immediately as a tomato wine, but when dressed up like this, we think it's really good! The tomato & balsamic match the sweetness of the wine. The basil, EVOO & black pepper match the Zin-spice. The balsamic, in fact, does double-duty as its acidity contrasts the Zin's fruit, bringing it out more. We really like this match! Hope you do too.

We really think the Green & Red Zin is great. Dark berry fruits, loads of black pepper and pie spice, black cherry, mocha and a smidge of pink grapefruit. Very complete, balance and super-delicious. From Green & Red's 3 Estate Vineyards.

This Friday, August 21, 5 to 8 PM is our
"Tomato & Wine Pairing."
$15 for delicious, local heirloom tomatoes and four wines to match.
No reservation needed, just come on in & play!

If you live too far away to attend, why not create your own
tomato & wine pairing?

Order online, reply to this email, or call to order.

Email special: 10% discount on two bottles of each wine above.
That's just $98 for a lot of great drinking!

Toll free #: 877-322-2576.
Thank you!
Wrapping up summer
The calendar tells us summer still has a month to go, but it hardly seems like it. Schools back in session almost everywhere and the Boys of Summer are fighting to be in The Fall Classic. (Including my SF Giants. Could it be the year? Hope floats!) I'm looking forward to being in touch with many of you again, after a summer buying hiatus due to vacations and hot weather. 2007 Napa Cabs, one of the best vintages of the decade for the King of Reds in these parts, will be coming out in earnest this fall & winter. Tons of great wine are being shown to me day in & day out. And, there's the aforementioned '07 Pinots to whet your appetite as well. It's been a good year so far, and I'm looking forward to a great fall & holiday season. I wish the same for you.

Drink more Mondeuse
Dan


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
email: [email protected]


BACK ROOM
BLOW OUT XXXIII
Next Friday,
August 28
5 to 8 P.M.

Visit & taste with four local winery owners and winemakers.
Taste fine wines with those who know them best!
Tonight we welcome Uvaggio Winery,
Diamond Springs, Sojourn Cellars &
Herb Lamb
Vineyards
It's Blow Out #33!

$15/tasting
Credit back with purchase.


More details here.

Wine Bar Tasting
 
Taste wines from the Loire Valley
Friday, September 4
5 to 8 P.M.

Sancerre, Quincy,
Pouilly-Fume, Muscadet, Vouvray & more. Delicious by themselves, even better with food!

$15/tasting

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