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16 x 20 Wines
New Napa Cabernet and Sonoma Chardonnay
Paul Hobbs, Winemaker
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| Greetings!
It's a sports fan dream week. College basketball championship, baseball's opening day, The Masters golf. Story lines everywhere, especially Tiger Woods' return to golf on the hallowed fairways of Augusta National. Something for everybody between the lines, or gallery ropes, depending.
What's that got to do with wine? Nothing whatsoever. Except you and I both will drink plenty of it as we watch them shoot, throw and/or swing. And what will you drink? You have options, no doubt. How about today's two Money Wines, Napa Cabernet and Sonoma Chardonnay from a new, local winery that has Paul Hobbs as their winemaker? Vested interest here, but I think that's a great idea! The winery is Black Cordon, and their first two releases are called 16 x 20 (an artist reference, it's the standard artist's canvas size).The 16 x 20 wines put Beauty behind the wheel, with Power riding shotgun. Know what I mean? OK OK, read below and I'll explain.
Tastings continue to roll on. Last Friday's BACK ROOM BLOW OUT XXXVI was a winner.
60 of us tasted with our four winemaking guests. They're so much fun. BLOW OUT XXXVII will be on Friday, June 18. Save the date. The theme of both tasting events this week is PINOT. As in Grigio, Blanc, Noir and more. Those of us lucky enought to have tickets to see Elvis Costello at Napa Valley Opera House on Thursday (including me and Holly) will be drinking Pinots before the show. Tickets or not, come join us. Details and links in the right column below, along with Friday's "Pinot Party."
Thank you for being a friend. I wanna tell you...Dan
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Money Wine
April 7, 2010
Money Wine: a wine that anyone who loves good, rich, utterly delicious wine will enjoy A LOT, and is an EXCEPTIONAL VALUE.
16 x 20 Wines
Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2008 $29
Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2007 $39
Wine sales propaganda is often laced with what a wine is NOT, and accusing what is NOT in the wine-being-sold as being BAD. Case in point: the 16 x 29 wines are balanced, bright, nicely proportioned wines - the essence of purity. They are NOT too ripe, NOT over extracted, NOT overdone. ICK ICK ICK! I wouldn't do that, not even mention it.
But seriously, I like all styles of wines, both as a wine lover and one who makes a living by selling it. A customer and friend called me this week and asked if I though a movement from BIGGER wines to MORE ELEGANT wines was a standard progression in wine drinking. My reply was, and is, no. A movement into appreciating more styles of wines is a common, and a good, progression. There's nothing bad about 15.5% alcohol, super-extracted, powerful wine if made well. There's nothing wrong with 13.5% alcohol, tangy, "elegant" wine if made well, either. Depends where you're at, what you're doing, what you're eating, what you feel like. WHOO, how's that for a preamble?
16 x 20 Wines released their first two wines last month and I suggest you buy them from me and enjoy them. The owners, Karen & David Dunphy, bought a piece of land in the Northwest corner of Napa-town, at the base of Mayacamas, around the same time Back Room Wines opened, 2002. The vineyard, mostly planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, is named Black Cordon Vineyard. This is the name of their top-flight Cab, to be released this fall.
I've watched Black Cordon and 16 x 20 from the beginning as David, a long-time customer of mine (well before Back Room Wines) has kept me up-to-date with the progress. It's been a first class project from boring, minute detail to the more sexy part of the story: hiring Paul Hobbs as their winemaker. These are classic Paul Hobbs-made wines. They are rich, complex and balanced. They're also some of the best value Paul Hobbs-made California wines you'll find.
These two wines join big flavors, nuance, balance and value. Four key components to make a Money Wine, don't you think? My notes:
16 x 20 Chardonnay
Sonoma Coast 2008 $29
Not Estate Chardonnay, but from "Sonoma Stage Vineyard," a very cool, windy vineyard that's between Petaluma and Carneros. The grapes here, both Chardonnay and Pinot, grow very small and make high-intensity wines. This is 100% ML, but the naturally high acids would make me guess it's less. It's a little buttery, not a lot. 50% new French oak. Richness and restraint come together in
this layered, rich and bright Chardonnay. Taste lemon curd, white
peaches, green apples, melons and just a little buttered toast. Only 200 cases made.
ORDER HERE.
16 x 20 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2007 $39
Almost all from the Estate. The Cab  Franc and Petit Verdot, 9% of the wine, comes from "Stagecoach Vineyard" on Atlas Peak. Boasts the impact of fine Napa Cab with a delicacy and
perfume that reminds of strong Pinot Noir. Violets, black and
blueberries, black cherries, wood smoke and vanilla bean. I like the silky
texture andits 20 second finish.150 cases made.
ORDER HERE.
3 ways to order:
Order Online Here
Just reply to this email with your order,
or call us, toll-free, at 877-322-2576
Thank you!
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PINOT PARTY
This Friday,
April 9,
5 to 8 P.M.
Sparkling Pinot, Pinot Blanc,
Pinot Gris,
Pinot Noir,
Sweet Pinot.
IT'S A PINOT EXTRAVAGANZA!
Pinot-friendly snacks served.
$15/Tasting
Here's the Pinot Line-Up
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PINOTS
BEFORE
ELVIS
This Thursday,
April 8
From 5 'til Showtime (8 P.M.)
Elvis Costello tunes playing.
Pinots pouring.
Napa Valley Opera House benefiting
($5 of each tasting donated to NVOH).
It's going to be a good time!
$5 tasting credit for Elvis Costello Concert Ticket Holders (past concert ticket stubs OK).
$15/tasting
More information
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Think I'll have a glass of 2009 Rosé tonight.
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It's just about that time!
Carrying two domestic Rosé wines:
-ABIOUNESS Rosé of Pinot Noir
-LAGIER MEREDITH Rosé of Syrah
European pinks coming any day now.
I equate Rosé season launching with Baseball Opening Day. I enjoyed the Lagier Meredith while the Giants played the Astros. The wine is good and the Giants won. Makes me very happy.
Drink more Soave. Dan
Daniel Dawson
Owner, 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: daniel@backroomwines.com |
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