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Back Room Wines' CAB ALERT
POTT Cabernet "St. Ralph The Liar" 2007 and two non-Cabs...I'll explain
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Greetings!
Last Thursday, I took seven of my favorite California wines (mostly Napa) to a private dinner at Silverado Resort in Napa. The theme: "Under 300 cases made." We're talking artisan wine here - the kinds of wines you look for from Back Room Wines. All seven wines showed great. Three of them showed PARTICULARLY well that evening. I recommend these three wines to you. I'll launch the three by keeping in the Cal Alert theme and tell you why you should buy Aaron Pott's Howell Mountain Cabernet. Then, two non-Cabs because, well, they're just so darn tasty! Little bonus here: all three wines are usually net-priced as they're so darn good for the winery price, I don't normally discount them. But you, dear Cab-Alert reader, aren't my normal customer, and I offer you 10% off all three of these wines, provided you order within the week and put together at least a case. Sound like a plan?
Read on. And thanks! Dan
POTT Cabernet SauvignonClick here to buy Pott | "St. Ralph The Liar - White Cottage Ranch" Howell Mountain, Napa Valley 2007 $90/bottle Aaron Pott has worked extensively in Napa and Bordeaux both. Can't say that I've met him. Maybe now that I'm cyber-genuflecting before his "St Ralph" Cabernet, perhaps he'll stop by. Anyway, this Cab rocked at this dinner. Hard to pick a Cab that marries all the best aspects of Napa red any better. Sweet, physically mature fruit. Structure and acidity indicates that it's built to last (7-10 years easy). Suppleness of tannins to enjoy tonight (it was sucked down with smiles). Length and complexity...complete Cab. It's rich, full-bodied, fleshy, dark and I would say hedonistic. 120 cases made. This is the only vintage from White Cottage Ranch for Pott. The vineyard owners sold it between 2007 and 2008 harvests. The "St. Ralph..." is a reference from the English sitcom "Blackadder." That's all I can tell you about that.
SANGUIS ChardonnayClick here to order Sanguis | "The Narrow & Straight - Bien Nacido Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley 2008 $60 I absolutely loved this wine the first time I had it, with owner/winemaker Mattias Pippig. He lives and works in Santa Barbara, near the vineyard. Before Sanguis, he worked for Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non. This is fantastic, world-class Chardonnay that lovers of the grape
should not miss. Tons of flavors...orange and lemon oil, lemon thyme,
caramel candies, white peach, soil, green apples, fresh bread crust,
sweet butter. Rich with restraint...Burgundy meets California! Texture of feather pillow. Don't chill it too much. 55 Degrees is just right to get all the layers and mouth feel. That's how I served it last week. Could compete, both for texture and complexity, with any California Chardonnay made. 75 cases
made.
NEIMAN CELLARS SyrahClick here to order Neiman | Napa Valley 2005 $80 Local vintner Drew Neiman makes tiny, tiny amounts of a handful of Napa Valley wines, mostly red. Subjective Dan says "his Syrah is the best" because it richness, great Syrah character, dense rich fruit and guts. The fruit is 100% Caldwell Vineyard, the cooler, southern Napa Valley vineyard that arguably producers the best Syrah in these parts. I thought the Neiman Syrah might not endear itself to guests at this dinner as there is, normally, an "acquired taste" factor for Syrah. All these flavors are in the Neiman (descriptions start momentarily), everyone noticed them, and LIKED them, both with and without food. The wine's both powerful and classy. Nose of French roast coffee, kirsch,
kalamata olives, crispy bacon, sweet French oak and just-cracked black peppercorns.
Taste a panoply of dark, delicious fresh summer berries, espresso and
soy sauce. Such intensity of flavor here, all coming together and beginning to drink at its very best, now almost 5 years. 72 cases made.
3 WAYS TO ORDER Order the respective wine by clicking its picture above, Reply to this email, or call, toll free: 877-322-2576
Thank you! DanDaniel 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 Visit our website here
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