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T-VINE "T" RED 2007
Cabernet Sauvignon/Petite Sirah Blend
It's a party in the mouth
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Greetings!
I had dinner with a Napa vineyard owner Monday night. I appreciated his perspective and action on "modern style" versus "classic style" of winemaking. For years he has sold his grapes to a winemaker who's very successful in making very rich, low acid, well-reviewed, "hedonistic" wines. Feeling a lack of vineyard expression in these wines, this vineyard owner has chosen not to sell his grapes to this winemaker anymore. It's a supply-side perspective that swims against the tide of best-selling wines. Rich is in. Back Room Wines prides itself on having wines to please every palate, but RICH is what makes me a living. (Today's MONEY
WINE is plenty rich).You can argue what's the right wine style to make, and you can argue if there should be an argument. Now, there may well be more to th story of this vineyard owner's decision to pass on a proven winning business relationship, but on the surface I admire the sacrifice for what he feels is right and pride in his vineyard.
Maybe I should create a Classic-to-Modern scale for California wine.
Calera Pinot Noir "Selleck" 2006 on the Classic End (1). Orin Swift "The Prisoner" on the Modern side (10).
How would you like that? I'll try it this week. By the way, Dave Phinney of Orin Swift isn't the winemaker above. That's all I'll say.
FANTASTIC tasting events this Thursday and Friday.
Our second Rosé wine tasting of the season is this Thursday. And come by this Friday night and taste with two smart, friendly winemaker who are INTO IT! Odisea and Dragonette wineries. At $10 for either tasting, it's a meal-deal without the meal. Right hand column, below, has links to both tasting sheets. Come on by, and bring some friends.
Look he's crawling up my wall. Black and hair very small.
Who is it?
Dan
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Money Wine
July 21, 2010
Money Wine: a wine that anyone who loves good, rich, utterly delicious wine will enjoy A LOT, and is an EXCEPTIONAL VALUE.
TODAY
From a long-time Napa favorite comes this big, juicy red.
T-VINE CELLARS "T" Red
Napa Valley 2007 $40/bottle
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Sirah
725 cases made, in fact.
(Pic is from last vintage.)
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Greg Brown started T-Vine Cellars around 1990.
I, like many Northern California wine buyers, became friends with Greg. Not only are the T-Vine wines always delicious and "sellable," but they come with Greg Brown's perspective of wine and life (at no extra charge). He's a yoga dude, seeker of balance and a guy you just want to hang out with.
Well son-of-a-gun, Greg sold T-Vine Cellars last year. It's still weird to call the winery and not have him pick up the phone. I miss the guy, as do many who've enjoyed his frequent visits (he delivered the wine himself more often than not).
Except for Greg, the small, wonderful winemaking and sales staff is still at T-Vine; no doubt I'll be championing T-Vine for years to come. And the new owners are good guys. Nonetheless, I'm glad we're still a couple years away from total transition: Greg made the 2007 and 2008 T-Vine wines.
Everyone whose had "T Red" through the vintages believes the 2007 is the richest, most unctuous one yet. With teeth-staining color and astounding richness, it's, as the title line reads, "a party in the mouth" What it lacks in complexity, it
makes up in sheer volume. As the blend changes from year to year, this is the first time I recall T Red being Cabernet Sauvignon/Petite Sirah. It's a natural pairing: Napa Cabernet Sauvignon made even more more dark, juicy, and chewy with a generous addition of Petite.
It's all "Frediani Vineyard" in the very warm (sometimes HOT) northern Napa Valley, near Calistoga. Bodacious Zinfandel and Syrah grows in Frediani also. "T Red" pours out deep purple, almost
black. Taste is as dark, rich and strong as the color indicates.
Mulberry liqueur (OK, I don't know if Mulberry liqueur exists, but if it did...), dark chocolate, black pepper, allspice, vanilla and sweet tobacco
flavors. The taste is first & foremost FRUIT. Dark berries and
cherries. Low acid and gummy tannins on the finish. As for food, my first inclination is to pair with
grilled steak.Yee-haw. Donning my creative hat, pasta with lots of garlic, fresh herbs and sun (or oven) dried tomatoes (and some sausage perhaps) would make for fun times.
T-Red scores an 8.5 on the Classic-Modern scale.How about that?
Buy T-Vine "T RED" here
You may also reply to this email with your order,
or, call us, toll-free, at 877-322-2576
Thank you!
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And that's a wrap.
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Drink more Maccabeo. 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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PINK WINE NIGHT
This Thursday,
July 22, 5 to 8 PM
In this, the height of Rosé season, we showcase five of the latest to come in the store.
We visit Napa, Spain, Argentina and France on our international Rosé trip.
Five pinks in all.
$10/tasting
Here's the PINK tasting sheet
Pink Girl
Rosé of Syrah Napa Valley  |
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TWO GUEST WINEMAKERS
A Mini-Blow Out,
if you will.
Tonight we welcome:
ADAM WEBB of
Odisea Wines
and
BRANDON
SPARKS-GILLIS of Dragonette Cellars.
Enjoy three wines from each winemaker. WHAT A TREAT!
$10/tasting
and credit back with purchase
Tasting sheet here
"Dream" is McDreamy  |
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