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August, 2008
high rent district / wish we had more
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July 24, 2008
You've heard it from me before, but I want to reiterate: I don't take recommending three figure wines lightly. It's gotta deliver the goods. Don't matter to me that you can easily afford it-you don't want to feel like you threw away a wad of cash.
CARTER CELLARS Cabernet Sauvignon "Coliseum Block" Napa Valley 2006 ($125 net). Powerful, brutish, black, spicy, sweetness, wow. With Nils Venge watching over the winemaking, Mark Carter (Eureka-raised like me) has the finest ingredients and tools at his disposal. Of his just-released wines, "Coliseum Block" was easily the best wine of the lot. The vineyard is up Soda Canyon Road a ways, and Soda Canyon Road shoots off the Silverado Trail between Napa-town and Stag's Leap District.
Mulberries, espresso, sauteeing cinnamon, potpourrie, cocoa, currant. Big tannins that melt into the huge fruit. Not earthy. Lots of oak but comes across more fruity than oaky. Interesting comparison to the Buccella 2005, which sings expensive oak more than the Carter. 243 cases made.
June 20, 2008
JC Cellars Syrah “POURQUOI PAS” "Rockpile Vineyard" Sonoma & "Côte Rozier" Côte Rôtie 2003 ($135). I bought Pourquoi Pas over a year ago. Just a six pack. Had not tried it until the day before opening the "new" Back Room Wines. Thought it a good celebration wine. With me was Holly and some good friends and fellow Rhone nuts. Quick explanation: Jeff Cohn of JC Cellars and Pierre Gaillard of Côte Rôtie must have had a few too many glasses of Viognier and decided to BLEND a bit of their best wines together. Gaillard flew a barrel (or two? I forget) of "Côte Rozier" to Jeff for the final blend and bottling. Wacked, and expensive, I know, but being the Syrah fan I am, I thought it only natural that Back Room Wines carries it.
In my moving exhaustion and inspiration (and to thank the amazing volunteers who helped me move), we popped and drank it up. And enjoy we did! Wild berries of every kind, lavender, roasted Thai peppers, garlic chives, sweet meat, espresso. "Not that I'd have guessed, but since I know what's in here, I can taste the Rhone and Rockpile" one in our group said. Agreed. A bit overpriced, but obviously such an endeavor ain't cheap. 50 cases made I think (so make that one barrel each). In the spirit of moving on, 15% off the purchase of three bottles.
May 14, 2008
Still have one of the 2004 BOND Cabernets in stock. I had the great fortune to taste these wines in February. They are pretty awesome.
BOND "Pluribus" 2004 ($325 net) is Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Structured, huge, complex and very youthful, it will drink best in maybe 2012?
BOND "St. Eden" 2004 (Sorry, just sold out.) is Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Will age for a long, long time. That written, it's drinking great now and will wow you. Deep fruits, spice, earth, power...these are wines that make sense to me why they cost so much.
Obviously, very limited. As I write this, have just two bottles of each in stock.
April 21, 2008
High above Lake Hennessey, on Pritchard Hill, is Larry and Dee Dee Fairchild's amazing little vineyard. They've made Cabernet since 2001, but the FAIRCHILD Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005 ($125 net) is the first vintage made by the great Paul Hobbs, and is the first very special wine they've produced. A scant 1.5 tons per acre were picked over this rocky terrain that only fine wine grapes could love. 180 cases were bottled. I called Larry Fairchild out of the blue the other day, he answered, and was here later that day with a sample. I see this happen with big wineries making just-OK wine and employing many. For super-primo Cab, it's rare, and really cool. I like this Cabernet a lot. Paul Hobbs' style is all over it: perfectly ripe, beautifully balanced, layers of cocoa, tobacco and truffle. Youthful for sure, but not coarse nor tannic. A good decanting and you'll be glad you imbibed. Seekers of the best Napa Cabs must try (at least) a couple bottles of the Fairchild.
December 5, 2007
DAVID ARTHUR Cabernet Sauvignon "Elevation 1147" Napa Valley 2005 ($140 net). First vintage that BRW has received, which is nice. Have not yet tasted it. No doubt it's big, burly, dark and robust with substantial tannins and great ageing potential. Sounds like I HAVE tasted it. Only a six pack here. Also, our price is quite good. Checked online and the wine looks to start at $150.
April 8, 2008
Many folks have the regular size bottles, but MAGNUMS OF ORIN SWIFT
"The Prisoner" Napa Valley 2006 ($79 net) are rare.
Similar to past vintages in the blend and vineyard sources. More Zinfandel than any other grape, then Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cab Sauv and Charbono. Briar patch and blueberry jam. Black peppercorns and cloves smashed up in your mortar. Cinnamon sticks steeped in kirsch. This vintage has a little more grip to it, but not too much. It's drinking super-fine now in its youth. We got just a few mags of this. First come first served.
March 26, 2008
ROBERT FOLEY CLARET Napa Valley 2005 ($110 net)
Had the pleasure of a nice, healthy glass of the Robert Foley Claret yesterday. Blend is 80% Cab Sauv and 20% Merlot. I really think this is as good a Foley Claret as any from this decade (I've had them all). The richness, structure, complexity and evolution as it opens up puts this wine on par with anything made in Napa. Maybe not THE best, but to many a trained palate it well could be. This is all black & blue fruits, mocha, vanilla bean, maduro cigar and dark chocolate. Never shy on the oak but always well proportioned, Bob Foley hit the sweet spot once again here. Big tannins in the wine that are balance by copious sweet fruit. Best drinking around 2012 I'm thinking, and will stay great through 2020, maybe longer.
March 17, 2008
BUCCELLA Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005 ($125 net). Fourth vintage for this super-premium Cabernet producer. Mark Herold, Napa Cab specialist, made this vintage (it's the last vintage that he saw into bottle, by the way). Gorgeously oaked, sweet and smoky sensations, powerful fruit, bittersweet chocolate and mineral notes and an explosion of flavor on the finish of the '05 Buccella (which means "mouthfull" in Latin, and that it is). We've been a great supporter of Buccella since their first vintage, and we're pleased to have a sizeable allocation to keep our customers happy for a while.
DAN'S TASTING NOTES FROM MARCH 27, 2008: First thought is "wow, what a lot of sweet, expensive oak!" Smell the smoked, dark, chocolate. Turkish coffee, all black fruits (mulberry, blackberry, currant), cigar box, cedar, black peppercorn, curry. In the mouth, taste decadent, rich, lush black fruits, cola, vanilla malt, black truffle, light smoke, kirsch. This is very powerful and stunning. For all the oak in this wine, the character of the fruit supports it. This is balanced. I don't find this 2005 Buccella Cabernet as wound up and shy as critics have said. A half hour decanting and I find it drinking extremely well. That written, would behoove you to cellar this wine for at least 3 years, preferrably 5 to 8.
March 8, 2008
Slam-dunk winner, and really not that bad a price for hedonistic pleasure: ETUDE Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, Napa Valley 2004 ($100 net). The man of the hour, the tower of power R.P. calls it "superb, hedonistic, luscious, voluptuous...40+ second finish" and so on along with 95 points. I've had it and agree. It's a no-brainer big, heavy but not tannic Cabernet you can be sure will deliver when you decide to pop it (this year or in ten years). Only one case made available to us.
February 27, 2008
One case allocation of AUGUST WEST Pinot Noir "Rosella's Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands 2006 ($48 net). Owned and made by Ed Kurtzman, one cool dude who knows how to make Pinot as well as anyone I know. Always boasting a Burgundian gamey side, I expect this vintage to be the same. Haven't tried it yet, however. Three bottle limit.
November 10, 2007
Jim Richards just dropped off our modest allocation of PALOMA Merlot Napa Valley 2005 ($55 net, limited). We tasted this just once-at the huge "Family Winemakers" tasting in San Francisco last summer. Once again, this is very juicy, dark, luscious and GOOD. Bit atypical of the Paloma style, which we find makes it more universally appealing. Like the mega-award winning 2001 Paloma, this 2005 is more about the lush, sexy, dark fruit and creamy texture than it is the spice, tannin and age worthiness of the majority of their vintages. This one is pretty darn dreamy and fun to drink for the shear pleasure of drinking yummy, big red wine.
November 1, 2007 
Two new wines from Arietta, the very special winery owned by Fritz Hatton and made by Andy Erickson.
ARIETTA "On The White Keys" 2006 ($62 net). Concert pianist/classical music expert/world class wine auctioneer Fritz Hatton loves the name game with his wines. The significance of this name is not known to me. My guess is that Fritz is allowed to drink "...White Keys" while at his piano.
"...White Keys" is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc from "Farina Vineyard" Sonoma Mountain (we love SB from here!) and Semillon from "Hyde Vineyard." The SB is part fermented in steel barrels, part in new French oak. The Semillon is all new French oak fermented. Exotic, tenacious and alluring, this white wine will satisfy lovers of big whites and exotic, delicate whites alike. All the oak is wonderfully soaked up by the concentrated fruit to make a lush, strong, fruit driven wine. Taste peach nectar, white roses, grapefruit extract, mango and a drop of sweet cream. Beeswax and lemongrass aroma sneaks in there. Special wine for seekers of the best!
ARIETTA "Variation 1" Napa Valley 2005 ($105 net) is "Hudson Vineyard" Syrah/Merlot blend. This 2005 vintage boasts more Syrah than Merlot, and we LIKE the aggressive, classic, intense Syrah character of this wine (we're pretty crazy about Hudson Syrah in general, admittedly). Dense blueberry, very dark raspberry, black pepper, woodsmoke, tapenade, French roast coffee, lavender and definitely cracked black pepper in this wine. Surprisingly enjoyable now for all its largess (decant for sure). Must say that this has the strong Syrah flavor for the acquired taste. If you haven't acquired it, you should!
October 16, 2007
Two Hundred Acre wines now in stock.
HUNDRED ACRE SHIRAZ "Ancient Way" Barossa Valley, 
Australia 2004, $250
Jayson Woodbridge, the worldly man that he is, ventured to the Barossa Valley to oversee planting, then making, of this Shiraz that is as unique as it is rare and special.
With cuttings from Penfold's "Grange" and with yields under a ton an acre, the wine combines power and grace as well as any I've had.
I drank Ancient Way last spring, and a crystal ball was needed to see its future. Blueberry, black raspberry, pomegranate and wild red/black cherry are in there. As French in style as Australian, pick up the tobacco, black olive, mineral, cocoa, graphite and on and on. Best drinking of Ancient Way to start in 2010 I'm guessing.
February 15, 2007
Here's a list of wines we keep, truly, "in the back." Considering their value, best kept packed away.
All prices are net. Supplies of all are very small, like 1-3 bottles. Check 'em out.
Chateau L’Evangile Pomerol 2000 $295
Chateau Pavie Saint-Emilion 2001 $190
Les Cailloux Chateauneuf-du-Pape “Cuvée Centenaire” 2003 $190
Colgin “Cariad” Red Wine Napa Valley 1999 $295
Flowers Chardonnay “Camp Meeting Ridge” Sonoma Coast 1999 $72
Big Bottles:
Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon “Madrona Ranch” Napa Valley Magnum 2001 $1400
September 20, 2006
Still in stock are a few bottles of
ARIETTA "VARIATION ONE" NAPA VALLEY 2002 ($105 net).
I'm going to quote Parker now. "The stunning 2002 'Variation One' (70% Merlot and 30% Syrah) exhibits an opulent, exotic personality with a deep purple color and sweet aromas of cocoa, new saddle leather, black raspberries, cassis and acacia flowers. Full bodied, with beautifully integrated oak (aged in 100% new French oak), wonderful sweetness, tremendous delineation, and laser-like clarity and transparency of character. A beauty, it's ideal for drinking over the next 10-15 years. 95 points."
March 23, 2006
I admit the uniqueness factor partly explains the price, so that said I have here the J.C.Cellars Syrah "Pourquoi Pas" for $135/bottle. This is a blend of 58% Rockpile Syrah from Sonoma County and 42% Côte Rôtie from Pierre Gaillard. Pretty cool, huh? This is all 2003 vintage wine, but it can't say this because of the blending of countries. Can I say it tastes how you would think a Rockpile/Côte Rôtie blend would taste? Roast meat, blackberry, cassis nose with load of flavors of classic Syrah flavors like licorice, olive and peppercorn. Sports a keen balance of rich California fruit and Northern Rhone authenticity. I know you're curious. Are you $135 worth of curious?
125 cases made.
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