The fall 2006 Newsletter
For our current newsletter, click here.
It’s harvest time once again in the wine countries of the northern hemisphere. Can’t believe it…the vintages seemingly pass by like revolutions of a ferris wheel. With my 40th birthday just passed, I guess time is on my mind more than usual this year. Whatcha gonna do but celebrate life and be thankful for being in such a great spot in many different ways.
Can’t report too much on the 2006 harvest to you, except folks are as excited as ever. The grapes be looking good! Will share more on the vintage in the Holiday Newsletter, which you’ll have before you know it.
Matters at hand: have more fantastic wines than ever before in the store. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again-the wines we carry at Back Room Wines have never been better. I mean it, for this is a natural progression of a business that keeps growing and improving.
I want my wine writing to go beyond “wow this is great wine, and hard to get too!” Here’s my plan: every bottle we bring in, promote and sell is unique to itself. You too, reader, are unique in what you like to drink. Besides how darn good each wine is, I’ll also (attempt) to inform you if this wine is right for you! With each wine you’ll see the “Buy this wine if” lead-in. This is my attempt to speak to you specifically, as if you’re on the telephone with me, asking for specific wine recommendations. If you’d like to follow up with further questions along with your order, you are always welcome to contact us by phone or email. We are happy to tell you more.
Finally, please check out Back Room Wines new website! It’s more user-friendly and informative…and much snazzier, too! Enjoy reading. Your orders are most welcome anytime, any way. Best to you, Dan.
Ryan Graham, Wine Merchant
Greetings and salutations! Allow me to introduce myself, the newest addition to Back Room Wines. My name is Ryan Graham, and having just joined Dan here as faithful sidekick and right hand man of the operation, I am excited and pleased to be meeting all of you and helping you with your future wine needs. I come to this position by way of a lifelong passion with great wine and food, and have spent my entire professional career in and around the food and wine industry.
For my Bio, please click here.
I lead off the Fall 2006 online newsletter with two wine suggestions. Here are two of my favorite wines now in the store. Not only are they outsanding and very rare, these are exceptional values, to boot. Enjoy!
PHAEDRUS CABERNET SAUVIGNON Napa Valley 2003 ($36)
Phaedrus is the Greek word for wolf, and this is WOLF FAMILY VINEYARDS’ debut for this new, yummy Cabernet. Karen Culler crafted only 400 cases of this wine and I am really excited to have some for you. This big, rich Cab starts strong with a nose of raspberry and lavender. On the palate, sweet oak and supple tannins produce a round, friendly wine that is a pleasure to drink now yet will improve the next few years. This is one of the best value Napa Valley Cabernets out there. Buy this wine if you are looking for a gorgeous, easy drinking yet complex small-production Cabernet.
PELERIN SYRAH Monterey 2004 ($25)
This is my go-to guy when I need a consistent crowd pleaser that
pairs really well with food. Pelerin (meaning pilgrim in French) is one
of the designer wineries of the moment, commanding a loyal
following among wine and food aficionados everywhere. Owner/Winemaker Chris Weidemann expertly blends Syrah from
two distinct microclimates in Monterey County: Arroyo Seco
(warm/hot region for big fruit and lushness) and Santa Lucia Highlands (cool and windy, giving spice and intensity). Dark red fruits and bright acidity blend seamlessly with olive, smoke, and even
a little bacon to create a complex and balanced wine.
Buy this wine if you’re looking for the perfect pairing with
braised beef short ribs. This could be it! Only 225 cases made.
Buy Ryan’s Picks
Phaedrus Cabernet, Pelerin Syrah
3 of each: $175 (5% discount)
6 of each $330 (10% discount)
Thoughts? E-Mail Us.
Order? Try Here.
Or call Back room wines. Toll Free: 877-322-2576
SOJOURN CABERNET SAUVIGNON
“Mountain Terraces” Sonoma Valley 2002 ($42 net)
My ears perked when told this “Mountain Terraces” vineyard lives just above “Monte Rosso.” Could be good, I thought. And…it is! Smoky fire, black olive and maduro cigar mingle with ample berry fruit on the nose. More of the same in the mouth. A little shy at first, then quickly gets rounder, fuller, richer with time. I call this a “chili wine” because, like chili, it’s better the next day. Buy this wine if you like Bordeaux in a California-like vintage, because the fruit is awesome and there’s lots of other fun flavors going on. Only 150 cases made.
The Best of the best!
HIDDEN RIDGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Sonoma County 2003 ($75 net)
The “Hidden Ridge Vineyard,” I am told, is spectacular. We must visit. One climbs Spring Mountain, past Pride Mountain Vineyards, where Napa turns into Sonoma County. From there, four wheel drive is required to find this Shangri-la of a vineyard. First release, made my Marco Di Giulio. Of all the Di Guilio wines I’ve had, this is definitely the best he’s made (in my opinion). Awesome concentration of fruit here with huge, very ripe tannins. This is special Cab on par with anything we’ve ever carried. Buy this wine if you are a Big Cab hunter, always in search of the latest and greatest. 950 cases made.
BREWER CLIFTON CHARDONNAY “Mount Carmel” Santa Rita Hills 2004 ($54 net) How does a great little wine shop in Napa get one of California’s best Chardonnays?
Cuz we’re good, that’s why. Also because I was Brewer Clifton’s first customer, back in 1995 when I ran All Seasons. Been a few years, then fortunate circumstances made the “BC Wines” available again in our parts. This “Mount Carmel” was my favorite in a recent tasting of their 2006 releases. It’s a very cool, wind swept vineyard in Santa Barbara. Butter and toast yes with tropical fruits a GoGo, grapefruit, lemon curd, peach nectar, brioche. Buy this wine if you like great Cal Chardonnay in the style of Kistler and Marcassin but like to pay less. Who doesn’t? 288 cases made.
ANTHILL FARMS PINOT NOIR “DeMuth Vineyard” Anderson Valley 2004 ($41 net)
Mark my words: This new label is on the way to the top echelon of Pinot Noir producers. Graduates of Williams Selyem, the owners/winemakers are as thoughtful as they come in winemaking. Anthill Farms is based in Sonoma County, and the “DeMuth” I feature today is from Anderson Valley, Mendocino. It’s a hillside vineyard, above the morning fog line, so ripeness is not a problem. That written, this wine is about intensity rather than girth. Red currant, ruby red grapefruit and melon aromas. Asian spice, black truffle, cardamom and nutmeg are just some of other flavors. At 123 cases, this is Anthill Farms’ big production wine. We’re lucky to get enough to feature it here. Still, it’s pretty limited. Buy this wine if you love Pinot Noir the way Maya in Sideways does: complex, intriguing, mysterious and elegant.
This is the delicious section
LEVIATHAN RED WINE California 2004 ($39). This wine is so fresh it’s still steaming. Leviathan is a new wine from the Favia-Erickson winegrowing team. It is over half Sonoma Syrah (the cool climate Bennett Valley to be exact) then Napa Valley Cab Sauv, Franc and Merlot. This is seamless red, with vanilla, pie spice, plum, strawberry, sandalwood, tobacco and peppercorn flavors.
Buy this wine if you’re ever in the mood for lovely, velvety, spicy red wine that kicks it up a notch at the dinner table. 240 cases made.
OLABISI SYRAH “Betsy’s Vineyard”
Knights Valley 2004 ($30). Vinous candy. No, not sweet, but huge and sinfully rich red wine here. Olabisi wine has adorned the shelves here in the past: their Napa Zin went in a flash. Lovers of big Syrah must try this. It’s black currants, chocolate, smoked meats, black olive and Tangiers spice market. We’ve found this wine is shockingly big at first sip. Then, like a cool lake, you acclimate and love the sensation. Buy this wine if you’re in the mood for a huge red that scores a ten for big Syrah flavor and near zero for subtlety. 150 cases.
AMPELOS PINOT NOIR “Ampelos Vineyard” Santa Rita Hills 2004 ($33)
You may know my love affair with Santa Rita Hills wines (Fiddlehead comes to mind). Ampelos is barely a year old, and this is their first from their own vineyard. I tried it just once, last June, and I had my soothsayer hat on (looks much like a fedora). Raspberry and strawberry preserves, then Cinnamon and other “sweet” spices. The finish boasts that textbook Pinot silkiness. Keep an eye on Ampelos, they sure know what they’re doing. Buy this wine if you like Pinots with “one foot in California and one foot in France,” for it boasts qualities of both. 360 cases made.
LONDER PINOT NOIR Anderson Valley 2004 ($31). This is the sure thing wine of this newsletter. You may know Londer wines. Perhaps you’ve purchased some from here. I bet you agree that they always deliver. This is their “entry level” Pinot if you will. I doubt this was the Londer’s intention, but this is a perfect introduction to high quality Pinot. Made from real ripe grapes, the fruit comes across more as cherry preserves than cherries off the tree. This is lush and silky. I call it a sure thing because non Pinot drinkers, too, will enjoy this wine for its unabashed richness. Buy this wine if you like Pinots on the riper side, and you like to eat cherry pie.
New T-Vine Wines for the fall
We’ve received all the T-Vine wines we’re gonna get for the year now. Now in the shop are T-VINE GRENACHE Napa Valley 2004 ($29) and T-VINE ZINFANDEL “Brown Vineyard” Napa Valley 2003 (sold out). Does it sound self serving that I say these are my favorite T-Vine wines of the year? Well, it’s true! The GRENACHE is all it’s supposed to be: black and red raspberries, white pepper and just a hint of vanilla. 14% Petite Sirah gives it muscle. 700 cases made. The “BROWN” ZINFANDEL is a seductive thing, so hard to resist. It’s like bing cherries in summer, finger staining and irresistible. Throw in a little nutmeg and clove while you’re at it.
552 cases made. Buy these wines if you know, love and want the T-Vine. If you don’t know nor love the T-Vine wines, you do want them. You just don’t know it yet.
Thoughts? E-Mail Us.
Order? Try Here.
Or call Back room wines. Toll Free: 877-322-2576
TEACHWORTH CABERNET SAUVIGNON
“Estate”
“Manzanita Hill”
2001 vintage
$75 each
First release, and just released, Cabernets from this new winery on Diamond Mountain. Think “the next Diamond Creek” for Walter Teachworth modeled his winery after his great neighbor on the mountain. These are big, powerful Cabernets with an unmistakable Mountain Cab flavor. Total production for the three wines combined is less than 200 cases. Visit the BRW “Wine Diary” online for tasting notes - they’re in the Cab section.
Buy these wines if you like big, burly mountain Cabs.
still in the store...
We’ve featured them, and you’ve enjoyed them. We have more.
MARSHALL CELLARS “JULIET PEERY” Napa Valley 2002 ($55)
ORIN SWIFT “THE PRISONER” Napa Valley 2004 ($28 net)
FAVIA “CERRO SUR” Napa Valley 2003 ($85)
HOFFMAN CELLARS Cabernet Sauvignon “Block 16” Napa Valley 2003 ($40)
SEQUUM Cabernet Sauvignon “Four Soil Melange” Napa Valley 2003 ($55)
FOUNTAINHEAD Cabernet Sauvignon “Morisoli Borges” Rutherford 2003 ($45)
NEAL FAMILY Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2003 ($45)
OBSIDIAN RIDGE Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hills, Lake County 2004 ($25 net)
SCHOLIUM “Babylon” (Petite Sirah) “Tenbrink Vineyard” 2004 ($80)
ARNOT ROBERTS Syrah “Hudson” Carneros 2004 ($60 net)
FIDDLEHEAD Pinot Noir “Lollapalooza” Santa Rita Hills ‘02 ($52)
“MISS OLIVIA BRION” Pinot Noir Wild Horse Valley 2004 ($37)
ELIZABETH SPENCER Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2004 ($25)
Store Favorites
CRANE BROTHERS “BRODATIOUS” Napa Valley 2003 ($37). Unsure how good a sales tool this is, but this is the Napa Valley wine that I choose to drink. The Crane Brothers own this vineyard on the northwest corner of Napa town, and launched their label with an excellent Syrah (same price, and sold here as well). “Brodatious” is half Cab Sauv, 1/3 Merlot and 1/5 Petite Verdot and Syrah. A scant 300 cases made. Medium to full bodied, very juicy, spicy and strong. This wine I find gets overwhelmed amongst the gushy wines. Have it alone and you’ll judge it fairly and give it a 9 out of 10. Buy this wine if you wanna drink the Napa wine that I wanna drink.
GRAFF FAMILY VIOGNIER Chalone 2004 ($19). You ’ve heard of Chalone, but do you know where it is? It’s eastern Monterey County, basically in the middle of nowhere. It’s a great place for grapes, and Dick Graff was one of the men to discover this. This label was made in his honor. High elevation and limestone soil make for an apricot and grapefruit driven Viognier with nerve and super dryness. Buy this wine if you like the real fruity styles of Sauvignon Blancs, like a Rochioli. It’s similar, yet different, you know?
QUIVIRA ZINFANDEL “Anderson Ranch” Dry Creek Valley 2002 (SOLD OUT). I’ve never had a wine this good that continues to be available to you and me. From a previous newsletter I wrote this wine is “just about perfect...a whiff of Earl Grey, black raspberries and bing cherries in the nose and flavor. It is a rich, fruity Zin with melted tannins and a bouqet embellished by tobacco, truffle and forest floor scents. It captures both the youthful vigor of Zin and the complexity of a fine wine.” 796 cases made. Buy this wine if you like, juicy, berry/cherry driven Zin with a more complexity than most.
CAFARO CABERNET SAUVIGNON Napa Valley 2001 (SOLD OUT). Major price reduction by the winery. This very wine did sell for $40. Ironic, since it’s just now beginning to hit peak drinking enjoyment. Once tight as tight can be, it has unwound to show blueberry, black currant, forest floor, black olive, cocoa and anise flavors. More will come out as it ages gracefully. Truly folks, this is not the close out bin, but a top tier Napa Cab for a song.
MAKE THESE YOUR FAVORITES, TOO
THE “STORE FAVORITES CASE”
THREE BOTTLES OF EACH
$285 (10% discount)
Thoughts? E-Mail Us.
Order? Try Here.
Or call Back room wines. Toll Free: 877-322-2576
Back Room Wines' Mixed Cases
#1 Cabernet Case for the Fall
You like the Cabs? You’ve come to the right place.
Robert Foley Claret, Napa Valley 2004
Phaedrus Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2003
Hidden Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2003
Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon, "Mountain Terraces" Sonoma Valley 2002
Jericho Canyon Red Wine (87% Cab Sauv), Napa Valley 2003
Teachworth Cabernet Sauvignon, "Manzanita Hill" Napa Valley 2001
6 Pack Price (one of each): $400
12 Pack Price (two of each): $780
#2 The Best of the Best Case
Six Grapes, and the best of each in the store.
Hidden Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2003
Brewer Clifton Chardonnay “Mount Carmel” 2004
Anthill Farms Pinot Noir “DeMuth” 2004
T-Vine Zinfandel “Brown Vineyard” 2003
Arnot Roberts Syrah “Hudson Vineyard” 2004
DeSante Sauvignon Blanc “Old Vines” Napa Valley 2004
6 Pack Price (one of each): $295
12 Pack Price (two of each): $580
#3 Subjective Dan & Ryan Case
We could drink these every night. Seriously, we could!
Pelerin Syrah Monterey 2004
Pazzo Red Wine Napa Valley 2004
Graff Family Viognier Chalone 2004
Londer Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2004
Quivira Zinfandel “Anderson Ranch” 2002
Vacheron Sancerre 2005
6 Pack Price (one of each): $149
12 Pack Price (two of each): $279
All 6 packs are listed at 5% discounted price.
All 12 packs are listed at 10% discounted price.