The Fall 2007 Newsletter
SUPER WINE LISTS
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Wines in our Super Lists link to its extended, Wine Diary Write Up.
To read more about the wine, click it.
Super Pinot Noir List
Super White List
Super Red Blends List
Super Spicy List
Six Super Cabernet Sauvignons
1. BEAU VIGNE “Reserve” Napa Valley 2004 ($85 net)
This big-extract Cab comes from the northwest-facing hills high above the Valley floor. Huge on fruit, loads of structure yet velvety and lush, Beau Vigne “Reserve” is seeking Holy Grail status for Napa Cab drinkers.
2. ROBERT CRAIG Howell Mountain, Napa Valley 2004 ($72)
Your “cellar wine” of the six, this is a Mountain Cab lover’s dream. Deep berry, spicy, cocoa, tobacco, mint. 450 cases made.
3. SAGE VINEYARDS Mount Veeder, Napa Valley 2004 ($65)
First release, and another burly Mountain Cabernet.
Big fruit, cola, truffle, bittersweet chocolate, plenty of grip. 450 cases.
4. CLIFF LEDE Claret Stag's Leap District, Napa Valley 2005 ($34)
With 78% Cabernet in the bottle it certainly could be labeled as such, but the winery prefers "Claret" with the addition of 10% Merlot, and the balance Malbec and Cabernet Franc. There is a soft sweet core of berry fruit, with liqueur, spice, and cigar wrapper.
5. ETUDE St. Helena, Napa Valley 2002 ($100)
This three-figure Cab delivers the goods. From complex, brooding nose to sweet entry to expansive back palate to a long, lovely, multi-layered finish, this blends new world fruit with old world dimension.
6. ROCKLEDGE "The Rocks" St. Helena, Napa Valley 2004 ($60)
This is the first vintage of this great Cab made by Mike Hirby. The vineyard is located on the rolling hillsides just above Joseph Phelps. It is dark and concentrated, with fairly low acid, soft tannin, and lots of rich berry fruit. 500 cases.
Super Cabernet Case, two of each wine above: $765
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super Cabernet Half Case, one of each wine above: $400
(price includes 5% discount on non-net wines)
Thoughts? E-Mail Us.
Order? Try Here.
Or call Back Room Wines. Toll Free: 877-322-2576
Six Super Pinot Noirs
1. FIDDLEHEAD “Fiddlestix Vineyard – 728” Santa Rita Hills 2004 ($42)
Love the forward fruit, licorice-black pepper-sassafras thing and
silky feel of this Pinot. Big, Cal style of Pinot Noir.
2. SOJOURN “Sangiacomo Vineyard” Sonoma Coast 2005 ($48 net)
We SCORED on picking up more of this hard-to-get wine.
Grand concentration, packed with fruit, sinfully good. Limited.
3. LONDER Anderson Valley 2005 ($34)
Not your typical bright and "pretty" Anderson Valley Pinot here. This has loads of dark cherries, pie spice, glycerine and big body. Not tannic, but very rich and concentrated. Very good value.
4. AUTEUR Pinot Noir "Ophelia" 2006 ($38)
90% Sonoma Pinot Noir with 10% Willamette Valley, Oregon fruit to make a rich, complex, juicy, very easy to like, big style of Pinot Noir. This is particularly rich, juicy, spicy, floral, exotic and delish.
5. CL “Armagh Vineyard” Sonoma Coast 2005 ($35)
We love the smells here: red roses, aged New York steak, myriad sweet spices. The flavor is rich with just the right gamey and smokey streak.
Cool climate vineyard neighboring the Pacific makes for powerful, complex wine.
6. MONKS GATE Willamette Valley, Oregon 2005 ($29)
Very perfumey, real intense, taut on first sip, this Pinot opens and
blossoms in just five minutes. Lovely wine.
Super Pinot Noir Case, two of each wine above: $420
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super Pinot Noir Half Case, one of each wine above: $217
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
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1. MALDONADO Chardonnay “Los Olivos Vineyard” Napa Vly 2005 ($49)
“Best under $50 Chardonnay made in California” we say. As big on texture as flavor. Nutty brown butter, smoke, tropical fruits, lemon zest, caramel.
This Chardonnay will make you stop and savor.
2. FRANUS Sauvignon Blanc Carneros 2006 ($21)
Spot-on cool California Sauv Blanc. Mango, grapefruit, pineapple, very lite grass, super fresh. Can’t get enough of this.
3. WESTERLY Viognier Santa Ynez Valley 2006 ($21)
Juicy, rich, voluptuous Santa Barbara Viognier. Think of peach pie (sans sugar), nutmeg, sweet-smelling flowers.
4. RUSSIAN HILL Chardonnay “Gail Ann’s Vineyard” Russian River Valley 2005 ($28)
Non-buttery, very little oak style of Chard. Delicious. Lemon cream, baked apples, plenty rich, refreshing finish.
5. WILLOWBROOK CELLARS Chardonnay “JCO Limited”
Russian River Valley 2004 ($20)
Outstanding, rich Chardonnay CAN be found for twenty bucks. Rich, big fruit, sweet butter, long. Truly belies its price.
6. LONDER Dry Gewürztraminer Anderson Valley 2006 ($25)
Taste spice rather than sweet. Orange peel, touch of clove and mint, grapefruit. Sits lightly and real intense in the mouth.
Super White Case, two of each wine above: $295
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super White Half Case, one of each: $156
(price includes 5% discount on non-net wines)
Thoughts? E-Mail Us.
Order? Try Here.
Or call Back Room Wines. Toll Free: 877-322-2576
Fast, dependable shipping by UPS. Good rates, too. Click here for shipping rates and options.
Six Super Big, Red California Blends
1. LEVIATHAN Red Wine California 2005 ($43)
Favia-Erickson winery’s “kitchen sink” blend is dynamite! Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Syrah blend. Huge juicy dark berry, black pepper & jam from the Syrah, tobacco, mocha, luscious. Pour yourself a big glass. You’ll drink it all.
2. RAMIAN “Chapter 4” Mount Veeder, Napa Valley 2004 ($49)
Cab Sauv-based and Bordeaux style blend. Dark berry-cherry, powerful, ample tannins, sweet sensations, quite “sexy.”
3. ARNOT ROBERTS “Super Sonoma” 2003 ($53)
Sangiovese and Cab Sauv fermented together. Rich, dark, fruit forward, supple, and strong. Taste coffee, blueberry, wild cherry, vanilla. Great with lamb of any kind, burgers & sausages on the grill, veal chops...meaty things best.
4. MARSHALL CELLARS “Juliet Peery - Beckstoffer Reserve” Napa Valley 2002 ($55)
Cab Sauv based blend, mostly “Tokalon.” Guaranteed to please.
Real ripe, low acid, velvety, great extract. Killer juice.
5. ORIN SWIFT “The Prisoner” Napa Valley 2005 ($33)
Zin-based blend continues to be a BRW favorite. Anticipating a very high ranking in Spectator’s Top 100 list, we loaded up.
6. VIOLET GREEN “Ultra Violet – Alder Springs Vineyard”
Mendocino 2004 ($35)
Merlot-based blend from this wonderful vineyard way north of us. Hard cherry candies, star anise, blueberry. Kickin’ finish.
Super Big Red California Blends Case, two of each wine above: $482
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super Big Red California Blends Case Half Case, one of each: $255
(price includes 5% discount on non-net wines)
Thoughts? E-Mail Us.
Order? Try Here.
Or call Back Room Wines. Toll Free: 877-322-2576
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Six Super-Spicy California Reds
1. T-VINE Petite Sirah Napa Valley 2004 ($37)
Super rich and strong, but not that tannic. Nutmeg, allspice, black cherry jam. Call it large, huge, etc. if you wish, just don’t forget DARN GOOD!
2. SAMSARA Syrah “Verna’s Vineyard” Santa Barbara County 2005 ($40)
Deliciously “authentic” Syrah from primo Southern Cal vineyards. Framboise, black pepper, violet, tobacco, cocoa flavors. This is a Syrah lover’s must have. Our #1 choice for braised beef short ribs and lamb shanks.
3. FORTITUDE “Very Old Vine” Zinfandel Napa Valley 2005 ($22)
90+ year old vines. Briary and spicy, red fruit-heavy. Plum, strawberry, white pepper. Nicely balanced Zinfandel.
4. PHAEDRUS Cabernet Franc Napa Valley 2004 ($36)
Wolf Family's other label, Phaedrus is no-second teir wine quality wise. This Napa Cab Franc has 25% Cab Sauv for more richness and power. Tastes of dark cherry, blueberry, mocha, Asian spice and cinnamon toast. At its prime drinking stage I think. 311 cases made.
5. NOVY Syrah Napa Valley 2005 ($28)
Super luscious, black fruits, a confectionary sensation (but not sweet), and superlative richness make this a Syrah by name only. Anyone who likes a big red yummy wine will like this plenty. It's like dark chocolate coated black cherries.
6. CRAUFORD Zinfandel “Brown Vineyard - Kiltlifter” Napa Valley 2005 ($33)
“Big fruit bomb” Zin. Black cherry, pie spices and blueberry jam smells fly about.
Thick, creamy and very rich in the mouth.
Super Spicy Case, two of each wine above: $353
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super Spicy Half Case, one of each: $186
(price includes 5% discount on non-net wines)
Thoughts? E-Mail Us.
Order? Try Here.
Or call Back room wines. Toll Free: 877-322-2576
Fast, dependable shipping by UPS. Good rates, too. Click here for shipping rates and options.