The summer 2007 Newsletter
SUPER WINE LISTS
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Super White List
Super Pinot Noir List
Super Spicy List
Super Syrah List
Six Super Cabernet Sauvignons (and Cab-based blends)
1. FOUNTAINHEAD “Morisoli-Borges”
Rutherford, Napa Valley 2004 ($45 net)
Very ripe black cherry and sweet, toasty oak make for a can't-help-but-love-it Napa Cabernet. 150 cases made.
2. KOBALT Napa Valley 2004 ($90 net)
This high-octane Cab packs in the black berry/cherry, vanilla and truffle.
Big, polished tannins. Drink or hold.
3. ORIN SWIFT "Mercury Head" Napa Valley 2004 ($75 net)
Another outstanding Cabernet from Owner/Winemaker Dave Phinney.
Healthy frame of sweet, smoky, vanilla-y oak. Concentrated dark berry and cocoa to support it.
Real big, not real tannic. Very limited. Click here for a full description.
4. DETERT FAMILY Oakville, Napa Valley 2004 ($60 net)
From a perfect spot to grow great Cab. This is so good-spicy and strong. Start drinking in ’09.
150 cases made.
5. PANZA CLARET “Stags’ Leap Ranch”
Napa Valley 2004 ($40) Mostly Cabernet from the Quixote Estate Vineyard. Robust, complex, rich and pretty. You can buy Panza Claret at only two places: the winery and Back Room Wines.
6. SCHOLIUM PROJECT
“SATRAPIES OF THE EAST” California 2005 ($36)
Mountain Cab, Syrah, Merlot blend. Ripe, plum jam nose, good acidity, earth, fine tannins. 215 cases.
Super Cabernet Case, two of each wine above: $675
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super Cabernet Half Case, one of each wine above: $340
(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 California Whites (including one dry Rosé)
1. CROCKER & STARR SAUVIGNON BLANC Napa Valley 2006 ($29)
Owner/Winemaker Pam Starr's latest and greatest. Tangy snap, depth of melon, tropical and citrus fruit, pleasingly creamy ending. Very good now, outstanding come the holidays.
2. PARAS VINEYARD VIOGNIER
Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley 2005 ($42) EXPLOSIVE, flavor-packed wine. Peach compote, lemon verbena, lemongrass, mineral. 250 cases made. Darn good!
3. LUCIA CHARDONNAY
SantaLucia Highlands 2005 ($40 net)
Their Chard is as good as their Pinot…and that’s real good. Tropical fruits, light butter, very fruity, strong. 300 cases.
4. TURJANIS CHARDONNAY “Buena Tierra Vineyard”
Russian River Valley 2004 ($36)
A classic, very rich Chardonnay. Caramel, orange blossom, well endowed, good acidity, citrus candies.
5. SCHOLIUM PROJECT “CENA TRIMALCHIONIS” California 2005 ($60 net)
Huge, palate-bending flavor and intensity. This is Sonoma Mountain Sauv Blanc. This is one of those wines you’ll remember and may be your new standard for great white wine.
6. MALDONADO CHARDONNAY "Los Olivos Vineyard" Napa Valley 2005 ($49)
We think this is the BEST CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAY UNDER FIFTY BUCKS. Truly. Big, robust style. Roast nuts, chocolate, tropical fruits, great texture. From very cold part of Napa Valley, so there's good acidity to balance the wine.
Super White Case, two of each wine above: $480
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super White Half Case, one of each wine above: $249
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Six Super Pinot Noirs
1. ANTHILL FARMS “Tina Marie Vineyard” Russian River Valley 2005 ($50 net)
Outstanding designer Pinot. Ripe, spicy cherry. Kirsch, allspice and tobacco.
Smooth & sexy. 200 cases made.
2. CASTALIA "Rochioli Vineyard" Russian River Valley 2005 ($45)
Dinky production Pinot owned and made by Rochioli Winery's Cellar Master. Give this wine time to truly strut. Cherry liqueur, wild red fruits, red rose...sensuous. Had the pleasure to buy, sell and drink Castalia since the mid 1990s. Never disappoints.
3. ETUDE Carneros “Estate” 2005 ($42)
Large-production Pinot by our standards, but this is so good. Best Etude we’ve tasted in ten years. Get some!
4. CAPIAUX “Widdoes Vineyard” Russian River Valley 2005 ($40)
Bing cherries, truffle, woodsmoke, violets. Good now but tight.
Come 2008 this will flesh out and shine.
5. SCHERRER Sonoma County 2004 ($28)
Costal and Sebastopol area grapes combine for a bright, juicy, complex, food friendly Pinot. Floral, red cherry, cola, and Asian spices.
6. LONDER Anderson Valley 2005 ($34)
Always a favorite of ours. This release is dark, lush, low acid, lip-smacking, crowd-pleasing Pinot Noir.
Super Pinot Noir Case, two of each wine above: $440
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super Pinot Noir Half Case, one of each: $230
(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-Spicy California Reds (Zinfandels and more)
1. JUS SOLI ZINFANDEL Dry Creek Valley 2005 ($26)
Rich, dark, juicy, spicy Zin. Black cherries, kiss of sweet citrus. 280 cases made.
2. SURH LUCHTEL ZINFANDEL Napa Valley 2004 ($36)
Ying-yang of super jammy blackberry and refreshing acidity. Lots of vanilla and cinnamon. 375 cases.
3. T-VINE ZINFANDEL “Brown Vineyard” Napa Valley 2004 ($33)
Super-luscious, extra ripe, low acid, head-swimming richness. Almost too much flavor!
4. MAURITSON ZINFANDEL Dry Creek Valley 2005 ($23 net)
Just about perfect. It’s ripe, extracted, spicy, velvety, fruity, bright.
Want the “definitive” Zin? This is it.
5. YORK CREEK TEMPRANILLO Sonoma County 2004 ($25)
Spring Mountain spicy, precocious red wine. Taste the allspice and black raspberry. Not much Tempranillo (the grape of Rioja, Spain) made in California. Judging by this, there should be more. 200 cases made.
6. ROBERT FOLEY CHARBONO Napa Valley 2005 ($36)
If there's a better Napa winemaker than Bob Foley, I'd sure like to know.
His Charbono is super dark & fruity, seamless, very rich and succulent.
Super-Spicy Cal Red Case, two of each wine above: $330
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super-Spicy Cal Red Half Case, one of each: $173
(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
Top of page
Six Super Syrahs (& Petite Sirah)
1. RELIC Sonoma Valley 2005 ($37)
Loads of dark, luscious berries. Classic Syrah flavors of olive, game and spice. Dense and delicious. 140 cases made.
2. SAMSARA “Verna’s Vineyard” Santa Barbara County 2005 ($40 net)
California ripeness with a seductive Rhone edge. Big nose of ginger and wildflowers. Black fruits, wonderfully rich and thick. 140 cases.
3. NEYERS “Old Lakeville Road” Sonoma Coast 2004 ($31)
Cal-meets-Rhone style. Smoky bacon, blueberry, olive, anise, leather & game.
It's
aromatherapy in a wine glass.
4. ANTHILL FARMS “Windsor Oaks” Russian River Valley 2005 ($28)
Licorice candies, smoke, root beer, black pepper, vanilla bean, blueberries,
dark plum, bacon. 125 cases.
5. JUS SOLI Sonoma Valley 2005 ($25)
Black cherry, up-front spice, juicy, rich, French roast coffee, cocoa, smooth yet bold, strong. 250 cases.
6. LEVIATHAN Red Wine, California 2005 ($43)
"Kitchen sink" red of Favia-Erickson, producers of super-duper single vineyard Cabs, Pinot and Syrah. Roughly equal parts Napa Valley Cab Sauv, Napa Valley Cab Franc and Amador County Syrah. This lush, spicy, dark and juicy treat is like The Prisoner, but more complex and more interesting a drink. I can't recommend this wine enough if the style I describe appeals to you.
Super Syrah/Petite Sirah Case, two of each wine above: $375
(price includes 10% discount on non-net wines)
Super Syrah/Petite Sirah Half Case, one of each: $197
(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.