Wine Outlook

Don’t forget: Rosenblum Cellars will be closed Easter Sunday, March 23. Back to normal operations Monday—daily from 11 to 6.

Weekend revisions: We will be featuring a different menu than that during the week. Instead of 5 complimentary pours, there will be 3 and instead of a reserve flight of 3 wines for $5, it will be 4 wines for $8. We want to encourage people to enjoy themselves but not too much. And since the weekends have been getting busier, we truly want to focus on the idea of tasting wine rather than drinking it. Responsible tasting is important to us, and we hope that our loyal customers see this as such. We want everyone happy and safe.

Shipping updates: upgrades are coming along nicely and we have several more states we can ship to, bringing the total to 16.
Here are the ones with a green light— California, Washington, Illinois, Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, Iowa, Alaska, Michigan, Texas, Oregon, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Nebraska, North Dakota.
(more…)

Here’s an update on the hours in our tasting room.

Tomorrow: Thursday March 13— 11 to 3 PM (closing a few hours early)

Easter Sunday: March 23—closed

normal tasting room hours: 11-6 daily

Another success! Rosenblum Cellars Open House March Madness this weekend went amazingly well. We had around 1300 guests on Saturday and 1000 on Sunday. But the funny thing is that you don’t feel like it’s that many people. There is a line of tables wrapping around two walls, with three wines being poured at each. In the center of the cellar are tables of delicious food, with a carving station off to one side. Meanwhile, the registers are located on the far side of the area, where I and my co-horts sat waiting to help people take home wine. It really made me feel special when I had quite a few customers wait to see me specifically. Some came to see me because we’ve had good chats in the tasting room, some because they enjoy my tasting notes, and one lady even said “I have to get help from Buffy!” (due to my Halloween costume I wore to work).

There is a whole other area of wine and food outside under a tent. Balloons everywhere, a stage for live music, and a very long line for Tucker’s Zinfandel ice cream, as always. Psst, I heard a rumor the shop has it for sale, over on Park Street. Typically, the reserve wines and many of the new releases are located outside to help keep traffic moving. Plus, there is also the whole front area of the winery, where people sit at tables and along the deck, taking breaks from tasting or just enjoying the sun.

Overall, it was a beautiful day with tasty wine, yummy food, and happy people. Kids and dogs, too!

Rosenblum Cellars Open House, March Madness, Tucker’s Zinfandel ice cream

I’m a little late in posting this week’s tasting menu, but I’m not changing it this morning due to our Open House this weekend. The new one will be for Monday, though the notes won’t be available until I return Tuesday morning….

Complimentary Tasting

Whites

2006 Roussanne, Fess Parker Vineyard, Santa Barbara $25
A snack of gingersnaps and lychees
with a little trip to Orange Julius to wash them down

2005 Roussanne, Santa Barbara , Appellation Series $18
A little taste of the tropics:
Papaya, guava, coconut, cinnamon, and orange blossoms collide

Reds
2006 Zinfandel, Paso Robles, Appellation Series $18
Cinnamon-dusted cherries blaze down a gravel road
then make a quick turn into rampant raspberries
(more…)

Complimentary Tasting

Great news, Rosenblum wine lovers. These reciprocal states are good to go with shipping: Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Florida, Alaska, New Mexico, and Iowa. So, including California, that’s nine states to which we can send wine.

With more soon to follow! I’ll let you know as they come in.

If you don’t live in California, you may not be able to get wine shipped to you from Rosenblum Cellars for a short period of time. Though we’re operating as normal, we do have to wait while we upgrade our system in order to continue spreading wine love across the country. Sadly, some states require all sorts of hoops to be jumped through while their residents sit sadly with empty wine glasses.

We apologize for any inconvenience, as we really do want to be able to send whatever bottles float your boat. But as soon as we can, we will. And I’ll let you know when I know more details. Heck, things may have changed by the time I return tomorrow!

Which leads me to a mini-rant. (more…)

And one of them needs your vote! Twisted Oak Winery is holding a contest to see whose chicken reigns supreme. Please show your loyalty to the words and birds of this Rosenblum themed blog.

Go to this link to find the voting page. My rubber chicken is #2. That’s not the picture that was chosen, but I thought you should see another of his many sides. And you can jump over here to see his entire story unfold. (Warning: due to poultry violence, this pictorial may not be suitable for the weak of heart.)

As always, thank you for your support!

take your rubber chicken to work week, Twisted Oak Winery, chicken contest

This menu began Friday and people have really been enjoying these descriptions, especially for the Eagle Point! Come taste with us.

Complimentary Tasting
White
2006 Marsanne, Preston Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley $25
Like drinking a tall cold glass of apple juice lightly laced with honey
and toasted almond crumbs lining the rim

Reds
2005 Merlot, Russian River Valley, Appellation Series $18
Dive into a cedar-lined pool of black cherries and prunes,
then towel off with a blanket of acidity

2005 Zinfandel, Harris Kratka, Alexander Valley $35
Cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg take turns singing solos,
while cranberries and chestnuts work back-up

2005 Zinfandel, Eagle Point Vineyard, Mendocino $25 (more…)

Complimentary Tasting, Harris Kratka

***Sing along with your favorite songs this week***
With the past success of my themed tasting menus, this one is all about the oldies (songs, not wines). See which song goes with your favorite wine.

Complimentary Tasting
White
2005 Roussanne, Santa Barbara, Appellation Series $18
Barbara Ann will have you rockin’ and a-reelin’ with her
peaches, pears, honeysuckle, and crisp finish

Reds
2005 Mourvedre, San Francisco Bay, Appellation Series $18
The dark chocolate, coffee, bing cherries, and plums will
soothe the heart you left in San Francisco

2005 Zinfandel, Aparicio Vineyard, Amador County $25
Arpeggio is a broken chord, but this Aparicio is just fine
with its white pepper, figs, almonds, and hint of pine

2005 Syrah, England Shaw Vineyard, Solano County $35
Whatever will be, will be… blackberries, leather, forest floor, violets,
smoke, and mild tannins (more…)

favorite songs

We were treated to something special the other day. One of our Friday regulars and friends, Mike, brought in a fairly old bottle to share: 1997 Rosenblum England Shaw Syrah. Grown in Solano County, Katy England and Ken Shaw tended these grapes in a 17-acre vineyard in Winters. Mike said this 97 was the first one for Rosenblum to make, and that the winemakers really adapted well and improved it every year. Upon first opening it, the nose was doing crazy somersaults for a couple minutes. Once it settled down, the rich fruit came through–prunes, raisins, and candied cherries. It was nearly portlike with nutty characteristics, and I also noticed some cedar.There wasn’t much tannin, but the acidity was still present. Overall, I was impressed, as our winemakers and lab guys have mentioned to me that our wines aren’t meant to age past five years or so. This one was going on a decade and still going….

1997 Rosenblum England Shaw Syrah

If you follow the blog or have met me in the tasting room, you’ve probably read or heard my love for this wine before. I’m enamored with the 2005 Rosenblum San Francisco Bay Mourvedre for many reasons. It’s from our Appellation Series, which means it’s relatively inexpensive ($18), plus it goes great with meals that are full of different components ( I had it for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners), and is oh so tasty. It shows blueberry, cherry, minerality, spice, cocoa, and coffee with good acidity.

But how was the 2002? (more…)

2005 Rosenblum San Francisco Bay Mourvedre

This tasting menu will be around for a few more days….Come in and enjoy my weekly poetry!

Complimentary Tasting

2006 Chardonnay, Rust Ridge Vineyard $25
A citrus circus in your mouth: lemon, lime, and grapefruit walk a tightrope
of Granny Smith apple slices, while rocks dive into a tiny pool of butter

Reds
2005 Zinfandel, North Coast, Appellation Series $18
Give your nose a treat by sticking it into this glass filled with
aromas of raspberry, plum, and vanilla…then tickle your tongue with tart cherries

2006 Zinfandel, Richard Sauret Vineyard, Paso Robles $25
A more gentle vintage of this wine arrives, cradling cranberries and raspberries, and surrounded by a cloud of cocoa, cinnamon, and white pepper

2006 Petite Sirah, Heritage Clones Appellation Series $18
By the time you get a whiff of the smoke, vanilla, and nutmeg, you’re ready
to cannonball into the lake of blueberries and raisins
(more…)

First, I want to aplogize for my recent lack of posting. In addition to being especially busy this week, the network has been having technical difficulties.

But I did want to get on quickly before going to work to say that we’re closing early today.

Superbowl Sunday hours: 11-3 (instead of 11-6)

While I don’t give a dang about football games and didn’t even know who was playing until just the other day, there are those of you out there who do. I guess in years past, the tasting room has been dead after 3, so there’s no real point in staying open. Plus, I think some of the staff cares as well. Me, I’ll be driving into the city to catch up on some L Word and share Rosenblum wine with my friends.

Here is this week’s tasting menu at Rosenblum Cellars.

Complimentary Tasting

2005 Roussanne, Santa Barbara, Appellation Series $18
The warmer weather and this wine will transport you to tropical climes:
guava, coconut, peaches, and pears trickle down waterfalls

2005 Zinfandel, Eagle Point Vineyard, Mendocino $25
Black cherries, raspberries, and cloves surf along the coast
of seaside Elk, then drive through redwood forests

2005 Zinfandel, Harris Kratka Vineyard, Alexander Valley $35
Stick your nose into a clay jar of plums and figs,
then heat your fingers with a bag of warm chestnuts

2005 Petite Sirah, Rhodes Vineyard, Redwood Valley $25
At the table set with a vase of violets and blueberry branches,
fill your plate with smoked tri-tip smothered in sage butter (more…)

Complimentary Tasting

If you’re reading this and you’re a Rosenblum fan, here’s your chance to win two bottles of yet-to-be-released Rosenblum Zinfandel. This contest is not sponsored by the winery, but the prize does come from my being an employee there. How else could you get wine that’s not even for sale yet?
The details are here, and the theme is Open That Bottle Night.

Good luck!

Open That Bottle Night, wine contest, free wine, win Rosenblum wine