Wine Outlook

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

This week’s comeback wine and tv guide

Complimentary Tasting

2006 Viognier, Kathy’s Cuvée, Appellation Series $18
If you’ve been missing Lost, these pineapples, apricots, peaches,
and fuji apples will transport you to a deserted tropical island, minus the mishaps

2005 Merlot, Anthony’s Vineyard, Napa Valley $18
Not quite as risky as Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations,
Anthony’s Merlot still takes the plunge with tobacco, cherry, and black raspberries

2005 Zinfandel, San Francisco Bay , Appellation Series $18
Just as Jericho was cancelled and then brought back,
this wine returns full of cherry, plum, vanilla, and cola

2005 Zinfandel, Rockpile Road Vineyard, Rockpile $35 92 Parker points, 91 WS
If you were excited when Family Guy came out with new episodes, then surely you’re jumping for joy at more of these blackberries, cocoa, almonds,& rose petals

2005 Petite Sirah, Pickett Road , Napa Valley $35 92 Parker points
As the writers walk the picket road, er, line, they jot down ideas
with a lead pencil, while snacking on blueberries and black olives
(more…)

Great news, Rosenblum fans. The funny thing about retail and wholesale allocations is that sometimes cases of wine get set aside for national accounts but don’t get taken. What that means for you is that your favorite wine we sold out of a couple months ago may actually return once I get the green light to bring them over.

Such is the case with two Rosenblum Zinfandels.

The first is the 2005 San Francisco Bay Zinfandel, which we sold out of months ago. Someone told me on Wednesday that there was a shipment over at Building 25. We got them yesterday and now they are at the winery, waiting for you to take them home.

The other? Hold on to your seats for this one…. the 2005 Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zinfandel! This one got 92 points from Wine Spectator a while back, and we put it on a 3 bottle limit. That didn’t slow down its hasty exit, though. So don’t wait around this time; call or come see us to make sure you get yours.

San Francisco Bay Zinfandel, 2005 Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zinfandel

Or almost, anyway. After a mind-boggling December, January is starting off very slowly. While this is not such good news for me and the rest of the crew, it is good news for you, the Rosenblum fans out there. Typically our least busy month, January is the perfect time to come visit the winery and not have to fight the crowds as much as usual. You’ll get more attention and can maybe even talk us into a tour, if there is enough staff to cover the room.

Hey, I know what you could do. Make a day of it. Start at Rosenblum for a tasting, marveling at how creative the notes on the menu are. (Whoever could have written them? you’ll wonder) Then if the weather isn’t too bad, grab a turkey and avocado sandwich from Domenico’s–my new favorite deli–and head over to Lake Merritt to eat it, people and goose watching while you do, and then a walk. If it’s as gloomy as it has been, go to La Pinata 3 for a tasty carne asada bowl to warm you up and then check out St. George Spirits for a vodka tasting. Or maybe you’d rather sit and throw peanuts on the floor at Quinn’s Lighthouse, where the seafood is delicious and the wine is cheap. Next stop: Jack London Square to taste at JC Cellars and Dashe or to return gifts and get a few more for yourself at the shops along the way. By the way, Cost Plus World Market is having a great sale right now.

Rosenblum fans, Domenico’s, La Pinata 3, Quinn’s Lighthouse, Cost Plus World Market

Today is my first day back to work since last Saturday. I’ve been in Mississippi with my family for a belated Christmas celebration. And of course, I couldn’t return without wine, especially Rosenblum Cellars wine. For our “Christmas dinner” which actually took place New Year’s Eve, I chose the Mourvedre I had also picked for a Thanksgiving meal, as we had many of the same items: turkey, cranberry salad, dressing, broccoli rice casserole, sweet potatoes, etc. The Mourvedre went especially nicely with the turkey–which was fried, the sweet potatoes, and the salad. I also brought my favorite: the 2005 Hendry Zinfandel, just for sipping. Everyone really liked that one, too. And for presents, my chocolate-lovin Mom got the Desiree, and my stepdad–who loves big reds–got the 2005 Rockpile Road Zinfandel.

It’s fun to share the wines I love and pour everyday, write about, and sell … with the people who love me back home.

Rosenblum wine in Mississippi, Christmas dinner wine pairing

Don’t forget that the wine seminars I’ll be co-teaching are coming up soon. The first one is not too far away:

Zinfandel History and Tasting
Wednesday, January 16
from 6:30 to 8:30
at the Alameda winery
$40, $35 for club members

Call 510-995-4100 or come by the winery to get a spot (not too many left….)

Zinfandel History and Tasting, East bay wine classes, wine seminars, wine classes

Wow, it’s hard to believe it’ll be 2008 any minute now. I hope that everyone has a great and safe holiday and big dreams for the next year. Mine just seem to keep getting better and starting to work at Rosenblum during the past one has definitely been a part of that. I look forward to more exciting adventures ahead.

In case you’ve forgotten or need to know, here are the Rosenblum tasting room holiday hours:

Today–New Year’s Eve–11 to 3
Tomorrow–New Year’s Day–closed
Wednesday–back to normal (11-6)

Now, get your glasses raised!

Rosenblum tasting room holiday hours

This menu could be up for another week or more, since I’m not going to be there to change it on Friday and the weekends aren’t the best time to do it. So come on over and taste these wines. But don’t take the notes too literally and expect a gourmet shop next door. I had a lady in the tasting room get mighty disappointed yesterday when she found out there wasn’t one….

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

Reds
2005 Merlot, Russian River Valley, Appellation Series $18
Black cherries and brambleberries tumble onto the forest floor,
among an orchard of applewoods
(more…)

We’ve always said we were a dog-friendly winery. How could we not be with a 40+ year veteranarian as the owner and winemaker and the fact that we donate to Paws With a Cause…. There are even some doggy regulars among the canine crew, such as Sweet Pea, Elvis, and Franny. And Jordan the dog even has his own business card and has left it with us once or twice.

The Saturday before last, however, was a veritable doggy playground. In the middle of the holiday season–our busiest time of year–hordes of tasters crowded in, trying to belly up to the packed bar. I went downstairs to print price sheets and maybe grab a bite to eat. When I returned, there were three chihuahuas in the window seat, two Alaskan huskies near the register, and one or two in between. (more…)

dog-friendly winery, Paws With a Cause

Check out this week’s big winners!

Complimentary Tasting

White

2006 Côte du Bone Blanc, Château la Paws $14
Like a dog of mixed breeds, this blend of five grapes will beguile
you with her peaches n cream complexion and vanilla-coated apricots

Reds
2005 Côte du Bone Roan, Château la Paws $14
Another mutt who begs you to take him home
to treasure the vanilla, cinnamon, and cherry jolly rancher finish

2005 Zinfandel, Snows Lake Vineyard, Lake County $35
It might not be snowing here, but you can still partake (more…)