Wine Outlook

For this week’s theme, we have famous people and their corresponding wines. You should hear folks asking to taste the “Peter Griffin” and me having to explain The Family Guy to many of them. One guy who was throwing back his tastes said Demi Moore should get a new job. (I asked him if it was his first time winetasting, and it was.)

Complimentary Tasting

2006 Roussanne, Fess Parker Vineyard, Santa Barbara $25
Davy Crockett would find this glass of fuji apples, pears, pineapples, and orange blossoms quite refreshing after his battles with a bear

2006 Mourvedre, Contra Costa County , Appellation Series $18
Demi Moore might enjoy an early morning walk along a cobblestone path after a fresh rain, then a hot cup of coffee, laced in vanilla

2005 Zinfandel, Eagle Point Vineyard, Mendocino $25
The Eagles might not give a fig about the Hotel California
but they’re singing about blackberries and chestnuts
(more…)

The Family Guy, Fess Parker Vineyard, The Eagles

This week’s menu, available through Thursday… I promise I am going to start getting these up on time. They change every Friday morning. Don’t know where my head goes sometimes!

Complimentary Tasting

2005 Roussanne, Santa Barbara, Appellation Series $18
A romantic tryst between guava and pineapple, as they share
a butterscotch sundae and lock eyes over a vase of honeysuckle

2006 Zinfandel, Richard Sauret Vineyard, Paso Robles $25
Fresh bread toasted and slathered with raspberry and plum jam…
or maybe you’d rather pilfer a piece of strawberry shortcake

2005 Syrah, Abba Vineyard, Lodi $25
Vanilla plays second fiddle to the dark cherries, light smoke, and
minerality that work their mojo on your glass

*Reserve Flight - $8.00 * (more…)

***This week’s theme: Dessert in your glass (but not dessert wine)*** Sometimes, I confuse people with my themes, as when I compared the wines to ice cream flavors. But if you use your imagination a little…I’ll take you to some crazy places!

Complimentary Tasting

2006 Cote du Bone Blanc, Chateau la Paws $14
Dive into peach trifle layered with lemon custard
and wash it down with a Hansen’s Orange Creme Soda

2005 Zinfandel, Planchon Vineyard, San Francisco Bay $25
Take your choice of plum crumble cake
or rum raisin cake sprinkled with pecans … and grab a fork

2006 Petite Sirah, Heritage Clones, Appellation Series $18
Oooo and ahhh over the display of a decadent
molten chocolate cake with vanilla-coated raspberries on the side
(more…)

I’m a little late in posting this one. Sorry! It will change again on Friday.

Complimentary Tasting

2006 Roussanne, Fess Parker Vineyard, Santa Barbara $25
Take a sip of this tropical smoothie
with pineapples, lychees, mandarin oranges, and honeysuckle

2005 Zinfandel, Aparicio Vineyard, Amador County $25
A lone fig tree surrounded by an orchard of abundant cherries,
and further beyond — pines and peppercorns

2004 Syrah, Santa Barbara, Appellation Series $18
Vanilla beans dance with violets along a rocky stream
while a piles of plums look on with envy

(more…)

***This week’s theme: Crayola crayon colors*** I have to say, this is one of my favorite tasting menus I’ve written so far. It was a lot of fun to do. Though when I told Kenny G about it, he told me I was “out to lunch.” Ah, well. You decide!

Complimentary Tasting

2005 Roussanne, Santa Barbara, Appellation Series $18
A cross between apricot and goldenrod— which sometimes yields a spicy honey—
this wine also shows guava and peach

2006 Grenache, Rhodes Vineyard, Redwood Valley $25
Though this wine is not carnation pink, it does give floral notes of violets and lavender, along with black cherries and cinnamon
(more…)

Come in and taste some wines with us.
WEEKDAY MENU
Complimentary Tasting

White
2006 Viognier, Kathy’s Cuvée, Appellation Series $18
Pineapples, apricots, peaches, and fuji apples will transport you
to an island in the middle of nowhere, as coconuts fall at your feet

Red
2006 Mourvedre, Contra Costa County, Appellation Series $18
Wake up to a cup of freshly brewed coffee
with a warm blueberry muffin flecked with chocolate chips (more…)

For those people who couldn’t make it to Open House, I put some of the new releases on the tasting menu this week, complete with my special notes…. Cheers!

Complimentary Tasting

White
2006 Marsanne, Preston Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley $25
Treat yourself to a creamy pear and hazelnut tart,
served with a cold glass of apple juice

Red
2006 Grenache, Rhodes Vineyard, Redwood Valley $25
Wander through fields of violets and lavender,
past plum trees and raspberry bushes, then plop into a leather chair

2006 Zinfandel, Richard Sauret, Paso Robles, Appellation Series $25
After a dust storm sweeps through, you deserve that serving of
jammy cherry cobbler, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar

2006 Zinfandel, Kontrabecki Vineyard, Livermore $25
An afternoon of working in the garden—tilling dirt and planting peppers—
makes you long to throw back a blackberry soda and munch on currants
(more…)

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

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

***This Week’s Wine & Gelato One-Stop Shop *** thanks to a challenge from our shipping manager, you get extra crazy tasting notes

Complimentary Tasting

White
2006 Côte du Bone Blanc, Chateau la Paws $14
A scoop of peaches and cream from Baskin Robbins,
with a bouquet of honeysuckle and lemon blossoms on the table

Red
2006 Zinfandel, Contra Costa County , Appellation Series $18
After driving down a dusty country road, you can’t decide between
Dreyer’s cherry vanilla or Ben & Jerry’s cinnamon buns

2005 Zinfandel, Snows Lake Vineyard, Lake County $35
To soothe that tickle in your throat from white pepper and chalk,
fill a cone with black cherry ice cream

2005 Syrah, Abba Vineyard, Lodi $25
Help yourself to a serving of Cherry Garcia® in a tin cup
or maybe smoky vanilla-soaked figs

2004 Petite Sirah, Eagle Point Vineyard, Mendocino $35 nearly sold out
A combination of chunky blueberry and blackberry sorbets swirled together
and eaten at a cedar table

*Reserve Flight - $5.00 * (more…)

crazy tasting notes, Complimentary Tasting

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…)

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

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…)

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…)