Wine Outlook

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

***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…)

So, I did end up changing the menu on Friday, as normal. But I had to change it again yesterday, as we flew through our supply of the Cullinane. With only about 250 cases made, this one won’t last long…

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

2006 Viognier, Kathy’s Cuvée, Appellation Series $18
Will yourself away from the cold weather with this one:
Apricots, pineapples, mangos, and peaches will thaw the chill

Reds
2006 Zinfandel, North Coast, Appellation Series $18
Black cherries, blackberries, and plums dance along a sharp line,
then bow to the vanilla and cinnamon onlookers

2005 Zinfandel, Snows Lake Vineyard, Lake County $35
Like walking into a brand new bakery—sawdust still on the tables—
To order a sour cherry tart, blueberry muffin, and café au lait
(more…)

I’ve decided, since I’m not really writing much poetry these days, to start including my weekly tasting notes. One of my favorite aspects of the job is picking which wines to feature, tasting through them, and writing the notes. I’ve gotten a little more poetic with them these days.

This way, if you want to come by the tasting room or are interested in Rosenblum wines, you know what to expect….

This week (soon to change)

Complimentary Tasting

White & Rosé

2005 Rosé, North Coast, Appellation Series $6 (amazingly low final price!)
Ideal with BBQ fare, the bright strawberries, cherries, and raspberries finish crisp

2006 Chateau la Paws Côte du Bone Blanc $14
This delightful medley of apricots, peaches, pears, apples, and vanilla
will rev up your taste buds

Reds

2005 Pinot Noir, Lyons Vineyard, Napa Valley $25
A very limited production, this variety somehow manages to stand up to the bigger Rosenblum reds with cherries, strawberries, vanilla, and violets

2005 Zinfandel, Richard Sauret, Paso Robles $25
Dive off a slice of bing cherry tart and into a pot of raspberry jam

2005 Petite Sirah, Heritage Clones, SF Bay Appellation Series $18
A morning walk through the forest, just after it rained…
followed by a breakfast of smoked bacon & biscuits with boysenberry preserves

*Reserve Flight - $5.00 *

2005 Zinfandel, Maggie’s Reserve, Sonoma Valley $45
Sitting around a campfire, dried leaves swirling in the dusk–
your fingers dripping with plums and blueberries

2004 Zinfandel, Hendry Reserve, Napa Valley $45
Reminiscent of a fondue party: blackberries dipped into dark chocolate,
or a harvest gathering where apples are covered in caramel

2005 Zinfandel, Lyons Reserve, Napa Valley $45
This one is all “get up and go�?
Dried currants and figs wrestle with the strong tannins

Cheers!

Readers and drinkers….

El Jefe asked for some poetry, and that reminds me I haven’t written any in a while. (Ok, I was actually already well aware of that). That also reminds me that a few weeks ago I thought about including a poem I wrote several years ago because it made me think of how it was when I intitially decided to give up Wine Outlook. The poem itself came from a fleeting thought during grad school (you know, two jobs and the looming threat of loan repayment) when I briefly considered selling my eggs for however many thousands of dollars.

Sometimes when I write, it’s the attempt at getting into someone else’s head or taking something I feel and turning it into something else. So I imagined what if I had gone through with the procedure, how I would react down the road. And it has been interpreted to be about a woman giving a child up for adoption, which is just taking it to the next level.

So how does this relate to my blog? I mentioned it before:the thought of giving up Wine Outook felt like giving away a baby. I brought it up from nothing, helped it through growing pains, patted its head when it felt bad. So even though I have been absent lately, what with long days at work, scouring rentals in free moments, packing without a destination…. I’m still here. Drinking, reading, exporing, expanding what I know, thanking you for staying on the ride.

And now, the poem, originally published in Susan B & Me: An International Collection of Personal Writings and Photographs by Women of All Ages, Dedicated to the Spirit of Susan B. Anthony, Champion of Women’s Rights.
(more…)

The best friend just put up a trailer for her project Mississippi Queen, that indie documentary about issues such as the ex-gay ministry in the south. I’m honored to say she asked to use one of my poems, which I’ve referred to on here before: Return Flight. It’s pretty amazing to hear my own words read and visualized through images in film.

p.s. They still need funding, so check out the website and donate to a great cause!

Mississippi Queen

My blog has been light on the poetry, as of late. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t written any in months and haven’t even been reading any. (Shame, shame, I know, letting that M.A. sit on the shelf like that.)

However, a couple weeks ago, Gillian–a fellow 451 Press blogger–fulfilled a promise to me about a Medieval poem: “La bataille des vins”. Check out that link to read about her interpretation.

A fun little snippet:

The wine of Argentueil was as clear as tears of sorrow, and someone proclaimed it best of all. This led to tussles and some name-calling. My favourite insult, wine to wine, was “son of a gluttonous prostitute.�?

Meanwhile, I promise to at least think about writing more poetry of my own.

poetry about wine, Medieval poems

This morning had me thinking about/in poetry on my walk, so I thought I’d share some. The one I have in mind is a rewrite of one of my favorite poems “Variations on the Word Sleep” by Margaret Atwood. When I was teaching English 102 back in the day, this was one poem I offered the class to analyze. We discussed how it could be viewed as 1) very tender or 2)kinda creepy/stalker-ish… and many ways in between. Poetry is subjective, just as wine is. It’s what we bring to/take from it as individuals with our own experiences and tastes that affects perception.

But that class got me thinking and I went home and rewrote the poem with the #2 interpretation in mind. And this is what I got: Deviation on the Personal Wake-Up Call. Not about wine all that much, but I found the one reference appropriate, what with all my sparkling wine mentions over the past week.

p.s. I’m no crazy stalker, drinkers and readers, so don’t think I wrote my version from personal experience.

poetry, Margaret Atwood, Variations on the Word Sleep

January 19, 2006: One year ago today, I pulled off the 101 and into Redwood City, California. I was ready to kiss the ground after driving a U-Haul for four days, car in tow, across deserts, over mountains, and through canyons. Though I only barely knew two people at the winery and sure didn’t know where I was going to live or even stay, I was willing to give it a go because I did know I wanted to be in the wine business. Therefore, things would work out, somehow.

But four days alone, driving, can make you feel a little crazy and think maybe you made a mistake. I wrote the following a couple months after I got here, looking back:

Road Signs and Other Blunders

Mississippi left behind to hover
on a state line of relief and regret.
U-Haul decals warned of overhead
damage too late and unleaded fuel.
Following their advice
meant repeated stops to pump and
watch the numbers climb. The side mirror
disclosed concern at going
over 45, but traveling the sometimes-
blood-stained highway
through George W’s home
state, miles passed slowly enough.

Halfway between what was home and what
would be, the Rio Grande was parched
as a tongue in need of wine. Further still,
the border patrol overlooked advisement
of dust that never settles. Some signs
indicated the proximity of state prisons
and counseled against collecting hitchhikers.
Not that there was room.

Pulling into California–
as high-windedness (to be
avoided in writing and speech)
prevailed–
proved more intro than climax .
—————
(more…)

My past few meals have included wine that was less than thrilling, and the food itself, well…my chef skills must be on the fritz. I can only hope that dinner in San Francisco this evening will erase the mediocrity from my memory. And if not, everything teaches us something. Right?

Meanwhile, a little wine poetry to tide me over. Not my own–with my current track record that might not be the best idea. Instead, here’s a snippet from one of my favorite poets: Sandra Cisneros in her poem titled “Vino Tinto”

Dark wine reminds me of you.
The burgundies and cabernets.
The tang and thrum and hiss
that spiral like Egyptian silk,
blood bit from a lip, black
smoke from a cigarette.

Nights that swell like a cork.

This excerpt was found in my much-loved, much-worn copy of Loose Woman, where the rest of this poem can be read.

wine poetry, Sandra Cisneros, Loose Woman

I’m excited to be a part of Wine Blogging Wednesday, especially since this month’s topic is sparkling wine: one of my all-time-favorite all-purpose wines. It cheers me up when I’m sad, makes me happier when I’m in a good mood. Something about the bubbles… whether they make the alcohol hit you faster or not, it’s the feeling of festivity that gets me every time. Some people think they need a special occasion to open a bottle, but it just isn’t the case. I say, “Let the wine be occasion enough.”

Plus, any wine that can go with appetizers, salads, pizzas, entrees, and desserts must be for me. With that being said, I will share just how much I truly appreciate this stuff with a poem I wrote summer before last. (more…)