NVWE NEWS
A Quarterly Chronicle of California's Small-Production Wine Gems
Fall 2007
NVWE PRIVATE LABEL
Our new custom-labeling wine program!
By Zoe
So I was thinking... wouldn't it be great to be able to offer bottles of wonderful smallproduction wine to our customers -- customized with labels of their own choice? Being the graphic designer here at the store, I'm always interested in projects that involve wine labels! I presented the idea to Denise (our store manager) and she was all over it. We purchased a fabulous new wine label printer and Denise went to one of her Napa "sources" and acquired 141 cases of a very special red wine that has been custom blended just for us. (Trust me, this is high-quality wine from a high-quality winery.) It has big full flavors of berry/cherry with a smokey earthiness and long finish. It's primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with a bit of Merlot and Cabernet Franc for depth. It's delicious now with a wide variety of meals, but also has enough structure to hold up to a couple of years' aging.
How it works: We have a one-case minimum order, with the same label being used on all 12 bottles. Pricing includes our customizing a label "template" which can be viewed at: www.nvwe.com/privatelabel. These pre-designed templates can be adjusted quite a bit to fit the request, within reason. If you want to do something completely different than an existing template design -- that will be no problem, but there is an additional $50 art charge. Whether using a template or custom design, we can work together via email proofs to come up with a label that you're happy with.
Potential uses:
* Holiday gift bottles with your family name and/or photo, to give to loved ones.
* Corporate gift bottles with your logo, to give to customers/clients in appreciation for their business.
* Wine for a wedding, with the bride and groom's photo on the label.
* Wine for a special party that you'd like to celebrate on the bottle label. You could even give each guest a bottle as they leave as a party gift.
* A case of wine given as a housewarming gift to somebody who just purchased a new home.
* A case of wine given as a birthday or anniversary gift, with a label * Or perhaps you'd just enjoy to have some bottles of wine featuring your own name or custom design, for drinking at home.
Pricing: 1 Case: $32.95/bottle 2-4 Cases: $29.95/bottle 5 Cases (and up): $24.95/bottle Includes custom labeling from one of our existing templates. Shipping is extra, and varies by state. Please inquire for details. Art charge for non-standard template label: $50. And if the wine is a gift, we can include printed tasting notes and gift card with your personal message.
Sound interesting? Have any other questions? Drop me a note at zoe@nvwe.com and I can help answer your questions or get the ball rolling on an order. The holidays are right around the corner, and this is a great opportunity to get a jump start on your personal or company gifts -- or to just stock up on some personalized high-quality small-production wine for enjoying over the holidays at home!
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MAKE MINE RED!
From micro-producer Valeri Wine Company comes the full-bodied, rich 2005 Stefano Valeri Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the juicy, ripe 2005 Stefano Valeri Napa Valley Merlot. A perfect gift package or the perfect pair to grace your table, as you ease into the heartier fare of fall and winter meals. $54.95 for the pair -- includes shipping!
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CRUSHPAD
By Kristen Leonardini Kettell
If you are not familiar with Crushpad in San Francisco, you will be soon! After being featured in the July 12th edition of the Wine Spectator Online, there is a larger story about Crushpad planned for the October edition of Wine Spectator Magazine. Crushpad is a unique do-it-yourself winemaking facility in the SOMA area of San Francisco. Crushpad has contracts with a surprising number of vineyard owners from Napa to as far south as Santa Barbara. Almost all of the vineyard sources provide fruit that is used commercially to produce wines that receive ratings of between 92-100 points in major trade publications. This is serious stuff! Neophytes begin by selecting a varietal, then choosing a vineyard from Crushpad's attractive list of possibilities, and the winemaking process begins. Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot, Zin... they have it all at Crushpad!
In the past two years, the staff at NVWE has tasted and sold some boutique wines of excellent quality where the name Crushpad keeps appearing. The Canihan Syrah (which won the Best Red of Show at this year's San Francisco International Wine Competition) was crafted at Crushpad, as were the Pinot Noirs from Dain Wines and Bryan Kane's 91-point-rated Vie Syrah. Exposure to these wines prompted us to take on our own project with Crushpad and we have contracted to privately bottle a 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet. The grapes are almost ready! It will be a special handcrafted wine from the Ink Grade Vineyard on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. Kian Tavakoli is our winemaker and will oversee our project. Kian has ten years wine making experience in the Napa Valley, first at Opus One and later at Clos du Val Winery.
We are creating a list of customers who are interested in this wine and if you would like to be one of them, give me a call or shoot me an email at kristen@nvwe.com. I will keep you posted with exciting news and notes regarding this project. We already have a name for our wine and an awesome label, which will be revealed soon!
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SEPTEMBER'S SILVER OAK SALE!
Is Silver Oak your favorite "restaurant" wine? You could drink Silver Oak at home for half the price you'd pay on a restaurant wine list, and it can be delivered right to your doorstep! It's our Silver Oak Sale! Through the end of September, order any quantity of 2003 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and receive a 10% discount on your order. Order six bottles or more and receive a complimentary waiter's style corkscrew with the Silver Oak logo printed on the handle. Like your wines aged? We have acquired a series of Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabs from vintage years way back in the last century -- mix and match as you like or buy a six bottle vertical collection!
1994...............................$169.95
1995...............................$139.95
1996...............................$139.95
1997...............................$134.95
1998...............................$109.95
1999...............................$109.95
Silver Oak Vertical Collection (One Bottle of Each Above) $749.95 (Includes winery tasting notes and Silver Oak corkscrew)
These perfectly stored, aged wines will not last! Order today!
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2004 CABS AND CAB BLENDS
In full flood, but soon to be a trickle!
In past issues we've suggested that the upcoming 2004 Cabernets could be very fine and that many would also be fine early drinkers. We warned as well that it was a generally small crop that might sell out quickly when reviews were published. The Reserve level 2004 vintage wines are now in the marketplace, and critical acclaim is already pushing them off the shelves. If you are interested in any of these, act fast!
'04 CABS IN STOCK NOW (Tasting notes available online at www.nvwe.com):
August Briggs Monte Rosso - $54.95
Behrens & Hitchcock Alder Cuvee - $44.95
Benziger Tribute - $74.95
Cardinale - $219.95
Cakebread - $72.95
Coho - Summit Vine Ranch - $59.95
Destino The Mask - $29.95
Dominus - $129.95
Duckhorn Napa Valley - $59.95
Egelhoff - $74.95
Fleming Jenkins - $49.95
Ghost Block - $59.95
Hauck - $47.95
Hestan Estate - $125.95
Hoffman Block 16 - $39.95
Hollywood & Vine - $77.95
Honig Napa Valley - $34.95
Hoopes - $62.95
Hunnicutt - $44.95
Husic - $124.95
Jayson - $54.95
Justin Isosceles - $59.95
Keenan Mernet - $86.95
Ladera Howell Mountain - $74.95
Lewis - Reserve - $124.95
Paul Hobbs Napa Valley - $82.49
Provenance Tokalon - $74.95
Ramian - $47.49
Revana - $104.95
Ridge Red Blend - $34.95
Robert Foley Claret - $119.95
Rocca Bad Boy Red - $31.95
Sequum - $54.95
Sherwin - $89.95
Showket - $84.95
Slaughterhouse - $74.95
Stanton - $74.95
Tor Rock Vineyard - $74.95
Stewart - $61.95
Versant - $84.95
Whitehall Lane Napa - $39.95
Whitehall Lane Reserve - $74.95
AND COMING SOON:
Chappellet Pritchard Hill * Clark-Claudon * Clif Lede Poetry & Dr. Crane * Cloud View * Conn Valley Eloge * Duckhorn Estate & Vineyard Designates * Etude * Girard * Jones Family * Joseph Phelps Insignia & Backus * Lewelling * Montelena * Opus One * O'Shaughnessy * Pahlmeyer * Paul Hobbs Stagecoach & Tokalon * Ridge Monte Bello * Rudd * Seavey Estate * Sequoia Grove * Staglin Family Vineyard * Vinoce Mt Veeder * Whitehall Lane Leonardini Vineyard * ZD Reserve
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PINOT WITH A PUNCH!
Is it true that you have to spend a lot of money to get Pinot Noir worth drinking? Order this sampler box of four easy
drinkers from four separate wine regions and see for yourself. Full notes are on our website. The great flavors of these four beauties will surprise you!
2005 Valley of the Moon, Carneros
Velvety soft black cherry flavors, quite elegant
2005 Taz Vineyards, Santa Barbara
A wine of great body and length, spicy raspberry flavors domninate
2006 Row Eleven, California
Quote from the label - "Taste cherries, earth and fire"
2006 Copain L'Automne, Anderson Valley
Seductive black cherry and rose petals
Four Bottle Sampler: $79.95 (plus shipping)
or:
Full Case (3 Bottles of Each): $219.95 (plus shipping)
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NVWE STAFF
There is a new voice answering our phones whether you are calling from the United States, Japan or South America! Our newest staff member, James Butler, speaks fluent Japanese as well as Spanish (and Portugese!). If language has been a barrier to your phoning our store in the past, try again by dialing James direct: 415-202-8923.
Even if someone has another job title at NVWE, they still sell wine! Here is a listing of our wine sales staff listed in order of longevity!
Denise Johnson, General Manager
denise@nvwe.com
Kristen Leonardini Kettell, Sales & Marketing
kristen@nvwe.com
Don Gillette, Senior Wine Consultant
don@nvwe.com
James Jackson, Wine Sleuth
james@nvwe.com
Zoe, Graphic Designer/Internet Specialist
zoe@nvwe.com
Frank Novicki, Wine Consultant
frank@nvwe.com
Sylvester Orosco, Wine Consultant
wine@nvwe.com
James Butler, Wine Consultant
global@nvwe.com
Want to place an order without anyone's help?
Send to orders@nvwe.com or visit us at: www.nvwe.com
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THE FALL 2007 NVWE 12-PICKS!
The Twelve Picks is a quarterly selection of wines that are carefully chosen by our staff for our customers and club members! This unique mix of a dozen red and white varietals (usually six red and six white) is selected based on quality, exclusivity and value. Guaranteed greatness! Purchase this entire box of wine for only $267.61 (plus shipping) OR order any quantity of each wine individually! 10% discount applies on any twelve bottle mix. For maximum convenience, join our Twelve Picks Advance club and receive a selected
box of wine automatically every three months. There is no charge to join, and membership can be cancelled at any time. Additionally, members receive a 15% discount on all reorders of club wines. Contact us now to order or join! 800-653-WINE (9463) Or visit our website for our full inventory of wonderful small-production California wines: www.nvwe.com
The Fall Assortment:
2004 Hoffman Celars
Block 16
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
The nose of this Cab is rich in contrasts, as sweet cherry and licorice notes try to mesh with vanilla and earth undercurrents. It is big and fleshy on the palate as flavors of juicy cherry, plum, black licorice, vanilla and earth push forth. Super rich finish. Delicious now, it will be even better in a year or two. Blended with 7% Cabernet Franc. 347 cases produced.
Regularly $39.95/btl. or $431.46/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $33.96/btl. or $407.49/cs.
2004 Leonardini Family
Tony's Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
A ripe, expressive Cabernet, with broadly rich aromas of dark cherries,
berry jam, black figs, vanilla and dried herbs. It is fat and fleshy on the
palate, with flavors of berry, plum, fig and vanilla. Tannins in the finish fail to blunt the wine's essential sense of ripeness. Would be a juicy, plush dinner wine. A natural for steaks, ripe cheeses and the like. Produced from Tony's backyard vineyard, containing 198 vines.
Regularly $21.95/btl. or $237.06/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $18.66/btl. or $223.89/cs.
2005 La Rochele
Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands
This dark and spicy Pinot offers classy scents of ripe Bing cherry, peppered
beef, powdered sumac and hints of pie crust. The palate offers delicious
flavors of cherry, minerals, sumac and sweet pastry. With air, the tannins firm and the fruit darkens, suggesting that the wines true depth will be best revealed after further cellaring. Made from a blend of grapes from the Garys', Sleepy Hollow and Paraiso Vineyards, from owner Steve Mirassou, whose family has made California wine since 1854. 365 cases produced.
Regularly $36.95/btl. or $399.06/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $31.41/btl. or $376.89/cs.
2005 Paraiso Estate
Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands
The classically elegant aromas of this beauty wrap Bing Cherry,
rhubarb pie, red raspberry, vanilla, roasted cereal grains
and a bit of coriander seed in a polished and very appealing melange. On the palate, the wine has the same expressive fruit, a delightfully supple texture and a quiet citric crispness. The finish is silky and very lively. A terrific dinner wine and a great value, it may yet improve over the next two years.
5,900 cases produced.
Regularly $24.95/btl. or $269.46/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $21.21/btl. or $254.49/cs.
2004 Wilson
Zinfandel
Tori Estate Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley This ultra-ripe Zin has intense aromas of
freshly crushed black peppercorns, black cherry, pomegranate syrup, and damp forest spice in a heady, but focused package. Extremely plush and juicy in the mouth, with a sinewy texture and loads of peppery dark fruit. The long finish is of tobacco, leather and dried herb. Not for the faint of heart, this one should be reserved for garlicky lamb roasts, barbecued ribs or ripe blue cheeses. 900 cases produced.
Regularly $31.95/btl. or $345.06/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $27.16/btl. or $325.89/cs.
2005 Stephen Vincent
Crimson
Syrah-Based Rhone Style Blend
California
This bright and perky Rhone-ish blend has aromas of strawberry, red currant, white pepper and dried red rose. The palate is refreshing, offering flavors that contrast red plum and raspberry, with earthier hints of bouillon, smoke and black pepper. With a crisp, lean, but lasting finish, it will be a delicious companion to garlicky pastas and pizza. A blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon from Monterey and Sonoma Counties.
Regularly $11.95/btl. or $129.06/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $10.16/btl. or $121.89/cs.
2005 Rozak Vintners
Chardonnay
Santa Maria Valley
This initially attractive Chardonnay grows significantly more so as
it airs, revealing gently creamy aromas of baked apple, lemon custard and hints of orange zest. Although rich in body, there is a delightful sense of weightlessness to its flavors of lemon custard, apple, nutmeg and roasted grain. Delicious to sip, it might find even better service alongside halibut in butter sauce or baked pork chops with apples. It is ready to drink. 300 cases produced.
Regularly $29.95/btl. or $323.46/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $25.46/btl. or $305.49/cs.
2006 Balletto
"No Oak" Chardonnay
Teresa's Vineyard,
Russian River Valley
The fruit of this genteel, refreshing bottling is a mix of restrained lemon,
green apple and blossomy notes that harmonize well. The wine proves
bright and zesty in the mouth, where apple, melon and hints of preserved lemon and clove join subtle mineral notes in the lingering finish. Built for fresh oysters, clams and the like, as well as casual refreshment, it is a good value as well. 722 cases produced.
Regularly $14.95/btl. or $161.46/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $12.71/btl. or $152.49/cs.
2006 Pelerin Wines
Les Tournesol
White Roussanne Rhone-Style Blend
Santa Lucia Highlands
Most notable for its tight, flinty minerality, the nose of this fascinating young wine gradually uncoils to reveal scents of honeysuckle, mango and lemon zest. Bright, stony-dry and zesty in the mouth, its flavors of Bosc pear, Meyer lemon, green apple and honeysuckle combine with complex mineral undercurrents. The finish is amazingly long. The perfect companion to sauced shellfish, it is a single vineyard blend of 63% Roussanne, 27% Chardonnay and 10% Viognier. 171 cases produced.
Regularly $27.95/btl. or $301.86/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $23.76/btl. or $285.09/cs.
2006 Amazon Ranch
Viognier
Damiano Vineyard, Sierra Foothills
Despite its aromatic profile of sweet lemon custard, honeysuckle, fresh apricots and pear liqueur, this is essentially a dry, mineral-infused
Viognier. The palate-feel is streamlined and firm, and mineral notes rein-in the white peach, Bosc pear, honeysuckle, lemon and apple skin flavors. The finish lingers, suggesting that it should be well matched to dishes such as sauced fish or grilled, citrus-marinated, chicken breasts. Only four barrels of this wine (about 100 cases) were produced.
Regularly $24.95/btl. or $269.46/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $21.21/btl. or $254.49/cs.
2006 Sierra Vista
Fume Blanc
Sierra Foothills
Focused and immediately attractive, this wine offers aromas of rich melon,
kiwi, honeysuckle and lime zest, balanced by drying mineral accents. The mouth feels sleek and ripe, despite its crisp fruit acidity, while its melon, lemon and honeysuckle flavors linger with excellent clarity. This is a great summer refresher at a great price, and a great companion to shellfish or sushi. 615 cases produced.
Regularly $13.95/btl. or $150.66/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $11.86/btl. or $142.29/cs.
2006 Lucia 'Lucy'
Rose Of Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands
Such a lovely Rose, from its pretty pink-orange hue to its elegant strawberry, yellow rose, watermelon and pink peppercorn aromas! The supple mouth-feel is quietly similar with a hint of roasted grain contributing to its deep but seemingly weightless flavor profile. With a delicate finish, this one will be as pleasant to sip as to serve with poached salmon or paella or maybe Shrimp Louisiana. Fruit is primarily from the Pisoni and Gary's Vineyards. 525 cases produced.
Regularly $17.95/btl. or $193.86/cs.
Reorders for Wine Club Members: $15.26/btl. or $183.09/cs.
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Four easy ways to buy our wonderful small-production California wines!
- Online: www.nvwe.com
- Toll Free: 800-653-WINE (9463)
- Email: orders@nvwe.com
- Stop In Our Wine Shop: 415 Taylor Street • Between Geary & O'Farrell • San Francisco