CHARDONNAY CLUBN O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8

https://www.rombauer.com/wine/chardonnay/2017-carneros-chardonnay/

DEAR WINE CLUB MEMBERS,Harvest is drawing to a close here at Rombauer Vineyards, and as our thoughts turn to the holiday season ahead we find much to be thankful for. The 2018 growing season differed from prior vintages most notably in its length; mild weather in late August and early September gave the grapes extra hang time—as much as two weeks—on the vines. This is a good thing, as the grapes spent these extra days gradually developing the full flavors we like to see prior to picking. Richie and his team are very excited about the depth of flavor and concentration they see in the wines, even at this early stage.

While harvest kept the vineyard and winemaking teams busy this fall, your wine club team was occupied with numerous events, including our inaugural Mediterranean Wine Cruise. Third-generation family member Reagan Rombauer and DTC Sales Manager Cheryl Riedel welcomed 130 guests aboard the luxurious Riviera cruise ship, traveling through Italy, France and Spain in what can only be described as an incredible adventure in food, wine, culture and travel. We’re planning another cruise in 2020 and would love to have you join us. If you’re interested keep an eye out for upcoming emails, as this cruise sold out very quickly!

The wines in your shipment arrive just ahead of the holidays, perfect for sharing with friends and family in the weeks to come. The 2017 Carneros Chardonnay is at an ideal drinking phase right now, still fresh, fruity and lively but with the secondary characteristics of butter, vanilla, and baking spice showing a bit more prominently now that the wine has had some bottle age.

Representing a blend of the vintage’s finest barrels and vineyard lots, our Proprietor Selection Chardonnay is only made in exceptional vintages, in fact, the 2017 is only our tenth Proprietor Selection in 36 years of making Chardonnay. Like all of our Chardonnays the wine is sourced from vineyards in Carneros. It features a lush, creamy palate, flavors of pear, key lime, white peach, vanilla and toast, and a long bright finish. We only made 250 cases of our 2017 Home Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay, a wine sourced from 35 plus-year-old vines from a vineyard owned by the Sangiacomo family in Carneros. With flavors of tropical fruit, peaches, vanilla and fresh apple pie, the wine is carried by bright acidity to a long finish punctuated by a creamy mouthfeel.

We can’t tell you how much it means to our family that Rombauer wines are on your tables at this most cherished time of year. We hope they bring joy to your holiday celebrations and gatherings.

CHEERS! THE ROMBAUER FAMILY AND STAFF

2017 CARNEROS CHARDONNAYEnticing aromas of vanilla, peach and mango are layered with apricots, crème brûlée, butter and a slight minerality. Those scents are echoed as flavors on the creamy, rich palate, along with peach, pie crust and baking spices. The long, smooth finish is marked by mouthwatering acidity.

RELEASE DATE August 2018

APPELLATION Carneros

VARIETAL COMPOSITION 100% Chardonnay

ALCOHOL 14.5%

COOPERAGE 9 months in 1/3 new American and French oak barrels

WINE CLUB SPECIAL OFFER

RECEIVE $10 GROUND SHIPPING on your next purchase of up to 12 bottles

($10 will be charged for each additional 12 bottles ordered.)

Use code: 18NOVCCH12One coupon per member. Offer expires 12/31/2018.

All orders are subject to a weather hold.

2017 PROPRIETOR SELECTION CHARDONNAY 12 bottle Chardonnay Club only

Pale straw yellow, with a golden hue, this wine’s color will deepen with age. Aromas of banana, Bartlett pears, Meyer lemon and vanilla mingle with jasmine on the nose. The palate is lush with a creamy texture and flavors of pears, key lime, white peach, vanilla and toast. The finish is long and bright.

RELEASE DATE August 2018

APPELLATION Carneros

VARIETAL COMPOSITION 100% Chardonnay

ALCOHOL 14.5%

COOPERAGE 9 months in 50% new French and American oak barrels

2017 HOME RANCH VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 12 bottle Chardonnay Club only

Upon release, the wine is straw yellow, but the color will deepen with age. The nose elicits scents of pink lady apple, pears, pineapple, vanilla and chamomile. Flavors of tropical fruit, peaches, vanilla and fresh apple pie are carried by bright acidity to a long finish punctuated by a creamy mouthfeel.

RELEASE DATE August 2018

APPELLATION Carneros

VARIETAL COMPOSITION 100% Chardonnay

ALCOHOL 14.5%

COOPERAGE 8 months in 80% new French oak barrels

WINE CLUB BENEFITS› Member savings of 20% on club shipments› Member savings of 15% on all non-shipment wine purchases › Complimentary tastings for you and up to 3 guests,

per visit (Member must be present to receive discount. Reservations required.)

› Exclusive offers and access to limited-production wines

› Invitation to members-only events › Special offers during the month of your birthday › Customized shipments—call or email in advance to add wines

of your choice to your regular shipments at no additional shipping cost

› Winery pick-up option (Reservations required)

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A PERFECT PAIRINGCARNEROS CHARDONNAY PAIRING

Lobster Rolls4 sandwiches

Lobsters are available year-round, alive, throughout the United States. So why does summer get all of the lobster roll action? We think any time is the best time for gratuitous lobster consumption, wallet-permitting. Of course, if you live near abundant supplies of fresh Dungeness crab, we highly recommend modifying this recipe to suit your needs (and desires!).

You will need two 1½-pound lobsters or one 2½ to 3-pound lobster for this recipe. To cook lobster, see Page 383 of the Joy of Cooking, 75th Anniversary Edition.

Combine: 2 cups cooked lobster meat, cut in bite-sized chunks 2/3 cup finely diced celery (1 tablespoon chopped celery leaves) 2 tablespoon chopped parsley 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice Salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste

Stir in: About 3 to 4 tablespoons mayonnaise or aioli

Set aside. Split along the top (but not all the way through): 4 hot dog buns or brioche or challah rolls

COOKING WITH JOYKoerner Rombauer’s great aunt Irma Rombauer was the original author of The Joy of Cooking, considered by many to be the greatest teaching cookbook ever written. (We certainly think so!) Today, the book is in the hands of fourth-generation stewards John Becker and Megan Scott, who continue to develop new recipes and retest old favorites. They have chosen the recipe in this newsletter to pair with your latest club wines. For additional recipes, expert cooking tips and more, visit www.thejoykitchen.com.

In a large skillet, melt over medium-low heat: 3 tablespoons butter

Place the buns on their sides in the pan (slit facing sideways) and move them around the pan to distribute the butter. Weigh the buns down with another skillet and griddle them for 5 minutes on each side, or until dark brown. While they are still warm, fill the buns with the lobster and serve garnished with lemon wedges.

3522 Silverado Trail NorthSt. Helena, CA 94574

ROMBAUER.COMClub: 866.280.2582 (CLUB) Reservations: 707.963.6606

PRICE LISTCLASSIC WINES RETAIL CLUB2014 Diamond Selection Cabernet Sauvignon $100.00 $85.002016 Napa Valley Merlot $45.00 $38.252016 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $65.00 $55.252016 Rombauer Zinfandel $35.00 $29.752016 El Dorado "Twin Rivers" Zinfandel $42.00 $35.70

*2017 Carneros Chardonnay (featured) $38.00 $32.302017 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc $24.00 $20.40

DESSERT WINES2015 Joy Late Harvest Chardonnay 375ml SOLD OUTNonvintage Zinfandel Port 375ml $55.00 $46.75

LIMITED PRODUCTION WINES2013 Le Meilleur du Chai 240 cases $125.00 $106.252015 Stice Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 495 cases $115.00 $97.752014 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 495 cases $115.00 $97.752015 Fiddletown Zinfandel 2,150 cases SOLD OUT2016 Proprietor Zinfandel 730 cases $65.00 $55.25

*2017 Proprietor Chardonnay (featured) 800 cases $70.00 $59.50

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE WINES *2017 Home Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay (featured) 230 cases $70.00 $59.502017 Buchli Station Vineyard Chardonnay 230 cases $70.00 $59.50

*Featured wine in current shipment More formats available at Rombauer.com

Your next Chardonnay Club shipment will be February 2019