Backstreet Cafe Restaurant of Houston
Wine at Backstreet
The period stretching from the 1st of May to early June is an exciting time at Backstreet. The nights offer the perfect climate for our beautiful patio and the season supplies such gorgeous prizes as soft shell crabs, peaches and heirloom tomatoes. There is a constant buzz of celebration in the form of weddings, graduations, showers and holidays filling the air with joyful sounds. You'd be hard pressed to find a happier spot to dine out in Houston. Of course, we always work hard to provide a wealth of options to fill your glass as you take part in the revelry. This season's emphasis will be on the exceptional offerings from the old world countries of France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria. The recent decline in the Euro has returned these remarkable wines to a price point we can all celebrate.
On Wednesday, June 9th the master of California Pinot Noir, Adam Lee, will be in Houston. Adam is the owner and winemaker of Siduri VIneyards and one of the people largely responsible for the boom in Pinot Noir. He is also a native Texan and graduate of Trinity University, in addition to being one of the most interesting wine personalities around. For the past 4 years we've had the pleasure of hosting him at one of our restaurants. For this visit, we are planning to showcase his incredible Siduri Pinot and Novy Vineyards whites and reds with the cuisine at our sister restaurant Hugo's. It's going to be a dinner for the ages. If you wish to reserve a spot for this wonderful night you can contact us at 713.524.7744
We have a simple mantra regarding wine here at Backstreet:
“Wine is not an extra or a luxury, but a necessary part of healthy living and a critical ingredient in helping food taste its best.” It is this belief that compels us to be diverse in our selections and above all fair in our price. We will continue to provide you with the best wine at the best prices so relax and take pleasure in a great meal with good friends and good wine. "
~ Sean Beck-Sommelier
Click and Drag the scroller to the right to browse current selections
- Sangria of the Day 7.5
- We love sangria! Particularly when it is made with delicious wine and the best fruit of the season.Every week brings new flavors and styles, be it white, red, or sparkling. Ask your server for today’s selection. Beer of the Month:Southern Star Bombshell Blonde Ale (Conroe) - Texas4.5Cocktail of the Month: Road To Waco10Knob Creek Bourbon, jasmine blossom infused wildflower honey, tea, lime and Balcone's Rumble. While not the most cosmopolitan of Texas cities, the drive down to Waco during late spring offers up a beautiful sea of wild flowers and bluebonnets. Of course the best part about Waco is the amazing Balcone's Distillery. The Rumble is a true Texas spirit that using local wild flower honey, mission figs, Texas spring water and turbinado sugar from Sugarland. Smooth, refreshing and surprisingly complex.
- White of the Month: '08 Paul Thomas "Les Comtesses" Sancerre Chavignol (Loire Valley) - France
- The Loire Valley is a region worthy of great love, certainly more than it gets. The region produces so many thoughtful and consistently satisfying wines, it often gets taken for granted. Sancerre could certainly be the poster child for this mindset. Sauvignon Blanc wouldn't be as widely available and relished if it were not for the versions produced in Sancerre during the 70's. It was during that time that the region went from making simple quaffing wines, to harmonious whites that accentuated food around the world. The Paul Thomas is sourced from hillside vineyards with calcium laden soil near the village of Chavignol, which enhance its bright aromatics and minerality. There's a refinement on the nose you rarely see in the Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand or America. Lovely scents of peach and tart apple are met with wispy tones of white flower, straw and citrus. The clean nature and thrilling acidity make this ideal with light seafood and the greens and high acid vegetables of the season.
Glass: 113oz Taste: 5.5 Bottle: 44 - Red of the Month: '06 Emilio Moro Red (Ribera Del Duero) - Spain
- May is a month to be relished in Houston. The nights are spectacular and there is a bounty of seasonal ingredients. It's also the month where the thoughts of Houston summer creep into our psyche. The rising heat will eventually cause all that we drink to taste bigger. Firmly tannic reds like Cabernet can begin to taste like cherry flavored cement. Rather than panicking and clinging to rose for dear life, why not venture off the beaten path? There is a world of deceptively big reds, such as the epic wines of Ribera del Duero. A region of intensely rock laden terrain and lots of sunshine, Ribera excels growing reds like Tempranillo. Emilio Moro exemplifies the power and grace found in region. Aged in a mixture of oak for a year it unfolds on the palate with a potent mix of rustic terroir, black fruit and meaty notes. It evolves steadily to showcase layers of black cherry, baked spice and undeniable earthiness. Rather than hitting you all at once the wine gives you a chance to adjust to its depth and weight.
Glass: 14.5 3oz Taste: 7 Bottle: 58 - NV J Winery Brut Rose Sparkling Wine (Sonoma) - CA 41
- I, like the French, believe bubbles are a daily part of life. In particular a good Rose is cause to celebrate. This lovely sparkling wine from Sonoma, comes courtesy of Judy Jordan, a member of the Jordan Winery family. It's dry and delicate with a brilliant pale salmon hue. The soft flavors of sweet and spicy citrus, stone fruit and fleshy dark cherry, and the lithe, earthy aromas, create a harmony anyone can dance to.
- ’06 DeLille Cellars “Chaleur Estate Red” Cabernet Blend (Red Mountain) - Washington 147
- I had the pleasure of working in Delille’s Red Mountain Appellation vineyards during the 2008 harvest. The unbelievable quality of the tiny, concentrated grapes we picked amazed me. It’s no wonder they make some of Washington’s most stunning Cabernet driven wines. The Chaleur Estate is a blend of predominantly Cab with some Merlot and Cab Franc from their various vineyards. The ’05 dances between commanding intensity and elegance while showcasing an endless array of blueberry, currant, cherry and cassis. Velvety tannins, star anise and a fine line of oak flavors offset the decadent fruit.
- ’06 Marc Deschamps "Les Champs de Cri" Pouilly-Fume (Loire Valley) - France 56
- Marc Deschamps' consistently brilliant old vine Sauvignon Blanch has elevated Pouilly Fume. Striking a balance between modernized wine making and terroir, he’s created powerful, yet graceful whites highlighting the minerality of the Loire Valley. Of the 3,000 cases he produces, the best is the elegant "Les Champs de Cri". A stirring combination of soft floral, white fleshed peach, herb and citrus.The lithe silky texture has a soft talcum edge helping echo the serene character of the soil.
- ’07 Cantine Valpane Barbera del Monferrato (Piemonte) - Italy 36
- One of best Sommelier’s in Houston, Julio Hernandez, formerly of Pappa Brothers & Emeril’s fame, has started his own wine distributing company. In addition to representing several American boutique wineries he also carries several amazing Italian wines. One of my favorites is this unique version of Barbera sourced from the original birthplace in Monferrato. The Cantine is nuanced than what's typically available. Playful, yet sophisticated it melds deep plum, black cherry, tobacco, dried red currant, and dark floral notes. The refined tannins, unmistakable terroir and acid make this a real star.
- ’07 Chehalem Reserve Pinot Gris(Willamette Valley) – Oregon 46
- Full of charm and splendor, the Chehalem is a juicy, clean and beguiling wine. The style is almost French with lovely Meyer lemon, quince, and floral. The lively fruit and vivid aromatics enhance the surprisingly rich quality. A rarity, it spends a year resting in old oak barrels, adding depth and sophistication not often seen in Pinot Gris. Why would anyone wish to drink Italian Pinot Grigio when brilliant whites like this exist in the world?
- ’07 Groom Shiraz (Barossa Valley) - Australia 62
- For the better part of a decade Daryl Groom crafted Australia’s legendary wine, Penfold’s Grange. This time around Daryl is the proprietor, winemaker and farmer along with his family. His vineyards are planted in the same area as the source material for Grange, but with a substantially lower price tag. Groom proves to be a spectacular steal, with succulent black cherry, blackberry and peppery bacon. It avoids that over the top chocolate, raison streak found in many Barossa wines. A striking finish with superb tannins, juicy fruit and espresso reminds us why Shiraz became popular in the first place.
- ’05 Russian Hill ‘Lera’s Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (Russian River) - CA 77
- In 2005 Russian River enjoyed a perfect Autumn, cool and dry, giving grapes time to hang on the vines and gain extra maturity. From the moment they hit the market, the vintage was a winner and it went at a record pace (Thank you “Sideways” effect). The '05 Russian Hill comes out of their library, part of a mere 200 cases they produced. The wine is a heady mix of Asian spice, cardamom, black cherry and red berries. There is a hint of pepper which accentuates the fleshy red fruit and long smooth tannins.
- ’08 Barnett 'Sangiacomo Vineayrd' Chardonnay (Carneros) – CA 65
- Hal & Fiona Barnett found heaven atop Napa’s Spring Mountain. On a stunning hillside property they’ve raised three lovely young daughters and exceptional Cabernet. Perhaps their only disappointment was the inability to grow Chardonnay so high up. They inevitably found some epic fruit from over in Carneros to make a touch of brilliant Chardonnay. The wine is fragrant, with soft elements of fig, pear, and melon to go along with its decadent texture and delicious shadings of oak.
- ’06 Chateau Mongravey Bordeaux (Margaux) – France 60
- They say time makes fools of us all and that is certainly the case in Bordeaux. In 1855 the Bordeaux region classified all the chateaus. While most still prove worthy, a number were either left out or didn’t exist at the time. Today these unclassified jewels of the left bank go by the name Cru Bourgeois.Chateau Mongravey of the Margaux appellation and earned its status in ’03. The wine is a charming mix of Cabernet and Merlot with lovely notes of plum, dark cherry and voluptuous blackberry. Aged in a mix of old and new French oak, the wine has depth and long, supple tannins.
