Interesting Initiative

[Peter Creasey]

A 4-person panel, including one Certified Sommelier, was tasked with meeting with Maggie Harrison and 9 selections of her upcoming Antica Terra Pinot Noirs from various of her vineyards in order to blend some of them into the best celebratory wine.

Maggie led off with a very interesting commentary on her operations, policies, philosophies, goals, vineyards, etc. A very accomplished and impressive vintner.

Then the blending process began. First, we tasted all 9 wines and chose a few we thought to be the best choices for blending. We ended up with 3 selections. We then sampled 3 parts of one of them and 1 part each of the other two. We were quite happy with that blend and designated it as #1 but decided to try two more 2, 2, and 1 allotments. We then decided to try another 3, 1, and 1 mix. This was another potential keeper so we designated it #4. We decided to taste off #1 and #4 and struggled to pick a favorite.

Maggie was pretty much just observing during this sequence and interjecting interesting sidelights. We asked her opinion of #1 and #4. She was very complimentary but felt we had overlooked a wine she thought should have been included in the process. So, we decided to add it in as one part with other parts being 1, 1, 2. This blend didn't grab the panel so we switched the new wine to 1/2 part, along with 1, 1 1/2, and 2. Now we were happy and designated it #6.

So now we had #1, #4, and #6 and naturally decided to do a taste off. We struggled to pick a favorite between #1 and #6. Easy decision -- we decided to have 2 co-celebratory wines. They went well together while providing an interesting slight but identifiable contrast. Bottling later this year.

TMI??? In any event, task accomplished. And an interesting initiative, indeed.

. . . . . Pete

 

[Florida Jim]

Well, regardless of the “data” (which I admit to having trouble following) it all comes down to what you/they like.

About 20 years ago, a gang of us visited Carneros Creek Winery in Sonoma where Francis Mahoney (then owner) poured us eight glasses of Pinot.
In each glass was exactly the same wine but each had seen one year in different cooperage. The differences were pretty clear.
Some liked one, some two, etc.
But the lesson was about how much difference the container for elevage makes. And that those differences were not just about individual taste.

I repeat this story merely to say that, had I been invited to your event, I’d have gone.
But I don’t think I’ve had taken as much away from it as I did from the one I did attend.

Best, Jim