Florida Jim
Florida Jim
We just finished bottling our 2008 syrah (73 cases) and our 2008 skin-fermented sauvignon blanc (23 cases). Its a pretty remarkable thing to see the bottling, labeling, corking and capsuling machine do its thing. Who the hell thinks up such a machine?
And its daunting to have so many moving parts at the end of what was a long, slow maturing process where the only movement to the wine was topping. But, everybody does it so . . .
We tasted both before they went to bottling; the syrah is fairly serious and unlike the 2007 vintage which always seemed to me to be a fun, puppy kind of wine - the Beaujolais of syrah, if you will. The 2008 is much different and reflects the vintage as well as I could hope - it will demand aging. Much more Northern Rhone in style.
The sauvignon blanc is just plain weird - no one that has smelled it could tell the variety and everyone in the winery just commented that there was a lot going on in the wine. Only one person said they liked it (beside me) and Diane hates it. But in the style of Radikon, Gravner, et al, I think it plays well.
Also, a few brief impressions of other wines recently tasted:
Husch, pinot noir (whatever the current release vintage is - 2008?) is charming; 13.9%, aromatic, feminine and still intense. At $22, hard to beat.
The 2008 Drouhin, Saint Veran (blanc) is about $18, full retail (I've seen it for less) and its worth buying by the case - screwcap. Not a hint of wood anywhere but still complex and crisp.
The most recent vintage (2007?) of Bedrock cabernet sauvignon is the exception to my rule - its cab., its 14.5% aclohol, its raised in 100% new wood - I should hate it. Just the opposite; powerful but not thick, gentle oak and beautiful flavors. Pigs are flying.
Also the new vinatge of Bedrock, Rose (to be bottled in about two weeks) is a ringer for Tempier, rose. 120 year old mouvedre vines picked at 22 brix - the stuff is really fine.
Sonoma is wet - rain is the normal weather these days. But we got one day to head out to Point Reys Station and its was sunny and lovely. And we got a chance to meet Scott Kraft at Ubuntu (vegetarian done right) Restaurnat in Napa, drink his '96 Clos Rougard (sp?) and enjoy a pleasant evening out.
No internet access while I'm here (this is written from the local library hook-up) which is frustrating but, we seem to be too busy to sit in front of a screen much.
That's about it for now.
We fly back to FL on the 7th . . . and we will miss being here more than I can say.
Best, Jim
And its daunting to have so many moving parts at the end of what was a long, slow maturing process where the only movement to the wine was topping. But, everybody does it so . . .
We tasted both before they went to bottling; the syrah is fairly serious and unlike the 2007 vintage which always seemed to me to be a fun, puppy kind of wine - the Beaujolais of syrah, if you will. The 2008 is much different and reflects the vintage as well as I could hope - it will demand aging. Much more Northern Rhone in style.
The sauvignon blanc is just plain weird - no one that has smelled it could tell the variety and everyone in the winery just commented that there was a lot going on in the wine. Only one person said they liked it (beside me) and Diane hates it. But in the style of Radikon, Gravner, et al, I think it plays well.
Also, a few brief impressions of other wines recently tasted:
Husch, pinot noir (whatever the current release vintage is - 2008?) is charming; 13.9%, aromatic, feminine and still intense. At $22, hard to beat.
The 2008 Drouhin, Saint Veran (blanc) is about $18, full retail (I've seen it for less) and its worth buying by the case - screwcap. Not a hint of wood anywhere but still complex and crisp.
The most recent vintage (2007?) of Bedrock cabernet sauvignon is the exception to my rule - its cab., its 14.5% aclohol, its raised in 100% new wood - I should hate it. Just the opposite; powerful but not thick, gentle oak and beautiful flavors. Pigs are flying.
Also the new vinatge of Bedrock, Rose (to be bottled in about two weeks) is a ringer for Tempier, rose. 120 year old mouvedre vines picked at 22 brix - the stuff is really fine.
Sonoma is wet - rain is the normal weather these days. But we got one day to head out to Point Reys Station and its was sunny and lovely. And we got a chance to meet Scott Kraft at Ubuntu (vegetarian done right) Restaurnat in Napa, drink his '96 Clos Rougard (sp?) and enjoy a pleasant evening out.
No internet access while I'm here (this is written from the local library hook-up) which is frustrating but, we seem to be too busy to sit in front of a screen much.
That's about it for now.
We fly back to FL on the 7th . . . and we will miss being here more than I can say.
Best, Jim