He was the best of the best

I am stunned, gobsmacked and beside myself with grief at this news. I am still half-convinced that it will prove to be a hoax or inside joke or terrible mistake, even as the tears course down my face.

Unlike many of you, I never knew that other Joe D. apart from what I saw posted on teh Interwebz, so I couldn't truly share in the sense of loss that so many of you felt when news of his death was made public. This, however, is my "Joe D" moment. I'll have to dig around for any photos, but for those of you who don't know, I've known SFJoe since he arrived in grad school, a fresh faced young scientist lately arrived from a few years in industry, just like me before him. We bonded over a common love of wine and it was he, many years later, shortly after the birth of my son, who mentioned to me this place called Wine Therapy where he conversed with like-minded folk about wine, especially wines from an importer named Joe Dressner.

I owe Joe so much that I'll never be able to repay. His generosity and good will will be what I always remember about him.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Brézème:
And now let's plant a chenin vineyard somewhere in Vouvray. A clos SFJoe. This project starts today. All energies are welcome. For building walls, planting, pruning and, in a few years, harvesting and drinking.
Pour se souvenir dans la joie.
Merci pour tout Joe!
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If there ever was the absolutely perfect pitch way to memorialize (the incomprehensible) a remarkable man, this is it.
 
A truly wonderful man who will be missed by many. I hope he realized the positive impact he made on people near and far, those he met and those he had not yet. The world seems less fun right now. May he embrace peace wherever he is.
 
originally posted by Don Rice:
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No words - just to see his face again.
Love, Jim
 
originally posted by Brézème:
And now let's plant a chenin vineyard somewhere in Vouvray. A clos SFJoe. This project starts today. All energies are welcome. For building walls, planting, pruning and, in a few years, harvesting and drinking.
Pour se souvenir dans la joie.
Merci pour tout Joe!
Click to expand...

In. I have no words, so yours will do for me.
 
originally posted by MLipton:
OMGI am stunned, gobsmacked and beside myself with grief at this news. I am still half-convinced that it will prove to be a hoax or inside joke or terrible mistake, even as the tears course down my face.

Unlike many of you, I never knew that other Joe D. apart from what I saw posted on teh Interwebz, so I couldn't truly share in the sense of loss that so many of you felt when news of his death was made public. This, however, is my "Joe D" moment. I'll have to dig around for any photos, but for those of you who don't know, I've known SFJoe since he arrived in grad school, a fresh faced young scientist lately arrived from a few years in industry, just like me before him. We bonded over a common love of wine and it was he, many years later, shortly after the birth of my son, who mentioned to me this place called Wine Therapy where he conversed with like-minded folk about wine, especially wines from an importer named Joe Dressner.

I owe Joe so much that I'll never be able to repay. His generosity and good will will be what I always remember about him.

Mark Lipton
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I owe Joe so much that I'll never be able to repay.

We all do, Mark. The man gave so much, it was impossible to keep up.

Heavy hearts tonight.
 
I'm so very sad and shocked to hear this. I knew him mostly through his wonderful writing here and on Mouthfuls and will miss him a lot.
 
Joe might have been the one person in the world who I knew well from both my personal wine world and my professional life. Many of you might not know but will surely not be surprised that Joe would host a wonderful party on the opening night of the biggest Healthcare conference of the year - it was a relaxed, enjoyable party with great conversation, food and wine. It was the one respite to an insane week and I so looked forward to Joe's invitation every year, even though technically I am a competitor and not a client. This party and act of generosity says everything about Joe. It is strange but fitting that I was awarded a major deal that originated at his party this past January and I was thinking of him as I ran into Eric at Immich-Batterieberg both on this past Friday.

I saw Joe around in many different settings and always enjoyed seeing him and now I sure wish I would have spent more time with him.

He clearly welcomed me to this board and made my entry easy.

You can count me in on the Chenin project.
 
Just now reading this after getting Brad's FB post. What a total bummer. What a loss. I only dined with him a few times but i was proud to call him a friend. Oh wow.
 
No, no, non.

Joe, I had so many bottles of Coulée de Serrant waiting for you, to convince you that I was right to believe in Virginie. I kept back wines from Pépière, Huet, Clos Roche Blanche, because you introduced me to them and I looked forward to sharing them with you. I had cases from Gigou, Laureau, Dupasquier, because I wanted to return the favour, somehow.

I opened a 2013 Dashe Cellars Les Enfants Terribles Zinfandel because you were responsible for us importing Mike's wines into Singapore. I opened a 2009 Clos Roche Blanche Sauvignon #5, recalling Catherine and Didier speaking so fondly of you. Both wines sang of loss, of grief, of anguish. I could open so many other bottles with shared stories, with your words in my ears, the smiles of mutual friends in my memory. And they would all taste the same.

But words and wine are wholly inadequate for moments like this. All I write, all I think is trite.

Thank you, my friend. Rest in peace.
 
I never knew Joe except through the wine boards here, but always wanted to, have to wait until Fiddler's Green now. Sad news.
 
I know Joe only through the board and related PMs, but his was a character to respect and admire, whether up close or from afar.

It would be a courtesy if the NY folks could let those of us more distant know about memorial arrangements, as they develop.
 
originally posted by Jay Miller:
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
David Lillie.
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Wonderful tribute.

Like others I had wine I was planning to open with him. A 2002
Clos Roche Blanche Cot in particular had his name on it once it hit age 15. I'll think of him when I drink it.
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He told me to set aside Cotat roses for 10 years. One of them is coming up on 9.
 
Can't add much to what others have said. This is a shock.
You couldn't speak to the man for 30 seconds without coming away more enlightened.
Very grateful to him for leaving this community as one of his legacies.
 
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