It’s been a pretty interesting year, what with all the unique political drama that has left some folks very optimistic and others manic depressive.  But we are just wine merchants, and can’t really do anything about that (except of course make suggestions about what to serve with various emotional states).  While British comedian John Oliver suggested on national T.V. (OK, cable) that 2016 deserved an extended middle finger as years go, it hasn’t been so bad in our little world.

First off, as we pause and reflect on the year over a cup of coffee (it’s still early), we’d like to point out that it’s our own coffee.  We love a good cup of ‘joe’ almost as much as a great glass of wine.  Back in the old location we developed a pretty fair coffee program and we decided it was time to get back into premium beans.  It was our aim to create a ‘Grand Cru Brew’, so we’re packaging the new stuff under the new, snazzy ‘1855’ label, a nod to the year when the Cru Classe hierarchy was established in the Medoc.  To that end we have hooked up with a dynamic and well-connected local roaster whom we have worked with to put together a killer proprietary blend and create a program of ‘single estate’ selections as well.  It’s classic Winex, good stuff at great prices. More on that soon.

As we think about the last twelve months, we realize that there are far too many ‘moments’ to mention.  It’s never boring around here.  But there are a few people we’d like to acknowledge and a couple of random comments we’d like to make.  First and foremost, we’d like to congratulate Argentina and Chile for ‘bringing the drama’.  A lot of folks probably thought we had an agenda when we said back in January that South America (and we meant Chile and Argentina...Uruguay your time may come) was going to be ‘blowin’ up’ this year.  We had no agenda at all, merely observations.  But a lot of the boutique producers like Zorzal, Casa Marin, Montesecano, El Enemigo, Superuco, and Bastias not only exceeded our expectations but showcased styles and genres that we didn’t know existed.  Those wineries are just a few of the highlights, and we have a couple more things in the works as we write this.

We would also like to commend the folks that had the juevos to import some of the South American boutique wines we mentioned above.  One of the things we talk about with reps all the time is sustainability.  A lot of the names above are too small for the typical big importers that have existing lines that are paying the bill.  These pioneers are finding some gems that the industry as a whole simply overlooks or ignores.  But it is tough to make a living in the wine business where most of the buyers are lazy, elitist, self absorbed, and/or not inclined to take any risks whatsoever.  Even if you have the financial wherewithal to commit to this ‘folly’, it’s tough to go out there and work the streets.  The odds are against them and we both admire their commitment and are thankful for what they have shown us.  We wish them a great 2017.

We’d like to thank all of our suppliers (we deal with over 300 of them) for showing us everything that makes sense.  We couldn’t maintain the kind of innovative and expansive selection we have without this network.  We know we are tough because our standards are high and we are uncompromising as to the quality we will present our customers.  To all of you ‘slinging bags’ out there, we appreciate your patience and continued support.

We had an outstanding year in spite of the fact that certain key categories were not rolling out epic wines in 2016 (2013 red Burgundies, 2014 Barbera, Dolcetto, and northern whites, and 2013 Chateauneufs, to mention a few, did not exactly tear it up).  We are finally rolling into the vaunted 2015s from Europe in a number of key categories and the early results definitely seem to justify the hype.  Things like 2015 Beaujolais, 2015 Rhones, and a variety of 2015 whites from a number of different regions have provided a real finishing kick to the year as well as great excitement over what is yet to come.

Now, in fairness, we are pragmatists not cheerleaders.  We deal with the world around us and, while we are optimistic, we don’t pretend the wine world is a perfect place.  We are not afraid to speak our minds.  There are also a few people to whom we would have sent a ‘lump of coal’ for the holidays (if we were going to send them anything at all).  Here’s an abbreviated list below:

The Napa Valley in General-While we still have a lot of friends in the Valley that we have worked with for years, we see trends that clearly seek to keep the retail part of the wine business to the wineries themselves.  This has been possible because the media in the past has acted as a de facto sales force for a number of high profile producers and changes regarding wineries being able to ship nationally with virtual impunity has facilitated that selling.  Hey, it’s America.  So if it works, fine.  But if consumers find it harder and harder to find those high scoring, limited production wines out in the marketplace, there’s a reason.  The downside for the customer? Some wineries, in their wisdom, have now started deciding that maybe they need to have a retail presence In fine wine shops after all, and are creating new wines out of who-knows-what, not submitting them to the press or listing them on their own websites, so they can offer retailers an ‘exclusive’ on a lesser wine nobody cares about.  Thanks a bunch...

The Bots-You probably know who you are but probably won’t admit it to yourselves.  We’re talking about the supplier reps who call on us for whom ‘one pitch fits all’, wanting to tell us about how successful this wine is in restaurants (like we care... it’s a different business) and misquote relevant reviews like saying something got a 94 when, in reality, it was published as a barrel ‘range score’ of 90-94.  There are those who make representations that have no basis in fact whatsoever like saying a wine was tre-bicchieri in Gambero Rosso when it was a predecessor some three vintages past.  We could go on but the bottom line is that maybe you folks could make it a resolution in 2017 to do some homework, it will help both us and you!

The ‘High Rollers’- Actually this is a two-part piece.  First, to those of you who sold your brand for mad money this year, good for you.  Like we said, this is America.   You played the game and won, and you are now a high roller yourself.  As to the folks that paid some of the crazy prices for certain brands this year, we would point out that the reason those brands were successful enough for you to pay ‘mad ducats’ for had something to do with the juice inside.  For the record, in the 90s we referred to Rosenblum, Ravenswood, and Ridge as the three Rs of Zinfandel.  All three were purchased by corporate interests.  One doing fine, one is a shell of its former self and hasn’t done anything significant in years, and one is unrecognizable in its current state.  One we still recommend a lot.  The other two we don’t stock at all any more.

There’s always more coal to be given out (this is the tip of the coal-berg) but we just wanted to cover a few of the ‘easy’ ones that, if folks are reading, may be more of a call-to-action for them heading into 2017. There are lots of things about this industry that could be better.  But we’re still going to do whatever it takes to get the best wines and the best deals for you.

Finally, and most important, we’d like to thank you for all your support for the year we have had.  Our business is up at a time when, based on the wines and vintages available to us to sell from Europe (2015 Bordeaux futures aside), it should have been down. As the West Coast continues to roll through excellent vintages in 2017, and the 2015s continue to show up from Europe, and the good stuff continues to emerge from the Southern Hemisphere, next year is looking pretty sweet wine-wise.  We wish you all a safe and joyous year ahead.