Steve Zanotti – Page 49

Maxime Magnon Corbieres Rozeta 2015

MAXIME MAGNON CORBIERES ROZETA 2015

Think different. That has been a pretty effective marketing slogan for a certain tech company over the years, but it also applies to some of the revolutionary minds behind certain wine estates. In the earliest days of our wine experience, producers were struggling with more mundane problems like hygiene and weather. But as winemaking and viticulture improved, problem bottles were much less of an issue. Then it seemed that technology took over, and there was a period where far too many wines were technically flawless but not very interesting to drink.

The pendulum has now swung back the other way, with more and more producers eschewing the extreme technical regimens and moving back to a simpler time, organic viticulture and a more hands-off approach to winemaking.

This new/old trend is almost a complete return to old school winemaking which does the most to let the character of the vineyard shine by not doing the ‘hands-on’ things that might mediate that terroir element. Wines like these, when done right, are the purest expressions of place. The very best, as we have said on occasion, achieve a level of purity and expression that transcends even the appellation itself. The Maxine Magnon Corbieres Rozeta 2015 is that kind of effort.

Maxine Magnon is a Burgundian, an interloper to this land in the Corbieres A.O.C. Assembling parcels of old vines, he purchased mostly vineyards planted on schist and limestone subsoils in the sub-appellation Hautes Corbières, bordering Fitou to the South. Dogmatically focused on maintaining soil balance and a harmonious ecosystem in his vineyards, it is not surprising that his farming is certified organic and employs a number of biodynamic practices. This regional ‘hero’ is certainly a loyal follower of his mentor’s ideas, they being Jean Foillard in Morgon and good buddy, biodynamic guru Didier Barral in Faugeres. His wine retains the character and complexity of both these hands-off winemaking legends.

Maxime has made quite a name for himself in the short existence of this domaine (founded in 2002). We have had some pretty rousing examples ourselves on occasion. But even though we know the guy is something of a rock star in his part of the world, we don’t remember anything like this. Perhaps the deep, juicy fruit of 2015 is what took this one to the next level, but whatever the cause, the result is exciting.

The wine itself comes from two terroirs, one that contains an abundance of the classic garrigue of Corbieres and the other a rocky schist with virtually no topsoil that feels more like the Roussillon. The blend is predominantly old vine Carignane (65%) in a field blend with Grenache, Syrah and not-so-mainstream varietals Grenache Gris, Macabou, and Terret (the first two being white varietals and the third having mutations in both white and red).

Now the first thing we need to say is that the Rozeta is a real attention grabber that doesn’t taste like most people’s idea of Carignane, which can lean a little stemmy, nor does it have the intense garrigue component usually associated with the Corbieres appellation. It is a captivating red with an inviting nose of red fruits, spice, lavender and minerals that grows more intense and complex as it unwinds. In the mouth you get a ripe, lifted mouthful with lots of red and blue fruit, insistent spice notes and a pleasing touch of earth. In short, this is a delicious effort with both richness and brightness that takes a path all its own, with a direction veering towards the finest Morgons from mentor Foillard or, dare we say it, Burgundy. We had no idea this was a Carignane grown in Corbieres until they told us. All we knew is the wine was ‘a trip’ and offered a take on both the region and the varietal that we had not seen before.

Previous versions of Rozeta have received great press, and this is certainly the best version yet from a terrific vintage in The Sud. It will get a HUGE score. But that is not the point(s). The wine is the point.

Is it the vintage? The terroir? The 50-60 year old vines? The naturally manicured-by-farm-animals vineyard? The 30-something, low-keyed Maxine’s je ne c’est quoi? All of the above? Hard to know, but it’s something very tasty and engaging that steps outside the boundaries of its origins. For how it performs, it’s something of a bargain as well. We bought everything Kermit Lynch had because it lit us up, but quantities aren’t huge. Good hunting.

Jamek Riesling Ried Klaus Federspiel 2015

JAMEK RIESLING RIED KLAUS FEDERSPIEL 2015

We’ve became big fans of Jamek a few years back. The best efforts were packed with character and also had sufficient flesh to go along with the traditional zing. The we lost sight of them for a number of years as they left their old importer and hadn’t found a new arrangement as yet. Finally they were back and not a moment to soon. It would have been a shame to miss their efforts from the best Austrian vintage we have tasted.

Here in Wachau, as most know, they take the step of identifying the ripeness levels of their wines ala Germany, with Federspiel being more or less the equivalent of kabinett, with the measure referring to the ripeness levels of the grapes. It means the same in fact, that the grapes were harvested at a certain sugar. But the key element is that in Germany the presumption is that the wine is fruity (it can be dry, or half-dry, but it will state that on the label). In Austria, Riesling are dry unless they say otherwise, which in the case of federspiels, they never do.

On the palate, this one flirts with Smaragd richness, with a lovely textural presentation of yellow stone fruit and pear supporting the presentation of floral, citrus, and mineral tones. As always, the wine has lift and layers, and sits higher on the palate. But the fruit and deceptive density of the vintages give this Riesling an extra dimension.

Stephan Reinhardt notes are enticing, “The 2015 Riesling Federspiel Ried Klaus offers a precise bouquet of white fruits intertwined with herbal and flinty stone aromas. Round and intense on the palate, with beautiful concentration and a persistent, lovely salty finish, this is a highly elegant and complex, tightly structured Riesling from one of the most spectacular single-vineyard sites of the Wachau. The finish is full of tension, purity, salt and finally pretty long as well.”

His accompanying 90 point score didn’t jive with the review, and we think it’s on the low side. This is an unabashed, pristine beauty that sports a uniquely ripe, tender fruit component along with all of the classic lines of the genre that are unique to this special vintage. Sehr gut!

SIERRA CANTABRIA RIOJA SELECCION 2014

SIERRA CANTABRIA RIOJA SELECCION 2014

Think of this as what we used to call a wine-of-the-month, though with the new ongoing format time is a lot less linear. An amazing deal from Spain shouldn’t surprise us. We have been on our soapbox regarding the value of Spanish wines at a wide range of price points for, what, a couple of decades now? But this one certainly did! When the purveyor pulled the bottle out of the bag, the only thing we saw was Sierra Cantabria, one of the most trusted, go-to names for us in Rioja since we began selling their wines in the mid-90s.

The Eguren family have been one of the superstars of the region not only for their range of Sierra Cantabria wines, but also their Senorio de San Vicente project that focuses on an arcane variety of Tempranillo (called Tempranillo Peludo because the leaves have a unique ‘fuzzy’ surface) that typically works on the level of a Classified Growth Bordeaux. These same folks, along with importer Jorge Ordonez, sidled over to Toro and created Numanthia (which they later sold to LVMH) which helped redefine the region. They turned right around and started Teso la Monja essentially with the same concept as Numanthia as premium Toro red.

The Egurens, even though the family has been in Rioja since the 1870s, they are ‘movers and shakers’ in the region in the most modern way. Where do they fall stylistically? They do it all, making traditional Crianzas, Reservas and Gran Resevas, as well as wines reaching for a more modern sheen with the like of Finca Eel Bosco, Reserva Unica, El Puntido and Seleccion Privada outside the traditional ‘rules’. They make more than twenty different wines, including a more ‘mass market’ enterprise under the Dominio de Eguren label.

Given our knowledge of this winery’s broad lineup, we had no idea what to expect of this label that we couldn’t remember seeing before. We tasted it with no particular expectations in mind since these folks worked on many levels. Plenty of dark fruit (strawberry, plum, currant), vanilla highlights from what appeared to be some time in oak, fine purity of fruit, and the classic chocolate/earthy notes that are a part of Rioja terroir. ‘Pretty good stuff’, we thought, ‘a fine tipple in the upper teens.’

As it turned out, this was only the second release of this wine, and the price was under $10! Our shock was legitimate. Sourced from proprietary vineyards located in San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Laguardia, this wine was 100% de-stemmed and saw 6 months in tank and 6 months in a combination of 1-3 year old American and French Bordelaise barrels.

For the price point, it was a revelation! We have been complaining for quite a while that ‘value-priced’ wines have been tasting more and more homogenized and ‘messed with’. Far too many have the prevalent flavor of wood stays or oak chip ‘teabags’ meant to give the wine the ‘impression’ of more expensive winemaking, or leave residual sweetness in the wine to fill in some of the ‘cracks’. The flavors often lean more towards industrial chocolate cake frosting and candied fruit.

This one tastes like wine! Good wine! We can’t think of a more exciting thing to say than that in a wine world that seems to be intent on using wine-making tricks to gussy up marginal, ordinary juice (the ‘lipstick on a pig’ analogy comes to mind). The Egurens are giving you delightful, honest Rioja for the same kind of price.

Not only is this a $10 wine we would happily drink ourselves, it caught the attention of the usually-not-particularly-generous Josh Raynolds of Vinous, who remarked, “…Dark ruby. Ripe dark berries, candied flowers and a suggestion of woodsmoke on the perfumed nose. Pliant and expansive in the mouth, offering bitter cherry, cassis and peppery spice flavors that become sweeter on the back half. Finishes on a juicy dark berry note, showing very good persistence, gentle tannins and lingering spice and floral notes…90 Points.” A 90 from Josh on a wine in this price range is a rare occurence.

The Egurens know their business, but something tasty, honest, and inexpensive is the hardest thing to do in wine. Bravo. House red, party red, something that delivers in a way few $10 wines can (and, sadly, a whole lot of $15-20 wines as well), this is one to buy by the case…$9.98

PEGASUS BAY PINOT NOIR WAIPARA VALLEY 2012

PEGASUS BAY PINOT NOIR WAIPARA VALLEY 2012

It seems like only yesterday (it was actually the mid-90s) that we were invited to a very low-keyed tasting that a supplier was hosting. That supplier, who pioneered Oregon wines in the late 80s, long before they really took hold in the broad market, had just come back from a trip to New Zealand. He brought with him bottles of Pinot Noir from New Zealand, something we had been exposed to before. Apparently the wine industry there was just starting to get a feel for the varietal and our geeky Oregon vendor felt compelled to drag a few bottles back (a lot easier to do in those days given current airport security) to test the water. Guess we were curious, too , since we attended this small scale event just to check them out. This was so early in the game, we weren’t even aware that there was a game.

Since we had no expectations, we went simply to do our jobs and taste because, as we have said so often, you just never know. The lineup of eight wines, which included Ata Rangi and Te Kairanga we recall, showed rather well. We were prompted to order small quantities of these, at the time, completely unfamiliar labels from a completely untrested genre. Perhaps more important, our take-away from this little show was “hey, this could turn into something”. Are we saying we were ahead of the curve. Yeah, we often are because we actually take the time to look. But that isn’t the point. Are we saying we could have predicted where Kiwi Pinot would go over the next couple of decades? Not a chance.

As it turned out, that showing proved to be no fluke. Here we are roughly two decades later, and the Kiwis are accepted players on the world stage. Not only are New Zealand Pinot Noirs taken seriously in wine circles these days, their ‘top guns’ have been consistently producing lights-out juice that should be a part of any serious collection. Our subject here is one of those ‘players’, Pegasus Bay. We aren’t going to claim this is the most consistent of the top drawer estates, but they certainly hit ‘higher highs’ when they’re ‘on’. This is one of those times.

The Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir Waipara Valley 2012 also gets a little less visibility because they because of their location. The name Marlborough is certainly more ingrained in the wine buying public’s psyche and Central Otago is the more ‘glam’ locale. Now we aren’t going to mix words. Sometimes Kiwi Pinots in general can be a little too savory for their own good. But when it gets a little warmer, as it did in 2012, the riper fruit component fills in the middle and plays nicely off the cooler notes while there are none of the green edges that can sometimes get in the way. That leaves a pretty compelling drink when all is said and done.

We’re not the only fans. The added ripeness and flesh (think Burgundy not Santa Lucia Highlands) got multiple ‘thumbs up’ from the critics, including a 92 from Wine Advocate and 93 from Wine Enthusiast. The lead cheerleader in this case, besides us putting our money where our mouths (keyboards?) are, was James Suckling. He dropped a ‘96’ score on this one with the comments, “A sense of real depth, soothing dark cherry notes, some forest floor and deeply knitted oak. The palate has noble tannins and the sort of structural complexity and completeness that is the envy of most other NZ Pinot Noir makers”

As a matter of course, Kiwi Pinots can use a good splash in a decanter before serving. Who knew back in the day that New Zealand would become a world player in Pinot Noir? It is examples like this that drive the point home. As wines with this kind of reviews goes, and compared to most reserve level California Pinots, it’s quite the bargain, too…$34.98

NEYERS CABERNET SAUVIGNON NEYERS RANCH CONN VALLEY 2013

There are certainly times when wine offers are ‘cut and dried’. Somebody gave it a big review, it’s super hard to find, or there is some other compelling reason to connect with an offer immediately. It is the way of things in the age of the internet… quick decisions made by evaluating easily digestible bullet points and clicking. We have no objection to the process, and understand it. But it can also work to the exclusion of some really spectacular finds that, while they might be among of the most desirable wines in a particular category over the course of a year, don’t have a simple story that can be sliced, diced and edited into a rapid-fire offer.

We knew going in that his was going to be one of those stories that required a bit of an attention span, and therefore eliminated a number of readers and was an uphill fight in the current world of ‘quick hits’. The story of Bruce Neyers and the Neyers Cabernet Sauvignon Neyers Ranch-Conn Valley 2013 isn’t one that can be adequately told in “25 words or less”, let alone “140 characters”. But at the end of the day, we believe the ‘read’ will pay dividends in telling you about one f the most interesting Cabernets we have seen of late.We’ll open with a little perspective piece done by Spectator’s James Laube which we think is really on point, “There are so many things that Neyers winery is doing right these days that it’s hard to know where to begin…What impresses me about their winery goes beyond the quality of the wines, which is often exceptional, and extends to the sensibility of pricing. That comes from being on the sales side of the equation, working with dozens of imports and being a consumer at heart. It’s a function of Bruce Neyers having been in the wine business for 43 years, including 21 at the helm of his own winery.” He had stints at Mayacamas, Heitz, Stony Hill, and Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Bruce is a wine industry lifer, not somebody that flew in on a private jet and decided he was going to make the next Screaming Eagle.

It is that grounded perspective that is the first aspect of why this wine got us going. We’ve had people trying to sell us revved up, one dimensional oak bombs for 2, 3, or 4 times as much money as this one, a lot of them laughingly overpriced. Bruce sees all of that and goes about his business, setting a price that represents a bargain in the rarified air of serious Napa Valley Cabernet.

The vineyard, located in Conn Valley, is also a large part of the story. Bruce and his wife of 46 years, Barbara were introduced to this property in 1984. It had been a vineyard previously as indicated by the abandoned grape stakes and end posts. The land was a succession of gentle hills with a south-facing exposure; in parts it seemed impossibly steep and rocky. We thought it was beautiful, especially from the top of the hill looking southwest across Lake Hennessey towards the heart of the Napa Valley. Then there was that creek – Conn Creek it’s called — that flowed through the south block of the property. An idyllic spot that soil analysis proved was beautifully suited to Cabernet.

The vineyard was planted, or shall we say ‘repalnted’ in 1992 by the esteemed David Abreu. The vines sit on a steep, south-facing slope of basalt mixed with gravel and loam. It is considered one of the best sites for Cabernet in the Napa Valley, and now this primo site has some of the oldest Cabernet vines in the Valley. WE have spoken at length about the value of older vines, and would also make the point that a lot of those trophy Cabs other people presented us were from 6-10 year old plantings.
The last piece of the puzzle was 2013, the vintage. Robert Parker said, “…2013 may turn out to be the finest vintage I have experienced in tasting North Coast varietals over the last 37 years. It’s a game-changer …” In Bruce’s case, drought and wind reduced the crop by 25%.

Sensible, passionate winery owner, organic farming, exceptional site and, now, mature vines (2013 was their 21st harvest), lower yields and an outstanding vintage, you can see where we are going with this. But we wouldn’t be telling this story if the wine wasn’t special. For true fans of Cabernet, this is a gem. The Neyers Cabernet Sauvignon Neyers Ranch-Conn Valley 2013 is wonderfully aromatic, combining cassis and blackberry fruit with violets, cocoa and spice notes. There’s a persistent underlying minerality and whiffs of lead pencil and cedar. The palate is decidedly plush and there is an endearing softness to the edges.

There are plenty of Napa Cabs that have power and punch. Size does matter to Cabernet drinkers. But this one has more than just volume. There are layers to the flavors as well as already emerging complexity and something that can only be defined as ‘soul’. We don’t have a bunch of ‘bullet point’ scores to throw at you here. But to tell the truth our minds were made up at first sip and whatever might come later review-wise will just be a bonus. A must for Cabernet lovers.

OVERLAND WINES ARE A KICK (RANCH)

Over time we have consistently tried to make (belabor?) the point that one of the things that makes us different is our commitment to research. Long ago we figured out that we don’t know everything. Never will. But that doesn’t stop us from looking at as many wines as we can because you just never know when the next star will appear. Sometimes we have to slog through a lot of so-so stuff to find a gem or two, but that’s how you learn. Sometimes it just comes up and hits you in the face.

At first look, these were a little curious. The labels gave the stylistic impression more of a newspaper or poster from the Old West. The story it seems is that on the site of today’s Kick Ranch there was an original vineyard planted by some pioneer types that made the 2000 miles journey out west via covered wagon and landed in a small village called…Santa Rosa. The journey started in 1854 and, by 1875, the records show the family was cultivating some 25 acres of vineyards, putting them on a very close timeline to one Augustin Harasthy, considered the ‘father of California viticulture.

The history lesson ended there and there were no longer any vines on the property when Dick Keenan & Kathy McNamara purchased it around the turn of this century. After ten years of growing grapes and selling them to, as we found out, some pretty famous names (Beaven, Bedrock, Paul Hobbs, and Rosenblum, have made vineyard designated Kick Ranch bottlings), they decided it was time to produce some of their own wine.

The property’s sense of history supports the ‘old-timey’ feel to the labeling and bottles. But there was a clear purpose to the winemaking style here, too. This isn’t someone trying to make a Euro-look-alike. The Kick Ranch wines embrace their ‘trailblazer’ heritage with boldly styled, broad shouldered, very California fare. Kick Ranch’s winemaker, Glenn Alexander, was a former rancher and later manufacturer who wanted to get back to the land. He also runs a viticulture business where he tends vines for some Sonoma heavyweights.

Glenn’s consulting winemaker isn’t some jet-setter who flies in once or twice a year, nor some instantly recognizable, high-profile north coast ‘hired-gun’. It is, instead, friend and mentor Hugh Chappelle of neighboring Quivara. Hugh is a very knowledgable, down to earth sort and very focused on the vineyard approach to winemaking. Lots of winemakers say that, but Hugh came across as sincere in our conversation with him. That means he’s not the type to impose a particular winemaking style. There is little stylistic similarity between the typically more restrained Quivara style and polished, ‘frontal assault’ approach to the Overland reds.

The whole vibe here is a little ‘down home’, and that clearly suggests an authenticity to Kick Ranch’s wines as they express ‘real’ Sonoma, not some stylized California wine with an eye towards the international palate. If this be ‘cowboy’ wine, that’s OK. These wines are deliciously true to their roots.

Turns out we weren’t the only ones who liked the juice. Interestingly enough, Robert Parker also commented on the distinctive packaging. Said Parker, “I must say I liked the squat, German grenade-shaped bottles as well as some of the motivational language on the labels from “wines of promised efforts” to “the courage is in the start.” He also found there was a lot more to these than just ‘novelty packaging’.

Start with the Overland Argonaut Kick Ranch 2012, a wine named with the ‘covered wagon’ set in mind as their web page explained, “In the 1850’s, local California newspapers called those who moved to California during the gold rush of 1849, “Argonauts”. The reference is to wine growing as an ‘adventure’. ‘Argonaut’ is 82% Syrah and 18% Petite Sirah that sees 22 months in a combination of new and 2-year-old French oak.

Broad and deep (the wine, not the bottle), with plenty of black fruit and a pleasing ‘chew’ to the finish (but not astringence), this is the consummate California mouthful. An Advocate 93+, Parker’s take was, “The impressive 2012 Syrah Argonaut Kick Ranch exhibits an opaque purple color, blueberry and blackberry fruit intertwined with licorice and camphor notes, full body, sweet tannin and a long finish. This heady wine should drink well for a decade or more.” Less than 300 cases were produced of this one.
Even ‘pioneers’ need white wine sometimes, and the Overland Sauvignon Blanc Kick Ranch 2013 delivers plenty in what might be considered something of a throwback style. We had the opportunity to buy either the 2013 or 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, both Wine Advocate ‘90s’, but chose the 2013 because it was in such an appealing place. Round in the mouth with ripe fig and melon fruit, and an unobtrusive touch of oak, the 2013 had mid-palate appeal but still plenty of freshness. Bob’s take, “The outstanding 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Kick Ranch offers lots of honeysuckle, orange blossom, caramelized grapefruit and melon notes. This exotic, medium-bodied, deliciously fruity, dry, zesty Sauvignon is filled with character.” You don’t hear Advocate say,” Enjoy it over the next several years…” about California Sauvignon Blanc very often (ever?), but he did here. Overland produced a ‘whopping’ 330 cases of this one .

We had an email plans for thse wines but couldn’t secure enough wine to support it. Still, this is fine, off the beaten path California juice. If you’re muse is sitting around drinking Chinons and Savoies, these probably aren’t for you. If you are a fan of boldly flavored California wines, however, these will play well at your table.

BRETON BOURGUEIL FRANC DE PIED 2015

Cabernet Franc can be trying, but when the fruit gets to a certain ripeness, they are magic. Of course it takes just the right situation for them to hit that highest note, and nature has to cooperate. The Breton Bourgeil Franc de Pied 2015 is one of the most haunting examples from this particular appellation we have had ever. But it’s only Bourgueil, you say? How good could something from such a modest, utilitarian section of the Loire be that outstanding?

As we have said so often in Burgundy (it applies here, too), the three most important things about a wine are the producer, the weather, and the dirt. The Bretons have been a favorite of ours since we started selling a lot of their stuff back in the 2005 vintage. Catherine and Pierre Breton are as ‘blue chip’ as it gets in this part of the world. They always do fine work in both Bourgueil and Chinon (as well as a little Vouvray ). When Nature is kind, their game improves exponentially. So these grapes fell into the right hands.

The next part in this case is the ‘dirt’, or more specifically the vines. The term Franc de Pied refers to vines that are ungrafted. They exist on their own root-stock which makes them more vulnerable to phylloxera and other issues. They need special care. Given the difficulty of the vineyard maintenance and the special conditions the vines need to thrive, plots like this are relatively rare. But because the material is homogenous, it is capable of a depth of flavor and an almost exotic expression of the varietal. This simply has another gear or two by comparison to mere mortal bottlings.

Finally, in case you haven’t heard, 2015 is a uniquely special vintage. It was beyond exceptional here. We can count the vintages like this we have experienced on one hand. But not only was 2015 outstanding, it excelled in the most conspicuous of ways. Most 2015s have almost uniformly endearing, jump-out-of-the-glass type fruit components that should appeal to experienced palates and novices alike. Loire reds are no different in 2015. The Breton Bourgeil Franc de Pied 2015 simply jumps higher! The effusive nose shows notes of violets, wild herbs, fresh leaf tobacco and a little note of pepper as accents to the central theme of mulberry and red currant fruit. In the mouth, the plump, supple, gentle, but expansive fruit comes to the fore and takes charge, with gentle tannins and subdued acidity. No ’green’ flavors anywhere.

We have occasionally spoken of how a wine can succeed in a way that transcends its varietal and appellation to almost become something else. This is one of those cases, the wine existing on a plane somewhere between optimally ripe Bourgueil and a reserve Pinot from Oregon. It’s almost an ‘umami’ thing. It is definitely a delicious thing that can be enjoyed for pure hedonism, or pondered for its uniqueness and complexity. A must, we took all of it…$29.98

And Now, a Look Even Further Ahead: Part IV

Essentially from our previous pieces, we have suggested that the whole wine landscape has changed over the last twenty years as wine became more engrained in a larger segment of the population. However as the baby boomers, the first generation to really embrace wine, pass from the active market place the wine industry will have to reevaluate itself. That is something it has failed to do thus far with one of the most monumental changes in the history of mankind, the internet.

We have posited that the new, millennial buyer is more likely to be comfortable with wine because they grew up at a time where many more households had wine on the table on a regular basis. They will have more information at their fingertips 24/7 that they can access instantaneously via a number of devices. There will be no reason to wonder any more about anything but the most arcane aspects of wine, and even a lot of that info is out there if someone wants to dig a little harder.

Most will think of wine as an acceptable beverage, but we suspect fewer will have the opportunity to have that first ‘epiphany’ because this is a faster, noisier, more instant gratification group for whom burgers, pizza, buffalo wings, and forays into ethnic cuisines, most of which aren’t necessarily wine friendly nor bring with them any kind of wine culture. We’d go out on a limb and say that, in the vast majority of the venues we’ve just mentioned, it is unlikely you will find anyone who knows much of anything about wine. Things are way more casual than they used to be food wise. Millennials go out more, but typically don’t take the fine dining thing particularly seriously and don’t spend as much when they do go out according to studies we have read.

Are we saying that is bad? Not at all, simply that it is and is not the most conducive environment to recruit new wine drinkers. In a world of texting, Facebook (or whatever the hippest new social media platform is), virtual reality and self driving cars, fewer people take the time (or have it) to sit down and have a quiet dinner and a bottle of wine. Fine wine is a special, contemplative experience and that sort of entertainment is kind of out of vogue. We could go in a number of different directions from here but, suffice it to say, the speed and sensory overload of today’s world doesn’t necessarily pair well with an elegant, subtle red.

On a broad market level, the wine industry is attempting by and large to amp up the wines and the ‘kitch’ trying to make an impression. Bold, if not necessarily complex flavors via a little manipulation in the cellar mediates vintage. This uniformity makes wine ‘brands’ more like Pepsi (or Coke, we aren’t biased). It’s a homogenization of wine to a frightening extent. Everything is starting to have annoyingly similar flavor profiles as if a ‘control group’ is dictating styles.

So in the face of that, where’s our millennial generation going to get hit by the wine bug? Word of mouth and random contact with people who have already been bitten will still be a great way. But it’s that person on the street just going through life…where are they going to have that defining moment that changes their perspective? A lot of folks learned wine at an outlet where they found someone to talk to that was truly passionate. But such places are disappearing in California as a function of brutal competition, high rents, and an inability in such an environment to find good floor people.

Most of the people in ‘chains’, if you can find anyone to talk to at all, are not that far from novices themselves and definitely have some sort of employer mandated agenda like selling their own exclusive brands. Big box stores? Good luck finding anybody to ask a question of any kind, let alone something in depth.

Sommeliers? You aren’t going to find one of those in anything but top flight restaurants and, given the markups, it’s going to cost a ‘regular Joe’ a lot more to learn something. The casual dining experience, which seems to be where the restaurant expansion is these days, is less likely to produce that ‘discovery’ scenario. The accelerating pace of life in general (both real and virtual), coupled with fewer opportunities to experience some kind of ‘connection’ to wine outside the home, will make the whole embracing of fine wine as more than a ‘casual beverage option’ much more difficult.

We don’t mean to sound like depressed 1920s poets in some French café. Some will find a way. But today’s environment and generation just don’t seem as fertile a mix for fine wine appreciation. And we haven’t considered the effects of surging factors like home-delivery of meals on an unprecedented scale, presumably bringing food to someone intently engaged in some FPS (first person shooter) video experience who won’t even have a free hand to eat let alone hold and ponder a glass of wine.

Other stuff we think about…

Global warming: Whether you believe that greenhouse gasses are the cause of global warming or that it was an inevitable direction of some 10,000 year weather cycle, there is hard data that it exists. We have extensively studied European vintages back into the 40’s, and seen how many truly crummy vintages there were in the period from 1945 through 1980. In the last quarter century, the percentage of ‘great’ vintages has increased, and true ‘stinkers’ are relatively rare. But even casually saying that the average temperature increases a little every couple of years (we have heard specifics as high as 1 degree per year), what happens down the road is the issue.

Warmer weather has given us a plethora of noteworthy vintages in recent times. So, ‘hooray, global warming’ from a wine perspective? But fast forward a decade or two and think about this. All of the greatest growing sites are ‘great’ because their situation/exposure/terroir allows them to ripen the grapes consistently. Those great sites will eventually become too warm and not be as hospitable to the grapes for which they are renowned. It’s a little early to start planting Mourvedre in Germany. But the thought of doing so is considerably less insane than a couple of decades ago and freak vintages (like super hot 2003 was in Europe) might start coming around more regularly. Maybe these are the good old days.

Paradise Lost: We have often said that the wine industry has succeeded in spite of itself. We attribute that to the times and the innate appeal of the product. There were some very successful business models that worked back in the 70s and 80s that created a number of brands that have been solid for years. Here, decades later, the wine industry still holds those programs (Cakebread, Far Niente, and Sonoma Cutrer among them) as holy grails. But the times they are a changin’.

Labels are still trying to emulate the success those brands achieved ‘back in the day’ by using the same formula of perceived exclusivity, premium pricing, and restaurant focused marketing. The thing is that, back then, there were substantially fewer brands vying for people’s attention. It’s a lot harder to catch someone’s eye in a group of 500 labels than a group of 50, yet the market is saturated with would-be superstars who all want to play the same game. We have exactly the same conversations with wineries about how ‘special’ their wines are that we had three decades ago, only more of them because of the sheer volume of wineries.

The rise of the critic changed how wine was marketed, and the internet changed the world. Yet the wine industry still blindly preaches the mantra of the old days. There’s a lot of unsold wine out there because of ‘the games people play’. Still, as wineries come to grips with their own failures, they still cling to ‘the ideal’. Shhh, don’t tell anyone, there’s a bit of big time wine being dumped at restaurants at a fraction of the price to move it. There’s a lot of wine sitting in warehouses unsold.

We get people coming to us regularly with wine they need to move at heavily discounted prices, many of them good labels, with the request that we sell it for the same price that they did (or clearly failed to) so as not to hurt their image. Our take is that maybe their image isn’t what they think it is. Maybe it shouldn’t have been that price in the first place. If they couldn’t sell it to people who supposedly like their wines within those parameters and nothing else to sell, what makes them think we could do it against our very competitive selection.

Wine Spectator recently published that direct-to-consumer shipping was at an all time high. Fair enough. We’d say that more wineries are adopting that model because they make the most money that way, and there are record numbers of wineries playing that avenue. We also would suggest that without a tout from a significant critical source, that plan is not sustainable and people will tire of paying $60-80 (or more) for a ‘$30’ wine just because it is ‘exclusive’ or ‘rare’. We don’t see millennials putting up with that nonsense at all.

The wine industry has lived a charmed life over the last three (or four) decades. It has been a good ride, but much has changed. If the industry as a whole does not accept the new reality and rethink their approach, they will not only attract fewer new buyers, but are in danger of losing a bit of their existing audience. Finding new buyers is going to be difficult enough moving forward for reasons we have discussed. But it is considerably harder to bring back buyers you have alienated.

SOULFUL CHARDONNAY: ALMA DE CATTLEYA CHARDONNAY SONOMA COUNTY 2015

ALMA DE CATTLEYA CHARDONNAY SONOMA COUNTY 2015

It’s getting harder and harder to find good deals in California. Sure there are those so-called value bottlings that essentially offer plonk for a low price, but that’s not really a good deal if you are a discriminating wine drinker. Heck, you don’t even have to be all that discriminating to know that a lot of that stuff is simple, calculated, and something that strives for adequacy.

That’s what makes this wine kind of special. This is not some made-to-order line item to fit into a specified price strata. This is a soulful, expressive, bright Chardonnay that is the personal statement of a winemaker with a burgeoning reputation and a fascinating history. A lot of passion and knowledge goes into this wine and it shows in the glass. This all emanates from Bibiana González Rave, a Columbian born lady who decided in her teens that she wanted to make wine.

Hard to figure where it all started but she studied chemical engineering in Columbia after which she got herself to France, where between Bordeaux and Cognac she learned viticulture, enology and microbiology. She had all of the tools to be a winemaker but that was only the beginning. She worked at a number of French domaines including Ogier and Clusel-Roch in the Rhone and Haut Brion and La Dominique in Bordeaux.

She worked harvests in South Africa at Saronsberg Cellars as well as in California and France, working six harvests in three years at one point. One can get a little winded just reading her story but, in 2007, she decided to take her show to the West Coast. In California she worked at La Crema, Peay Vineyards, Au Bon Climat and Qupé before Lynmar, where she was winemaker from 2009 through 2011.

Upon leaving Lynmar, he started her own vineyard and winery-consulting business, Rave Vines & Wines, produced a handful of wines under her own label, Cattleya (named for the national flower of Columbia, the orchid, and the word alma is Spanish for ‘soul’). She married Jeff Pisoni, of the Pisoni Vineyard family, formed a winery with him called Shared Notes, secured new grape sources for her own wines and signed on as winemaker for Jayson Pahlmeyer’s Sonoma Coast Pinot and Chardonnay project called Wayfarer Ranch. She has been given broader responsibilities within the range of Pahlmeyer projects recently. To borrow a phrase from athletics, ‘You can’t stop her you, can only hope to contain her.’

You wonder when she has time to do all of this. Given the range of her vast winemaking experience at high end locales, you also wonder why she would choose to make something in this kind of price range. Yes, she makes the requisite $60-90 vineyard designated offerings that have pulled down big numbers from the critics. But here is this brilliantly precise, vivid Chardonnay for under $20, clearly made with the same attention to detail. Lifted apple fruit, well integrated notes of clean minerality, mid-palate volume and plenty of freshness, this outclasses the price point. Are we saying this is one of those desirable ‘little’ wines made by a big time winemaker that reaches to a higher level? ¡Claro que si!

DURAND SAINT JOSEPH LAUTARET 2010

DURAND SAINT JOSEPH LAUTARET 2010

No the vintage isn’t wrong. We actually sold out this same wine a couple of years back. We are fans of the pure, genuine Syrahs from the brothers Durand, we are big fans of the 2010s in the Northern Rhone, and to have another chance to sell it with a bit more bottle age is too good to be true. Where did it come from? Lots of possibilities. Well, maybe this one got lost in the shuffle of five different 2010 reds (2 Saint Josephs and 3 Cornas) produced here. Maybe the importer picked up a few extra cases late in the game. Maybe he was holding the wine for someone who finally reneged.

All of these things happen fairly regularly in the ‘biz’, the salient point being that here’s an opportunity to buy a refined, 91-point Saint Joseph from a great vintage for a very modest fare. The stuff is definitely ‘in a place’ right now with plenty f cool blackberry fruit that is started to round out, laced with the ‘grey rock’ minerality and whiffs of meat and pepper. Lovely stuff from a vintage that’s pretty much gone from the market, our price is substantially better than the couple of places that still have it left.

The Advocate notes read as follow, “the 2010 St.-Joseph Lautaret exhibits notes of black raspberries, pen ink, subtle toast, forest floor and powdered rock along with superb intensity and medium to full body. While accessible now, it should be at its best in two years and last for 15 (the review shows a $42 list) … This up-and-coming small estate is run by brothers Eric and Joel Durand, who made terrific wines in 2009, top-class 2010s and impressively strong efforts from the more challenging 2011 vintage.”

The Saint Joseph Lautaret has definitely settled in beautifully and we’re pretty sure it would vaporize via an email, except we don’t like to send emails when we don’t have enough juice to support a good run. So consider this an insider’s tip for the readers of the new format Stock Report, a little hidden gem early in the game. This type of thing happens on occasion, where we got more than we can drink ourselves, but not enough for a broadcast offer. The ongoing Stock Report gives us the opportunity to tell you about things like this ‘real time’… we have ours, of course. . . . $26.98 (special price)