This is a collaboration of a group of friends; there are about 12 of us involved depending on how you count. Its origins lie in a fanciful trip that my dear friend, and one of the founders of the Scholium Project, Jeff Bishop, took to the Salon Interprofessionel des Vins de Maury, in the Spring of 2004. He returned from this trip in possession of about 5 acres of ancient vines and a share in a new cooperative winemaking venture. He asked me to visit the vineyards after harvest, in particular because he understood that one of the vineyards was dead and needed to be replanted. What I saw when I got there was a magnificent mixed red and white vineyard with gnarled vines probably more than 100 years in age. Unpruned for 2 years. Jeff figured out how to break out of the rather unimaginative cooperative and founded his own label based on the the original three vineyards; it is called Bistro Frères. I am a partner in this too, and help direct the winemaking.

It is wonderful to be part of Jeff's project, but after two years, I realized that one could extend what we were doing in Maury by purchasing the very best vineyards in the town. And I thought that the best was to do this was with a syndicate of friends and colleagues. Thus we founded Clos Thalès, a syndicate dedicated to making single-vineyard wines from these incomparable ancient vineyards.

The man who makes our winemaking possible is our friend and colleague, Richard Case. He is one of the first pioneers to Maury, who came in from outside with a recognition of the ancient vineyards' value and an intention to make wines that honor them. He is the owner and winemaker of Domaine de la Pertuisane and our pillar in Maury. Evan worked with him in 2006, Carrie in 2008, and she will return to be his assistant in a new, modern, and much larger facility in 2009.

We will release our first wines later this summer.

Our web site is embryonic, but you can sign up for the mailing list here.

The other project away from California is the Red Hook Winery.