2010 hibernal letter
The acme and culmination of our work: bottling. It is a terrifying time because of the degree of unforigiving preparation that is necessary—but also because the moment of bottling is absoulutely final. No more maturation, blending, hoping, guessing … The wine must either be released, or consigned to oblivion. I am very happy to say that we have many wines to release, none to destroy, and a new (and interesting) source of confidence in the superlative quality of what we are releasing.
I invited all of you to barrel tastings to sample the new wines a few weeks ago. I have held two of the tastings already, in the remote market of New York, where I lugged the samples in my overburdened baggage. The first tasting was truly electric; the second quiet and intimate. The reaction at each one was so thrilling, so gratifying to me. I have never, ever presented my wines to so many people at once. And the people seemed happy. Very happy.
The overwhelming reaction of excitement, admiration, pleasure, and wonder has made me much more confident—and excited—in presenting these wines to you now, and urging you not just to read about them, but to bring them home.
These are the wines that I presented, and that I am offering to you now:
2009 BOKISCH RANCHES
MARCHER
SUR LA LUNE
RESERVE
intense, partial skin fermentation
2009 Lost Slough Vineyard
RIQUEWIHR
more wine; lower prices
2009 FARINA VINEYARD
LA SEVERITÀ DI BRUTO
From the 200 surviving vines of a 50 year-old vineyard in Rutherford.
19 cases of Sauvignon Blanc.
2009 FARINA VINEYARD THE
PRINCE IN HIS
CAVES
Whole-cluster pressed Malvasia Nera; own-rooted vines planted in
the 1860s in Lodi. Fragrant white wine from red grapes.
2006 ROCKY HILL VINEYARD
SAN
FLORIANO DEL
COLLIO RISERVA
Whole-cluster pressed Malvasia Nera; own-rooted vines planted in
the 1860s in Lodi. Fragrant white wine from red grapes.
2008 GARDENS
OF
BABYLON
juicy super attractive blends
You may order these wines here.