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To sum up the 2019 growing season so far, here at my small ranch: We pruned, the vines proved they are alive and, as predicted, shot out buds. They are just starting to leaf out. We mowed the very high cover crop down last week, and now this week we weed-whacked between the vines, and now, just toda...

Stew is the obvious if unoriginal answer, boeuf bourguignon, veal Marengo that sort of thing. All the work is ahead of time, even the day before if you want. Agreed. You can even cook noodles or mashed potatoes ahead of time. If noodles, just put a minimal amount of oil on them so they don't stick ...

Not me.

Mich@el Ch@ng wrote: ↑
April 18th, 2019, 9:09 pm
Which one was gronk drinking?

I never figured that one out! But for sure it was a big wine for that big man!

I should not say anything, but when has that stopped me? Eisele Vineyard is 4 driveways down from me. They showed at the Bassin's tasting last weekend, next door to me there, too (done alphabetically). A lot of oak - for me - on the Eisele. Taylor, their marketing manager, and I will get together so...

I care and I while I merely dislike heavy bottles, I hate oversized bottles that don’t fit in my racks. There are a lot of bottles that look classy and expensive but that are still fairly light. For examples among current wines, I think EMH’s silkscreened bottles look great. For bottles with labels...

I don't have one. I have spent a lot of time trying to assemble what I want in Champagne and I don't have more than 2-3 of some things so often for me, what is 'house' is what I want to share with my wife or the friends we have over. Pretty much. I love champagne, and we drink a fair amount, but I ...

Gorgeous wine - absolutely love it!

I buy a lot of daily drinkers which cost between $32-$40.

Then I go where I want for some special stuff, in the $100-150 range. Problem is, I look at them as I do my daily drinkers. And so it goes.

Merrill we will probably keep on keeping on. A leopard never changes spots. Users always use. Liars always lie. Ray's done pretty well on other peoples money. He is a charmer, like most users. Theft is a crime of dishonesty. Not all liars are thieves, but all thieves are liars. If you don't know a ...

I guess you didn't get a phone call from him threatening legal action. And when you look back over all of his history the only question that should be asked is, why is he not in jail? But to ask that here is just fueling a fire that cannot be put out here. Maybe it makes some people feel better. I ...

I am not sure why this is of on-going interest to so many. Let it pass - let it be - at this point, posters show more of their integrity (or lack thereof) than the folks at Maison Ilan. Just drop it. If you lost out on the first venture, by all means seek restitution. But the continuous slamming of ...

Put me on the list, please.

Steve Gautier wrote: ↑
March 30th, 2019, 4:02 pm
Does the 2009 still need a decant?

That one makes me proud pop and pour or, even better, decant. If you want to open it now, pour it between two well-seasoned decanters and give it a try. I wish I could drink one tonight.

Thanks, I was getting ready to open one tomorrow. It is the single most frustrating thing in winemaking. You have other Black Cats, no? Try a 2014...I have not had the regular lately, but the Special has been good. People are liking the 2012. And if you are fortunate enough to have 2009, drink it! ...

Folks: many of you purchased the 2013 on BerserkerDay. It was a darling for quite some time - strutting its stuff. But I noticed recently that is has shut down (or taken a step back, at least) and I have had this confirmed by a very experienced retail wine buyer. So hold that one for now. I'll keep ...

I won't order because I don't eat frozen meat. So surprised everyone here does.

Please, the two of you play nice to one another. Casey throws barbs, Merrill replies with her own - let's dial it back and type what you'd likely say to each other in person in a public setting, please. I'd say - in person - that I am tired of his picking at me. He is rude. He is a redneck who does...

Please, the two of you play nice to one another. Casey throws barbs, Merrill replies with her own - let's dial it back and type what you'd likely say to each other in person in a public setting, please. You want me as one of 6 women who post here amongst 10,000 men to sit back and take it? Sorry. I...

I did venture out yesterday to check out the Cabernet buds - nothing happening. And yes, it is raining again. As was mentioned above, the rain means warm temperature, so no need for frost protection. But frost protection is usually reserved for April in these parts. I will never forget 2008, when w...

I did venture out yesterday to check out the Cabernet buds - nothing happening. And yes, it is raining again. As was mentioned above, the rain means warm temperature, so no need for frost protection. But frost protection is usually reserved for April in these parts. I will never forget 2008, when we...

2004 Dom Perignon. I have had glorious bottles of this, and so-so bottles of this. This bottle belongs in the former category. Not crisp, but soft, full and satisfying. I had met friends for lunch and suffered through a domestic "bubbly" with them, and came home to look for a potential satisfier. Th...

I had always been told by my mentor that auctions are opportunities for people to buy wines at deflated prices. I have had at least 3 of these experiences - some of late - and I have ended my "career" in auction donations. Just doesn't feel good - would rather write a check to the charity. And I alr...

That is what my table grapevine looks like. Guess I need to venture out to check out the Cabernet. The table grapevine is closest to the house, and is always the first to show budbreak.

Every time I read the title of this thread, I read "breakfasting with Krug." Nothing better on a Sunday morning! Champagne in bed!

Methinks she is using “security” in place of “privacy.” Folks have commented on why they would not want their cellars visible, and it has nothing to do with actual CT security. It’s why most keep their cellars private. For sure this is how I took Merrill's meaning. +1 I think her Concern is around ...

Don't have any; don't use any. Takes the "sexiness" out of wine consumption.

Cedric Bouchard "Roses de Jeanne." I love this. Shared with my gardener, which is our social time after he takes care of my non-vineyard landscape. A weekly tradition. He has an astute palate, which is not tarnished by price, allocations, all that stuff. He speaks intelligently about each Champagne'...

Are you tracking your cellar on CellarTracker? No Eric, I do not use CT to track my cellar. Too much like work. I don't use any method to track, and it makes that part of it fun for me. I like your tool and many of my customers use it, but I do not enter purchases or remove wine consumed from any d...

I agree with the security issues cited by some. I do not care what anyone else has in their cellar. What I DO care about, as a wine producer, is the person and notes published by someone who has posted a review on my wines. If they give a wine of mine an 88, I like to see what they rate higher, low...

I agree with the security issues cited by some. I do not care what anyone else has in their cellar. What I DO care about, as a wine producer, is the person and notes published by someone who has posted a review on my wines. If they give a wine of mine an 88, I like to see what they rate higher, lowe...

I was just out in the vineyard and noticed that my one vine of Thompson Seedless table grapes have popped some buds. Time to keep and eye on the Cabernet.

Drove my grandson to a soccer match in Napa today. What a glorious day it was. Went down 'the trail' and thought I saw Merrill out there with her pruning shears in hand whacking on those Cabernet vines. Warm weather brought out the touristas in mass. Drove my grandson up to the Sattui castle and it...

Word on the street is the new room at federal was Ned Johnson’s (Fidelity) former cellar he kept at his office. Federal took over the space. The whiskey selection at federal is very good too. Don’t be shocked when you walk in. It looks like a mom and pop packy at first blush. I loved reading the wo...

Pruning did not happen yesterday as planned. The wet weather has set much of the pruning back. But a partial crew showed up today, and I am grateful for that. We will continue on tomorrow. The weather is very warm and sunny, although frosty in the mornings. I'm not seeing any fuzzy buds, but I would...

You can't go wrong with any of these 3. All have excellent reputations and have been in the business for a long time.

1990 Pol Roger Brut.. excellent 1996 Dom Perignon... even better. Lives up to the hype. 1996 Henriot Enchanteleurs... this bottle seemed tired. Normally excellent. 2002 Pierre Peters Chetillons... still quite primary This weekend I was gifted a 1990 Pol Roger Brut Rose from its original owner. You ...

Oh so sunny and warm (65 here right now at the house - vineyard feels even warmer). Overnight there was a heavy frost - all white out there this morning. Tomorrow we finally prune, and getting seriously into shipping. Seems like the last few years we go from freezing and below for extended periods o...

At EMH, the 2017s are also lush and rich, with higher ABVs than I normally get. They don't smell or taste hot, but the lab results don't lie. I had a very small crop, followed by my largest crop ever for my 2018 harvest. The mysteries of grape farming....

R M Kriete wrote: ↑
March 6th, 2019, 2:45 pm
If you skip Napa and hit Sonoma instead, you may be able to actually afford the wines you like

As long as your desires are not for Napa Cabernets!

Just responding to the Original Post.

My tonnage was down, as opposed to 2018, which was the largest ever. I picked a month before the first fire broke out, so no worries there. But I did go pick up some barrel samples today and ran through them. They are very nice, and so different barrel to barrel (I don't rack to a tank; all barrels ...

There is huge acreage that is not a source of fine, boutique wine. Not sure you can separate the vineyards we talk about here from the much larger vineyards. My initial thought as well. Given how much acreage goes into bulk wine, it’s not too shocking. Another reason to support growers and wineries...

When people say "taste before you buy," I am curious how to do that with respect to allocated mailing list wines, particularl.y when you don't live in or intend to visit Napa/Sonoma in the near term. You are right, Sherri, everyone can't possibly taste before they buy. Here is where you need to tru...

This is Merrill responding: Exactly, Brian. I insist on tasting every few months anything I have in barrel. I taste the wines before the final blending, and then again as we go to the bottling line. If there is something I don't like, and would not want my customers to pay for or experience, it wou...

I put my boots on and walked the vineyard in the sunlight. For the first time ever, I saw about an inch of standing water from 1-3 vines in, in some rows, coming from the South, so closest to the Trail and Diamond Mountain. It was very quiet out there, and I could hear the ground taking in the water...

C. Keller wrote: ↑
February 28th, 2019, 2:55 pm
I got some email releases for 2017's this week from Quivet and Vice Versa. How bad is the vintage? I haven't seen many reviews.

That's quite the inviting question you ask...really makes growers and winemakers want to jump right on to answer such a negatively posed "question."

When I saw that Silverado Trail was closed from Pope St. (the way-too-narrow bridge connecting the Trail to Route 29 in downtown St. Helena) to Zinfandel Lane, I decided I would give it another day before driving to Napa to my warehouse. I've got plenty to do here

R M Kriete wrote: ↑
February 27th, 2019, 10:36 am
Will all this weather push budbreak back this year?

Can't tell. To my knowledge the rain has nothing to do with the timing of budbreak. Temperature is what will drive it.
Let us see what is in store for us.

Odd Rydland wrote: ↑
February 27th, 2019, 11:46 am

Merrill Lindquist wrote: ↑
February 27th, 2019, 6:57 am
6 bottles Roederer 2012 Rose. Had a bottle around Valentine's day, and ordered 6 more, pronto.
I can confirm that is good stuff.

I was given 2 bottles: one was the 2009 (non-rose) and this 2012 Rose. A world of difference - I thought the 2012 was special.

Scratch that. It is now raining again - lightly but steadily. There will be no drought conditions in my area this summer!

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