Wine Berserkers - international wine social media, online community, and discussion

Long time lurker, second time caller. The first time I posted it was a bit of a . . . well . . . you know. How many active serious winemaking / winery owning / wine collecting ladies are here? I love reading the Wine Talk forum, hi guys <waves hello>, but would like to connect with my sisters too. ...

The OP really comes close here to being spam. Can you explain how? I posted this in a genuine effort to understand people’s thinking and concerns regarding smoke taint when wines from this vintage are ultimately released, and how those will be shaped by different external factors. Because you are I...

I am curious what everyone's thoughts are about some wineries potentially declassifying all modestly (but not severely) tainted SVDs into their $75-80 "Napa" blends, essentially trying to offset any potential taint with killer juice from vineyards that rarely make the lower-priced blends. If some w...

Pierre peters last night....so so good.

My area has turned into a small city the last couple of days, with so much picking going on and the traffic it creates (a car for each picker, multiple tractors and trucks hauling bins full of fruit). I think there is a heat spike forecast for this weekend - this is probably a rush to get them all i...

Ha! I woke up and saw this - had completely forgotten it, although I am considering an offer of Magnums to ship in time for Halloween (and Thankgiving and Christmas, too). Should probably get that together.

Lots of picking going on, but it seems more low key than in a typical year. I was wrong about Frediani's 5 acres - I walked by and all fruit is still hanging. From the street, Eisele Vineyards appears to be pretty much picked out. I saw some fruit hanging on their St. George rootstock. Kenefick was ...

We are all guessing and anxious. All we can do is follow through with our plans - whether to make wine or leave the fruit hanging (like Montelena, Neal, and others). For those hanging and waiting for lab results for micro-ferments before picking (and I am just talking north Napa Valley), the fruit t...

Got an EMH "Little Black" hanging around? Would seem like a fun match.

I just spoke with a vineyard foreman at Montelena and he confirmed that Montelena will not be producing any 2020 reds. Sobering. How are your grapes doing? I picked on the 8th and tasted from the fermenation bin the other day. Delicious. It should be dry and go to barrel next week. Then I will send...

Right now the only thing is to pick and test post-fermentation. The grapes are shriveling on the vines, and have been subjected in some way to smoke this month, most likely. I picked on the 8th before neighboring Cabs, and am just hoping for the best. I think the smoke at ground level (I am on the V...

I just spoke with a vineyard foreman at Montelena and he confirmed that Montelena will not be producing any 2020 reds. Sobering.

I was reading Flawless and he mentioned that there isn't any carryover effect of taint but it can or does cause smaller yields the following year so 2021 should be interesting. I'm curious if anyone will decrease price knowing their grapes have some issues or would they just sell them as normal. Ma...

For those picking are you testing for taint? Yes. As soon as my fermentation is dry, will send in samples to ETS. Will barrel in neutral barrels next week until the results come back. I will be surprised if I am not ok. But I will not sell to my customers if it is not within the approved range for ...

Lots of picking going on in Calistoga this week - Kenefick has made lots of headway (saw Nickel&Nickel bins out there) and my Neighbor Frediani and crew are really hauling it this morning! I awakened to the familiar sound of bins being loaded and unloaded, and tractors with mutiple full bins coming ...

Thanks, Andy. I love the color my vineyard gives me.

My fermentation is smooth - down to about 2 Brix. I tasted it today and was very pleased - lots of raspberry flavor. I'll see if I ca get a photo up here that I took showing the fermenting fruit and also the wine in a stem.

Chartogne Taillet Aaint Anne - good, solid, affordable Champagne. My daughter and I enjoyed it together while catching up on life - had not seen her in awhile, so no descriptors, just full enjoyment. I just bought some more of this as I had run out. It’s one of my regulars. Both my daughters like C...

Chartogne Taillet Aaint Anne - good, solid, affordable Champagne. My daughter and I enjoyed it together while catching up on life - had not seen her in awhile, so no descriptors, just full enjoyment.

Great photo, Casey.

I have been staying away from this thread as the antagonism is a bit much. But now that I am being quoted, please note that Larry was not forthcoming in his original post just what type of infraction he felt he was dealing with. It took 10 posts before he explained this was another to mask or not to...

Champagne Miniere Absolu Blanc de Blancs. First time around with this one, and it is a stunner. Sweet pear on the nose, following to the palate. Crisp, clear, clean...if those descriptors convey anything to you. Glad I have more.

Harvested at 6:30 Tuesday morning. All went smoothly. Safely in fermentation bins. Will do smoke taint testing post fermentation. Will not sell tainted wine. Big financial leap for me but I knew it was time, and given today's miserable weather, so glad I went when I did. I feel so free (now that I ...

Harvested at 6:30 Tuesday morning. All went smoothly. Safely in fermentation bins. Will do smoke taint testing post fermentation. Will not sell tainted wine. Big financial leap for me but I knew it was time, and given today's miserable weather, so glad I went when I did. I feel so free (now that I h...

Last Three Days ... St Helena.... 108, 112, 111(now) Santa Rosa... 103, 107, 109 (now) Tomorrow will be 100-104 in these areas. We talk about possible taint but forget what f*ck quality in many places in 2017 was actually the Labor Day heat. Well.... here we are. And no one will be able to claim th...

I looked up from the macro I was leafing a few nights ago to see one of my guys (hardest worker, worst picker) preparing to consolidate a couple picking lugs by stomping on the grapes in one lug to create more room. Needless to say, we had to review some of the basics on fruit handling. I don't kno...

J. Migone wrote: ↑
September 6th, 2020, 12:23 pm
Merrill your 2011 is drinking amazing, what was the brix for that vintage?

23 something. Latest pick ever, lowest Brix ever, and look how lovely.

Nope - not ready. Been hanging around 23B or so, flavors of fruit but not the "Ah, it's Cab" sense. Until an hour ago. I went out to the vineyard, grabbed an informal sample and tasting, and it has gone to "Cab" and 24B. It had actually fallen to 22B after a big long irrigation session a few days ag...

Thin walled, wrinkly, lots of seeds, dry inside, heat somewhere between a Jalapeño and a Habanero. Was a mystery start at the nursery, plant is about 24” tall and fairly bushy. 1219F183-7A3F-453E-9686-63C33C00B748.jpeg0B8A7163-B8C5-4EBF-B0B5-7C9EA79C40AD.jpeg I have the same peppers. Add to fresh t...

My fruit seems "stuck" at 23B. Nate mentioned some recovery time from the heat wave...hopefully dthat is what this is. Flavor is excellent, but if you are measuring sugar, it ain't there.

I had the 2006 Dom the other night during a celebration, and it was indeed celebratory. Followed a 2007 Comtes...the wines could not have been more diferent. I love the 2007, but it was more simple and direct than the very complex 2006 Dom. Great bottle (and delicious with our dessert of soft cheese...

So sorry for your losses, Ian.

That's terrible news about McHenry. We are hoping to be able to get in to Alpine and Horseshoe soon to assess the situation. I am not optimistic about the crop but feel very lucky that we did not have direct fire damage. Best of luck, Kevin. This is very difficult, I know. How's the kid, Merrill? S...

Kevin Harvey wrote: ↑
August 27th, 2020, 7:01 am
That's terrible news about McHenry.
We are hoping to be able to get in to Alpine and Horseshoe soon to assess the situation. I am not optimistic about the crop but feel very lucky that we did not have direct fire damage.

Best of luck, Kevin. This is very difficult, I know.

Is this a real field blend...as are all those varieties being grown in the same field, or are they just mixing them after harvest? Big difference.

Ian S wrote: ↑
August 25th, 2020, 4:33 pm
For a bunch of sots, you act like prudent teetotalers. If any of you whiners who are complaining about the F-bomb starting the second sentence have EVER dropped the F-bomb yourself (and I'm sure ALL of you have), then you're a huge hypocrite.

Alan Eden...is that you?

My kid is in Live Oak area...waiting to hear from her.

You can take some clusters pre-harvest and ferment them. Then check for smoke taint pre-harvest (expense).

I would never sell wine that even hints of smoke taint - not an ethical business move.

Mark Golodetz wrote: ↑
August 25th, 2020, 9:20 am
I got to the curse word in their introduction and immediately stopped. Absolutely unnecessary.

Agreed.

Mike Kuller wrote: ↑
August 25th, 2020, 3:10 pm

Merrill Lindquist wrote: ↑
August 25th, 2020, 2:57 pm
Mike Kuller - just bring your wife this time. Don't want them talking about us. And I am happy to pick up the tab....
Just kidding Merrill.

I know. But would love to see you...gets lonely out these parts.

Mike Kuller - just bring your wife this time. Don't want them talking about us. And I am happy to pick up the tab....

Informals sitting at 23B this morning, Drove some samples to the winery and they got 22.9 from a more sophistcated gadget. My guess is 2 weeks, if the birds dont eat them all by then. (They leave my neighbor's alone - he is one row over! Different rootstock, slightly different soil, very different ...

Merrill, per Cellartracker your 2011 seems to have more fans then the 2010, and your 2017 seems to have turned out great, so clearly you've mastered these "not-perfect" vintages. I do what I can. Sometimes it is difficult to have such a small site, and at other times it's great. It allows me to dot...

Informals sitting at 23B this morning, Drove some samples to the winery and they got 22.9 from a more sophistcated gadget. My guess is 2 weeks, if the birds dont eat them all by then. (They leave my neighbor's alone - he is one row over! Different rootstock, slightly different soil, very different f...

The Walbridge fire burns above the Dry Creek Valley in Healdsburg on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118317985_10222594734767727_7781799337048383831_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=50XCQedD9fwAX9W-RvY&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=e9c4cf7029f20c3102b56e1...

oh sh-t Cameron SHOTS FIRED LOL this is more of an issue for me than Cameron. I have a hunch it’ll sell out anyway... Cameron, My daughter has an appointment to view pony's at 330PM PST tomorrow. If OG 40 comes before then, I will buy 2 cases and cancel the appointment. If not, she will probably en...

Informals at 23B this morning. Fruit looks and tastes great (just ask the resident birds). Will do a real sample pull (200 berries) on Tuesday morning and a full lab panel. We are finding out again that the Baltimore Orioles can find the higher brix grapes in a bunch up and down the 5 rows we have ...

For Champagne Sunday: Vilmart Grand Cellier. Glad I bought a bunch - always hits the spot.

The quiet before the storm? Many of us are under red flag alert due to impending lightning storms. I hope it stays away - that's how many of these fires started.

Informals at 23B this morning. Fruit looks and tastes great (just ask the resident birds). Will do a real sample pull (200 berries) on Tuesday morning and a full lab panel.

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