OK I admit I am not an advocate subscriber anymore, do tell about your winemaking adventure in Burgundy. Is this a homemade garage project? Commercial? Are you getting any help in production? It is rare indeed to have a writer/critic and vigneron contributing here!
Nope you got it wrong buddy. I’m not crying nothing. I’m laughing at the shill masters with their tired one trick pony sales pitch. Don’t matter to me because I’m out. My trophy case has been greatly reduced and diversified. No more $1200 bottles that wholesale for $300 for me. You know I know the truth.
I’ve worked a bunch of harvests and make a bit of my own wine in California, so vinifying in Burgundy was always something I was keen to do, and that’s an understatement. When I decided to have a go, the premise was to prioritize first vine genetics, then vine age, and only finally appellation, but happily the vines are in Chambolle. I don’t review the vigneron that sells me the grapes to avoid the appearance of any conflict of interest, but I’m thinking I might start this year, with a very explicit disclosure in each note, as several subscribers have been asking about the producer’s wines. I’m planning to drink most of the production but will give / sell some to friends. I have found it the best way to get real insight into a vintage, and it means I have to be in Burgundy at harvest time so I see what’s going on along the Côte.
Chardonnay seems to be much higher than Pinot Noir this year! Certainly fully 14% seems to be routine. Clusters and berries were tiny, with a very poor juice yield. But there is acidity, and lots of concentration, so I think folks who picked before the potential alcohol levels got too crazy will make good wines. Let’s see!
This is not meant as a criticism and I totally get why you would want to do this, but in my opinion, if you sell the wine it’s a clear conflict of interest, because you’re reviewing your competitors. Selling or trading at cost to friends, maybe not.
My suggestion would be to just be transparent about what you’re doing (as you are being here), and don’t claim that you’ve removed any conflict of interest. I expect people will trust you.
Thanks for the information. It is another dimension of understanding in reviewing the wines. Doubt this will be a significant conflict for you as it sounds like a personal project, hardly a big commercial enterprise. I enormously respect the effort. It is one thing to be a critic, another to put your foot in the fermenter and really see how things turn out.
