Congrats to Ray Walker! Nice Gilman reviews for 09!

WINE TALK
1

Congrats Ray! Really nice notes and scores.

2

Good mention from Claude Kolm as well.

3

Congrats!! [highfive.gif]

4

Congrats Ray!

5

Great reviews. I cannot wait to drink the wines. Congratulations Ray.

6

Timing wasn’t right for me to buy Ray’s first vintage offering but his story is compelling.

Chapeau Ray!

7

What were the scores for Ray’s wines?

TTT

8

Three very nice wines. The Charmes looks like it really took off after malo. I was extremely impressed with the Chambertin when I tasted.
Really more Clos de Beze to me. Power and elegance. Delicious stuff.

The Morey will surprise more than a few folks. That wine really has some vibrancy of fruit. Some potential for complexity too. Very much like the Ligniers.
(Actually I think that is where he got it I would bet but Ray won’t rat it out.)

Congrats Ray. Couldn’t happen to a nicer more committed guy. Well deserved too!
Hopefully now Becky has picked you up, I can still afford the wine.

Cheers.

9

This is surreal to see. Its always a pleasure to see that someone enjoyed the wines in this early stage.Seeing our wines next to so many producers which I enjoy is simply crazy.

I can’t take too much credit as I believe the quality of the wine was already inherent in what the vineyards gave. With vineyards such as these, there is a momentum of sorts. I am just fortunate to not have done a disservice to the opportunity that I was given. Thanks for the support you guys have given me, before it made sense to do so. I truly appreciate it.
[cheers.gif]

And as good as the 2009s are, the 2012s are currently showing much more potential [cheers.gif]

10

Have these been imported yet Ray? I’d like to buy some.

11

Hey Berry,
how have you been? The wines are being imported by Becky Wasserman/Le Serbet into the US and Richards/Walford into the UK. All of the R/W allocation has been placed (sold out), though Le Serbet will receive in February just after bottling.

It would be good to see you all again when we next visit.

Cheers,

Ray

12

Skilled winemaker. Congrats, Ray

13

Great read Ray. Congrats! Can’t wait to taste the wines…

14

Would love to hear what Gilman said…can anyone post a brief excerpt or paraphrase?

Ray, just for clarification, when should those of us who purchased futures actually receive the wine?

Hope you guys are having a great time, hope to see you stateside!

15

Hey Nate,
we’re doing great, thanks. We will certainly visit when we are Stateside later this year.

For those that ordered futures for 2009, they will receive the wines in Late October of this year. This is in general, as I have shipments going to the US, UK, Australia and China. So, it does depend. But, US can expect October as long as the weather is right. I will attempt to get the wine out sooner as it will be bottled late January or early February.

Of note, those that bought direct (futures) for 2009 have automatic allocations for 2010 and 2011 (no matter what is taken for 2010). Allocations for the 2010 wines will be released only for the month of March.

Thanks again [cheers.gif]

16

Hopefully this is fair use:

…Ray is no fan of new wood and intends to use little or
no new wood down the line, but as he is just starting out, a few barrels have had to be
new wood in 2009. The goal is produce very elegant wines that allow their terroirs to
shine front and center, and so the cellar regimen is very gentle, only indigenous yeasts
are used and the wines are fermented in open top wood fermenters. The quantities here
are very small (only eleven and a half barrels total in 2009), but the wines are very, very
good and given that this is still early days in his winemaking career, one can easily
appreciate that there are even better things to come as Ray settles into the Burgundian
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landscape and adds a few more vineyards to his lineup. But he has certainly started
things out on the right foot in his inaugural vintage of 2009, with a parcel of the fine
Morey St. Denis premier cru of Les Chaffots (fans of Hubert Lignier’s wines will no
doubt be familiar with this lovely vineyard), Charmes-Chambertin and a small slice of
Chambertin itself. Pretty good dirt to work with right out of the blocks, and Ray has
produced excellent wines from this lovely vineyard sources. His 2010 lineup of vineyards
will expand a bit as well, as he has added a pair of additional premier crus to the
portfolio- Morey St. Denis “Monts Luisants” and Gevrey-Chambertin “Corbeaux”.
Maison Ilan is a fine new addition to the Burgundian constellation and his 2009s will be
worth a special search to find.
Ray

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17

Thanks, Berry. I will eagerly anticipate the wines’ arrival!

18

Ooh la la, cannot wait to receive these. Congrats Ray on your great success with your maiden run. October can not come too soon.

Cheers,
Doug

19

Definitely great and well deserved news.

Dave
ITB Calicaro

20

Thanks Dave, Doug and Nate. If you have any questions in the meantime, drop me a line. [cheers.gif]