EdmundsStJohn Newsletter

WINE TALK
1

Steve just put up his new Newsletter (Organolepticians #89):
EdStJohnHistory

reflecting on his 30 yrs of making wine. As somebody who followed SteveEdmunds from the very start, I found it a really fascinating read w/ lots of good history there.

We had the Shell&Bones '05 this weekend. Susan was mightly impressed w/ it. She’s in love w/ the guy now. She gave me that ole EdmundsStJohn lament: “You shoulda ordered more”. Being as she…gasp…thinks I have too much wine, I was surprised to hear that!!!
Tom

2

For ESJ, pretty much goes without saying. The value remains incredible.

RT

3

What a great read. I really enjoyed the annual timeline, and the things that were memorable to him during each year.

Thanks for sharing.

4

This really should go on all ESJ labels, “WARNING: You should order more.”

5

Thanks for posting that, Tom. It was a good read.

6

Reading this got me wondering, how much Mourvedre is in the Rocks and Gravel in 2013?

The newsletter mentions “a one-ton lot of Mourvedre from Unti” harvested “on the 17th of September”, but the 2011 Rocks and Gravel is all Grenache (57%) and Syrah (43%). It made me wonder if Mourvedre was still used. Sounds like the 2013 includes it again.

7

25% Mourvedre in the 2013.

8

Thanks, David.

I looked it up, here’s the blend % in the Rocks & Gravel since 2009:
2013 - 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 25% Syrah
2012 - 55% Grenache, 27% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre
2011 - 57% Grenache, 43% Syrah
2010 - 40% Syrah, 39% Grenache, 11% Mourvedre
2009 - 50% Syrah, 42% Grenache, 8% Mourvedre

It jumps around a fair amount year to year, I wonder if that’s determined by the quality or the quantity of fruit that ESJs gets in a given year?

9

What a fun and nostalgic read. Thanks for the link!

10

2011 was an anomaly for the Rocks and Gravel - that was the unusually cool vintage in most of California and the Mourvèdre didn’t ripen sufficiently. Mourvèdre has been back in the blend since then. This year it was mostly Grenache and Mourvèdre with less Syrah than previous years (just one bin of Syrah with three each of Grenache and Mourvèdre IIRC) - that was Steve’s preference for the blend this year.

11

I opened a 2011 Rocks and Gravel in honor of this thread. It needed an hour of air to loosen up, and it is now lovely. Still young, but delicious.

WARNING: You should order more.

12

Been buying E-St-J since day one. Great read, but he almost lost me in the first paragraph mentioning “30 seasons” – that’s seven and a half years around here!

EDIT: WARNING: You should order more.

13

FYI - the 2012 needs some serious time to settle down. It’s still grapey even a year after release. The 2013 is amazing right out of the gate. Best vintage of the R&G since it was re-born in 2009.

14

I bought some of each yesterday, I may have to give the 2013 an early look when it arrives! Steve Edmunds’ notes on the 2013 R&G make it sound like the 2013 could be his favorite vintage of it to date.

15

For those of you in the Bay Area this weekend, Steve’s annual Fete du Vin is on Sunday from 12-5 in Berkeley, 1326 9th St.

My wife loves Steve’s wines (and likes Steve and Cornelia a whole lot, too) so putting more ESJ in the cellar is never an issue. Last time I checked, I have around 25 different wines from him. By far, the most of any CA winery in my collection.

16

Saw a 2012 Rocks and Gravel at a local retailer for about $25 and picked it up today. Verrrry delicious. Savory meat juices, iodine and a ton of raspberries all wrapped in what feels like a cool climate character. Almost refreshing.
This is the first ESJ wine I’ve had and another example of the fine CA. wines this board has led me to seek out.

17

I’m in a serious ESJ phase right now. Everything I’m trying is at least excellent and keeps me coming back for more.

18

Don’t you guys know… This is just a low brow version of a Cotes du Rhone.

19

For those w/o the sense of history…from the first time Parker took Steve to the woodshed for the miserable
quality of his wines.
Tom

20

I just skimmed through the eBob thread that resulted from those low brow Cotes du Rhone reviews. Let’s just say I found it amusing and frustrating at the same time.