Town and Country Magazine and other publications have announced the opening of Elusa Winery, a new winery at the just-opening Four Seasons Resort in Calistoga.
TRB is the consulting winemaker. He is quoted in the articles as saying, “I think Calistoga is underrated. The goal of the project is to find and promote the best vineyards in the neighborhood.”
This is my announcement that my 2021 fruit is under contract to TRB and Elusa, and will be harvested from my property and vinified by Elusa for Elusa.
2020 will be the last wine produced by EMH Vineyards (Black Cat Cabernet) from my vineyard (Lindquist Vineyard). Elusa has the right - should they wish - to produce a single vineyard designated wine from Lindquist Vineyard. I am excited by the new steps in my professional life!
Wow. I’m happy this is a good outcome for you, Merrill, but I will be sad for the EMH line to end. Those wines occupy a distinctive place in the range of Napa cab offerings out there, one that really agrees with my palate.
I should have bought more on the recent special day.
Thank you, David. I will be in business selling EMH Black Cat at great prices for BerserkerDay, the 2020 release, and Black Cat Appreciation Day next August 17th. This will not be an overnight transition, but I am excited about it. I love the farming, and that is what I want to, and will be able to, focus on.
See my above message to Mr. Bueker. There will be plenty of Black Cat out there - I have a library and some warehouse holdings which should satisfy the Black Cat lovers. My eye will be on sharpening my pencil and offering the best prices I can.
Congratulations on the new purring collaboration. They sure picked a top end Calistoga cab vineyard for their venture! It is bittersweet for us- we got used to enjoying emh wines in so many events. But it’s good that you will keep enjoying the life of a winemaker and grower. I guess focusing on the vineyard work and the fruit? We will happily continue enjoying EMH wines for many more years to come. Cheers to that!
I have had a fantasy of making Chardonnay. Who knows? Plus I have a 27 yr old daughter who might get more interested. All licenses will be continued and for a least a year, sales will be business as usual (though with an eye to selling at prices made to sell quickly).
Someone ITB once told me “Merrill has good dirt!” (Since this is the internet, a disclaimer making sure everybody knows that was meant as a compliment.)
Yeah, I got good dirt!!! I have room for more vines if I wanted to work a new layout. But this has worked beautifully for me. Reworking/planting would be expensive.
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