Smoke Taint 2020 Northern California.

[Merrill_Lindquist]

WHAT. THE. HELL.
Using rape as an analogy?! Classy /s

(It’s in one of the embedded quoted comments)

Agreed, Brian. That was completely out of line.

[Marcus_Goodfellow]

Pardon the late reply; just seeing this.

Yes, dirty ashtray and burnt food is what is coming through. Gross.

To add insult to injury, I have had winemakers tell me that the spectrum of smoke taint and brett is the same. I may be poorly communicating this concept, but my takeaway is that – chemically – brett and smoke taint are hard to differentiate (their thrust, not mine).

Which, to me, is like saying a bowel movement and rape are on the same spectrum. We may not be able to define it, but some of us can taste it. Who ya gonna believe, me or your lyin’ taste buds (and nose)???

---

Among the importers up here in Canada, the word is “better buy such-and-such American wine cos they won’t release a 2020.” Which is actually refreshing and worthy of respect. Because the vast majority of wineries in BC just release and make excuses.

And the pitch is “well they can’t afford to not release a vintage.”

Well, how nice for the consumers and taxpayers to float them.

So for you Oregon, Washington, and California wineries not releasing the smoke-tainted years, I want to say at least SOME of us consumers will happily buy double of the clean vintages to make up for it. I realize that doesn’t totally solve the problem, and you’ll have to lean on marketing communication to bridge the gap, but know that it is very appreciated by those who plan to buy in the long run.

Double at a 50% price increase, correct?

You should support who you want to, and buy what you’re interested in(and don’t buy what you don’t want to) but flippantly talking about people who are paying for a years worth of production, and probably losing a years worth of income, especially 3 years out of 5, these days(after investing in all of the infrastructure of a winery) shows a complete lack of understanding of what these people are going through.

It’s strange to see how many wineries had compassion for what restaurants went through with quarantine, and then see somm memes mocking wines with fire damage.

I doubt that I am bridging the gap on marketing “communication”…last time I checked my growers, suppliers, etc. all preferred real money.

Clever.

Would you like to float my business during the fallow seasons, or does your largesse only apply to the wine trade?

Last time I checked, wine drinkers prefer product that is not flawed. Is it the consumer’s fault if someone enters the industry ignoring the caprices of nature and being under-financed?

I do support my local wine shops and restaurants during fallow times. We donated cases to local restaurants during quarantine to help them with cash flow. It was what we had as an option.

I also support my local shops, both here on the board and in person.

And by your apparent definition of “under financed”, 99.9999% of restaurants and wine shops are under financed. Seriously, how many businesses could really lose an entire year of production and stay afloat?

I’ve worked in most phases in the business, and I didn’t disrespect your business. I suggested you personally might have a bit more compassion for other people’s misfortune.

And as noted, you and any consumer should buy what you want to. Though considering what gets pawned off under the natural wine movement, it’s questionable as to whether people generally don’t like flawed wines. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and people choose to support whatever they want to support.

And to not buy smoke tainted wines. But it’s a bit crass to suggest that you somehow are “floating” them. They’re in a tight spot that you probably weren’t prescient enough to predict either.

[seanr]

just gonna leave this here…

https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2022/03/california-cult-winemaker-walks-out-on-winery

Well-known winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett has walked away from a 20-year gig as a winemaker at Napa Valley’s Kenzo Estate over a disagreement with the owners about releasing the winery’s 2020 reds.

The 2020 vintage in Napa Valley was interrupted by the Glass Fire, which burst out on September 27 and led to significant smoke over the valley for days. Most white grapes had been picked already but the fire started in the middle of Cabernet Sauvignon harvest season. Quite a few high-end wineries have chosen not to release a 2020 red wine because of fears of smoke taint.

[larry_schaffer]

Was gonna post this as well. Pretty telling - and damning - right?

Cheers.

[Rodrigo_B]

Equally bizarre is the apparent dispute over whether or not Heidi Barrett was the de facto winemaker at Kenzo Estates

[JBrochu]

Equally bizarre is the apparent dispute over whether or not Heidi Barrett was the de facto winemaker at Kenzo Estates

Whatever the truth is, it seems pretty bad for the winery to say, “well actually, she was never the winemaker and was basically on the team solely for marketing/branding,” which if I’m reading that statement properly, is kind of what they said.

[Jeff_M1]

Was gonna post this as well. Pretty telling - and damning - right?

Cheers.

Its very damning. She doesn’t want her name on a 2020 red. I will have to taste before I buy anything Napa 2020.

[jeffruggels]

Was gonna post this as well. Pretty telling - and damning - right?

Cheers.

Its very damning. She doesn’t want her name on a 2020 red. I will have to taste before I buy anything Napa 2020.

i dont think the Napa wineries i purchase from consistently are releasing any 2020s so i doubt i will even make the effort to taste others, there is not lack of bottles “need” on my end so why go down the path is my thinking.

[Jeff_M1]

Was gonna post this as well. Pretty telling - and damning - right?

Cheers.

Its very damning. She doesn’t want her name on a 2020 red. I will have to taste before I buy anything Napa 2020.

i dont think the Napa wineries i purchase from consistently are releasing any 2020s so i doubt i will even make the effort to taste others, there is not lack of bottles “need” on my end so why go down the path is my thinking.

Spottswoode confirmed that they will be releasing a 2020 cab. They said they picked before the Glass fire, doesn’t say much for the LNU fire that started in August. Hope to get a chance to taste prior to the release so I can decide for myself.

[J_Patrick_Lynch]

Was gonna post this as well. Pretty telling - and damning - right?

Cheers.

Its very damning. She doesn’t want her name on a 2020 red. I will have to taste before I buy anything Napa 2020.

I’d be wary of even that, given that many think the smoke comes through as the wine ages.

[Bdklein]

Unless I had to stay on a mailing list (and most of the higher end wineries aren’t making a 2020), easier to just avoid the 2020 when there’s so much other good and trustworthy wine out there .

[JohnLee]

Spottswoode confirmed that they will be releasing a 2020 cab. They said they picked before the Glass fire, doesn’t say much for the LNU fire that started in August. Hope to get a chance to taste prior to the release so I can decide for myself.

Thank goodness. I know what I’m after is far more trivial than all of the producers with lost harvests, but I saw a neat idea of a father who bought a bunch of different wines the year his son was born to cellar and drink with his kid when he became of age. I wanted to do the same for my son… who was born in 2020

I guess Spottswoode will be one of them

Equally bizarre is the apparent dispute over whether or not Heidi Barrett was the de facto winemaker at Kenzo Estates

Whatever the truth is, it seems pretty bad for the winery to say, “well actually, she was never the winemaker and was basically on the team solely for marketing/branding,” which if I’m reading that statement properly, is kind of what they said.

Not kind of, that’s exactly what they said: “Heidi is just a consultant, even though her position was, quote, winemaker… [w]e have a winemaker who is in charge of everything 90-95 percent every year. Heidi just stopped by just for the branding just like Michel Rolland. But actually (Nanes) is making wine every year.”

To add to the humor, Kenzo has her as one of only four people as a primary member of their team, titled “Winemaker”: Heidi Barrett is Kenzo Estate's Founding Winemaker

Whether it’s true or it’s all smoke and mirrors, I will say that it’s not uncommon in Asian branding, marketing and culture to attach a famous person to the brand and give an honorary title without really revealing the depth of what it is they actually do for the company. From what I’ve read Kenzo’s primary market is in Japan, and Asian people are very into the whole “oo look famous person is responsible for this product” and buy into it. (source: am Asian, and am around a lot of first generation Asian immigrant parents and relatives).

All the drama aside, I think the main takeaway is that Heidi is not willing to attach her name to a 2020 vintage.

[Brian_Tuite]

Its very damning. She doesn’t want her name on a 2020 red. I will have to taste before I buy anything Napa 2020.

i dont think the Napa wineries i purchase from consistently are releasing any 2020s so i doubt i will even make the effort to taste others, there is not lack of bottles “need” on my end so why go down the path is my thinking.

Spottswoode confirmed that they will be releasing a 2020 cab. They said they picked before the Glass fire, doesn’t say much for the LNU fire that started in August. Hope to get a chance to taste prior to the release so I can decide for myself.

The LNU fires were East (Berryessa) and West Sonoma Coast) ofNapa Valley. Smoke from those fires was not an issue there.

[Brian_Tuite]

Spottswoode confirmed that they will be releasing a 2020 cab. They said they picked before the Glass fire, doesn’t say much for the LNU fire that started in August. Hope to get a chance to taste prior to the release so I can decide for myself.

Thank goodness. I know what I’m after is far more trivial than all of the producers with lost harvests, but I saw a neat idea of a father who bought a bunch of different wines the year his son was born to cellar and drink with his kid when he became of age. I wanted to do the same for my son… who was born in 2020

I guess Spottswoode will be one of them

Equally bizarre is the apparent dispute over whether or not Heidi Barrett was the de facto winemaker at Kenzo Estates

Whatever the truth is, it seems pretty bad for the winery to say, “well actually, she was never the winemaker and was basically on the team solely for marketing/branding,” which if I’m reading that statement properly, is kind of what they said.

Not kind of, that’s exactly what they said: “Heidi is just a consultant, even though her position was, quote, winemaker… [w]e have a winemaker who is in charge of everything 90-95 percent every year. Heidi just stopped by just for the branding just like Michel Rolland. But actually (Nanes) is making wine every year.”

To add to the humor, Kenzo has her as one of only four people as a primary member of their team, titled “Winemaker”: Heidi Barrett is Kenzo Estate's Founding Winemaker

Whether it’s true or it’s all smoke and mirrors, I will say that it’s not uncommon in Asian branding, marketing and culture to attach a famous person to the brand and give an honorary title without really revealing the depth of what it is they actually do for the company. From what I’ve read Kenzo’s primary market is in Japan, and Asian people are very into the whole “oo look famous person is responsible for this product” and buy into it. (source: am Asian, and am around a lot of first generation Asian immigrant parents and relatives).

All the drama aside, I think the main takeaway is that Heidi is not willing to attach her name to a 2020 vintage.

Are you telling me Yao Ming isn’t a winemaker?

[JohnLee]

Are you telling me Yao Ming isn’t a winemaker?

Oh he’s the exception. Haven’t you read about his wines? He dribbles the grapes up and down an oak wood court for 3 years before pressing the grapes with his own hands through a basketball hoop.

[S_Rose]

<< Whether it’s true or it’s all smoke and mirrors…>>>

*smoke taint and mirrors…

FTFY

[jeffruggels]

Its very damning. She doesn’t want her name on a 2020 red. I will have to taste before I buy anything Napa 2020.

i dont think the Napa wineries i purchase from consistently are releasing any 2020s so i doubt i will even make the effort to taste others, there is not lack of bottles “need” on my end so why go down the path is my thinking.

Spottswoode confirmed that they will be releasing a 2020 cab. They said they picked before the Glass fire, doesn’t say much for the LNU fire that started in August. Hope to get a chance to taste prior to the release so I can decide for myself.

Interesting. I am a Spottswoode fan, don’t purchase directly as readily available locally but certainly acquire regularly. I will probably still steer clear as taint can show itself years down the road and my brain will be looking for it but if I were to buy a few 2020s this would be in the group (after tasting first)

[Wes_Barton]

Spottswoode confirmed that they will be releasing a 2020 cab. They said they picked before the Glass fire, doesn’t say much for the LNU fire that started in August. Hope to get a chance to taste prior to the release so I can decide for myself.

Thank goodness. I know what I’m after is far more trivial than all of the producers with lost harvests, but I saw a neat idea of a father who bought a bunch of different wines the year his son was born to cellar and drink with his kid when he became of age. I wanted to do the same for my son… who was born in 2020

I guess Spottswoode will be one of them

Equally bizarre is the apparent dispute over whether or not Heidi Barrett was the de facto winemaker at Kenzo Estates

Whatever the truth is, it seems pretty bad for the winery to say, “well actually, she was never the winemaker and was basically on the team solely for marketing/branding,” which if I’m reading that statement properly, is kind of what they said.

Not kind of, that’s exactly what they said: “Heidi is just a consultant, even though her position was, quote, winemaker… [w]e have a winemaker who is in charge of everything 90-95 percent every year. Heidi just stopped by just for the branding just like Michel Rolland. But actually (Nanes) is making wine every year.”

To add to the humor, Kenzo has her as one of only four people as a primary member of their team, titled “Winemaker”: Heidi Barrett is Kenzo Estate's Founding Winemaker

Whether it’s true or it’s all smoke and mirrors, I will say that it’s not uncommon in Asian branding, marketing and culture to attach a famous person to the brand and give an honorary title without really revealing the depth of what it is they actually do for the company. From what I’ve read Kenzo’s primary market is in Japan, and Asian people are very into the whole “oo look famous person is responsible for this product” and buy into it. (source: am Asian, and am around a lot of first generation Asian immigrant parents and relatives).

All the drama aside, I think the main takeaway is that Heidi is not willing to attach her name to a 2020 vintage.

Here winemaker is a title, regardless of who does the work. In this case, I’d guess she was executive winemaker and consulting winemaker, in that she set the processes, standards and so forth that a very capable person was following to her satisfaction; that she was available to participate when necessary; that she was involved in the decision making when challenges presented. Similar to how an executive chef can be involved with multiple restaurants, and having their name lend prestige, even if they aren’t present day to day.

They spin that on their website to sell wine to make it look like it’s all her. Now they spin the same facts to say it’s not her at all. Two polar opposite claims at the same time.

I’d guess she tried to quietly withdraw, but their same obstinate myopic attitude that has them wanting to release a smoke tainted wine had them refusing to take her name off their site and other materials/associations.

[Bdklein]

When Smoke Gets in Your Wine

I like this read .

[ChrisJames]

How Wildfires Are Threatening California’s Prized Napa Cab


I like this read .

Very interesting. I could have done without the pictures!