I had to take some time yesterday to take a deep breath and let everything settle in. Here are some impressions more globally about what I felt resonate through me yesterday. Some are emotions and some fun observations:
The event has transcended itself. Starting out several years ago as an Offline, is has now become a cultural and community celebration, one that honors friendship, generosity and warmth, of the people attending to each other, all connected to the support of a charity that seeks to heal. In a sense, the event for me has a healing effect on many who attend, as it reminds us all (at least for me) that we all possess the qualities above, and we can honor them through Falltacular.
Generosity–there was an overflowing of it this weekend and what it teaches me is that people around me are humble examples of it. I tried yesterday in some small ways to give some of that back and I want to model that behavior more often. You guys know who you are, I love you for that generosity and you inspire me. So to with the winemakers, who without them, we don’t have this event. And the same with the auction items, from all of you and the winemaker group…no bottles, no event. Generosity is underrated, but so prevalent in our wine community. Do you see it? I do.
Silent auction fun—at the end of the auction, having just finished the bidding and with the indentation of the bottle on the table not even gone, I see in the corner of the kitchen a bottle opening. It was the 2009 Schrader RBS, going into some glasses. Huh? I got a nice pour. Then, I see the 2009 Maybach. That bottle now getting opened and poured. Funny, got a glass of that, too. To Steve and Robert, thanks for the sharing and pleasure of trying both of these. Another feature of how this event inspires people to really let it rip.
Larry Piggins–his art was just stunning, really for me stunning. When he got here for setup, he hung 4 pieces of art in the garage, all wine-related scenes. One was Monte Rosso, another was the shot I pasted below, which is of BR Cohn’s Olive Hill. As you can see, Larry, that is now hanging above my 'Scraper. The work you are doing is beautiful and I love my print.
Results–amazing statistics, here are some. Over 110 people. Some were the winemakers who were mixing in the house and talking about their wines but even better, having some fun and being a taster themselves. Over 80 auction items, many magnums up through a 5 Liter, to include Larry’s art. Almost 140 different wines poured. Total collected was almost $6,000 at the door and $8,000 in the garage, with a total of close to $14,300. A tremendous donation to Laura’s and a way for all of us to make a financial difference.
Brian Luttrell’s son–Those of you hear got to hear Brian tell the story of how his son made his Eagle Scout project about Laura’s House, building the storage units to house the women and children’s belongings. Brian read the 2 page story his son wrote to be read during the party, what that was like for a teenage boy to get a first-hand experience with the cultural and emotional impact that violence leaves on those who flee to the shelter. Brian read the letter, it was moving and touching. I didn’t know Brian a few years ago, his son didn’t know Laura’s House…but look how it all comes full circle.
The Afterparty–man, did we have a good time. The Mexican food, the craft beers, loved it.
Thanks to everyone for the support. Robert and Carlin again for the tasting booklets, Brig for the name badges, the many people who brought bottled water, who spent an hour pouring wines, for helping me set up the house and then to break it down. Sean Kennedy is of special note for doing both tasks with me–thank you!
In the end, this event is something that has a special place for a lot of us. I again thank you, Laura’s House thanks you and we look forward to 2013. As I have said before…take 5 mins today and tell someone special you love them, that you appreciate them…let that be how we all individually and collectively sign off for the event and honor it.
One, a thank you to Todd French, who provides the landing strip for all the event. Without the platform to connect the event to the people, this would be far more difficult to run and for that I thank him. The site here keeps the event real, close to the ground and personal for me.
And to my wife, who supports me as we go through all the planning. Without her beginning he career at Laura’s House, none of this connection would have ever occurred. Oh, and her patience, too.
As a closing note, it’s very difficult for me to taste a lot of things so I try but often don’t get to much. No notes but these wines stuck with me.
2010 Matthiasson Napa Valley White Wine–still have some of this left, will do with dinner tonight. Beautiful.
2010 Poe Angel’s Camp Pinot Noir–I told Samantha how much I liked this wine and it was very good, only to get better
2009 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Napa Valley–this is a great vintage for Kelly. This vintage has fruit but it also has acid, enough of the latter to really distinguish the wine into something really nice.
Nice notes Mike. I saw you writing with a huge smile on your face, but you must have some sort of shorthand system to capture such a huge amount of info. Also, was great to have our northern territories represented !
See you next year, unless you swing through the area on one of your trips. If you do, let the SoCal crowd know so that we can get together.
Oh, yeah…since my short attention span and flapping jaws keep me from taking notes, I have nothing to contribute other than to list a few wines that stood out. Overall, I thought the quality this year seemed a bit more consistent across the board, but maybe that was just me.
2010 Poe Angel’s Camp Pinot
2010 Copain Baker Ranch Syrah
2010 Jemrose Egret Pond Viognier
2009 Sandler Keefer Ranch Pinot
2009 Copain Kiser En Bas & En Haut
2008 Ladd Cellars RRV Pinot
2010 Wind Gap Gaps Crown Pinot
2009 Rhys Horseshoe Syrah
Oh, yeah, since I’m working on memory, I went back to the review the .xls and remembered a couple more that I enjoyed:
2010 Sojourn Ridgetop Pinot
2009 Dunstan Durrell Pinot
2010 August West Sierra Mar Pinot
2010 Cowan Isa
To be sure, Phil just planned a strategy for which wines to try after his shift! My station included Wes’s line up of Clos Pepe Pinots. It was fun pouring for two people who stayed to drink all offerings of six vintages and at least three VS of three of those vintages. Hearing their assessments helped me to choose what to have Brian London pour for me later. Bummer that the 2000 VS (Vigneron Select) was drained by the time I was ready!
+1 on all those ( I did not taste the AW but was very popular while I was serving at the big table)
Big props to Amelle and Dunstan, the winemakers for both where there (Eric/Chris) and was fortunate to chat with them as I tasted their wines. I missed the Amelle zin, it was down stairs mistakenly and by the time I went looking for it, had be relocated upstairs which I didn’t go up after. I’m afraid of heights after drinking.
Also surprised nobody has mentioned Black Kite - that was the most popular while I was pouring along with Big Basin.
As a reference, here’s the list of wines. Not all of them though, there where probably another 20 that sneaked in.
2010 JEMROSE Egret Pond Bennett Valley Viognier
2009 JEMROSE Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley Syrah
2009 JEMROSE Foggy Knoll Bennett Valley Grenache
2009 JEMROSE Gloria’s Gem Proprietary Blend Bennett Valley Merlot/Syrah
2009 COASTVIEW Terraces Monterey Chardonnay
2007 COASTVIEW North Block Monterey Syrah
2009 COASTVIEW Cuvee SA Andre Monterey Bordeaux Blend
2010 POE Ferrington Vineyard Anderson Valley Chardonnay
2010 POE Angel’s Camp Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2008 JEAN EDWARD CELLARS “Seventy Four - Forty One” Howell Mountain/Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 JEAN EDWARD CELLARS Stagecoach Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 AUGUST WEST Graham Family Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
2010 AUGUST WEST Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
2010 AUGUST WEST Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
2010 SANDLER Clos Pepe Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2010 SANDLER Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
2010 SANDLER Keefer Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
2010 SANDLER Connell Vineyard Bennett Valley Syrah
2009 LORING WINE COMPANY Divergence Paso Robles Cabernet / Mourvedre
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Parmelee-Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Graham Family Vineyard Russian River Pinot Noir
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Keefer Ranch Vineyard Russian River Pinot Noir
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Russell Family Vineyard Paso Robles Pinot Noir
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Aubaine Vineyard San Luis Obispo County Pinot Noir
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Clos Pepe Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2010 LORING WINE COMPANY Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2009 LORING WINE COMPANY Rancho La Vina Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2010 LUCIA Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
2009 LUCIA Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah
2009 SWITCHBACK RIDGE Peterson Family Vineyard Napa Valley Petite Sirah
2007 FLYING WINE CELLARS Santa Barbara County Syrah
2008 FLYING WINE CELLARS Escadrille Cuvee Napa Valley Cab Blend
2009 SOJOURN CELLARS Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 SOJOURN CELLARS Proprietary Cuvee Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 SOJOURN CELLARS Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 SOJOURN CELLARS Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2010 SOJOURN CELLARS Ridgetop Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2010 SOJOURN CELLARS Sangiacomo Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2009 CARLISLE Two Acres Russian River Valley Mostly Mourved + Petite + Syrah, etc
2009 CARGASACCHI Cargasacchi Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2009 CARGASACCHI Cargasacchi-Jalama Vineyard Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
2009 POINT CONCEPCION Salsipuedes
2007 CORE Elevation Sensation–42 month barrel cuvee Santa Barbara County Grenache/Mourvedre
2007 CORE Mister Moreved–42 month barrel cuvee Santa Barbara County Mostly Mourvedre + Splash of Grenache
2010 COWAN CELLARS Isa Lake County Skin fermented white
2010 COWAN CELLARS Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2010 COWAN CELLARS Bennett Valley Pinot Noir
2008 AMELLE Keefer Ranch Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
2007 AMELLE Buck Hill Vineyard Sonoma County Zinfandel
2007 MATTHIASSION Red Napa Valley 5 Bdx varietals
2010 MATTHIASSION White Napa Valley Sauv Blanc + Ribolla + Semillon + Tocai
2008 DUNSTAN WINES Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2009 DUNSTAN WINES Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2010 PIP WINES Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2008 BOHEME WINES Stuller Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2008 BOHEME WINES Taylor Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2008 BOHEME WINES Taylor Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2009 BOHEME WINES English Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2009 RHYS Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah
2009 RHYS Skyline Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah
2009 BIG BASIN Coastview Vineyard Monterey Pinot Noir
2009 BIG BASIN Woodruff Family Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
2009 BIG BASIN Alfaro Family Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
2008 BIG BASIN Rattlesnake Rock Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah
2008 BIG BASIN Coastview Vineyard Monterey Syrah
2008 BIG BASIN Odeon Santa Cruz Mountains/Monterey Cab/Syrah
2006 TERCERO WINES Camp 4 Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley Grenache
2008 TERCERO WINES Cuvee Christie Santa Barbara County GSM
2008 TERCERO WINES The Climb Santa Barbara County Syrah/Petite Sirah
2008 TERCERO WINES Larner Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley Syrah
2008 TERCERO WINES Cuvee Loco–Larner Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley Grenache/Syrah
2008 TERCERO WINES Larner Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley Grenache
2008 TERCERO WINES Camp 4 Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley Mourvedre
2010 TERCERO WINES Santa Barbara County Mourvedre Rose
2010 TERCERO WINES White Hawk Vineyard Santa Barbara County Viognier
2010 TERCERO WINES The Outlier Santa Barbara County Gewurztraminer
2010 CLOS PEPE Clos Pepe Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2009 CLOS PEPE Clos Pepe Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2007 CLOS PEPE Clos Pepe Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2009 CLOS PEPE Clos Pepe Vineyard–Hommage To Chablis Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay
2009 CLOS PEPE Clos Pepe Vineyard–Barrel Fermented Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay
2010 COPAIN Tous Ensemble Anderson Valley Chardonnay
2009 COPAIN Kiser En Haut Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2009 COPAIN Kiser En Bas Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2009 COPAIN James Berry Vineyard Paso Robles Syrah
2010 COPAIN Baker Ranch Anderson Valley Syrah
2009 CHAIX A.P. Reserve Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 VIRAGE Napa Valley Cabernet Franc/Merlot
2010 VIRAGE Napa Valley Rose of Cabernet Franc
2009 ETRE Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2009 BLACK KITE Kite’s Rest Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2009 BLACK KITE Redwood’s Edge Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2009 BLACK KITE River Turn Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2009 BLACK KITE Stony Terrace Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2008 SAXON BROWN Parmelee-Hill “Stonewall” Sonoma Valley Zinfandel
2007 SAXON BROWN Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 SAXON BROWN Parmelee-Hill “Owl Box” Sonoma Coast Syrah
2008 SAXON BROWN Casa Santinamaria Vineyard Sonoma Valley Semillon
2009 SAXON BROWN Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2009 SAXON BROWN Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2009 SAXON BROWN Parmelee-Hill Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2008 ARGOT WINES The Opening Salvo Bennett Valley Syrah
2009 ARGOT WINES The Fence Sonoma County Pinot Noir
2010 ARGOT WINES The Vagrant Bennett Valley Pinot Noir
2010 ARGOT WINES The Articulator Sonoma County Roussanne/Chardonnay
2010 BLUXOME STREET WINERY Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc
2010 BLUXOME STREET WINERY Mariah Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir
2010 BLUXOME STREET WINERY Russian River Valley Chardonnay
2009 MAZE Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 MAZE Knights Valley Sauvignon Blanc
2009 JAFFURS Verna’s Vineyard Santa Barbara County Syrah
2009 JAFFURS Santa Barbara County Grenache
2009 WIND GAP Griffin’s Lair Sonoma Coast Syrah
2009 WIND GAP Woodruff Family Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
2010 WIND GAP Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2008 LADD CELLARS Cuvee Abigail Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2008 LADD CELLARS Moore Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
2008 LADD CELLARS Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
2008 LADD CELLARS Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2009 LADD CELLARS Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2009 QUIVET CELLARS Kenefick Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 NOVY Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah
2010 NOVY Van Der Kamp Vineyard Sonoma Mountain Pinot Meunier
2010 SIDURI Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2010 SIDURI Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
2010 SIDURI Keefer Ranch Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
2010 SIDURI Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
2010 DRAGONETTE CELLARS Santa Ynez Valley Sauvignon Blanc
2010 DRAGONETTE CELLARS Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara Sauvignon Blanc
2009 DRAGONETTE CELLARS Santa Barbara County Grenache
2009 DRAGONETTE CELLARS “Seven” Santa Barbara County/York Mountain Syrah Blend
One of the difficulties—the nice difficulties—is that there ARE so many choices. I wanted to try the Big Basin Pinots, Wes’ older stuff, the Maze Cab that I heard so much about, the Argot White—it was just not to be. But I regret it not—just gives me some target wines for next year.
Frank, my boy, you do not give yourself enough credit for being a drawing force for all of us—you and Jill, it really is your own openness and generous natures that make me, at least, want to be there every year.
The annual presentation in the garden, when we do hear how much of a difference we make and how appreciative you and Jill and Laura’s House is—that is always one of the major highlights of my day.
I will be in touch about possible dates for next year’s event
Frank, thanks to you and Jill for opening up your house for such a remarkable event. I’m honored and humbled to have a piece of me take a place on your walls!
I had a great time – lovely hosts, lots of good wine. It was wonderful to connect with so many. Hopefully I can get down again next year. Thanks Frank and Jill, and everybody else who made it tick. And Wes, for the mole and the treatise on liberation enology, and Mr. Greenbaum for the late night conversation. Typically, I showed up late and went through the lineups with no real direction, but it was nice to see at a high end California tasting that oak levels had come down considerably on (most) reds. I thought this could still stand to happen on the Chardonnays. I was impressed by the Matthiasson and the Chaix, both new lines for me. The Chaix wasn’t getting a lot of love, but showed huge potential as a classic Cab that’ll last forever and improve in the bottle. I thought Bluxome Street, Maze and Poe had very nice lineups. Had a lovely chat with Sam. Most memorable wine was an 07 Clos Pepe Pinot. Great vintage for balance, beautifully made, sappy like burgundy, not sweet fruit like California. Love it.
Thanks for the photos, Burkie. It remains hard to summarize visually how it looks in person when you have 100 people over here, bottles all over the house and the garage full of mags and art. Having you mixing around with your camera helps give those who can’t make it a window into what this is all about.
T, your a stud too for sending some bucks to the event as a support for what we do, and yet you didn’t even attend. And to Jim Mack for popping Laura’s House some more funds post event to help us get to our goal line. It’s out of generosity like this, it’s what for me makes Falltacular special.
With Jim’s photos, we can allow that to be the postscript on a successful weekend from just a short six days ago and I look forward to getting this all going again in 2013.
Great pics as always, Jim—I especially like the one where Phil is “standing guard”/hiding the white table bottles from everyone. T, Jim, Gloria, you were missed, as were Marshall and Diana Gelb and a number of others, but there’s always next year.
I am probably going to want to ask for next year’s to take place on the January 12 weekend. The roughed-out plan is that FallTacular will be my jumping-off point for a major trip to Australia and Singapore and I want to get to Melbourne in time to see some of the Australian Open in person. Just letting you know my preference for dates
It’s a charity event where CA winemakers donate bottles to taste, and the fee to attend the event is donated to charity. Also, there is a silent auction of donated wines of which many are international, french in particular. I’m not sure what Frank Murray’s position (or the bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) is with respect to donations from non-domestic producers, but the logistics of the event in CA might be prohibitive.
Regardless, it’s an incredible celebration of a wide variety of CA wines at an event held in CA and attended by a handful of CA winemakers.
The charity in question is Laura’s House, which is a local shelter for abused families. It’s a valuable organization that is critical to the safety of those who are in the unfortunate situation to use it.
With respect to domestic wines at Falltacular, there’s no reason or cause to stir any pots (unless you’re poll numbers are down).
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