Spring 2005

        Southern California has had a massive amount of rain this year, more than twice normal in most places, but precipitation in these northern parts has been just about average. Average is plenty hereabouts so the grape growing season will be well supplied with moisture. And, the wild flowers, north and south, are spectacular right now.

        Our 2002 Chardonnay, 2003 Sauvignon Blanc and 2000 Merlot are now available. The 2002 Chardonnay has a subtle floral and citrus like nose with the richness of ripe fruit. Deep grape flavors in the mouth, and a slight touch of oak from the barrels, lead to a long, lingering finish. It has a suggestion of almond and tropical flora but is still steely and firm. Typical of our Chardonnays, it will smooth and develop additional richness for several more years. Well suited to most fish and chicken dishes, it goes well with any light to medium fare.

        I believe that our 2003 Sauvignon Blanc is superior to the highly acclaimed 2002. The usual Mayacamas expressive fruit reveals a slight grassiness in the nose. Its tart, lemony front flavor develops into a rich, viscous and complex fruit mix on the mid-palate. Hints of pippin apple linger on the tongue. An excellent aperitif, this wine also matches well with lots of traditional white wine dishes and many spicy foods as well.

        You got wild boar for dinner? We got the wine. Well, maybe not OLD wild boar, but this is a very substantial wine, not often the case with this varietal. The 2000 Mayacamas Merlot has a rich cherry and cassis like nose and a deep herbal character in the mouth. Its flavor profile has a balance we strive for with acid, ph and alcohol in harmony and no underipe or overripe characteristics.

        The vintage of 1999 is our Chardonnay library re-release selection this spring. It is in its prime and should remain in top form for at least three or four more years. The usual smooth viscosity and rich flavors of full maturity are in clear evidence. Enjoy with anything worth eating. We are sold out of the 1993 library Cabernet Sauvignon but still have a little of the 1989 available. Still fresh and vigorous, it has at least a decade of good years ahead of it.

        People occasionally ask us if we are going to start using screw caps for our wine bottles. I usually restrain myself from saying, “over my dead body”, but the thought is there. Screw caps’ long term efficacy for slow aging wines like ours is still very much open to question and the charm of the cork pulling ritual seems very important to me. I think of changing as being akin to changing the age old lovers refrain from “ a loaf of bread, a glass of wine and thou ” to “sex, booze and carbs.”

Newsletter Archive:

• 2004 Spring  Fall
• 2003 Spring  Fall
• 2002 Spring  Fall
• 2001 Spring  Fall
• 2000 Spring  Fall