She Said:
Although G and I did not consult a word of the day calendar on Saturday, it was clear that the word ‘foresight’ was Saturday’s buzz word. G received an invitation back in March to a day of picnicing,wine tasting, swimming, and much more at a winery, which I have decided to keep nameless. This winery is only open a few times a year, and it is so fabulous that it needs to be shrouded in mystery. I had no idea what to expect. When we parked the car and walked towards the grounds, my mouth literally dropped when I spied the view.
How could this exist after that long, windy, dusty drive into nowhere? We set up our picnic by the man- made lake and ate our Oakville Grocery sandwiches (my favorite is the turkey and brie), drank some wine, and watched kids play in the water and wine lovers around us laugh and soak up the sun. G and I felt like we were at an elite wine summer camp. The glistening water, redwood tree groves, and cool breeze, was too good to be true. At 2:00 all the wine camp members gathered at a special spot for the commencement of the tour. We were led by the late, vineyard owner’s/ creator’s stepson who was a wealth of information. His stories about his step-father were inspiring and the buzz word “foresight” kept popping into the narration.
Here was a man who started his career in pharmaceutical sales and at 47 decided he wanted a career change so turned to the Napa Valley. He bought 80 acres of land for as little as $100,000 in 1968. He was told by many that this was a huge mistake and that the land wasn’t even fit to grow a radish. His foresight told him to ignore the naysayers. He smuggled Cabernet Sauvignon vine cuttings from Bordeaux by way of Tijuana. He had no idea the acres he purchased would have three different types of soil and microclimates that would make for a unique Cab growing experience. His bottle of Cab was the first California Cabernet to break the $100 a bottle mark. He focused on Cab and never looked back, taking a huge chance. In addition,he had a 23 year battle with Parkinsons disease, and didn’t let it get in his way.
As the stepson unraveled these facts through out the tour, I was mesmerized, and it especially hit home with my current state of job uncertainty. How does one trust one’s gut instincts, throw out one’s routine life and leap forward, embrace a career change and go for it with total determination? I struggle daily with caring what others think, and here is a man who heard from the peanut gallery and went the exact opposite direction and was a raging success. Not only was he a wine visionary, but his vast property is also a foresight-seeker”s haven. Only a true visionary would see acres of forested land and think let’s build a huge man-made lake, waterfalls, a lagoon, a messy bog turned swimming pool, truly a sanctuary of national park quality.
The wine was entirely too expensive for young’ns such as us to purchase, but we snagged an empty tasting bottle on the way out for posterity sake. And as for foresight, I think it is fickle. Everyone has it, but do they embrace it and throw caution to the wind and just embrace the visionary urge? Probably not. I feel especially sad for us 20 somethings, all bright eyed and bushy tailed, fresh out of college with tremendous debt, a failing economy, no jobs, and other such tales of woe. I for one am going to tuck this wine memory in my back pocket, and when foresight knocks, I will answer!
G Said:
Whenever I find a bottle or a place that I really like (and I know that your tastes are similar to my own), I'm quick to recommend. However, the name of this particular winery will have to remain nameless for the time being. That being said, the Google-savvy will probably be able to piece together clues and come up with the location. If you're serious about your wine and your history, you'll understand that this winery is a Napa institution. They've been producing since the early 70's and have maintained their growing and winemaking philosophies to this day.
I've been a fan of these guys since I started in the business. I was fortunate to have a '94 Volcanic Hill, and was hooked. I'm up in Napa, well, a lot (and for that, I'm incredibly grateful), and for a guy whose tastes tend to gravitate towards tobacco-y, leather-y, asparagus-y Bordeaux, the wine is the most Medoc-like that I think California is able to produce. She mentioned French Cab clones, and that is only partly responsible for the flavor profile. Other factors include rainfall, weather, row orientation, soil type and depth, rootstock, vine age, temperature...to name a few...you get the idea. So French vine does not necessarily equate to French wine (pay attention, Central Coast Pinot-makers).
With regards to vine age, I'm a firm believer in the school of thought that older vines yield more complex wines. After a vine is planted, it will begin giving fruit suitable for wine production after three or four years. Young vines such as these tend to give a more fruit-forward style; and as they approach, say, 7-10 years of age, their production (call it pounds of fruit per vine) escalates and plateaus. After 10 years, their productivity dips and will eventually settle on something relatively low. However, grapes from older vines tend to reflect the characteristics of the site on which their grown. Hello, complexity! Their wine had it in spades--even had developing tertiary aromas after only two years! I'm amazed....name me a so-called top-tier Napa wine that can claim that.
You're looking at a view from the top of Red Rock Terrace overlooking the Gravelly Meadow Vineyard. If you take a comparative look at the three sites (Red Rock/Grav/Volcanic Hill), the Red Rock Terrace bottling will become the most approachable first. While still aromatically tight, the wine is incredibly complex and focused with balanced cassis and juniper, along with some nice smoked pastrami and a well-integrated oak profile. Delicious. The Gravelly Meadow (my personal favorite) is very Graves-like, which I dig. Lean at first take, but still waters run deep. Definitely built for the long-haul with a firm tannin profile, but seamlessly balanced with with acid and one hell of a mid-pallet. The Volcanic Hill had some intense tobacco action and the Diamond Mountain-structure that I love so much. Keep in mind that everything we tasted were 2009s out of barrel, pre-bottle.
Definitely hitting up the open house weekend for years to come, and without naming names, thank you to all those who made our visit the incredible day that it was--I've always appreciated your wines, and the through your wine and hospitality, you've made two fans for life.
Thank you, Al. Without your foresight and values, Napa would never be what it is today.
Where is this magical wonderland???
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