Don Giovanni

the index Click On Me ← Looking at that graph one sees with the exception of a one month hiccup (I cannot think of a better word), prices have been rising rather steadily and even dramatically. Perhaps I'm missing something here???? ← Ok ...let me spell it out to you all...the Europe reference is key to the underlying truth...good domestic producers will be able to increase prices...if and only if...the world had tired of the high prices in the royal vineyards...of the 1855 classification system...so you ask what's the point ...the point is some people get it...I do expect higher prices for domestic wines at the expense of further price increases in Europe...and who asked what is the point...the point is not a crash in prices it's that we are as domestic producers are in a very nice possession especially with the week Euro...

the index Click On Me

:blink: How do flippers disrupt the market? ← Melkor, They cash out as a market starts to crack, thus exasperating the fall of a wine value...this could then lead other vintages and or markets to react to what might be perceived as the end of a bull run...investment funds will then start to lock in cap gains through selling...thus the professional flipper...now you see...

Fine wine prices sink as credit squeeze bites Click On Me So much for a controlled market...even monopolies can suffer at the hands of the consumer and it's ability to spend discretionary money...Maybe this is a wake up call for the Châteaux... around the world... The world will always have flippers who will disrupt the markets...

For someone soon to crush Pinot Grigio produce it...PG will soon to replace White Zin as the fourth fastest growing wine in the USA...this is old news ...yet good news...white wine can have good effects on ones health ...it's not all about red = only healthy wine... many whites offer the same antioxidants that are touted...thanks for the article... Have wine experts forgotten the virtues of white wine? Click On Me

Enzyme finding could help lead to better smelling wine and water Click On Me We seem to be getting closer to the truth each day...

The New Organic Vineyard Is The Ugly Duckling I hate to say it the beauty I see in a young vineyard seems ugly to most people…in such a superficial society where everything has to be perfect…Organic young vineyards are not beautiful at first glance…add biodynamic farming and they just might commit you to the vineyard insane society…people have to face the facts weeds are a naturally protecting shield when the bugs descend upon the field during the season…Organic sprays…soap, the shimmer of an old CD to keep the animals away…the smell of human hair and perfume that is discarded from beauty shops are a valuable commodity to us…as they are placed around the boundaries… yet we still can’t see the vines for the weeds…hold on using an eye magnifier you can see green vines among those weeds…vines 6 feet tall…with fruit dropped to aid in the development of the vine….as for the deer that deer fence with electric (solar) wire around the vineyard ….people often ask…what are you raising…after punching cattle in TX for a time many years ago…I shrug it off…taste the wine then tell me what you think…for this ugly duckling next year she will turn into a beautiful swan…when we crop our site where our tasting-room is…as for my other Organic interests they are looking real nice …the fruit this year what I have seen could be the vintage of a decade…and we just had that in 2001 and 2005…imagine 3 vintages of a decade in one…I feel blessed to be apart of this…I made a wine a Ice Wine in 2004 that will live for over 100 years …a bold statement…yet true…so when they lay me down to rest the joke will be on the world…I will have touched this world with sweat and blood…a legacy will have been left…now if G-D has years for me all the better…I have fulfilled my commandment of my religion…to plant a vineyard, as did Noah…life is good…no matter how the outside looks…it’s the ugly duckling that made this swan smile…

Mary, People do get confused with the VA in wine ...in an ICE wine the VA will be much higher...this is ok ...I have my source at another location...as I am out sampling berries... nice to see a hot spot to post... some VA is needed to lift the nuances in a wine to a POINT...it's when you get a fruit bomb that reeks of VA with a alc over 15% that you know drink now or drink a bad wine in the future... out and about...again... your question YES the brix and high alc reaction with the yeasts ...you get higher VA ...also to extract the bacteria that are still at work, some wineries will do a sterile filtration that rips the heart and soul out of a wine...a no win situation...

Mary, Just a thought... people are getting fatter and they need the more alc by vol to get a buzz...

The Greek solution to high wind and grape growing a nice link Click On Me Click On Me

Thank You...YES......

Matt, You my friend are a smart person..Your idea of a second label is what I thought of well before I bottled the wine...I have two labels one the "Don Giovanni Wines" the other the "Silver Springs Wines"...my higher end wines are from the Don and the regular ones are from SSW so I have that covered...I know marketing all too well and applied this to my wine business..

Global demand for Riesling outstrips supply Click On Me This was a no-brainer...

Bump....

Mary, the off line was a wonderful time...I was with Thomas Pellechia an author and person who is a winemaker, educator, author of a few books and a great person to know, Loren Sonkin a wine writer and a very generous person...I got to meet his family, very nice, he can be very proud of his life...he is also an attorney as is his wife, Ken B. a Cornell prof... very nice and very much a wine geek...Loren's wife Jane was the life of the event...my wife was nursing my youngest son 18 years old with pulled wisdom teeth...so she could not be there...she is my much better half...trust me...TTYL

Mary, How do you know me so well...I have very mixed feeling about this...now I have people who are asking for the date of release of the next white Merlot...people were starting a list with my wife ...I stopped this, now we tell them to see the web site...this is not me folks...I like to make dry red wines a wine that will live for 30 years or more...like my Ice wine this one will go for 100 years...anyone want to take that bet we will let our heirs see who wins...anyhow I have many things to do...if I post less it's not because I don't to want to it's because my arse is deep in grape must or harvest ...one that has started very early...could be the harvest of a decade... better than 1995 for us...I will be in and out until then...Mary wishing you a great harvest and crush...

Or, they add it to cow genes and we"d get a whole heard of beef burgundy ← They could do just that...this is what I am most worried about...this is manipulation down to the gene...crazy mad...

I agree this is my worst fear...

Wine grape genome decoded, flavour genes found Click On Me Pinot Noir grapes. Scientists in France and Italy have deciphered the complete genetic code for the plant producing wine grapes, according to a study published Sunday.(AFP/File/Robyn Beck)

Dave, No right or wrong on this one...I have seen 3/4 oz for a Ice Wine up to 1/2 glass or 2.5 oz in a glass...one customer drinks full glasses at dinner he tells me...very sweet and expensive...my problem with those small glasses is I have a large nose...this is good for winemaking...bad for drinking out of small glasses how in the #ell am I supposed to get my nose in the glass to enjoy the bouquet... John

Thanks I will update my blog...cheers!

Having a runaway seller and selling out a winemakers mixed feelings As a winemaker I push the envelope...I make wine from the natives(Delaware and Catawba) and make them dry, white, not pink or sweet...so I get this idea for a White Merlot from a bottle I had from a mass producer in CA...I make an estimated two years worth...sold out in six months...no I won't give numbers...a boat load for a small boutique winery...so what happens I make it xxxxx times better than the box houses...I cause a small disruption at one trade show...at another I again cause a big interest...SO I AM NOW SOLD OUT AND IT $UCKS...I am happy for the hit...I will make 4 times more this year...now this is why I am down... the RS on these wines are 4 % RS and 7 % RS and I was born a dry red winemaker,lover, consumer...this is so not me...I put my guts into my dry reds and yes they are a big hit...but sad for my ego as a dry wine lover...my wife who inspired the White Merlot in the first place now has bragging rights as she was the one who bought that first bottle of White Merlot... I guess I will get over it...pass me another bottle of dry red please...give that bottle of White Merlot to the highest bidder...or my wife...

TN: Saxum 2002 Syrah Paso Robles Broken Bones Major New World wine...yes a fruit bomb and I love it...great the first day and better the second day...decanted the second day for 2 hours... 90% Syrah 10% Grenache Color deep dark ruby ink... the rim of the wine when tilted is showing color...this tells me that this wine has entered an advanced stage of evolution... The nose dark black berries, white lightning pepper followed by blueberries, plum, violet, black raspberry, heat, menthol, eucalyptus Mouth feel hot, spicy tacos, caramelized bacon, great acid balance, again the blueberries, plum, vanilla is hiding in the background Legs long big and bold Alc By Vol 15.9% 96 points drink now as it is open this wine I would not hold for more than 3 more years...floks she's ready now enjoy... This wine was given to me from an OL with Loren Sonkin who provided the bottle...great time great wines and great people...others will be posting notes from the OL...

Global Champagne Shortage Click On Me

Reductive Reasoning Reductive Reasoning Getting to the bottom of 'reduction' problems in screwcap wines By Jamie Goode From Wines & Vines, 08/01/2007 Click On Me This is a great read...take your time and think about it real hard...Jamie does a great job explaining the problem...enjoy!!!