Newsletter 2007
Happy Valentines Day!
I
thought it was about time for my yearly newsletter and besides, I would
rather write this than do “real work”. Soo…on to
something new and exciting! This is my first ever Pinot Czarina Wine
Club Newsletter. What does that really mean? To those of you (relatives
and close friends) it means nothing since I can’t get you to
actually buy my wine. But those of you that have purchased my wines in
the past are now automatic members, entitled to a 15% discount on all
of my new wines, once a year, through the club newsletter. But wait,
there’s more…you get first crack at any library wines I
want to sell too. Yes, unbelievable, isn’t it. A wine club that
let’s you just buy what you want.
What’s with the Pinot Czarina thing, you may be asking….As many of you know, Andre Tchelistcheff was the man responsible for getting me into this biz and my mentor for many years. (If you don’t know who he is , please Google him...godfather of the CA wine industry but so much more). He grew up as part of the Russian Aristocracy before the big revolution. He had a sister, that I was fortunate enough to meet in the early 1990’s who was, at one time an actual Czarina (think Dr. Zhivago..accept when we met, she was around 90, 4’7”, 130 and was smoking like Marge Simpson’s sister). I was still captivated. I don’t think there is a living Czarina left now so I have scooped the title..besides when you say it out loud, Pinot Czarina sounds really good.
Enough
about me and my ego and on to the wine. This year, I have four wines
that are show stoppers! They are so tasty that I call them the Yum-Yum
lineup. Every harvest produces a different taste even though I get the
exact same grapes and use the exact same recipe. Last year was a great
wine to cellar cause of that strong acid backbone. This years wines are
the most tasty wines I have made since 1986...yes, that’s right,
not 06 or 96 but 86. One problem, they evaporate in your glass. One
minute I have a full glass and I turn around to flip the steak and the
darn wine is gone next time I look. Teleportation? Alcoholic?
Alzheimer’s? Who knows…Let’s meet our new contestants
2004 French Camp Syrah**
I have tried to make a Syrah that tastes like Pinot for 10 years and
this time I did it. If you like those big Santa Rita Hills PN’s,
you will flip for this baby (at a fraction of the price). Confuse your
friends and stun your in-laws. It’s elegant with fruit
explosions. It has spice and chocolate with cherries and berries and
delightful goodness throughout.
2005 Santa Barbara Co. Pinot Noir**
This blend of White Hills PN, Bien Nacido PN and a drop of French Camp
Syrah is the wine for every occasion. It has all the crunchy red fruit
you will ever hope for with a broad midpalat, hints of violets and a
berry-etched finish. Goes with everything and everyone.
2005 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir**
These vines are 30 years old now and tasting marvelous. True terroir
and complexity are the buzz words. Chalk full of tarragon, earthy
tones, deep strawberry and black pepper with hints of cola and plum.
The finish lingers longer than this newsletter.
2005 Julias Vineyard Pinot Noir**
My “haunting other woman” is all she should be. She starts
off quiet and rather restrained..then she opens up.. Swirls of red
raspberries and smoke, Asian spice and wet stones, hints of cola and
wild black cherries with a finish so integrated and expansive that
it’s creamy, fruity and savory all at once.
Love, your pal...
Lane