We're busy prepping for the Grand Opening.  Trying to decide how many pounds of Carne Asada meat to order!  Planning for a party open to the public is pretty difficult!

Two days ago I tasted a Petite Verdot that we made 3 barrels of.  It is a Man's wine. Deep in color and filled with flavors of tar, tobacco - it is a little Syrah like. This Petite is a little different than most because it comes from real sandy soil in Lodi, CA where it is grown in my friend Dave Huecksteadt's vineyard.  He grows 10 varietals and this is his favorite out of this vineyard. He lets it stay on the vine until late October which accentuates those Tar flavors I think.   This is not a fruity wine in any way.  We have tried at times to blend it with something (as normally the role of Petite Verdot is as a small blender back into Cab) but this wine dominates whatever it goes into.  So I have decided to just bottle as a single varietal because it is really unusual.  It needs a little bit of love before its release in 2010 (slight acid bump, some finishing tannins) but it is tasting good.  For many it will be too much for some it will be a unique experience they love.

Anyways I am thinking of doing some barrel tasting of this wine at the Grand Opening so let me know if you are interested and I will plan for it.

Cheers,

Olin