Jeff’s Letter from January 2025
Just a sliver of 2024 remains in the windshield as most of the year has slipped past and into the rearview mirror. 2024 will be remembered as a year of change especially when it comes to personnel. In April, we exchanged horses in the middle of the stream and hired Vince Friend and Cordelina Wine Company to guide us in our efforts to sell wines through the three-tier distribution network. In May, Michelle Alameda joined us as our tasting room manager and shortly thereafter Bailey Lubenko-Love took over as events coordinator. We have several new faces behind the bar in the tasting room and it seems like the cellar is the only part of the winery that is ending the year with the same roster we started with. I am reminded that the Chinese symbol for change is that of two other symbols intertwined: Fear and Opportunity. I am doing my best to focus on the latter. The increase in energy has been palpable and we are all looking forward to a bright new year.
I always like the new year because it’s in January when we release one of my favorites, the Barbera from the Cooper Vineyard. The 2023 edition has luscious red raspberry fruit, bold color and flavor, while maintaining Barbera’s brightness and zing. The second release of the Miravet Tempranillo has a full compliment of Graciano (25%) and is a delicious easy-drinking red with soft tannins. It is a great wine to introduce to a friend or family member that is new to wine. The Lone Oak Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley is a classic Pinot focused on dark cherry fruit with soft smooth oak and a crisp lean structure. The clean up batter in the lineup is the Tannat from Ron Silva’s Silvaspoons Vineyard in the Alta Mesa District of Lodi. This is a big wine perfect for cold winter nights and hearty fare.
In the first quarter of 2025 we will announce an additional level to the wine club. Over the years we have come across many gems that I just cannot walk away from, yet I don’t have any room to share them with you in the club. Through an option to add an additional bottle to your current club level we will enable you access to the tiny volumes of limited production wines for those of you interested in furthering your experience in wine to include the likes of Alveralhao, Nero d’Avola, Malbec, Estate Touriga, Shake Ridge Tempranillo, Carignane, Dal Porto Ranch Syrah, and John Murrill’s Sangiovese. We will call it the ‘Explorers Club.’ Keep your eyes peeled on your e-mail’s in-box for the announcement.
Have a happy and safe New Year.
– Jeff
