Someplace in a parallel world, you’d need me as a lot as I need you right here and I will care not about your existence. For now, I breathe you. ― Nitya Prakash
Time and house are illusions. Every part exists on the similar time. ― Darryl Anka
I cherished you back and forth in time. I cherished you past boundaries of time and house. ― Dan Simmons
Within the hurry-up-and-wait, time-warped, wackadoodle parallel universes of winemaking I discover myself shifting consciousness between three vintages, whereas nonetheless current in every one on the similar time.
Worry not, that is no wine-addled journey into the advanced ideas of quantum physics and time journey seeking an enological multiverse. I’ve had sufficient science. And if I’m going to addle my thoughts with wine the one factor I search is . . . nicely . . . the addling.
However the altered states of creating three industrial vintages at one time—which you need to do—is disquieting. Let me try to clarify.
In September of 2021 I field-harvested 1,200 kilos of Zinfandel and 800 kilos of Petite Sirah and fermented them collectively. I harvested roughly a ton every of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Malbec and fermented all of them individually. Then all the pieces went into French oak barrels for growing older. A yr later I picked and barrel-fermented a ton of Chardonnay, which I cut up into two barrels for various kinds of élevage.
About that point, I blended the Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah into my Requisite Purple, a mix that I’d been “practising” for 3 years prior. I saved a little bit little bit of the Syrah and the Cab to mix with the Malbec as a varietal. All the above grew to become my first industrial classic, which I simply bottled on the finish of March and which is now bottle-aging for months to come back at a separate facility. It has been a real and passionate love affair for me with this classic, which I hope will proceed into previous age—for the each of us.
Whereas the above wines aged, I did a second industrial harvest in September of 2022 the place I picked, fermented and barreled Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Malbec, Tannat, Primitivo, Mourvedre, a brand new Zinfandel/Petite Sirah discipline mix, and two totally different Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, one within the valley and a excessive mountain one fittingly named Aerie. That was eight months in the past.
Three weeks in the past, I blended these 10 wines—24 barrels in complete—into two varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec) and two purple blends (a brand new iteration of Requisite Purple, and an incredible concoction of Primitivo, Tannat and Merlot that I’m calling Rojo Rustico). Though they’re nonetheless at the very least 18 months from being launched, these 4 wines all present extraordinary early promise, stoking my obsession and making me really feel a little bit like a wine philanderer as I shift my affection from the classic earlier than.
However as any classic Lothario is aware of, there’s at all times one other fairly winery. And if you wish to preserve making wine it’s a must to preserve flirting with the long run. So, whereas Classic 1 matures within the bottle and Classic 2 blooms within the barrel, I reaffirm my devotion to each in a wierd case of agricultural polygamy, tasting my approach by means of their moods as they evolve, all of the whereas merely attempting to remain affected person, holding my eye open for my subsequent liaisons. They usually got here early this yr as I closed offers to reap and make wine once more this fall from Aerie (that marvelous mountain prime Cabernet Sauvignon winery), and from a brand new Syrah winery off the summit of Bennett Valley Street, in addition to the identical Zinfandel/Petite Sirah discipline mix from Classic 2. I’ll even choose grapes for a white wine once more. Why not? People like my first Chardonnay launched with Classic 1. However in fact, these must be included in my Classic 2.
My targets for Classic 3 are wines that you simply in all probability received’t see till the autumn of 2025—a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, a varietal Syrah, and one more Requisite Purple Mix. And once more, maybe a white wine of kinds, however that wouldn’t be picked till 2024.
Completely confused but? Time journey certainly!
Hell if I do know. It appears loopy to me, and greater than a little bit unsettling, that I’ll nonetheless be ready to launch my first industrial classic of wine I made in 2021 once I’m harvesting grapes for my third industrial classic this fall, in simply three extra months. Discuss a leap of religion—financially, organoleptically, emotionally!
Simply consider how significantly better—or worse—a winemaker I might need turn into earlier than you even get to style my first wines.
However I try to be good. Hopefully, even higher than that. And my plan is to construct the Tiny Vineyards Wine Firm right into a direct-to-consumer, allocation-based, artisan wine enterprise, which makes simply sufficient unbelievable wine annually to fulfill the wants and desires of its membership members at commiserate reductions, and lowered or free delivery. Something past that can be supplied to the general public at full value.
I’ll open entry to the wine membership first to anybody who has reserved wine in my inaugural advance wine sale. You’ll get some communication about it from me in October, once I ship you your wine However, FYI: this sale will proceed for less than a short time longer. NOTE! Now you can purchase single bottles within the advance wine sale.
That is what I’ve made, am making, and am planning to make. It’s as far into the long run as I can go with out dredging up that quantum physics mojo once more.
2021 VINTAGE – Official launch October 2023, at present accessible to order right here.
Requisite Purple (145 circumstances produced) – A proprietary mix of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This can be a foodie wine, advanced and structured sufficient for a particular occasion, however not so massive or heavy as to overwhelm what’s being served. Superbly balanced with massive notes of strawberry, black cherry, spice, darkish chocolate, and leather-based. The mouthfeel is certainly seductive with sassy acidity, light tannins and a faint French oakiness of toasted coconut.
Eclipse Malbec (78 circumstances produced) – Made as a celebratory wine for the 2024 Nice American Eclipse. Jammy and fruit ahead with only a splash of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon so as to add construction and depth. Notes of black cherry, plum, pomegranate, tobacco, and cocoa current in a velvety mouthfeel of vivid acidity, tender tannins, and an extended austral end.
Sonoma Chardonnay (47 circumstances produced) – A lean, crisp, refreshing Chablis-style Chardonnay (NOT massive, oaky or buttery). Fermented in one-year-old French oak barrels, this can be a closely pear-driven wine with extra notes of lemon, lime peel and melon inside a really mild creaminess.
2022 VINTAGE – Official launch October 2024, accessible to order November 2023
Requisite Purple (200 circumstances estimated) – Solely eight months within the barrel (ten extra to go) this iteration of our signature wine has us all gasping in delight. Along with the ever-present darkish fruit and seductive mouthfeel of our proprietary mix there’s a faint sweetness rising together with distinct notes of black pepper. That might be as a result of I modified our supply of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, and blended in Cabernet Sauvignon from each our Valley and Mountain websites. Solely the supply for Syrah stays the identical.
Rojo Rustico (150 circumstances estimated) – What a shock this has been. I had examine a mix from northern Spain that utilized Zinfandel, Tannat and Merlot, and I keep in mind pondering that it seemed like one thing I would really like. Then I discovered myself having to discipline mix a brief ton of Primitivo with 800 kilos of Tannat on account of selecting schedules and climate anomalies throughout final yr’s loopy harvest. I additionally had a ton of Merlot that was coming in scorching and I wasn’t positive I nonetheless needed to make a varietal out of it. Lengthy story brief, most people will inform you that Zinfandel and Primitivo are the identical grape, and the proportions of it and the Tannat to the Merlot have been near the wine I had examine. So, what the hell, all collectively they went into six barrels and virtually instantly the music began to play! I’ll reveal extra shortly, however suffice it to say you’re going to need this in your cellar.
Aerie Cabernet Sauvignon (100 circumstances estimated) – Mixing two barrels of our Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with two barrels of our Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon was akin to actor Regé-Jean Web page having an offspring with the mannequin Bella Hadid. We don’t know but if the child goes to develop up even richer, extra structured, extra advanced and extra beneficiant in spirit than her two dad and mom. It’s extremely doubtless, however solely time will inform. What we do know, nonetheless, is that she is already really stunning!
Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, or Chardonnay (50 circumstances estimated) – TBD
2023 VINTAGE – Official Launch October 2025, accessible to order November 2024
Requisite Purple (100 circumstances estimated) – Apart from the Syrah and the Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, I’ve contracted once more for a similar grapes we used for this mix in 2022 as a result of they have been sensational final yr.
Syrah (150 circumstances estimated) – I’m selecting a brand new Syrah winery this yr as a result of my previous supply, whereas glorious in high quality, can’t ship the yield I must make a single varietal. I’m searching for two tons.
Aerie Cabernet Sauvignon (150 circumstances estimated) – I’m betting that that is the yr that our Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon stands by itself in each high quality and yield. I’m searching for two tons right here as nicely.
Mendocino Malbec (125 circumstances estimated) – This was really picked in 2022 however I’ve determined to age it longer and launch it as a reserve, as it’s displaying indicators of growing into one thing particular.
