"As the pandemic progressed, we were really worried about how are we going to farm, pick fruit and make wine. There were a lot of unknowns," says Sam Kaplan, winemaker for Memento Mori, a boutique Napa Cabernet producer. "And then when it came to the fires, we had to test for smoke taint. But doing that in a pandemic and with the crush of everyone testing, samples were taking weeks and months to come back.
But we just kept plowing forward." I sat down with Kaplan and a handful of Napa winemakers and growers, including Maya Dalla Valle (Dalla Valle), Françoise Peschon (Drinkward Peschon), Andy Erickson (Favia), Jennifer Williams (Zeitgeist), Natalie Winkler (Salvestrin) and Vine Hill Ranch vineyard owner Bruce Phillips.
As a group, their determination to Napa 2020 shutdown a wildfires. I'd where the age forge ahead in 2020 reminded me of conversations with the Rhône's Philippe Guigal and Michel Chapoutier years ago, when discussing their decision to release their lineup of single-vineyard wines in 2002, a mostly forgettable year for Rhône reds.
"Obligation" was the word they used, independently of each other, noting that as shepherds of prized parcels they felt a duty to let those vineyards speak, even in a particularly difficult harvest.
Denne historien er fra October 15, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra October 15, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New Zealand's Success Story
From small beginnings, the country’s wines have ascended to global prominence
Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers
Decades of research has linked light to moderate drinking, especially of wine, to a range of health benefits.
In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust
“Dough is always the hardest challenge for any home chef,” explains chef and restaurateur Tony Gemignani. “But it’s the foundation of any great pizza.”
SEAVEY VINEYARD
In Napa’s Conn Valley, a family-run winery marches to its own drum
CALIFORNIA RHONES Show Their Range
RECENT VINTAGES DELIVER EXCELLENT REDS AND WHITES IN AN ARRAY OF STYLES
Tuscany Comes of Age
Anchored by the 2021 vintage, Tuscan reds set a new standard of quality
The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America
PROFILES OF THE 63 WINE SPECTATOR GRAND AWARD WINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY, AS THE PROGRAM MARKS ITS 44TH YEAR
Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.
A young couple in shorts and festival shirts sped into the ballroom of the New Orleans Marriott on a mission.
Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.
Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it’s so much more. This Mission District restaurant effortlessly strips away the formality of a multicourse dinner and replaces it with conviviality, nostalgia and curiosity. With reverence for time and place, Lazy Bear is an ode to California where guests dine in concert with the season and can explore diverse wines, including an impressive collection of older California vintages.
