The Year Ahead – In Pinot, Burgundy, and other things…
It is hard to believe that 2010 will bring our 12th harvest – having started with a dream and a passion and some borrowed money back at the start of 1999. The dream and the passion still burn brightly, and we’ve borrowed more money. And we’re still here, fervently preaching the joys of Pinot Noir that champions elegance and finesse over power and extraction, both New World and Old. Most importantly, I still love what I do, and am deeply grateful to you for supporting our efforts. In spite of all the economic elements conspiring against us, our little enterprise continues to grow enough to allow us to keep on keepin’ on…
I’m excited about the year ahead. Here is a sneak preview of some new stuff on the horizon for us -
- Two brand-new Scott Paul Pinot Noir bottlings from the 2008 vintage will be released this year, in addition to the Audrey and La Paulée cuvées that have been around for many years. Release dates have not yet been decided, but over the year we’ll unveil the 2008 D122 and 2008 Dom Denise Pinot Noirs – each of which are micro-production wines of under 150 cases – watch this space for all the details. (The 2008 Audrey is scheduled for release in April, and the ’08 La Paulée for the 4th quarter. 2007 was the final vintage for Cuvée Martha Pirrie, so alas there is no more.)
- A new website and easier online shopping. We put a lot of time and effort into our website and keeping it current and hopefully interesting. We’ll be tweaking it up a bit once again in the first quarter and adding a slick and easy shopping cart to the site, which should make your online browsing and buying experience as seamless as possible.
- The first Scott Paul wine produced in Burgundy! We are about to bottle our one barrel of 2008 Chambolle-Musigny, which has been resting in the cellars of Anne & Hervé Sigaut in Chambolle for the past 15 months. 25 cases of this beauty will be here and ready for release later in the year. This wine, like the two new Scott Paul Oregon bottlings this year, will be available only directly from the winery – so as I used to say on the radio “Stay close for all the details….”
- The book is underway. As I alluded to in this space last fall, the research and writing phase has begun for my first book, a history of the “La Paulée” harvest celebration in Burgundy. I’ll be exploring not only the legendary “La Paulée de Meursault”, but the private Paulées that take place at each of the thousands of Burgundian domaines every year, a tradition that spans the centuries.
- Comments, please! I’ve never intended for this blog to be a one-way only conversation. Being somewhat technically challenged, I have just now figured out how to open these posts up for your comments. I look forward to hearing from you and welcome what you have to say.
The village of Chambolle-Musigny
As far as ongoing endeavors – I’m way excited to get back to teaching our series of Burgundy seminars. We’ve added a couple of new classes this year to the mix, including a study of the village of Chambolle-Musigny and a focus on the reds from the Côte de Beaune. Email kellykarr@scottpaul.com to book your seats, as several of the classes are filling up already.
Our Burgundy Express Club continues to be one of the best ways to experience the wines and learn about the region. The next shipment in the spring will be a study of the appellation hierarchy in Burgundy, from Bourgogne Passetoutgrains all the way up to Grand Cru. We can still accept a few more members, so contact kellykarr@scottpaul.com if you’d like to get signed up.
I will continue to spend 6-8 weeks each year in Burgundy - working closely with our producers there and finding you the best wines for the money from every part of the region (and Champagne too, of course!) While I’m not looking to add new producers or expand the portfolio this year, if something phenomenal becomes available, I will certainly jump on it. The mission, as always, is to bring in the best quality wines that are also the best values in their categories. I import the wines directly from the producers, eliminating the many unnecessary layers of middlemen and mark-ups that often contribute to the perception that Burgundy is “too expensive.” It IS too expensive if you’re paying $100 for a wine from a producer that goes through excessive broker & importer markups, when you can get an equal or better wine from us direct for about half the price…
Today’s economy demands VALUE. We are here to deliver just that in spades. You may in fact see some wines and producers dropped from our portfolio if their pricing does not allow us to offer the wines to you at prices that are good values in today’s market.
As I often say, there’s nobody else crazy enough to do what we do – run a full-on winery & vineyard operation as well as a direct import company – but we love it and couldn’t imagine it any other way. It would truly be impossible without the team of bright, talented and dedicated women I’m surrounded with – my wife Martha, Marketing Director Kelly Karr, Winemaker Kelley Fox, and bookkeeper Robin Burnside. We are blessed to have them on our side, and doubly blessed to have a brilliant partner and mentor and dear friend in Cameron Healy.
Here’s to a great 2010 for us all, full of great wine, food & friends – and the good health to enjoy them to the fullest!
