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Sean Thackrey :: Wine Maker

Sean Thackrey :: Wine Maker

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Starring belle

Yesterday I posted a snapshot of our first consumer tasting of the 2016 Andromeda, starring Belle (see below on this page); now, the results, which I think are pretty decisive, this being her bowl after the event. I believe we may conclude that her organoleptic evaluation, as the ag-techs at UC Davis prefer to call it, was about as positive as it gets; and I admit that agrees with my own opinion, even though of course my own opinion is still based on what we aging art history majors insist on calling "taste". (which reminds me of my then-girlfriend of many years ago's splendidly inventive tasting note on the word "organoleptic" itself; she said, "Oow; that sounds like a band-aid smells".)


Tuesday, September 20, 2016

The fox and the grapes

This is Belle, the California Grey Fox with whom I share the property on Horseshoe Hill, seen here performing the very first consumer tasting of the 2016 Andromeda.

I believe it went well; admittedly, she curled up and went to sleep right afterward, but I took this as a sign of deep contentment.


Sunday, September 18, 2016

Fierce reality; ferment...

The 2016 Andromeda, which I was pumping into an open bin to cool down; although it didn't need it; the rest of the fermenter boiled along at 97ºF and went dry in no time. Still, it's a portrait of a fierce reality; ferment, from the Latin "ferveo, fervere", "to boil". The blue and green patch bottom center is simply the reflection of a blue September sky behind the green leaves of the ancient Coast Live Oak that explodes above me, above all this boiling, here...


Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Under the old oak tree

Since there's so little that we do that's done the way almost any other winery does it, why not share this snapshot of the 2016 Andromeda being poured into the fermenter? As with the Orion, the wine should be entirely remarkable this year; full, rich, ripe flavors at a lower sugar than usual, perfectly balanced and elegant fruit...


Sunday, September 11, 2016

For proclaiming

I'm really not much for proclaiming "the vintage of the century!!", particularly on the basis of a single harvest; but the 2016 Orion will be exceptional by any standard, Dionysus willing of course, & as always. Beautiful mature flavors at a significantly lower lever of sugar than usual recently; perfect acid balance; perfect balance generally, one of my known fanatic points of quality. Here is the finishing culture being poured into the main fermenter, seen from the inside out, as it were.