As most of you know, Michael will only release reserve wine from our main sourced vineyards, when the wine truly stands above all others. This year, those vineyards are Gary Morisoli's and Beckstoffer's Dr. Crane.
Michael says that the Morisoli in the glass presents huge inky intense color, with rich red and black fruit aromas with a hint of the infamous "Rutherford dust." The wine shows a solid structure with firm tannins, which don't interfere with the enormous complexity of the wine. The flavors are forward of black cherry, currants with hints of tobacco, leather and spicy chocolate, all knitted together into perfect balance.
The Beckstoffer Dr. Crane if from clone #337 vines on an old river bed that produces superior and wonderfully smooth cab. Dr. Crane has evolved into our most forward showy, smooth, rich and decedent cab. Michael states that the wine is expressive with silky forward aromas of currant, black cherry, coco and mocha and that the generous rich flavors come together in harmony, showing off its cabernet complexity and balance. With time, this Dr. Crane evolves into a wine with lavish coco and chocolate characteristics all laced with a very rich and smooth balance and complexity.
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I slept on Craig's arcade game room floor, woke up in time to pick Cheryl up from working all night at the hospital (life as its supposed to be), and made it back to St. Helena in time for the town's Bocce Ball Championship Tournament. Out of 78 teams, the Hone Dogs took it all. They've won the league championship two of the last three years and came in second last year. A new era has started.

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