The Tasting Panel magazine

W A orking Winter in Wine Country MERIDITH MAY VENTURES TO NAPA AND SONOMA AFTER THE 2011 HARVEST, WHERE SHE IS WITNESS TO BUSINESS AS USUAL. WHAT ELSE IS NEW? photos by John Curley Rudd Winery Director Kenny Koda on the Oakville estate amidst Cabernet Franc vines brought from Pomerol's Vieux Château Certan. "This variety is as important to us as Cabernet Sauvignon in our blends, and ripens well in cooler vintages." T raveling to Napa and Sonoma for busi- ness is almost routine for professionals in our industry. It's the old "someone's gotta do it" answer you give your family or layman friends, who, if they could see you in your element, may turn green with wine-envy. Although I promise I never take it for granted that I get to taste with winemakers, distributor royalty and winery owners as part of my job, there is always time to ponder on what point I want to make in the stories to tell about each visit. That's the real work: getting a message to our readers who find themselves in an ocean of choices. There may be a lot of fish in the sea, but I think it's the purpose of THE TASTING PANEL to angle the line so that our (sound) bites are informative in some of your purchasing decisions. The 2011 harvest is past us, and expecta- tions are high for lower yields with con- centrated, lush fruit in this vintage's future releases. And although at this time of year the vines were dormant, sales, distribution and marketing efforts cracked at a humming pace. Rudd Winery Director Kenny Koda on the Oakville estate amidst Cabernet Franc vines brought from Pomerol's Vieux Château Certan. "This variety is as important to us as Cabernet Sauvignon in our blends, and ripens well in cooler vintages." 96 / the tasting panel / january/february 2012

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