Comments on: What Bedrock Wine Co. is About http://blog.bedrockwineco.com/2007/08/14/what-bedrock-wine-co-is-about/ It takes a Village to raise a Winery Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:09:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Morgan http://blog.bedrockwineco.com/2007/08/14/what-bedrock-wine-co-is-about/#comment-25 Morgan Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:47:06 +0000 http://blog.bedrockwineco.com/2007/08/14/what-bedrock-wine-co-is-about/#comment-25 I will be the first to admit the paucity of sites for good Cab production in Sonoma. However, there are a number of high-scoring, and that seems to be how you are defining quality here, Cabernet's made from sites in Napa that are not particularly good. In many of these cases the element of experience with the varietal and also having a keener understanding of making Cabernet helps. That said, I would argue that there are several good Cabernet being made in Sonoma that have the nexus of good terroir and experienced winemaking. Witness the elevation in status of Benziger's Tribute, as well as the excellent wines being made from Monte Rosso by Dick Arrowood and Ed Sbragia. Mark Lyons, though a good winemaker, essentially makes Leo McCloskey wines, and I tend to find them lacking in essential elements of terroir and varietal typicity. My definition of bombastic and spoofilated differ from Leo or Mark. But I do think it is possible for excellent and exciting Cabernet to be made in the valley. Thanks for the comments! I will be the first to admit the paucity of sites for good Cab production in Sonoma. However, there are a number of high-scoring, and that seems to be how you are defining quality here, Cabernet’s made from sites in Napa that are not particularly good. In many of these cases the element of experience with the varietal and also having a keener understanding of making Cabernet helps. That said, I would argue that there are several good Cabernet being made in Sonoma that have the nexus of good terroir and experienced winemaking. Witness the elevation in status of Benziger’s Tribute, as well as the excellent wines being made from Monte Rosso by Dick Arrowood and Ed Sbragia.

Mark Lyons, though a good winemaker, essentially makes Leo McCloskey wines, and I tend to find them lacking in essential elements of terroir and varietal typicity.

My definition of bombastic and spoofilated differ from Leo or Mark. But I do think it is possible for excellent and exciting Cabernet to be made in the valley.

Thanks for the comments!

]]> By: winemaker29 http://blog.bedrockwineco.com/2007/08/14/what-bedrock-wine-co-is-about/#comment-23 winemaker29 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:51:08 +0000 http://blog.bedrockwineco.com/2007/08/14/what-bedrock-wine-co-is-about/#comment-23 That's a gracious claim regarding Cabernet Sauvignon. Sonoma Valley has not been known for its Cabernet Sauvignons. We are glad to watch you closely. Witness the demise of Carmenet on Moon Mountain Road just above your vineyard, or the modest quality of Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignons. But times are a changing, and Sonoma winemakers are producing better wines. Sonoman Mark Lyon, who as you knows works for Sebastiani, and as you know with your vineyard’s grapes in the past has made the best Cabernet Sauvignon, blends in Sonoma, including from your vineyard. Decanter magazine covered Mark last year. He is the only winemaker to score with both Parker and Wine Spectator. That’s a gracious claim regarding Cabernet Sauvignon. Sonoma Valley has not been known for its Cabernet Sauvignons. We are glad to watch you closely. Witness the demise of Carmenet on Moon Mountain Road just above your vineyard, or the modest quality of Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignons. But times are a changing, and Sonoma winemakers are producing better wines. Sonoman Mark Lyon, who as you knows works for Sebastiani, and as you know with your vineyard’s grapes in the past has made the best Cabernet Sauvignon, blends in Sonoma, including from your vineyard. Decanter magazine covered Mark last year. He is the only winemaker to score with both Parker and Wine Spectator.

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