Stories from Elevage
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A different kind of letting go
Elevage &bull Jan 19, 2012
This bottle, the 2006 Domaine Meo Camuzet Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits Clos Saint-Philibert, should have been wonderful. Again, wine from a top producer but not a top bottling. In this case, a simple Hautes-Cotes from a single vineyard, Clos Saint-Philibert,… Full Story »
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Letting go
Elevage &bull Jan 16, 2012
We are constantly letting go. I'm reminded of this lately by my sister, who is writing a lovely blog called One Item a Day about her plan this year to get rid of one thing per day. It's a brilliant idea. The blog is sweet and poignant, extremely personal. It's all about letting… Full Story »
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Christmas 2011 at home
Elevage &bull Dec 26, 2011
Merry Christmas, dear reader. I'm home this year after several holidays at my childhood home in Los Angeles. Everything is focused on home, how good home feels, especially at Christmas. For me, wine is always secondary at the holidays. Essential… Full Story »
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Harvest 2011 part 7: celebration
Elevage &bull Dec 9, 2011
Harvest 2011 in Oregon's Willamette Valley is complete. The grapes picked, the new wines safely through fermentation and in barrel (unless you're Barnaby at Teutonic Wine Company, who told me last week that he was picking his last riesling on… Full Story »
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Harvest 2011 part 6: barreling
Elevage &bull Nov 30, 2011
At this point, the new wine from each fermenter settles for a few days in a separate container. Press wine is kept separate as well. Everything settles for a few days before the wine goes into barrel. All that's left… Full Story »
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Harvest 2011 part 5: draining
Elevage &bull Nov 28, 2011
As the wine is gently pumped out, the grape skins floating on the surface of the liquid gradually drop to the bottom of the bin. I like how they cling to the top of the "torpedo" that sucks out the… Full Story »
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Harvest 2011 part 4: plunging
Elevage &bull Nov 22, 2011
Pumping over Vincent Pinot Noir, once early on to give oxygen to the yeast. Waiting this year for the fermenters to start their fermenting was especially nerve wracking for me. Last year one fermenter went a little sideways on me.… Full Story »
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Harvest 2011 part 3: waiting
Elevage &bull Nov 17, 2011
Last time I wrote about bringing in several tons of Pinot noir from Armstrong Vineyard on this past October 20. Turns out that same day, we also brought in Vincent Wine Company's one ton of Pinot from Zenith Vineyard in the Eola-Amity… Full Story »
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Harvest 2011 part 2: grapes!
Elevage &bull Nov 15, 2011
The Vincent Wine Company harvest begins. In most years, October 20 would see the last grapes coming in to local wineries. Ok, some late, late pickers and people who make Riesling would still be holding on. The point remains, this… Full Story »
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Harvest 2011, part 1 - it's a miracle
Elevage &bull Nov 12, 2011
Yes, always. Seriously, that has to be the answer if anyone ever again asks if the harvest is going to turn out. After this year, how could you say any different? In the brief history of wine grape growing in Oregon's Willamette Valley, this year was historically cold and late. How late? Bud break in Pinot noir vines that should be in full swing in… Full Story »
