Carbon Dating at Crushpad

While going through introductions at a recent Pinot Noir Wine Plan Seminar, Z observed that our 5 winemakers have 73 years of production experience. Impressive. However, that figure doesn’t take into account harvest experiences. Harvest experience? Think dog years, but instead of seven, it’s two. That’s because one can accumulate valuable insights and destroy the body by working both, a southern and northern hemisphere harvest in one calendar year. Two for the price of one punishment.

It’s sort of like Einstein’s assertions on the relativity of time. Here, Astronaut A Millenium Falcons into space at the speed of light for mere moments. She quickly returns, only to discover that sadly, her spouse expired some 12,000 years ago and that the hapless Cubs still haven’t had World Series success. Tragedy.

Using the Harvest Experience Principal, preliminary samples analyzed with carbon dating indicate that our 5 winemakers have apx. 7 million years of collective winemaking experience. Very Impressive…and their age doesn’t show a bit.

Moving forward, we successfully tested web streaming the Thursday evening session! Clear sound, crisp picture and a chat function will enable clients to ask questions and interact live with a winemaker. There will be bumps and bruises to be sure, but for those of you who live out of town or simply want to complete your wine plan in pajamas, you’re in luck! If you have high-speed service and would like to participate from home, simply let me know when you RSVP and I’ll send you all the details. In the meantime, Dan created this useful tool to see if your machine can handle the stream. Click Here.

Wine? Our small group examined 06 Sleepy Hollow and Bohemian barrels samples. Chris selected these because of the distinct approaches in terms of aromatics and oak treatments. We also poured a 2005 Roessler from Dutton Ranch. Dutton Ranch Vineyard straddles the Russian River and Green Valley AVAs in Sonoma County. The property is in the transition of moving toward organic farming methods with over 50% of the vines currently tended in this manner. The ‘05 had the tell tale Roessler oak in the nose, but the palate was refreshingly lighter than the aromatics indicated. Gentle acids throughout the palate with some wild strawberry and hints of rhubarb. I enjoyed this one!