For the first time in quite a long while (now that I think about it perhaps ever), Bryant did not raise the price on their latest vintage. The 2000 costs $200 a pop.

That is welcome news. Considering they just finished the construction of their own caves and winery most other wineries would have bumped up the prices.

They also jettisoned Helen Turley and added the ubiquitous Phillipe Melka - a reason to lower prices imo. I am more than little worried about the future of this winery. Melka is a potential problem.

I am sure (and Hope) Bryant will always be a good drink unless Philipe really screws with things and destroys it. Will it be a good drink at $200 (for those who do factor in price) is another question. Bryant has obviously been at the very top of the quality ladder therefore distinguishing itself as the elite. My hope is that it will not become just another good to very good California Cabernet amongst the vast sea of the same. Time will tell............I guess we will have to wait until 2005 to see what the truly "Philipe Melka-winemaker" Bryant Family will taste like.

He finished the 2002 that Helen started......correct?

jones-what is your concern about melka? he makes the wines at seavey and in the past you have had good things to say about their wines.

Everybody should read James Laube's latest article in the Speculator called "Analyze This" concerning the latest drama at Bryant.

It is my understanding that he is finishing the 2001 and 2002 with (obviously) the 2003 being solely his baby. While the massive vineyard development improvements implemented by Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer will remain, Melka has never made a wine that comes close to the wines produced by Turley at Bryant Family (or Pahlmeyer or Martinelli or Marcassin etc). Melka is streched thin throughout the Valley. Having Rolland on board as a consultant does help (look at what he has done for Araujo in such a short time). Melka is competent granted but Turley is special. His best work was at Seavey but that was before he was hired on by multiple other wineries.

Dream scenario......and remember this is from a guy with that last name ok....

Melka screws up bigtime.....people get pissed....combine that with the economy and ever higher cult cab prices...they start to leave Bryant Family in droves........all of the non-related Bryants like myself get moved up onto the list since we've been waiting for years...then DOn Bryant fires Melka and brings Helen back or some sutiable replacement...the qulaity soars again I am hip deep in the family wine. Sounds good eh?





just kidding you know

Unless I’ve missed it, there is still another shoe to drop. David Abreu gets a lot of credit for turning around that Pritchard hill vineyard. Back when he and Helen were still talking they were able to do magic together. When Bryant (and others) agreed to use Wetlaufer instead, I waited to see what would happen (no implied comments here about John). However, since John left with Helen – who will pick up the vineyard work? (And no, I have never made it onto that list)

Bryant hired John Pina to manage the vineyard.