Bob Bressler 
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts: 4930
 | | 12-27-2007 06:44 PM |
| I think it is time for me to come clean on this one.ÂReflecting on how much Pinot we drink, last year we decided to make a small amount of Pinot Noir.ÂOne of our very dear friends has a Pinot vineyard on the Russian River Valley/Sonoma Coast boundary and he let me have enough grapes so that I could make 2 barrels of PN. We made it to the style we like – no RS, fruit driven, but elegant.ÂThe wine was bottled this past August and we have been waiting – impatiently – for the wine to settle down.ÂI showed it to several PN winemakers who told me that it was good and I should just be patient.ÂRight.ÂLast night I served it blind with a bunch of other wines to a large group, figuring that more feedback was better than less. Turned out to be the wine of the night – much to our surprise.ÂI mean, a Cab guy making a Pinot? Who’d have thought.  It came out so well that we have decided to let the secret out.ÂWe only made a total of 50 cases, and I plan to keep 25.ÂSo, we will be offering a few bottles of the PN in our release next month.ÂThe Cab will always be our flagship project, but making the PN was so much fun that I’m making another 2 barrels this year. | | |
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jason
Napa Valley
Wine Addict
Posts: 6915
| | 12-27-2007 06:48 PM |
| See Bob, it came around. The bottle I had up in Anderson Valley, everyone enjoyed. Amy and I chuckled while sipping it after having heard you and Stacey talk about it.
Those wondering about the "secret" Pinot producer that I tried last month...this was it. | | | |
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Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9560
| | 12-27-2007 07:37 PM |
| Very cool Bob! What is the Vineyard? And when can we sign you up for Pinot Days?!  | | | 2008: the end of an error | |
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tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3397
| | 12-27-2007 09:49 PM |
| Congrats on your new endeavor! Hopefully I can order a bottle with the cab. How are you going to allocate it? | | | TN posted on Cellartracker"
I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais | |
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saut
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1078
| | 12-28-2007 12:50 AM |
| Wow, this is great news. A hot new pinot and I'm already on the list! Way to go Bob! Have you ever thought about Petite Syrah?
Best wishes for a happy new year, and I can't wait for the mailer.
Fred | | | |
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jason
Napa Valley
Wine Addict
Posts: 6915
| | 12-28-2007 02:41 AM |
| though correctly it would be Sirah. | | | |
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Rob Kim
Las Vegas, Nevada
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 453
| | 12-28-2007 05:22 AM |
| Congrats, fantastic news - nothing like new endeavors to keep you sharp. Hopefully will receive a letter in January offering me some! | | | |
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Karen Troisi
NJ and CA
Grape Puncher
Posts: 795
| | 12-28-2007 06:30 AM |
| Congratulations Bob - I'm sure it's a fantastic wine. | | | Karenwww.jeanedwardscellars.com"You should only make wines you love to drink." | |
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Elkiholic
New Hampshire
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 467
| | 12-28-2007 09:12 AM |
| Oh boy... can't wait to tell my wife that one of her favorite cab producers is coming out with a Pinot....
Congrats Bob. look forward to trying it out.... | | Mike Coutu
Addicted to Wine | |
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Dave
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5774
| | 12-28-2007 10:28 AM |
| I used to lust after the KB 4 Barrel after Scottj got me hooked. But now, it's only Bressler 2 Barrel for me! | | | |
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Randy Wigginton
Master of Wine
Posts: 10871
| | 12-28-2007 10:36 AM |
| Bob, I'm really looking forward to it. Is this made by Mia as well?
I'm curious about something slightly off topic... California cab prices are generally in the same ballpark as highly ranked Bordeaux; some higher, some lower, the usual argument. California Rhone varietals are around the same prices as french Rhones; However, California Pinot prices are nowhere close to Premier Cru Burgundy. Why is that? | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas (pretty fall colors here)
Master of Wine
Posts: 11293
| | 12-28-2007 10:45 AM |
| Bob - this is great news. Who ever said you were a Cab guy? ;)
Bressler 2 Barrel - I'm in. Can't wait for more details. | | | |
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Seamus Campbell
Portland, Oregon
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 428
| | 12-28-2007 12:16 PM |
| I'm having a hard time finding statistics on this, but I believe a major factor in pricing here is volume. It's my understanding that there is much more First Growth Bordeaux than Grand Cru Burgundy. Even if the volume were the same, the Burg is split over many more producers and bottlings, so any given bottle is vastly more scarce. | | | |
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Seamus Campbell
Portland, Oregon
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 428
| | 12-28-2007 02:41 PM |
| Poking around a bit, I estimate annual Grand Cru Burg production at about 210,000 cases (540 hectares at 35 hL/hA at 11.1 cases / hL). I think that 540 hA figure includes whites. No idea what the relative proportions are, but I did see a figure that white Burg is close to 2/3s of total production. So ballpark of 75-125,000 cases annually of red.
According to Wikipedia, annual output for First Growth Bordeaux estates (includes second wines):
Lafite : 35k cases
Latour : 40k cases
Mouton : 30k cases
Margaux : 30k cases
Haut-Brion : 15k cases
That's 150k cases, split between first and second labels. Compare to the annual output of DRC:
Romanée-Conti: 450 cases
La Tâche: 1,870 cases
Richebourg: 1,000 cases
Romanée-St-Vivant: 1,500 cases
Grand Echézeaux: 1,150 cases
Echézeaux: 1,340 cases
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts: 4930
| | 12-28-2007 02:58 PM |
| Posted By tanglenet on 12/27/2007 9:49 PM
How are you going to allocate it? This is harder than the Traveling Salesman Problem. Actually, I enjoy reading threads on allocation schemes as you never know when a great idea will come along. The Pinot will only be offered with the cab (with the possible exception of an under the table deal with R8der). As in years past, the cab offer will go out in waves, starting with our most senior customers. My current POR is to just offer a few bottles until it runs out. But, as I said, I am always open to better ideas. I uploaded the label to Cellar Tracker if you want to take a look. Same size and shape and same font as the Cab but with a different color background. | | | |
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Seamus Campbell
Portland, Oregon
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 428
| | 12-28-2007 03:02 PM |
| Hope it will make it down the tranches to some of the Johnny-come-latelies like me! | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas (pretty fall colors here)
Master of Wine
Posts: 11293
| | 12-28-2007 04:53 PM |
| Nice label. I entered my purchase in there too. Just kidding around, I'll remove it. | | | |
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Drew
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3355
| | 12-28-2007 05:27 PM |
| As long as I can pick up a bottle or two, I don't care how you allocate it :-D | | | |
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Quinn_cab
Grape Sorter
Posts: 239
| | 12-28-2007 08:00 PM |
| Congrats, Bob...that's great news! I'm definitely in for whatever PN I am offered... | | | |
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Randy Wigginton
Master of Wine
Posts: 10871
| | 12-28-2007 08:04 PM |
| Posted By Seamus Campbell on 12/28/2007 2:41 PM
Poking around a bit, I estimate annual Grand Cru Burg production at about 210,000 cases (540 hectares at 35 hL/hA at 11.1 cases / hL). I think that 540 hA figure includes whites. No idea what the relative proportions are, but I did see a figure that white Burg is close to 2/3s of total production. So ballpark of 75-125,000 cases annually of red.
According to Wikipedia, annual output for First Growth Bordeaux estates (includes second wines):
Lafite : 35k cases
Latour : 40k cases
Mouton : 30k cases
Margaux : 30k cases
Haut-Brion : 15k cases
That's 150k cases, split between first and second labels. Compare to the annual output of DRC:
Romanée-Conti: 450 cases
La Tâche: 1,870 cases
Richebourg: 1,000 cases
Romanée-St-Vivant: 1,500 cases
Grand Echézeaux: 1,150 cases
Echézeaux: 1,340 cases
I don't think I made my point clearly, or else I am misunderstanding you. Romanee-conti produces 450 cases; why isn't there an american producer that produces 450 cases at a stratospheric price point? Why isn't there a "Screaming Bressler" of California Pinot?  | | | |
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