Ay Chihuahua!...Futures and Jugs -
Futures and Jug Sale valid through Oct 5th, 2009
* Wine Garage Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Napa Valley “ Chihuahua Vineyard” FUTURES $180.00 per 6-pack
Last year just before harvest, I received a phone call from a dude with a very heavy Spanish accent: “I heard you want some Cabernet grapes”, was what I deciphered.” I mean, truly, he could barely speak English and some crappy cell phone reception didn’t help things either. “Whose vineyard is it?” I asked. He mumbled, “Mine”. “YOUR vineyard?” (See, most guys with this particular vernacular in Napa County don’t own their own vineyard, they work for one). And please don’t get the wrong idea …I am appalled at how many of the Mexican grape pickers are treated here in Napa . When harvest arrives, an army of migrant workers descend on this valley to pick grapes for wealthy vineyard owners and they work their asses off for $10 an hour in sweltering heat - always covered head to toe in heavy clothing…including sweatshirts with the hood always up and bandanas over their faces (which, I must surmise helps with the heat, but I always shake my head to the theory). When they are done, they retire…not to the villa on the hill…but more often to a piece of cardboard used as their bed, outside, next to the river…if they are lucky enough to find a spot where the don’t get shoed away from someone’s private property. Then they do it all over again until the grapes are picked, and then I see them standing in line in a market buying money-grams to send every penny back to Mexico so their family can sustain themselves until the next crop is ripe. Without these hard working, family-orientated, gentle souls, the wine business would crumble. The entire US Agriculture business would crumble right along with it. We donate wine to fundraisers to help these families get healthcare and affordable housing and food and the basic necessities every single year. I go out of my way to buy wine from Mexican vintners (one of which is coming in the October Club from Martin Guerrero, a delicious Cab Franc).
But back to the wine---So I agree to meet this dude in a housing tract just south of Dean and Deluca off of Hwy 29 in St. Helena with Massimo (our winemaker) – but I am wary of getting sold grapes that this dude don't own. My street sense City-boy third eye is on high alert. I don’t take to gettin’ taken too easily. All is on stand down mode when we see this dude and he explains that he is a gardener and bought this house we are standing in front of 15 years ago. He proceeded to plant 450 vines in his over sized back lot from cuttings which a Compadre of his had helped himself to from the Stags’ Leap vineyard! Ay Carumba!
We open the gate and immediately an army of Chihuahuas try to attack Massimo and me from the flank…. 4 of these little turd producers are yipping and yapping their way to us with little snarls and high pitched squeaking barks. Anyway, due to space constraints, the rows of this vineyard are extremely close together and the spacing of the vines similarly crowded. EXACTLY HOW MOST “CULT WINE” VINEYARDS ARE PLANTED…..times three! We could barely walk through without our shoulders hitting two rows simultaneously. Dick Grace, from Grace Family Vineyards, pioneered this planting style years ago to great success and many a monster score in the wine press. The more stress you make available to the vines, the tastier the wine. This grape grower /gardener, Ramon Martinez, must have spent more time in this vineyard trimming and singing and humming and trimming. He probably went out there every single night to get some peace and quiet from either his other half or the pride of turd laying pooches. I look at Massimo and give him my questioning nod while trying to thwart yet another Chihuahua attack with my boot. He gives me that “high sign” response that says: “buy it dude”….and game on.
I was initially going to blend this into our ‘08 Hillside Diamond Mountain Cab we made that year, but after tasting it…..Ay Chihuahua ! No way, Jose. I am keeping it a single vineyard designate to offer only to YOU. Richer than all the gold in St. Marks Cathedral. Extracted, concentrated, silky mouthfeel and deep. This wine has the bling but also the grip of a fantastic cult wine. Screw Screaming Eagle, gimme some Chihuahua ! Juicy ripe fruit of blackberry, boysenberry, and plum. Beautiful acidity and tannin. Vanilla from the 100% new French oak cooperage. Mole, cigar box, and mint on the long finish. Can’t believe it came out this good. Only 150 cases made. I try to bring you unique wines made with love and the highest standards possible. This one is not to be missed.
How to order
Place your order buy October 5th. Sold in 6 packs only at $30/bottle. Due to the limited production, we are allotting two 6-packs per customer as inventory lasts.
Order Your Futures Jugs Here Electronically