“I am always open to discovering new places. I would love to participate in a wine project in the south of England. That would be very interesting”
you first started and what innovations are you looking to introduce in the future to safeguard the vineyards? “The creation of a great wine takes a long time, so you need to anticipate long-term climate patterns as well. I first anticipated Global Warming by choosing Sonoma for Vérité. Napa [Valley] would have been the obvious choice for creating a very fine, complex quality wine but I knew it would be too hot for the Bordeleais style I had in mind. I needed a cooler place for growing Cabernet Franc and Merlot, varieties that were not being talked about 20 years ago in the USA. I chose mountain sites, away from the East. Again, this was a reaction to the changing, warmer climate. We also preserve the ecosystem by not overplanting and minimise the use of water through micro filtration, reusage
and micro irrigation. We also use wind. We have small blowers in the vineyard which stop the frost from settling – they move the air around the vines instead.”
Is there anywhere in the world where you would like to grow vines and why? “I am always open to discovering new places. I would love to participate in a wine project in the south of England. That would be very interesting. Eastern Europe could also be interesting, by the Black Sea, although with the political instability maybe that is not realistic at the moment.”
What has been the best glass of wine you have every drunk and why? I love so many wines! I love port, I like champagne. A beautiful Armagnac and a Sauterne. . .a fantastic pinot noir and of
course, Bordeaux. I love Vérité. I used to like it but now, tasting the nutrients of the soil from so many micro crus from years ago... I love it. Especially the cooler vintages such as 2011 and 1998. I like aged wines and so a glass of my first vintage of Vérité is the best!”
What will be your wine of choice on Christmas Day? “Probably a magnum of Vérité 2002 La Muse. Or 1998; my first vintage in California. I would finish with a beautiful Armagnac. I don’t smoke but a really fine Armagnac with a cigar is a perfect way to end a festive lunch. I am fascinated with the blending of a fine cigar, or a very fine perfume.... it is the synergy and finesse of blending that creates the style, just like for Vérité.
83
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144
