Cal Cabs Thrashed In Decanter!

[Jerry D Mead]

Re Andre...don't forget that he was always learning and changing. When he returned to BV after an absense of so many years...he asked Joel why they were still doing certain things the way they were...and Joel said, "Because that's the way you did them."

Andre said, " My God...I've changed...why haven't you?"

And don't forget that it was under Andre's eye that French oak began to appear in the equation and that small amounts of Merlot appeared in blends that were previously 100% Cabernet.

Andre was the most open-minded winemaker of his stature I ever met. He even let me win a "Brett" argument at a wine judging 30 years ago, when I was a real beginner.

He spoke against a Zin for having Brett and that therefore it should not be considered for a medal...his influence had everyone else changing their votes and agreeing to eliminate the wine.

I argued that nevertheless it was the most delicious ZIN we had tasted and as such it should be rewarded (I used the old "should Yquem be thrown out because it has volatility" argument).

Andre reconsidered and said the wine should at least come back for the medal round (and all the other panelists reversed themselves once again and agreed)and I think the wine ended up getting a silver or bronze, if I recall correctly (I'd have given it gold!).

It turned out to be a Lytton Springs...I don't remember the vintage now...it was back when Dick Sherwin and Dee Sindt (there's a name from the past...anyone remember the former editor of "Wine World" magazine? Quite a looker she was.) owned it.

Forgive the nostalgia...I get carried away sometimes. You ought to hear me go on about old time Rock and R&B...

JDM