Interlude: Half-Way There

I apologize for the sparse posts, but when I have time to myself, I elect to spend it sleeping or eating. There's not much time or energy for anything else. The rumors are true, folks. Harvest is an all-consuming experience.

Just to say that I've posted more than one post in the month of Octobere two scenes from the winery these days.

Figure 1. [video removed] The Williams Seylem Harvest Crew supports their

winemaker, Phil, by performing their new theme fr digging tanks:

"Diggin' on a Prayer

Figure 2. My employee allocation: 12 bottles, discounted 50%.

Figure 3. The mix-'n-mingle part of the 2010 Harvest Party for winery

employees, growers, and guests. Location: the brand new Estate facility.

Figure 4. A gigantic live oak growing over/around a boulder, as seen

on the walk to the patio, where we had our fabulous meal.

Figure 5. A magnum of '93 Allen. It was excellent. Still had plenty

of good fruit (ripe red berries), but awesome depth and complexity

from the extended aging. There's still plenty of life left in that wine.

Figure 6. The 6L bottle signed by the Williams Selyem staff, presented

to the evening's guests of honor, Burt and Jan Williams. Seeing as the

winery wouldn't exist today without the key support in the 80s from

vineyard owner Joe Rochioli, the bottle is appropriately full of 2007 (an

outstanding vintage) Rochioli Riverblock.

Figure 7. The gorgeous engraving of the brand new Estate facility.

Top signatures are those of the Dysons (winery owners), and

Bob Cabral, executive winemaker.

Figure 8. The view from my seat at the dinner table: Estate vineyards.

Figure 9. Left to right: magnums of 2004 Bacigalupi Zinfandel

and 1993 Allen Pinot noir. Yum.

Figure 10. Fancy menu.

Figure 11. A stunningly vibrant bottle, considering its age. The 1998 Hirsch

(seriously Sonoma Coast) tasted so young that it could have passed for a 2008.

Figure 12. The Heavyweights' table. Visible: Burt Williams (left, facing right),

John Dyson (blue shirt, far end of table). Behind the waitress: Joe Rochioli.

Figure 13. A glass of 2006 late harvest gewurztraminer. Incredible with

(or as) dessert, it tasted like honeyed figs sprinkled with roasted nuts.

Figure 14. The view from the Estate's patio, facing south.

Figure 15. Another view of the gnarly live oak, with the Estate

building behind it.

Figure 16. Estate vineyard, facing east.

Figure 17. Newly planted vines in the Estate vineyard, facing southwest.

Figure 18. I took more liberties with the label maker, branding

the ferm container with a name stripped from a painfully 80s pop band.