A year as an apprentice winemaker in Europe changed that, and I quickly gained an appreciation for fine wines that fit my budget. I was amazed at how many there were, and how much I liked them.

I met Joe in 1970, soon after Barbara and I arrived in California. He was an airline pilot for the now defunct Western Airline, but he made wine on the side, and had already developed a serious following, long before the term ‘cult wine’ emerged.

“Notes of mulled fruit and spice arise on the nose of this wine, and concentrated baked red plum, cassis, dried florals and clove waft across the palate. The juicy red fruit and blackberry finish leaves grippy tannins, and a longing for another sip. 91 POINTS”

In a cool growing season like the one we enjoyed in 2023, the vines take their time maturing the grapes – we harvested on October 9 — and we were rewarded with a wine of handsomely dark color, subtle yet exotic aromas of blackberries and plums, and complex spices — Cardamom, Nutmeg, and Allspice. Most attractive though, is the long, delicious finish that surrounds the wine, making it gratifying to drink.