By Bruce Neyers

Thursday 12th June, 2025

In his 1994 book ‘Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game’, Daniel Okrent does a fabulous job detailing the inner workings of a major league baseball game. In his fascinating book, Okrent looks deep into a 1982 game with the Baltimore Orioles at the Milwaukee Brewers, but rather than record the highlights, he unmasks the subtle play by play — the game within the game – while providing a litany of behind the scenes information. He details thoughts about pitch selection, a batter’s approach to hitting, fielders positioning themselves favorably, the manager’s strategic plan from inning to inning – even the story behind the selection of many of the players. It’s such a great read that the outcome becomes secondary to the details.

I couldn’t help but compare this same psychological soul-baring to the world of wine. Just as a major league shortstop takes an extra step towards second base with a left-handed fastball pitcher up against a left-handed power hitter — anticipating a ball driven up the center — our winemaker Tadeo Borchardt makes a host of minor decisions all year, and they ultimately result in a timely harvest of our grapes and production of the best possible wine. This year, for example, we enjoyed our second consecutive rainy winter, so Tadeo has delayed tilling, to let the cover crop continue drawing moisture from the soil. At the same time, he postponed suckering, despite the already vigorous shoot growth, further lowering moisture levels in the ground.

Just as a major league catcher signals the pitcher to keep the ball high and inside on a slugger, and a savvy center fielder knows to shade a bit to left field when a left-handed batter faces a right-handed pitcher, Tadeo relies on a myriad of interconnected decisions for a successful vintage. I’m eager for the day Okrent writes about the fine details in winemaking.

At our recent Wine Club tasting event, I was delighted at the response to our 2021 Left Bank Red, a wine that perhaps more than any other reflects the importance of attention to small details. Tadeo farms these two separate blocks according to the different requirements of each variety, an important plan as they’re planted on a deep gravel outcropping, not the basalt soil of the other parcels. Tim Fish of ‘The Wine Spectator’ had this to say about the wine:

Well-structured and refined, with cherry and currant flavors accented by notes of underbrush and cedar as this builds tension toward wiry tannins. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2025 through 2031. 932 cases made.
90 POINTS” – Tim Fish