“A well known French winemaker once told me that he thought all wines should be bottled in magnums. When we opened this bottle recently, I understood just what he meant.”

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”