Very impressive list of vineyard sources for a couple of relative newcomers: Beckstoffer To Kalon, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Farella, and a super secret source which shall not be named*.
I was particularly enamored of the strong, unmistakeable Petit Verdot profile in the blends - especially the 2005 Tempest [18% Petit Verdot]. Apparently Petit Verdot is the most expensive varietal in Napa - I guess that everyone was in such a rush to plant Cabernet & Merlot that they forgot to devote any vineyard space to PV. Beginning in 2005, their PV source is Beckstoffer Dr Crane [it had been David Bruce prior to that].
I liked the PV notes so much that I asked them whether they had considered bottling a single-varietal PV, and they said that they have an über-high-end blend coming out in a few months, called "Absurd", which will be 40% Petit Verdot, 40% Cabernet, and 20% Merlot. It will be sold in three-packs, with numbered bottles, and some fancy artwork on the label which sounds reminiscent of Mouton.
The wines see 17 to 19 months in barrel [100% new French oak, as above], and about another year in bottle before they're released.
With two of the wines, I was fortunate to taste out of two different bottles [i.e. a total of four bottles], one bottle having been opened 24 hours prior, and the other bottle opened as I stood there watching. In each case, there was substantial improvement in the wines which had seen a day's worth of air.
2005 is the current release, and has big points from RMP. I joked with them that if their accountant knew anything about points, then he'd order them to raise prices by 50%.
They're very high on the 2006 vintage, but yields are way, way down. For instance, their Beckstoffer Dr Crane Cabernet is plunging from 558 cases in 2005, to a mere 220 cases in 2006, yet they are determined to hold the line on prices [which, obviously, would require an enormous financial sacrifice on their part].
In 2008, they are hoping to finally get their hands on some Diamond Mountain fruit [elevation 2000+ feet]. They've been waiting something like 6 years to land that contract, and are very excited about it. [To date, their highest elevation has been Ferella, at about 400 feet.]
At this time, there is no plan to branch out into Rhône varietals - they will be pursuing strictly Bordeaux varietals & Bordeaux blends for now.
And get this - 100% of the barrels which don't make the cut are sold off in bulk [i.e. no second labels]. And if I understood them correctly, they do a single-berry selection after the cluster selections & the destemming [how they can do that and keep the wines below $100 is beyond me].
Anyway, knowing what I know about the Napa market, at $65-$95 for the mainstream wines ["Absurd" will be a little higher, owning to the expense of the Petit Verdot & the boxes & the artwork - no doubt], these are very aggressive prices.
Business model is mostly direct sales to the mailing list, with some sales to restaurants - they are leery of selling at retail for fear that the cherry pickers will monopolize the juice, and real people will never have a chance to taste it.
And, to top it all off, there MIGHT still be a few openings on the mailing list [although I am sure that the mailing list will shut down hard after Frankie Lemmon tonight, and the release party in New York this week]:
*PS: Although I have to admit - I never knew that you pronounced the "x" in "Moueix".
