Shameless self promotion...

http://www.organicwinejournal.com/index.php/2008/09/farming-is-an-unnatural-act-a-tour-around-mcnab-ranch/

Good article, thanks.

McNab Ranch? Is it not the new Parducci place?

From what I have tasted here in Oregon, they are OK at best. I have not tasted anything special here at all. I would not call it shameless but it certainly is nothing special.

McNab Ranch? Is it not the new Parducci place?

No, it is not.

What you're referring to, Shaji, is the McNab Ridge winery, which is just next door to the McNab Ranch, in the McNab Valley. And McNab Creek runs through it---the McNab Ranch Vineyard and the McNab Valley, but not through McNab Ridge. Gets confusing, dunnit?

The McNab Valley is a small 'pocket valley'---closed at the western end---of Hwy 101. We own most of it. The McNab Ridge winery is a smaller place. Your confusion about Parducci may come from the fact that John Parducci has been associated with McNab Ridge, ever since his son kicked him out of his namesake winery. Which is now owned by Paul Dolan and partners. Paul Dolan used to be the President of Fetzer Vineyards, and prior to that the head winemaker for Fetzer Vineyards, which was Parducci's chief rival for prominence in Mendocino.

Jimmy Fetzer originally developed the McNab Ranch property, which he called Ceago, after a local Indian name. But he sold it several years ago to Brown-Forman and then used the proceeds to move over to Lake County, where he established Ceago del Lago. And the original property of McNab Ranch was named Tjisseling Vineyards, after the owner, who actually planned to develop that whole end of the valley into a resort and golf center. We still have the original plans and drawings, but they are now in our sheep barn which has been converted to a work shed; the plans were never implemented because they found out there wasn't sufficient water and he couldn't get permits. So he reluctantly shifted over to a winery, which was a total flop and didn't last long, and eventually Jimmy got the place relatively cheap----I think from his share of the Fetzer sale to Brown-Forman. Then he later sold it to Brown-Forman.

Oh, and a few years ago the Benzigers used to bottle up some primo stuff from McNab, under their Imagery Estates label. I think that's where Mike first got the bug to go organic/bio, because one of the first vineyard managers at McNab/Ceago eventually went down to work with Mike and Bobby at Benziger.

Oh, yeah, almost forgot: there's also a McNab Sheepdog, a recognized breed developed by Mr. McNab in McNab Valley. You can still see the McNab Sheepdog around Mendocino County too.

So that's it.

Wow. For some reason, I feel very tired now. Hm.

From what I have tasted here in Oregon, they are OK at best. I have not tasted anything special here at all. I would not call it shameless but it certainly is nothing special.

I'm confused, Michael. Not by your opinion of the wine; that's pretty clear and you certainly have a right to that opinion. And I would admit that the wines probably taste pretty much the same here as they would in Oregon, so that's not it.

But my post title was referring to me shamelessly promoting my writing. I was shamelessly proud of the article, because I thought it was fairly well written and conveyed my fondness for the place and the people. If you're saying my writing was not shameless but nothing special, well, you have a right to your opinion on that too, of course.

Oh, look, there's my son. Want to spit on him and call him ugly?

Hoke,

A fine article, even if you are a shameless self-promoter.

As to Bonterra wines, about a year ago I decided to give a couple of them a try. I don't know. Maybe it was the way the retail shop stored them...

Nice article, Hoke. But you seem to focus a lot on "biological residue". Hmmm...you got some sort of problem??
I also followed the link to the article interviewing AliceFiering...whatta crock that woman is...seems pretty full
of herself. I'm coming up w/ some good/pointed questions when she's here for SantaFe W&C Fiesta in a few weeks.
Tom

Gets confusing, dunnit?

One more time you say McNab, I am going to get a headache!

Nice well-written article, thanks. Enthusiastic but realistic (not Joly-esque preaching).

One question, reading that they encourage ladybugs. Didn't I read that there is some issue with ladybugs tainting wine? Understandably some other stop gets in the crush, but I thought I heard even a small amount of ladybugs could cause a noticable taste. But maybe I misunderstood.

I apologize if you thought I was referring to your writing. I think the article is well done and interesting. Maybe the wines I tasted here are not related to the McNab vineyard. We are seeing more biodynamics here in some vineyards.

Nice well-written article, thanks. Enthusiastic but realistic (not Joly-esque preaching).

One question, reading that they encourage ladybugs. Didn't I read that there is some issue with ladybugs tainting wine? Understandably some other stop gets in the crush, but I thought I heard even a small amount of ladybugs could cause a noticable taste. But maybe I misunderstood.

You are correct.

There's been a ladybug infestation in the Finger Lakes in the past few years. They impart a taste in the wine similar to rancid peanut oil.

Nice well-written article, thanks. Enthusiastic but realistic (not Joly-esque preaching).

One question, reading that they encourage ladybugs. Didn't I read that there is some issue with ladybugs tainting wine? Understandably some other stop gets in the crush, but I thought I heard even a small amount of ladybugs could cause a noticable taste. But maybe I misunderstood.

No, you're correct. Ladybugs can taint wine. Have to be in pretty massive amounts though. What you might be remembering is the famous infestation several years back in the Ontario region. Tremendous amounts of ladybugs, and right around harvest time. Result was wine tasting of----peanut butter. Clear and distinct peanut butter.

We use ladybugs sparingly, Dale. And the amount is decreasing, as we have found other ways to address the same problems. What we're striving for, long range, is to reach an equilibrium point and increasingly emphasize a 'closed system' as much as we possibly can. So now we 'grow our own' bugs, primarily in the habitat corridors. And you can see the effects in the habitat corridors as you walk out into the vineyards.

What we do use a lot is the agora wasps. Kinda gruesome to describe, but very effective. Essentially, it's pitting one type of insect (meat eating predators) against another type of insect (plant eaters). But, hey, shades of Alien...

Thanks for the comment about "enthusiastic but realistic". That's what I was striving to convey.

I apologize if you thought I was referring to your writing. I think the article is well done and interesting. Maybe the wines I tasted here are not related to the McNab vineyard. We are seeing more biodynamics here in some vineyards.

Michael, I was just having a little fun. Ignore it. My skin's not that thin.

Bonterra makes only one wine that is specific to the McNab vineyard, so you have a very good point. All Bonterra grapes are organically grown; but that includes our own vineyards as well as contract growers from Mendocino and Lake Counties.

The McNab and Butler vineyards (on a nearby mountaintop) are the only two vineyards that are declared biodynamic. So the only biodynamic wine produced by Bonterra is "The McNab". It has a different label from the standard releases, and it has fairly limited availability (though it should be available now in Oregon, I believe). (There will be more bd releases coming, btw.)

The McNab BD is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petite Sirah.

And thanks for trying the wines, btw. Even if you weren't dazzled by them.

I apologize if you thought I was referring to your writing. I think the article is well done and interesting. Maybe the wines I tasted here are not related to the McNab vineyard. We are seeing more biodynamics here in some vineyards.

Michael, I was just having a little fun. Ignore it. My skin's not that thin....
And thanks for trying the wines, btw. Even if you weren't dazzled by them.

Hoke, I nominate you for an ambassadorship (somewhere where wine is grown) on the basis of your courteous, informed diplomacy and thick skin. Very nice article BTW.

I apologize if you thought I was referring to your writing. I think the article is well done and interesting. Maybe the wines I tasted here are not related to the McNab vineyard. We are seeing more biodynamics here in some vineyards.

Michael, I was just having a little fun. Ignore it. My skin's not that thin....
And thanks for trying the wines, btw. Even if you weren't dazzled by them.

Hoke, I nominate you for an ambassadorship (somewhere where wine is grown) on the basis of your courteous, informed diplomacy and thick skin. Very nice article BTW.

Didn't you know that shoes are made out of Hoke's skin. Down South they call them Hoke Puppies...

Didn't you know that shoes are made out of Hoke's skin. Down South they call them Hoke Puppies...

Oh, Hush!