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There's a lot to learn in forty vintages.
Of course there's the change in the vines themselves, growing from nimble slender plants to gnarled, burly trunks. There's change in viticultural practices as well, watching the pendulum swing from old school natural tendencies to heavily chemical and controlling and now back to - well - old school natural tendencies. There's the shift in climate too, towards a more 'extreme normalcy'. These past few weeks I've tasted with two winemakers that have grown up with the vines for forty vintages, give or take. Southern France's Gérard Bertrand started with his father in the vineyard when he was ten, and Portugal's David Guimaraens first started working the Douro vines with his father at age eight. Both men, today leading wine visionaries and innovators, turn 50 years old this year. To taste with them comes the rare opportunity to glean 40 years worth of enological imprinting. We will share their insight, and our views on the wines in profiles to be posted soon.
And also soon - the BC shipping deadline for the National Wine Awards of Canada (May 29). Don't miss out BC - we want you in the running.
