Maybe an Egomaniac

I was probably an egomaniac earlier in my career.

Well, if not an egomaniac, at least a winemaker who believed in his ability to change the perception of his appellation and to focus the 150 years of history prior to his personal landing here on the thing he was doing. I look at myself now, 30 years later, and see equal parts putz and the deliverer of joy, slightly ahead of his time (if varietally misdirected).

I don’t know of a lot of other appellations that have world-class quality viticultural potential and only one winery that is compelled/willing to stick its neck out to demonstrate/shout out that potential. Progress has been really slow the last 25 years, carrying a bag of wine over the shoulder trying to show the glories of the place and losing out to the myopic sense from the winebuying community that has the Napa virus stuck in her/his head. That lack of progress corresponds exactly with thinking that high-end Cabernet Sauvignon would be the key to the sales lock.