Jeff’s Corner 1-13 -23

First, and most important, I want to wish Kathy, my one and only sweet patootie, Happy Birthday!!!  Tomorrow she’ll be a few years older than I am, but somehow looks twenty years younger.  It must be the portrait in the attic.

We’re going to be pretty laid back today and mention just a few things we’ll be starting the New Year with at Heath Family Brands, and what a lot of brands there are now heading to in 2023.  

In addition to our flagship Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparking wines is now entering its fifth year of operations and the Owner’s Clubs (GCV Estate Wines and Heath Vineyards in Paso Robles) continue to gain popularity. Plus, our newest ventures (Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards) are off to a great start.  

We only close 4-5 days a year, so it’s pretty much full-tilt boogie all the time.  These days are Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and New Years if it falls on a weekday.  

Perhaps the most important day, however, is the day after our annual Staff Appreciation Event.  This year it will be held at La Cantera in San Antonio on February 27th, and Brian and Jennifer have rented close to 100 suites for an evening full of laughter along with great food and outstanding wine.  Stay tuned for more details.

We began our 2023 bottling frenzy last week with our GCV 2022 Cuvée Blanc, one of the oldest wines in our portfolio.  Earlier, after harvest in 2022 we also bottled our new 2022 Riesling, and Muscat Canelli, and also the incredible 2019 Jenblossom Cellars Texas High Plains Petit Verdot from Lahey Vineyards.  

I had the pleasure of writing tasting notes for this beauty last Wednesday, and my colleague Patrick Goodman boldly called it the best wine produced in Texas.  I agree, and here are my notes:

2020 Lahey Vineyards Texas High Plains Petit Verdot
The unique red-sand terroir and elevation (3300 feet) of the Texas High Plains bring us this powerful, yet elegant wine.  Aged in new French oak barrels and boasting an impenetrable dark ruby/garnet hue, the ABV is an approachable 13.4%.  Rich, layered aromas of cassis, black plum, and fresh-cracked black pepper flirt with floral notes of lilac and violet.  The palate is gracefully balanced with a long, refined finish.

Finally, on a personal note, Kath and I are off to Sonoma Monday and I’ll have the honor and privilege of judging the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.  When we get back, I’ll fill you in on all the details, but in the meantime you can check out lots of cool stuff about this amazing event in Jeff’s Corner from 10-21-22.

We’ll see ya soon…