Date: April 21, 2009 @ 2:43 AM

Meet the "Futures"

Yes, we know that there is more than one “Future.”  In fact, this year, we have 13 “Futures.” (Multiple “Futures” sounds like some sort of vino-schizophrenia.)

(Did you read “Popular Science” when you were a kid? It was always predicting how we would live in the future.  I don’t have a flying car…and I could use one! They never mentioned the internet…)  You get the idea, they were wrong. (but it was fun to read and they had great drawings.)

I was thinking about “Futures” because we tasted through all 13 of the Cabernets from 2008 that we will be serving from barrel during our Futures event in May.

In my unbiased opinion…they are fantastic.

Thirteen is a whole lot of young Cabernets to try at one time but we were up to it. There were a few favorites but every single-vineyard wine had strong support because 2008 is showing itself to be outstanding.  The vintage had a tiny yield. It came in nearly 30 percent below normal so the bad news is that there isn’t a whole lot but it is ripe, intense and has great texture.

If I may say so, we do have the “futures” thing down. First: Make great wine and let people try it from the barrel. Second: If they like it, they buy a case for “future” delivery. We handle the rest: making, aging, bottling and sending it. (The cool part is that by the time it is bottled and shows up at your house, you forgot that you bought it and it feels like you gave yourself a fantastic gift. Not only was it smart and thoughtful but you realize that you are worth it, so it is good for your self esteem.)

Some of our regulars have already reserved some of their favorite vineyards but most are waiting until they can come to the barrel tasting in May. Given that Futures are available from April through August, there is time.