Ramblings and updates
It’s been a busy summer to say the least… and a late flight to LAX tonight followed by a 4 hour drive to Paso has me contemplating shutting the door and taking a nap…
Before I head out, a couple quick thoughts and updates…
The trip to Chateauneuf in June was spectacular and helped dramatically with the content for the first Issue of The Rhone Report. The newsletter has been up for a little over three weeks and has seen right around 1,000 downloads. I hadn’t had the newsletter up for two days and I was already neck deep in the next issue that will focus on the Rhone Ranger Producers in California. The trip this evening starts three jam packed days of visits and tastings. My goal is to have as comprehensive report as possible and I’ve sent 100’s of email to producers and distributors trying to taste as many wines as possible. Thanks to everyone that has put up with my crazy emails and for allowing me to taste your wine.
Site traffic continues to increase and I’m seeing anywhere from 250 to 300 unique visits a day. The large change has been the “recent pours” page, which you’re now reading, going from the most visited part of the site to a distant 3rd. I’m quite happy about that and the tasting note database is taking off. There have been over 9,000 searches and tasting note views in August alone and this is easily the most used part of the site. I’m continuing to backfill and source older bottles that I haven’t tasted while at the same time, getting through as many new releases as possible.
I said it in the first newsletter and I’ll say it again here, 2007 was a fantastic vintage for the south of France. We’re starting to see these on the shelves here in Colorado and prices remain flat at the moment. I was able to pick up additional bottles of Vieux Donjon for $45 (a steal) and both Clos des Papes and Usseglio’s mon Aieul for under $80. That’s less than I paid last year on pre-order and is on par with what the ‘06s are going for. Speaking of 2006, give these wines a try. Smack dab between two hyped vintages, these are fantastic, age worthy wines that will have a large drinking window.
That’s all for now and thanks for reading!
Jeb
September 11th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Yo Jeb-
If you are only posting notes every 8 days or so, some of us might start to think you are a lightweight on the drinking side of the aisle. Come on dude, certainly you are putting down some good stuff with more frequency! Just finished about 1.5 hours of bike work, on my deck lakeside with temperatures finally nice and cool (high 70s), with a mighty fine little bottle of ‘07 Rhone. Funny how a bottle can evaporate when you are having fun. Tomorrow, I’m dispensing pain. Got my 11×21 on and I’m ready to lay it down!
Cheers.
Robert
September 12th, 2009 at 7:38 am
You’re going to have to cut Mr. D. some slack. He has a mortgage to pay, and a lot of software to write. Now I personally kind of like the idea of a bottle or two of something Rhone at a technical team meeting, but there are those who might question that approach to team-building…
September 13th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Ha, November 1st Robert… somewhere in the range of 200 notes from cali rhone rangers in the next newsletter… If it helps, I’m sippin on a ‘05 Ogier and a ‘05 Jamet Cote Rotie (along with a Jaffers Bien Nacido) as I type this. What ‘07 you drinking?
Just so happens that I have an 11×21 as well (as does the Retro Grouch… thanks for posting Eric!) and know how to use it! I’m thinking you need a spring training camp out to hilly Colorado.
Salut fellas and here’s hoping you’re both having a dandy Sunday!