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What Makes a Smart Wine Buyer? Part 1
Know your brand.
When I ask, “What makes a smart wine buyer?” I do not mean, a person that goes into a wine shop to buy wine. I am referring to the person who purchases the wine for the shop, restaurant or bar. The wine buyer is a position so essential to any business that deals with a beverage program. Just like the buyer for Nordstroms, this person needs to be well versed in what they are purchasing and why. I have seen time and time again, businesses which do not take this position seriously. Many shop, bar and restaurant owners allow their employees to do the purchasing, because it frees them up to run their businesses. What some owners forget, is that purchasing merchandise is one of the most important aspects of their business.
Jan 16, 2011 © by NezTez
Imagine if Nordstrom let their employees in the shoe department do the purchasing. Each employee has their own personal style and probably would buy according to their likes and dislikes. This would leave the shoe department in a hodge-podge miss-matched mess of shoes, boots, sandals and slippers. There would not be a cohesive, “Nordstrom style”. Nordstrom would never allow this, since they are a brand. Their brand has been created, marketed and requires talented people to continue keeping the brand fresh, modern and true to itself.
Shop, bar and restaurant owners should use this as an example in running their businesses. Sure, their shops may not be in every state and does not have the pedigree of Nordstroms, However each business should brand itself. Whether it brands itself as a dive bar or as an upscale Italian restaurant, it needs to be true to its brand. Where many businesses fail, is the lack of focus on branding themselves. The role of the wine buyer is to help brand the business.
October Tasting Notes
Row Eleven
Civello Verdejo California
Blended with Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay from Clarksburg. Aromas of Peaches, Red Apples, very fruity. Racy acidity, great fro the summer. Finishes with orange rind and honeysuckle.
Retail $11
Row Eleven Vinas 3 Pinot Noir ’08
Sourced from Monterey, Santa Barbara and Sonoma. copper color, kind of oxidized. Aromas of violets, grapey, Medium body with forest floor, red fruits finishing with good acidity and floral flavors.
Retail $14
Row Eleven Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley ’07
Dark magenta color, Aromatic floral notes of roses and violets. Full bodied, silky and toasty oak notes. Finishes with earth and fruit.
Retail $24
Napa Cabernet from Female Wine Maker- Heidi Peterson-Barrett
Paradigm Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
When 333 Pacific opened in December 2008, I tasted a wide variety of wines while writing the list. One thing I noticed was the difference between the wines made from female and male wine makers. Generally speaking, I found wines from female wine makers to be more elegant and rounded, whereas some of the wines from male wine makers were more bold and upfront. Today’s feature is Heidi Peterson-Barrett’s Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon.
Heidi is a very well-known and sought after wine maker in Napa, California. She is most famous for her cult project, Screaming Eagle. Owners Ren and Marilyn Harris have Heidi making wines specifically for Paradigm. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. There is an influence of oak expressed with aromas of chocolate, yet it retains elegance. Also present is an aroma of black fruit and berries. Many Napa wines tend to lose their original palate due to over manipulation, but this is where Heidi differs. With her hands off approach, Heidi has allowed the grape, and the land it comes from, to shine.
We are proud to have Heidi Peterson-Barrett’s Paradigm Napa
Cabernet Sauvignon. Made in 2005, this bottle is starting to show its age and only getting better. Enjoy with a grilled rack of lamb or a filet topped with crab and Bearnaise.
90 pts Wine Connoissuer’s guide
Retail Price $59 Bottle
Prime Cru $35 Bottle
Learn about Prime Cru
Vine Hill and Cumbre Wines
The wines from Vine Hill come from the Santa Cruz Mountains. The winery goes back to the 1870’s when it was the John Jarvis Jr. Vineyard. Vine Hill today makes three brands, Vine Hilll, Gatos Locos and Cumbre. The Cumbre wines are made by Sal Godines, a one time migrant farm worker turned winemaker. What I like about these wines is that they are true to their terroir. These were tasted on October 5, 2011.
Tenor Wines
Tasted 10/15/11
The Tenor wines are made by Aryn Morel, a San Diego Native from Scripps Ranch. Aryn moved to Napa at the age of 20 and worked for a filtration company which specializes in filters for wineries. Here he decided to get into the wines business. Being a biochemist, it was easy to catch on to the trade as a winemaker. Aryn moved to Washington State and became the winemaker for Matthews cellars. In 2007 he started making Tenor wines at Matthews Cellars.
Tenor Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Whole clustered, fermented in 100% French oak, then in concrete vats and back in French Barrels. Deep yellow color. Aromas of Cinnamon, baking spices and pineapples. A full-bodied Sauvignon Blanc. The alcohol is noticeable, but not hot. Flavors of guava and tropical fruits linger in a long finish. definitely not a New Zealand style. Read Full
