Dear Martha Stoumen,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and excellent spirits.

I’m writing to you from our office in Montreal, where we tried your wines with our staff today. I’d like to thank you for changing my mind on Californian wine. For the longest time I associated it mostly with either high-volume industrial wines made in facilities that resemble oil refineries, or “boutique” Napa Valley wines that cost more than the GDP of Upper Volta and are simply undrinkable. You changed all that today. You gave me hope that the Golden State can and is making great drinkable wine. Your wines are full of energy with pure fruit and bright acidity.

Sure, I’ve been enjoying the wines of Clos Saron, Ambyth, Lo-Fi Wines, Joseph Swan and old stalwart Paul Draper’s Ridge for a while now, but I gotta say, your wines today sure made me smile.

They were like a gang of old friends with whom I had lost touch, or places I yearned to go back to. There was the Carignan, which reminded me of a friend in Barcelona who can roll a joint with one hand. A most impressive feat. Need to spend more time together. And that Nero d’Avola from Benson County! Very pretty and refreshing, like a beach in southern Crete on a hot summer day. We finished off with the Nero/Zin blend from the Mendo Benchlands. Wow! It made me a wee-bit sad though because I thought of Jeanne Moreau, the brilliant French actress who passed away the other day. She was so full of life and energy, and had the sweetest smile.

So, I’m off to spread the good news now. Can’t wait to show these wines to our friends who are looking forward to try the New stuff.

Many thanks, and see ya!

Theo