June 26 - July 2, 2016

	Monday June 27, 2016 Lynda my sister got married when she was 18 in 1962. Richard was 20, they are still together, happy birthday to Lynda, yesterday, June 26............... I am in limbo so I should not type and say what I really think...........so I guess no politics but I could talk about the market............. As most of you know my past life back in the 70's was the Stock Market, as I have said before, those times were dealing with Market Makers!! Those days I could talk right to the market maker so we sold a lot of Lee Pharmaceutical back in Fairfax in my house with two phones.............. You can go back in my diary but I can get to the point, I made a lot of money in Lee Pharmaceuticals, so retired in 1972 with $60,000 in the bank, my girl friend at that time was interesting but that night when I told her I quit my job she exploded with good advice: "Dave, How could you do this???" I don't remember seeing her much after that, I was busy finding an office in San Rafael, with Art Garfunkel in the same office.......I only saw him once with no contact after............. The Market......good luck..............I have been in the Market for 54 years. I still remember the past and this will be a neat time again. I don't think it will be like in 2008 when you could pick up Amazon at 35.5 and now still well over 600, 8 years later. I suppose the Dow could go down to 1500 again, but I will be buying before then. I like taking chances............. Wednesday June 29, 2016 OK, politics.............. Trump is making a lot of mistakes, but he has a chance. He needs to promote wine, that is his only chance...........Kidding, of course he has other options, really. 1) He needs to make some rational statements about all these Muslim's trying to kill us. He has a good chance to make some votes. 2) He has to stop making rude statements, really do any of you want this guy as your President? Like I said I will sell all my stock, if Trump gets ahead in the polls.................... I had my friend say the other day..........."Dave, why do you always put all those ..........dots". I got the impression he was not interested in my diary? I respect him, but I have decided to continue more dots.....................................OK Since BR, questioned my dots I have to explain so, I like dots to make me think and then maybe you will pause. I digress, one of my other friends said there are too many digress......es................Yes I like to escape to THE............Giants VS Oakland in Oakland.............and I like my book, strange, a mystery, but maybe no deaths. I like mysteries but some lately are all about death........this book is very original..........strange..........Bridge Daughter But First I should tell you about tasting some older wines....................Sorry dots. I need a break 9.00: Pm:  I hear birds chirping all over the place. I do not hear cars that may go by. This is a great place. Tonight I tasted several old Bordeaux style wines including one Bordeaux from 2003, a nice wine but I also tasted 1999 Ridge Monte Bello. I bought 6 half bottles when I was a Club Member. I met Paul Draper at a local event several years ago and he recognized me and was so nice. Paul Draper has been making Monte Bello since 1969.............. Tonight I opened many older Cabernet's since I heard Paul Draper is retiring, at 80 years old. The Ridge Monte Bello 1999 in half bottles which I paid good money for, I am sure, was again very disappointing. It still has no fruit, no Character, harsh. I like Paul Draper but this is the only Monte Bello I have tried so should I go out and buy this wine again??? http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/ridge+monte+bello+santa+cruz+mnt+central+coast+california+usa/1999 Yes the lowest price is $134 for one full bottle. Then it goes up to $420 a bottle. So back in 2003 or so as a "Future", I guess I paid $150 for the 6 bottles, even if I paid $200, I doubt as a club member, so should I sell my last 3 bottles? Should I sell these nice gullible people a lousy wine? As you know I do know something about wine and I do know what I like and I have had over a thousand great Bordeaux  wines over my time, so I am only guessing Ridge bottled a great 1999 Ridge Monte Bello and then bottled half bottles after that with poor quality or I do not like Ridge Monte Bello.................. Tomorrow more to come I will again try all these 12 wines I have opened.....interesting  Thursday June 30, 2016 8:15 Pm: I could talk about politics but you all know what I think........... We have a little mildew on some of our new planted vines. We do not want mildew, but a little could give a peppery taste. We do not want much or any if we can avoid it........... Take a look at our map, .......(please Brad to link)..........so we planted rows of grapes in between 12 foot rows, I am sure I have mention it before. That puts the vines 6 feet apart so now we have way too many grapes but also it is hard to move through these now less than 5 feet apart vines because of growth. I bought a 4 wheeler today so we can treat these narrow row vines and clear up the mildew. I heard they use oil today and you know what I think about putting oil on my grapes..........Seriously I have a little faith, I know I hate that word.........but.....if these new advisers have learned more than I, it could work, but remember these advisers are not into making wine SOOOOOOOOO, do I trust them.........OK what ever is on grapes at harvest is usually blown away during fermentation. Fermentation is a violent explosion some times.....look up Carignan and a volcano eruption........yes I digress Tonight I tasted all the wines opened last night, including the half bottle of Ridge which I have three bottles left. I could probably sell for $100 or more........... Tonight after opened for one day, just the cork upside down to seal the bottle, I tasted 10 wines, two from last night were corked so I will not mention. First I did two of the oldest wines, 1997. Hess Collection, probably worth $100 now and Plumpjack 1997 Sealed with a cork, worth more. Plumpjack has been the first winery around here to seal also in screwcap. I thought both wines showed great intensity and will go on for several more years, but the Hess was slightly better tonight, tomorrow could show more, but it would have been great to taste the Plumpjack sealed in screwcap. Then I stepped up to 1999.........Wilson more balance, Simi more fruit................and again, the Ridge Monte Bello in half bottle had no fruit and no character compared to the two others. 2003. I tried David Coffaro and thought it could go on for 30 more years but it did not show the tannin and structure of the other wines, probably more acid, not all from our vineyard. I liked the Rafanelli the best. I also had a Bordeaux from 2003 and it showed real well. The barrels are on the ground for the start of bottling next Tuesday............... Saturday July 2 2016 8:30 Pm: Pat is away for a few days so I can plan and think more. When she is here I have to think about pleasing her. I think I do a good job..............Pat is up visiting Susie in Seattle. I have to take care of making wine and growing grapes. So we saw some mildew on a few vines especially in our Petite Sirah. We have had trouble dealing with two chemical companies. I know they would say something else but communication is the most important thing with me So I won't go in to detail about the chemical companies who are very busy and SO we had to hire a new person and he could be a good fit to work with Catarino. Catarino and Derrick were out in our vineyard working hard today on a Saturday and Derrick will be back tomorrow. It takes just being organised for me..........More tomorrow..........
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