Have any of you tried some French Red Burgundies, I assume not since they are very expensive? As you know they are from the Pinot Noir grape. I have tried one recently that was highly rated and I can assure you it tasted nothing like a Russian River or Oregon Pinot Noir. Those Pinot Noir wines tend to be really fruit forward with not much structure, my opinion 🙄. When I tasted the French Burgundy in the last two days it had structure with some nice astringency. I actually tasted it blind compared to our 2018 Pinot Noir and it is more like mine than these North American Pinot Noir. SO why do so called experts say we are too hot here and can't produce a good Pinot Noir? 😕

8
So Pat tonight.......with pizza preferred the French Pinot because it was lighter. I tasted blind again and for me there was no question, but I was also tasting some nice cabs over the last two days. Cabs actually are not as good, as could have been, Zinfandel with pizza, but tasting before blind the cabs.....so much fun.....so nice anyway.

OK, TSLA is opening soon in pre market trading at 1Am my time, I will not be here, but tomorrow morning I will be here at 6am as usual. I hear there was a crash in Texas with a Tesla and no one was driving. Again it is news when everyday an ICE car goes up in flames........and bitcoin was down so TSLA may be down so I may buy back my shares.......

Nice pizza tonight I have gone back to the Window Pane..........

I know Brad has heard of the window pane method, so it means when you take a small amount of dough and stretch it, it does not break apart and you can actually see through it. It takes 5 minutes of time in my Cuisinart to achieve the window pane. I made it up yesterday and let the dough rise a little and put it right in the frig and it had risen another 50% so it looked like it was about three times the size and it stayed that way for 24 hours in the frig. I took it out about two hours before prepping and gently pushed it out to achieve a nice lip around the outside. It did not tear............

All of a sudden we have been getting so many people coming in for appointments. In the past we did not have that many customers come in when we were open everyday without an appointment so We guess people are ready to get out,,,,,,,,,,..........it was 91 degrees today so we are tasting with the door up and customers can come in the winery social distancing and stay cool.

Now, 7:45, sun just going down, could be some nice colors.........

My back pain down my leg has been better but not perfect so time will tell.........Tomorrow is another day

Monday April 19, 2021

8

I got up at 6am

so i was surprised........TSLA was down as a i suspected but not down like I thought so I bought 5 shares at 719 and it went down to 695 so I bought another 10 shares. Why is Tesla always in the news...........it closed at 722

So there were 2 people die in a violent fire that took a lot of water to stop, that is concerning to me, an ICE car burns up in a few minutes..........

There is someone who dies by a fire in a car every day, by ICE cars so now someone dies because of a Tesla in only 6 times in the last 6 years and it is national news......there are Oil people who are concerned about EVs 

There was a concern about the Auto Pilot but it has been confirmed, the owner did not even have the Auto Pilot so it would not be a possibility and I know.............. without markers in the middle of the road near the house where they died in a few feet, There would have been no way Auto Pilot would be ON. I drive home some times and engage Auto Pilot and I see if the road is not safe it shuts off right away.........

Our Wine Club was picked up today so everyone should get their wine in the next several days.........

I tasted New Zealand SB to night, more tomorrow

Just Went........Vineyard scooter again at sunset.......time to get some sleep?....IPA

Tuesday April 20, 2021

8

First of all I am happy about the verdict.

All our Dave's wine club has been shipped so if you have any issues contact Pat, I only make the wine 😅. Jose gave me the barrels for the 2020 wines after racking, blending for the last time until we bottle our 2020 10 month version.....

some of you may remember the 2010 Vintage. I had said the wine will out live me, Almost undrinkable back then.......You can search for it in my diary, I did not like the vintage so we stopped sending it out to customers........but now I just tasted a 2010 Ultimate Cuvee and it has mellowed out, nice if you like intensity like I do. We have it sent tomorrow to one our long time customers who likes heavy wines, he is also getting some nice older wines.........

I am sure some of you have heard of FARRO, it takes a long time to cook, so longer than Risotto, so I cooked it tonight because I had 3 cups of marinate from my chicken last night, after adding some wine. Before this morning I saved all the uneaten bones from the chicken, cooked for two hours and also loaded some Duck legs for the last hour. So I put almost a cup of Farro........duck legs, up with out a lid, a lot of juices to observe,

maybe not duplicated again, as most of my dishes........I do not follow recipes, too easy........no fun, no mystery

So many birds here now, wonderful, Dri Where are you????

BUT...why not......... I need an escape so we go down to Santa Cruz........

Wednesday April 21, 2021

8

Years ago, probably mostly in Fairfax, back in the 70's.....Steak and Potatoes was my second favorite thing at dinner time, besides Lamb and Roast potatoes.........So I got a free container of sour cream and we had steak and Baked potatoes for the first time in over a year. The Potato was nice with plenty of sour cream, garlic, butter and onions and chives. I also I put plenty of truffle and Ranch Dressing.......

So TSLA was up somewhat to day, time will tell

Pat is heading off to see some Giants games so I will have fun cooking something, may fry some soft shell Crawdads?

Thursday April 22, 2021

8

I have to note for new people, if they exist. This diary is about what I think in my day and sometimes in the future, sure I mention things that have happened in my last 77 years alive, but the present is the most important.

So Tsla was up good today so I sold 5 shares, and made some nice profit for my short term trade, sure I should have sold all my short term trades of 170 shares left.

I assume the market will recover tomorrow but if it does not I will buy more of COIN and TSLA. Biden has suggested to raise the capital gains for someone who is making one mil, I am not in that class and I am sure most people who invest in the Market do not have that wealth.........

so I saw, my best doctor, he likes his Model S......He said, what I know, I have a cloudiness on my left eye, It is fine since I am going down to Santa Cruz.......
 
So Back, as I will call him, says he can correct the haze in my left eye, next month

So I am going out in the vineyard soon to check out what is happening. I opened the door for THE CAT and he is still inside for Fancy Feast. I hope I am wrong.......update soon

So I just went out, it is windy, so short visit......I do not see the Cat so maybe he is out there?

Friday April 23, 2021

8

It helps us to make some money for the winery. I know most of you who read this diary don't care about my investments in TSLA, but I need to relate what is on my mind every night I post...........so skip if you want

So I still have 170 shares of TSLA on a short term trade, started on Feb 26. I have sold 150 of the shares of 320 at a nice profit. As I have said in the past I do not sell stocks, especially TSLA at a loss.....I have Long term trades at big gains and will not sell those 1650 shares

Just went out in the vineyard, my back is different, I can walk more easily, but I have different pain down my right leg, but I still had fun in my scooter at over 10 miles an hour in 30 or forty feet at a time so was nice........it was cold, intense in my face with my tank top and shorts....keeps me alive............and I hear we will get some rain......I hope Pat and her sister Janie will get to see a Giants game without rain.....

Pat as I said is gong off to see some Giant games tomorrow.......I will have fun deep frying tomorrow Crawfish, onion rings and sweet potato fries

Monday will be fun, Tesla comes out with their earnings after the close. There is always up or down in the first few minutes of Tesla earning data, and then two hours later, Elon comes on the stage and you never know what he will say.........fun or not.......the stock will go up or down as usual 10 percent in extended trading.....either way for me it is fun.....................

Next Monday will be another day........

Saturday April 24, 2021

8-

Crawdads, onion rings, nice tonight, deep fried for two minutes..........I could only eat half, where are you Pat?

We had several customers in today and Jesse did a great job and signed up a new Club member. Our Clubs have stayed about the same over the years, so after tasting all these high end wines, I have mentioned, should I enter my wine to these so called experts????

The Academy Awards are on tomorrow night and Pat will not be here for the first time, since we met, 49 years. We both agree the nominees are not to our liking. We have not seen two of the movies, but Pat is not here, so I may look at one of them, but I have to look at a Giants game and tennis

Without Pat here My biggest problem is I have too many leftovers. I know most of you do not like them and I know for sure Pat does not like them. I love them......I have a brunch at 9:30 in the morning or so and I enjoy the dinner from last night. BUT now that Pat is not here, I have way too much great food left over from the last few days. I love cooking so most times I have a lot of food left over.........so I have Pasta, a great sausage last night and now great Crawfish and onion rings.....Darn, I am not going to let this go to waste so should I make a big pot on Monday night with what I can not eat by Tuesday morning...............

OK, the big problem to solve, but fun, I get to make a pizza the way I want tomorrow, pizza Sunday, maybe a small one? Probably not, Pizza is may favorite dinner........

Tuesday I will go off to Santa Cruz, and sure, pick up Pat in THE CITY....it wil be fun............

Sunday April 25, 2021

8

So tonight I did Brad's great idea for a rim around the pizza dough. So Brad's method is to make a fold over the edge on the pizza dough before it is processed in a hot oven.....I use the BBQ...So I started with a dough processed to the window pane, that is to do so much in a Cuisinart to take a small part of the dough and stretch to see through it. It takes about 5 minutes........

So I started with dough that could be stretched easily. And after putting the lip on the outside of the dough, I flipped it over. Don't try this unless it has been through the window pane, otherwise it will separate and you are in big trouble. The pizza came out with a big rise on the the rim and was so nice.......wish Pat was here........

Pat is having a good time after her Giants won today.....she was in the rain, but survived.......

Awards next

TSLA tomorrow..........up at 6 again.............................................

Monday April 26, 2021

8-....Getting,,,,,,........... to get ready for Santa Cruz

The cat and I are having a nice time without Pat here so is she the problem, not. I just give him all the food he wants..........

We have a problem with Dave's Cuvee as usual, This time is the highest Alcohol at 16.5. we need to check it again in the official lab in town. What do I do? Every year it is hard to harvest Dave's Cuvee!!!!>>>>>>................16.5 is too high for me as a winemaker, and we would have to pay very high taxes to the Government......

So some of you know Dave's Cuvee is what is left over from the harvest. I have mentioned it many times in this diary........The bottom line is there are too many raisins in the grape bunches so it is hard to determine how many bunches have berries over 30 percent and maybe much higher. When the fermentation starts it is hard to see what the sugar is until those raisins in the Dave's Cuvee harvest heat to over 100 degrees and will jump up the alcohol.......it is the hardest wine to make........

So it is too late to check at harvest now to add water, since harvest ended in October..............we could water to dilute the alcohol now, a good possibility, I am the Master Blender so I prefer to see what we have.....We have Pinot Noir, Estate at 14.8 Alcohol, we hope to achieve lower in Dave's Cuvee than 16.5 so hope for 15.8 at least.........there is the non estate Cabernet we purchased last year and it is only 14.4 alcohol......so I do remember a little algebra, if I blend in 4 barrels of Cab, it should show 15.8 alcohol ........so

I tasted samples of each wine and I really think the Cabernet, non estate will be the best

Tesla had good earnings so the stock, TSLA was down.....do I buy more?

Nice this morning, left over sausage for brunch and tonight nice reheated pizza from last night for diner. I had some pasta left over from past week so I reluctantly put it in the garage.........I hate giving up good left overs but we will be in Santa Cruz the next two days........My big problem now what will Pat and I have when we get back Thursday?

Thursday April 29, 2021

8, nice stew tonight

Back from Santa Cruz, nice time hearing the ocean and also nice food, Dream Inn has a new chef........

TSLA is going down like most tech stocks so I have been buying........buy low sell high?

So I drove in my old Model S 400 miles, Where is my new one. I must agree it is harder than the past when I used to pass up slower cars, but I liked taking my time driving down highway One with all the nice view of sun and waves. Santa Cruz was about 70 degrees and here at home it was up to 90.

I need to finish my book, much better than the last I have tried but not as good as crawdads, the best

NFL draft and IPA

Friday April 30, 2021, 3 more days to my 78th.

8+.....IPA then boring draft

It is nice to be home but that brings emails and phone calls and it is nice to hear from our customers......so we have had to do a lot of organizing, that is the name of the game for me.........

OK also TSLA was up some today after being down all week. So I am OK so far because I bought 60 shares all the way down, so I am even on those trades and I will hope for an up tick next week.........

OK, as you know I like Tesla. I ......... if you,........... if you want a new car and want control of a car, I warn you.......if you try a test run, you will be hooked, Tesla is the best, if you want control?? It is not for everyone......

touch the peddle and you can move one inch a second in control, move 10 feet, touch it slightly. Or you can dart out in one secoooond and stomp your head back...........control......not fun for Pat 🤣I learned, be nice to Pat......I am in control on the highway.........

My birthday is coming up on Monday, as I implied, but before that there is The Kentucky Derby on Saturday, it is always fun.........

Interesting, we had corn tonight with some nice Lamb and the corn was still sweet after being in the frig for two weeks.........

Tomorrow we are going out to http://www.mycatellis.com/ for a nice dinner with friends, Joe and Ann and it is Joe's Birthday, May One.......Joe and I have been celebrating our birthdays for 40 years, since he is 10 years younger than I and he lets me know it. He is Austrian and sounds just like Schwarzenegger, it is like having Arnold in the same room........It will be fun........