Napa Valley Should Start Stroking Mother Nature's Ego Right About Now

Looks like things aren't always perfect in this adult Disneyland. I doubt this will stop anyone from going to tastings and getting loaded but from this just goes to show how important "terrior" is. With California wine laws much different from the European, Mother Nature still wins in the end. European winemakers aren't allowed to manipulate their wines as much as California. They have to rely on almost perfect weather while the grapes are on the vines. They aren't allowed to irrigate, only a certain amount is allowed to be made, also only the permitted grapes can be made in certain regions. California barely has any of those restrictions and yet 2011 wasn't kind to them with as much freedom as they have with their winemaking.


"With lighter yields, one would normally expect greater concentration.  That’s not necessarily true for 2011, as cool weather held down ripening, flavor development and sugars. All of this resulted in lower-than-expected natural alcohol levels as well as less color and flavor concentration."  (Napa Valley Register)