Wine Shortage Part 2
Fall-Winterer 2012-13 #28
For the first time in the history of this newsletter (14 years) there will be no current release Reserve or Napa Cabernet Sauvignon on the order form, ditto for the Chardonnay. The 2011 Chardonnay will be officially released in March of next year and the two Cabernets in April (if you come to the winery before March Laura might pour you a sample!). In addition three of the ’09 reds that we just released this fall, Cab Franc, Carneros Merlot, and Zinfandel are already in very short supply. The Cab Franc might not even make it till Christmas.
So to fill out the order form for this newsletter I thought we would include four wines from the library, the ’97 Napa Valley Merlot, ’04 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, ’05 Napa Merlot, and ’05 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. I cannot emphasize enough how important aging is to the enjoyment of fine wine. We hold our wines back before release a little longer than the norm but that being said they are still just beginning their drinkable period.
Two of my drinking highlights this year were library wines. In September I did a dinner at the Meadow Club in Marin. The first wine served during walk around appetizers was the 2010 Chardonnay, delicious, made a great first impression. Then for the first seated course we had the 2005 Chardonnay with angel hair pasta with scallops in a light saffron cream sauce. The first smell and taste of the ’05 registered as quite different than the 2010. The ’05 was darker, earthier, a little nuttier, more complex, and a little dare I say ‘Burgundian’, clearly older. The magic came as we began eating the pasta course and sipping the wine. With each bite and sip the wine appeared to get younger and show more fruit, by the time the course was finished it was difficult to tell the wines apart, an amazing transition.
The other library wine that really made my highlight list this year was the ’97 Reserve Merlot Mailbox Vineyard. I showed this wine in San Diego the week before Thanksgiving during a seminar on Merlot. I was quite struck by the now 15 year old wine and the core of bright, sweet, red cherry fruit that it had retained; it still is a ‘young’ wine
So if you have not had the chance to try some of our older wines and you really want to buy some Keenan Cabernet this Christmas I heartily recommend taking advantage of our current offer – while it lasts!
Holiday Cheers,
--Michael Keenan | 
Solar Powered and Sustainably Farmed Wines
The 2006 Napa Valley Summer Blend Chardonnay is the winery's first release bearing the words "Solar Powered and Sustainably Farmed." Wine Business reports that the winery, located in the Spring Mountain district of the Napa Valley, recently completed a solar power system on their property. The system will supply all of the winery's power needs. When the winery's reds are released in the fall they will carry the same "Solar Powered and Sustainably Farmed" phrase on the label. 
Michael Keenan checks the mailbox.
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