The Long and Winding Pinot Road, Part XI
The inspiration and derivation of the name of my newsletter, The PinotFile, is lost in my memory. I do know that
I sat down on a Sunday night, April 22, 2001, and began to type a one page “newsletter” on Pinot Noir that I intended
to send out to the twenty members of my wine club, Le Grand Crew. I alerted my inaugural readers as
follows: “Every Sunday night I am going to e-mail a short newsletter titled the PinotFile to keep you apprised of
news in the pinotphile world - for example, new releases, news, ratings (Note: I have never believed in or given
wines numerical scores but did initially report the scores of others. I have long since discarded this practice),
what to buy, what not to buy, winemaker profiles, winery news and so on. If you could care less, too bad, you
have been pinot-spamed.”
From the beginning, humor has played a large part in the PinotFile. The initial issue featured a tongue-in-cheek
review that was borrowed in part from a Wine X magazine transmission. “1999 Cannotpronounceit Cellars
Pinot Noir. Special Family Library Private Reserve, Olive Grove Vineyard, Southwest Facing Slope, Behind the
Barn, Vertical Cordon Trellised, Fifth Row, Third Vine from the Right, North Cane, First Bunch from the Left, Unfined,
Unfiltered, Barrel Aged, Barrel Fermented, Estate Grown, Estate Bottled, Estate for Sale. Winery founded
in 1981 by a fifth generation billionaire. $110.99.” The review went on to say, “I don’t know why I should bother
trying to explain such a great wine to mere mortals such as you. It’s like explaining rain to people who don’t know
what water is. But, I will make an attempt. At first whiff, there is an attack of acid-hyrolsates, vindaloo paste, and
ciruela. The aromas are very feminine and may make some question their sexuality. The wine explodes in the
mouth, saturating the palate and I am certain this is a masculine wine in drag. But it is good and a wine to remember.
1,000 cases produced, but not for sale - it is the family’s private reserve!”
I finished the single page, hit the send box, and the PinotFile was off and running. To be continued … … .
