Still in Nashville longing for Matakana

That old saying of "into each life some rain must fall" has just hit our family. We were looking forward to going to NZ on April the 30th to get back there and into the wine making process that has now started for our just picked Cab Franc. Our Malbec was picked about two weeks ago. Our manager there, Jeremy, says both crops of grapes looked super with our tonnage being better than last year by about .5 tons. So now, it is out of our hands and in the care of our expert winemakers. They are probably glad we are here in Tenn and not getting in their way with the serious business of making a good wine.

What bad news has hit us? Sandra's 84 year old mom fell three days ago and broke her upper arm near the shoulder joint and fractured the floor or her orbit (eye socket bones). She has been in intensive care getting stabilized and we are on family sitting and support duty. Lucky for me as a long time practicing gyn doc in Nashville I have good specialists to call in to see here and organize her complex needed care. Do wish her and us luck and keep us in your prayers.

Meanwhile I will be at Frugal McDougal's this Friday from 4-6 kissing babies, signing bottles and talking about our good 06 Orchard Blocked wine. The wine is selling very well here and is moving off the shelves at under $20 a bottle. If you are reading this in Nashville, do drop in to gt some soon. It is really getting some age on it now and tasting better each week. ( I have upped my intake due to the family stress so I get to closely monitor the wine's progress.)

More soon;

A sad Dr. JIm