Obit

[rob]

I just saw where James Barrett died.....did you all see the movie about him in Bottle Shock. He was 86 and his son Bo is still running the Vineyard

 

[jswordy]

For a long time Rob's post appeared on the first page of General Chit-Chat, reminding me that I had not seen the movie yet.

I finally got it on NetFlix (free) last night. It is a decent effort. I wish the script had had a little more depth so that more empathy could have been created. But the film's forte and what most impressed me was the gorgeous scenery and the loving way it was shot.

What a beautiful motion picture as a physical specimen just to look at. It made me want to go live there! I'm going to watch it again, just to take in more of that visual element.

Oh, and here'e a good article on James Barrett's death and life...

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/mar/19/local/la-me-james-barrett-20130319

 

[DoctorCAD]

A fantastic sound track.

A good wine drinking movie.

A very expensive wine.

 

[jswordy]

The cheapest is $25, which is reasonable for a very good recent vintage.

 

[robie]

I really love the movie. We (still) watch it 3 or 4 times each year. No, it's not going to win Best Picture but it is a fun and entertaining movie.

I read the book on which the movie was (loosely) based. Great book for any wine lover - "Judgement of Paris", written by the guy in the movie who is the journalist. Half the book was about the contest and the history behind it; half about what has happened in the world of wines since and as a result of the contest.

The movie doesn't say much about the fact that the reds were won by Stages Leap Cellars of Napa. A couple Santa Cruz Mountain wineries were also in the contest but didn't do as well.

 

[ibglowin]

I have a bottle of the 2002 Montelena Estate Cab Sauvignon in the Cellar. Perhaps its time to pop the cork and make a toast.

 

[ibglowin]

Forgot to mention there is probably no love lost between Mike Grgich and James Barrett. Mike was the winemaker that actually made the '73 Chardonnay that won the competition. Grgich and Barrett never really got along. Mike pretty much disliked the new lot of rich "kids" from the Bay Area that had money to burn and could afford to buy a winery turn key (like Barrett did) and didn't work something from the ground up. He left shortly after that and started his own winery Grgich Hills Cellar in 1977. He is still going strong today at 90 years old!

 

[jswordy]

Script left a bunch of unanswered questions and loose ends, almost like they expected ya to know the story first.. What happened to the Mexican guy who had awesome wine he was making with his field hand dad? What happened to the blonde girl who came as an apprentice? That kind of stuff.

They also gave short shrift to the fact that Barrett was senior law partner in his own firm before he left to do the winery. I guess that would not have gone too well with the "we're broke and losing the winery" theme. But it is a gorgeous film to watch.

 

[ibglowin]

I can tell you first hand that Gustavo Brambila (played by Freddy Rodriguez) indeed went on to open his own winery (Gustavo Thrace). Its a very small place in downtown Napa. I visited it several years ago when I last toured through Napa. Its in a storefront so no vineyard etc. Wines were pretty powerful stuff that needed cellaring. Did a tasting and brought home a bottle of Barbera IIRC.

http://www.gustavowine.com

 

[jswordy]

I can tell you first hand that Gustavo Brambila (played by Freddy Rodriguez) indeed went on to open his own winery (Gustavo Thrace). Its a very small place in downtown Napa. I visited it several years ago when I last toured through Napa. Its in a storefront so no vineyard etc. Wines were pretty powerful stuff that needed cellaring. Did a tasting and brought home a bottle of Barbera IIRC.

http://www.gustavowine.com

Good to know. I like powerful. I also like someone who makes wines expressly to have them be put away awhile. Wish I could. Heh.