It had been about 16yrs since I was last in Bolinas CA. The last time I rode down that windy, cliffy, eucalyptus, lined road I was laying flat on the floor in the back of a purple school bus that was blasting "I Want To Take You Higher" by Sly and the Family Stone, as our dreadlocked driver took the coastal turns at what seemed liked light speed. This time the bus was a car with driver, and we were off to see wine-maker Sean Thackrey, but somehow the vibe was not that far off from my last trip in 1994. (Though the percentages of nervousness and excitement may have been inverted)
The crew consisted of Jo and Jose Diaz, Steve Heimoff, and I. Jo and Jose run the PS I Love You (Petite Sirah advocacy org.) as well as Diaz Communications (of which Sean is not
a client of), Steve Heimoff is the W. Coast Editor of Wine Enthusiast, and Sean Thackrey is highly regarded for his Petite Sirah and other wines
made with what some may refer to as "alternative" methods.
We spent the afternoon having lunch, listening to stories, and sampling a few of Sean's wines. His 2006 Sirius Petite Sirah was a clear favorite of mine. (no notes taken, except a mental "Boom Y'all!")
The most amazing part of the trip was listening not really to Sean's methods, or wine philosophy, but in feeling how passionate he is about it. It wasn't strings of buzz words or marketing, just a guy telling stories over lunch, in the middle of nowhere, with a couple of open bottles of wine.
It is tough to explain how amazing that really is...
