Update on grapes sources

Pinot Noir
I'm still on my quest to find excellent quality grapes from respected Russian River vineyards at reasonable prices.

I left a message with Sapphire Hill praising them on an excellent showing of their 2000 Sapphire Hill Russian River Pinot Noir. I also asked them about availability of pinot grapes. I'm looking for either 115 or 667 Clone.
Update: Ann Gerry, one of the owners, left a message that they don't have any pinot available for this harvest. She said to stay in touch for future harvest.

I spoke with Jenny, the assistant for Marimar Torres. She said that she'll ask Marimar or their cellarmaster, Tony Briton about grapes. She said that Tony is out of town until next Thurs.

The million dollar question: What grape clones will best exhibit the bright fruit flavor profile I'm looking for? Now that I've decided on which growing region, I need to decide which group clones. Each clone has a slightly different flavor profile. Similar to teas--- green tea has many different variations and slightly different flavors. I should find my Tasting Sheet Notes from a horizontal tasting between all the clones at Nicholson Ranch.
Update: I found the Tasting Sheet Notes and the order of preference were: 115, 113, and possibly 667 (which had a faulty aromatics but excellent fruit).

Zinfandel
I spoke with Ray Teldeschi yesterday afteroon about grape availability for this harvest. He said that prices have stablized and with the except of his estate Cab, they will be the same as last year.
When I asked him about this year's growing season in Dry Creek, he said that they need some good weather. He plans to dethin some of the vines.

I left a message with Pam and Steven Lock. I wanted to inquire about grape availability. Last week, Pam mentioned that I was the mystery winemaking man. On my way back from Cayucos, I stopped by their vineyard and left 2 bottles of my 2000 Zinfandel their Dodge Caravan. They were out of town and Steven must have forgot that I planned to drop them off.

The big question: Value vs. marketing reputation? Should I make wines from a reknowned area like Dry Creek and famous grapegrower, Ray Teledeschi, whose grapes are twice as expensive as Lock? Or should I make a Zin that many people loved from an emerging area like Paso?

Syrah
I left a message with Eric Glomski, the Assistant Winemaker at David Bruce Winery, inquiring about any possible sources.
Update: Kruse Syrah is allocated.

The big question: What vineyard will lend themselves to an Australian winemaking style- big, rich, opulent, and complex?

More details will follow in the next couple of weeks.

Related Links:
· Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley
· Eric Glomski- David Bruce's Assistant Winemaker