Jacques Schlumberger settled in Sonoma County in 1971. His interest in the California wine industry developed as he grew grapes and farmed on a ranch in the Sonoma Mountain area. As happens naturally, the passionate winegrower becomes a winemaker, and in 1972 Jacques Schlumberger established a winery, Sonoma Mountain Vineyards, producing primarily Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Domaine Michel estate was founded in 1979 by Jean-Jacques Michel, a native of Switzerland. After a twoyear search, he planted his roots in Dry Creek Valley because of its cooler microclimates and its abundance of well-defined benchlands. He found a series of benchland soils in the Valley's Wine Creek Canyon with excellent exposures that were especially well contoured for growing grapes. With his partner Ridgely Bullock, Michel planted fifty acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Chardonnay.
From 1979 to 1993, Jean- Jacques Michel served as Chairman of Domaine Michel. In 1991 Jacques Schlumberger joined as a minority partner and in 1993 he took the reins as majority partner and president. He put together a new marketing team, redesigned the label, and cleared the decks for the debut of Michel-Schlumberger.
The special growing conditions of Dry Creek Valley give its wines a character of elegance. The relatively cool growing season nourishes a distinctive balance in the Valley's grapes, ripening them slowly and evenly. Both red and white wine grapes retain a measure of acidity, lending themselves to making exuberant wines with lively flavors. The red wine grapes also typically have healthy levels of tannins. These are unabashed tannins, and the better Cabernets in particular wear them like a nicely tailored suit. Acidity provides freshness and lift; tannins provide immense flavor interest that bring a person back again and again. Both allow a wine to age handsomely.
Jacques Schlumberger continues to lead the twentythree-year-old wine estate into a promising future guided by his profound respect forpeople and his intelligent regard for business. The winery produces small lots of estate wines which express the unique terroir of its nicheoverlooking Dry Creek Valley.
This is a classic Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It has enormous depth of flavor with firm, but soft tannins. It's a real beauty at a bargain price.
May 2009 Vintners Series Newsletter
