Legendary winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet and Director of Winemaking Daniel Baron discuss the beauty and craft of making Merlot.
French winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet is renowned in his field for making some of the finest wines in the world. In Merlot production he is best known for his work at the famous Chateau Petrus. He is considered to be one of the foremost components of classicist winemaking, in that his wines are balanced, true to their origins and capable of longer aging. He joined Twomey Cellars as a winemaking consultant in 2012 to work closely with his protégé, Daniel Baron. But their story begins much earlier. Jean-Claude: “I met Daniel when he arrived in France at the end of harvest for the 1981 vintage in Pomerol at La Fleur de Petrus. Daniel met my wife and family and he told us the story of his life, and a friendship developed. We appreciated him because he is an artist. He is original. He is sensible.” Daniel Baron: “I often think about the fact that Jean-Claude’s father was a poet and Jean-Claude is also a poet, but his poetry is the wine.” Jean-Claude: “Ah, a beautiful image.” I first knew Jean-Claude as an intern and then as a peer and consultant when he was working with us at Dominus. Then purely as a friend and now he is working exclusively with us in California as a consultant on the Twomey Merlot. Jean-Claude: “There is, first of all, an apprenticeship to understand wine and its nature. Our role as winemakers is ultimately an act of humility; to try to understand nature’s work and create a wine.” To work with Jean-Claude is to be conscious of the value of our craft. Jean-Claude: “It’s a work that is very serious, very intense, done with a great deal of concentration. You don’t succeed on the first try with a snap of the fingers.” I think that Jean-Claude’s approach of looking for finesse and balance of the velvety sensual aspect of Merlot has really informed my team and myself about another level of quality to strive for with Merlot, and I see it being incorporated in the 2013 blend and I think the 2014 will have tremendous raw material to work with. Jean-Claude: “We have the same philosophy of wine, Daniel and I. Wine is a product that tells a story, the story of its land. Merlot here in California has a different expression from that at Pomerol, of Bordeaux, of Italy, or of Switzerland. Its own characteristics, and that is what I want to respect. Here when I make Merlot, I don’t make Merlot exactly as I do in Bordeaux. And Merlot, if we let it express itself naturally, will tell the story of Twomey. Our craft is not a recipe. Each year we adapt with the nature of the vintage. Merlot wine is always velvety and silky. There is a tenderness and sensuality. This is the image of Merlot we keep in our minds…that we seek in our craft.”
From the Family of Silver Oak, Twomey creates unique, approachable Merlot, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc to be enjoyed with friends and family.
Learn more at SilverOak.com and Twomey.com
