New York - 2 October 2002

Fellow Mourner:

On behalf of the very extended family of M. Bouchon, I would like to thank you for attending this very heartfelt wake for the old stinker.

While he will definitely be fondly remembered, every time we unscrew a bottle of say, Big House Red or White or '2001 Le Cigare Volant (available next year), a fragrant memory will also come to mind of how - how shall we put this delicately? - how "ripe" he had become, especially in his later years.

Today was a time to reflect upon all great things that are here for a moment and then pass away. You had the opportunity to taste roughly 35 wines from the Bonny Doon historical archive that are, alas, no more. Adieu, vale. We are but creatures of a day.

It was so incredibly cool to hear Jancis riff on the death of the cork. For an uptight, reserved Britisher, she definitely has beaucoup de soul. You are commended to check out her website at www.jancisrobinson.com and be sure to pick up a copy of the Oxford Companion to Wine, a formidable and requisite volume for every earnest lover of Bacchus.

Pick up a copy as well of Huysman's A Rebours if you are so inclined. It is a very strange and funny book.

Needless to say, there are still plenty of Bonny Doon Vineyard and Ca' del Solo wines still alive and kicking. (Cf. www.bonnydoonvineyard.com.) Most of them are still sealed with the archaic cork or synthetic closure but we are making the greatest effort to convert the rest of the line over to screw-caps at the earliest opportunity.

Please feel very free to call upon Mr. Jim Turcotte, our Northeast Regional Sales Manager at for any special needs you might have or the redoubtable and brilliant staff of Michael Skurnik wines. If you have any great jokes to share with me, you can reach me at lecigare@aol.com.

Again, it was a great pleasure to see you all. Good night and God bless.