The Assistant (4)
Even a week after Warren joined Redwood, the shockwaves hadn't easily settled. The place most affected by this tremor was UC Davis, which held immense influence over the region and its agriculture. While local residents might have finished their gossip among acquaintances, for university professors and students, this was a topic that could easily last for years.
However, the mystery was finally unraveled through a magazine called Wine Observer Magazine.
《Special Column - Warren Winiarski, Why Did He Go to Redwood?》
In this column, he confessed that while he had achieved incredible success over the past 50 years, his passion had been fading with age. He then recounted how he had spoken with the young owner of a small Napa winery he met one day, and that he had rediscovered the passion he thought he had lost, captivated by the man's vision and fresh perspective.
"What? Rediscovered his lost passion? He saw his own youth in him? Is this for real?"
Jonathan, who was reading the magazine in the living room with an absurd expression, looked around for agreement. His brother Andrew, Brad Cooper of Michel Wine Estates, and Alessandro Bellini of Marchesi Antinori all wore unreadable expressions.
"That’s the question we want to ask. It’s as if he’s saying there’s a winery out there greater than Stag's Leap... frankly, it’s quite off-putting."
Alessandro Bellini, sitting with his legs crossed and leaning back on the sofa, looked like a model with his long legs and handsome face, but his expression was rigid. Seeing this, the two brothers felt their nerves fray.
The deal was already done, and the money had changed hands, so they weren't worried about the deal falling through. However, they were desperate to prevent any misunderstandings that could lead to litigation.
Andrew offered an awkward smile and said, "Let's not look at it too negatively. Isn't this practically a declaration that he won't be taking Stag's Leap's blending techniques to another winery?"
That was true. In fact, if one analyzed the content of the magazine interview, it ultimately meant the only way to drink the wine he had created in the past was to buy the bottles released by Stag's Leap. Brad and Alessandro, who were present, knew this as well.
The problem was that the explanation itself was even more insulting.
"I understand that, but... as a result of this interview, wine enthusiasts are now looking forward to Redwood's wine more than Stag's Leap's. Stag's Leap, which we bought for $180 million, is about to become worthless."
The two brothers were momentarily flustered by Brad's cold, glaring attitude. They didn't know how to react to this sudden transformation in someone they had been as close to as a brother.
Just then, someone's footsteps were heard. The irregular, slow gait made it clear who the owner of the footsteps was, even before he appeared.
"Father!"
As his two sons had expected, Warren slowly walked in. He glanced at the guests and said as he passed through the living room,
"You keep coming by even though the acquisition is finished. There’s nothing for you to gain here."
At those words, Brad spoke up in an unpleasant tone, as if he had been waiting for it.
"I read the magazine interview. I can respect the passion of wanting to learn at your age, but isn't this going too far?"
"Too far?"
Warren’s expression hardened immediately as he glared at Brad, who didn't look away but lowered his voice further.
"The way you explained yourself has left those of us who acquired Stag's Leap feeling confused. 'Something to learn'... 'Something to learn'... Hahaha! You really put us in an awkward position. And from a young Asian man who hasn't even graduated from college yet, no less."
Seeing him burst into laughter because he couldn't believe it, Warren’s hardened expression didn't soften.
"You think I'm lying."
"How could it be anything else!"
Warren raised one corner of his mouth as he watched the man get excited. He had felt nothing but annoyance watching Brad try to seduce his two sons, but seeing him so agitated, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
"Strange. Won't you know later whether the wine we release contains my techniques or not just by drinking it?"
"I understand that you’ve made up your mind not to leak Stag's Leap's technology. But don't you realize that the way you explained it has devalued Stag's Leap?"
At those words, Warren’s eyes widened like a tiger's, and he shouted,
"Nonsense! Don't flatter yourselves!"
"......"
Warren looked around at the people sitting on the sofa, including the startled Brad, and spoke clearly.
"The Stag's Leap I built up over all these years wasn't constructed so flimsily that it could be chipped away by a single word from me. Even if I were to get dementia and not recognize my own children's faces, the value of Stag's Leap would remain the same. As long as you maintain the system I created... so stop trying to squeeze more out of me and go back to your companies and do your work. And..."
He looked at Alessandro and reprimanded him.
"I can understand Michel Wine, which focuses on daily wines, not knowing much about high-end wine, but I don't understand why you, from Antinori, are acting like this."
Brad Cooper might not know any better, but the implication that he shouldn't be acting this way made Brad’s face flush red. Alessandro bowed his head with a troubled expression.
"Honestly, I thought the content of the magazine was so nonsensical that I wondered if you were intentionally trying to put us in a difficult position."
"Hmph! Why would I do that? And if I really intended to do such a thing, do you think I would have gone to that small winery? If I had truly set my mind on tormenting one side, I would have dumped the $100 wines stacked in the warehouse for $30."
Brad, knowing what that meant, bit his lip. In short, it meant that if he had wanted to, he could have wiped out Michel Wine in one go.
"Do you think I’m that idle? Do you think my life is that light? Tsk tsk tsk..."
"If I misunderstood, I sincerely apologize. We at Marchesi Antinori will maintain and expand the brand by keeping Stag's Leap exactly as you built it."
"Ahem... I’d be grateful if you did."
Alessandro of Antinori wore a bitter expression at Warren’s retreating back and stood up from his seat.
"I’ll be going now."
Realizing he had come here for nothing, he walked away without even acknowledging the two brothers. Brad, on the other hand, suppressed his rising anger and said to the two brothers,
"I hope you don't think that because of Mr. Warren's words, we believe the magazine interview. In the end, he didn't clearly explain the nonsensical magazine interview. I must make it clear that our future moves will depend on what kind of wine comes out of Redwood."
With that warning, he turned and left without waiting for a reply.
"Damn it... so it’s 'the winery is in our hands now,' is that it?"
"Forget it. Don't worry about it. Father will handle it."
"But isn't the San Jose real estate market getting serious, too?"
At his brother Andrew's concern, Jonathan shrugged.
"What of it? It’s just a temporary dip. Honestly, it’s a good thing. If the real estate market hadn't been shaky, would we have been able to buy that building for $100 million?"
Thinking his brother's words made sense, Andrew nodded.
"That’s true, but... it’s just unsettling."
"The people who should be anxious are the ones who bought houses. And when things are this unstable, it’s actually an opportunity for people like us. An opportunity to grab real estate that’s come out at a low price."
Andrew was gradually swayed by his brother's eyes, which were shimmering with intense desire.
"Looking at it that way, there’s nothing to worry about."
"I’m actually looking at a few more buildings. You know Fabian, the real estate agent? My friend in LA."
"Ah...!"
"He recommended some prime buildings that came out at a low price. Take a look."
Andrew began to focus on the catalog his brother had brought. Before long, the two of them had forgotten all about the worries they had been discussing just moments ago.
The aftermath of the magazine interview reached Redwood as well, but it soon faded away. People are naturally excited to see someone they haven't been able to see by chance, but it’s hard for the heart to race for someone you see every day.
Since Warren was coming to the winery every day, Dad and the workers had grown accustomed to it and didn't think much of it anymore. When he was out in the vineyard or in the aging room, they just assumed he was working and didn't even wonder about it.
I, too, had been very excited at first to work with someone who was considered a legend before my regression, but as time went on, he just became a colleague I worked with.
"Kenaz Vineyards, 2004 Merlot Barrel? Was this brought in a while ago?"
He saw a barrel stored very carefully in the place where the oak was stacked in the aging room, and his eyes lit up.
"Yes. I bought it at an auction about two years ago."
"Kenaz Vineyards isn't that famous. How much did you pay for it?"
"$300 per case?"
Perhaps because the price was so trivial, Warren’s brow furrowed.
"$300? Only?"
"The price was low, but I had no choice at the time. The flavor hadn't awakened yet."
"Oho~ Is that so?"
He stroked the oak barrel and looked at me with a smirk.
"Can I have a taste?"
"Of course. I was planning to show you the taste anyway."
"From now on, if you have things like this, it would be good if you let me know before I find them myself."
"I told you I was going to let you know..."
I filled a glass with wine using a barrel sampler and handed it to him. Warren’s face hardened at the deep aroma of the Merlot just taken from the barrel. After swirling the glass a few times to wake up the aroma, he took a sip with a serious expression and closed his eyes. And then,
"Crazy... a Merlot with such a deeply condensed feeling..."
"At the time, it wasn't like this, so everyone ignored it. It was very rough. Thanks to that, I was able to seize the opportunity."
"How were you so sure? Other wineries aren't stupid, so they wouldn't have missed this if it met even a basic standard."
He asked with the look of someone who had discovered the most interesting thing in the world.
"I checked the polyphenol index and color density. I decided that if the polyphenol index was over 70 and the price was under $1,000 per case, I would take it no matter what."
"The polyphenol index was over 70...? Haha, that’s right. You checked that before the auction."
Even at this time, some high-end large wineries knew what effect the polyphenol index had on wine. Naturally, Stag's Leap wouldn't have been unaware of this kind of numerical analysis blending.
However, knowing it and trying to utilize it, and being confident enough to bid at an actual auction based solely on this figure, were two different things.
"Is this what it means to make wine with data...?"
Although he had already made up his mind to learn Redwood Winery’s own methods, he was greatly surprised to experience it firsthand once again.
"I’m planning to compare this with our farm’s Cabernet Sauvignon from this year and the Cabernet from the newly acquired farm to blend them."
"You must already have something in mind?"
"What about you, sir?"
"Me... I have plenty of ideas."
The number of wines he had released so far was countless. So, just with this Merlot, dozens of various combinations were coming to mind as he sat there.
"Since I can't use the methods I used at Stag's Leap, if I think only about your winery’s wine, there’s the pattern of putting 15% Merlot into an Echelon-style Cabernet, or perhaps blending Pinot Noir with this."
"You’ve already thought of that much?"
"It just comes to mind without having to worry about it."
He moved his fingers as if a bird were brushing past his head and smirked.
"Haha, that’s amazing."
"It’s nothing. So, what were you thinking?"
I took out my notebook and unfolded the page I had written down earlier. Warren read the contents of the notebook and furrowed his brow.
"22% Merlot? Hmph... and you’re using this much Cabernet Franc?"
"Is it strange?"
"It is strange... the green notes will be quite strong. But if you wrote it, there must be a reason, right?"
"Hmm... I need a little of your help here. Do you happen to know which winery sells good Cabernet Franc?"
He stared at me blankly before saying with an incredulous expression,
"I do know. Perhaps... I know better than anyone."
"That’s great. Could you guide me once?"
Warren downed the Merlot in one go, squinted his eyes, and said,
"Fine. In exchange, you have a bottle of Echelon that you’ve hidden away and aren't selling, right? Bring that out. That friend of mine doesn't meet people well without a bribe."