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w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m J u l y - A u g 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 1 2 3 Paul Pontallier Passes at 59 Longtime member of the Château Margaux team, Paul Pontallier, who oversaw production of the Bor- deaux first-growth estate for 33 years, died March 28 from cancer. He was 59. Hired as the technical direc- tor at Margaux when he was just 27 years old, Pontal- lier and the estate's owner, Corinne Mentzelopoulos, were the passion and drive behind a resurgence of the estate. During his tenure, Château Margaux's grand vin earned classic ratings of 95 points or high- er in 15 vintages between 1983 and 2013. Pontalli- er strove to improve viticulture practices and lower yields. In 1990, he was promoted to managing direc- tor. Pontallier is survived by his wife and four children. Don Ross Remembered Celebrated Chardonnay producer and the founder of Shibumi Knoll in St. Helena, Calif., Don Ross died from cancer on April 8 at the age of 74. Born in Whit- tier, Calif., Ross studied engineering in college, and later went to work for NASA as an aerospace engi- neer. In the 1970s, he built a business as the coun- try's largest manufacturer of shower door enclosures. Ross came to the wine business later in life, buying a home in Napa Valley in 2003 that came with Caber- net Sauvignon vines. He was 62. After tasting a bottle of Keegan Cellars from the Buena Tierra Vineyard in Russian River Valley, he bought grapes from the vineyard and the Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2005 was born. It earned 97 points from Wine Spectator. Ross is survived by his wife Joann, his sister, Jacki Ross, his sons, Cary and Jared, and three grandchildren. Denis Malbec Passes Napa County winemaker Denis Malbec died in a car crash on April 16 in Yountville, Calif. He was 46. Born at the Château Latour in Pauillac, France, where he would become the cellar master and enolo- gist, Malbec later moved with his wife, May-Britt, to California's North Coast. After nearly a decade of con- sulting with Napa and Sonoma Valley wineries, the two forged their own Notre Vin winery to honor their favorite California terroirs. Remembering Louis Latour The visionary who led Maison Louis Latour for four decades, Louis Latour, died on April 5 of heart failure. He was 83. Latour took the reins of the family company during a downturn in the Burgundy wine market. Driven to expand the family wine business, he began working with local growers in Ardèche to produce Chardonnay, and later planted Pinot Noir to make Maison's Pinot Noir Domaine de Valmoissine. In 1986, Latour founded his own importing company in the United States, which now represents the firm's largest market. He is sur- vived by his wife, Ghislaine, six brothers and sisters, four children and nine grandchildren. BOOK REVIEW BY MICHAEL JUERGENS The Secrets of My Life: Peter Sichel The name Peter Sichel is instantly recogniz- able to any self-respecting food or wine lover. One of the biggest wine personalities of the 20th century, he was a true renaissance man. From his business success in making Blue Nun the largest wine brand in the world (for a while), to his frequent television appearances, his role in governance for organiza- tions like the Society of Wine Educators, the Insti- tute of Masters of Wine and the Culinary Insti- tute of America, and his successful wine books and albums, Sichel left an indelible mark on the global wine scene. He was loved and respected by generations. Even the Beastie Boys felt his influence, lauding him in their song, "Blue Nun," with samples from one of his records. Until now, though, few people have had insights into the myriad layers of his life. From his idyllic upbringing in a Jewish wine family in Germany, to fleeing and hiding in France a half- step ahead of the Nazis, to his 16-year career in the OSS and the CIA, Sichel lived a life of adven- ture and intrigue. "The Secrets of My Life" offers the reader an intimate view of Sichel's successes and failures. Written with an astonishing level of detail for circumstances spanning almost a cen- tury, Sichel recounts a life lived that would no doubt qualify him for the starring role in a Dos Equis commercial. His story is a penetrating look at a colorful and vibrant character. Advertise Now 707.577.7700 Online In Print