Can A Rockstar Craft Good Wine?
Maynard James Keenan is attempting to do just that. After already successfully navigating the music business as lead singer for Tool and A Perfect Circle, his new venture, Caduceus, is an extension of a love he found for wine. I remember a few years ago reading an article in Wine Spectator about how he had found this profound love after trying a 1992 Silver Oak, and subsequently amassed an impressive collection of wine from around the world. Later, it was revealed that his great Grandparents and Great Uncle made wine in what was Northern Italy (now Southern France), and the stage was set for him to embark on his own winemaking project.
His canvas is the Verde Valley in Northern Arizona in the form of Merkin Vineyards. His vineyard site is composed of four different blocks with unique soil characteristics that vary from chalky sedimentary rock, to fine river sediment with calcareous substrate “peppered with evidence of volcanic intrusions”. Maynard also choose to employ the talent of Eric Glomsky as winemaker for the project, who was formerly co-winemaker at David Bruce Vineyards in California. The wine at Caduceus is produced from some 6000 vines, some of which were recently planted and are still unusable. In the meantime they have chosen to blend some local fruit with grapes grown in California from areas like Paso Robles, and the Pope Valley in Napa Valley.
The project consists of five unique bottles of wine: the Primer Paso, a blend of Shiraz and Malvasia, (a white varietal akin to Viognier); the Nagual De La Naga, a Tuscan inspired Cabernet Sauvignon/ Sangiovese Blend; the Nagual Del Sensei, a Cabernet Sauvignon/ Syrah Blend; Dos Ladrones (2 thieves), a white wine produced from delicate varietals protected from the Arizona sun under a canopy of Apricot trees; and the Chupacabra “Mystery Blend,” priced around $20. The Paso and the Naga were recently released on March 24, 2006.
The wines can be tasted and are available for purchase at Page Spring Cellars, the winery owned and operated by Eric. Considering Maynard probably has a lot of devoted fans, it’s probably a good idea he choose to separate the winery from his home. He joins a long list of celebrities that have chosen to make their own wine, but I have a feeling Maynard is a little different. His passion has put him on the front line in the vineyard and the cellar, and I doubt other celebs have had the same intense interest in their own projects. In his diary entries on the website, you can catch a glimpse of this mans devotion to his wine when you see pictures of him sealing bottles with wax and embossing them by hand, driving the tractors, or planting the vines. Now that my interest is peaked, I need to get my hands on a bottle or two.
Visit the website for more information and photos.
Update: The online store is now open (but will probably sell out soon).
December 21st, 2006 at 9:45 am
I love You Maynard because u rock and $*#& my world!
January 12th, 2007 at 9:33 am
[...] Winexpression’s earlier piece on Maynard can be found here. [...]
March 1st, 2007 at 12:31 am
Mr. keenan is someone i highly respect. his devotion to his music alone is amazing. im sure its the same with making wine. this peticular talking monkey probably knows what hes doing. -brian SLC, UT
March 1st, 2007 at 4:50 am
Yes Maynard can craft anything. He can also craft my ass at anytime!
Dude rocks!!!
heh heh…
stellax
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I was fortunate enough to be able to get two bottles of the Nagual De La Naga. I opened the first bottle and my breath was taken away by the complexity of this wine. There was a strong taste of berry with a hint of smoke. I remember how it felt like an ancient elixir as it rolled around my mouth and down into the back of my throat. It was smooth and mellow. And to top it off, it was purple. Not red, or dark red, but purple. It was regal and amazing. Now that it is sold out, I have to say, that drinking that wine was like a summer love. You didn’t think it would ever end, and when it does you realize that you’ll never be the same. I’m looking forward to the next release. Until then…may your hearts be merry and your glasses be full.
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Travis,
Thanks for the review. Too bad that wine sold out so quick.
Cheers.
April 9th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
The Nagual de Naga and the Primer Paso are up for pre order right now. 2005’s being released. Can’t WAIT to get my bottles!
May 31st, 2007 at 3:03 am
Maynard is a truely blessed human. I love his music and knew he was a genius in this realm. I have not tried this wine but will tasting it in the future. *****Summer*****
June 6th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
“I have not tried this wine”
That makes two of us.
Maynard, care to send a press sample?
July 15th, 2007 at 1:08 am
Dear Maynard, would you like some free land in NZ? [12acres]
great for wine making and we like to see the land used but
people who need land cannot always find the money to get to us.
Its yours if some profit goes to a cause you nominate.
August 28th, 2007 at 7:52 am
How can I get this wine? When is it being rereleased?
August 28th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Gypsy Queen,
Just go to https://vino.caduceus.org/ for the online store.
-Jathan
August 29th, 2007 at 2:06 am
i reside in mississippi and can’t get maynards wine here. this sux. excited for it to be distributed in the south.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:41 am
Thanks Jathan, I will. I was having a problem getting his site up on my computer, I’ll try again. Maynard, if you read this blog you should maybe consider finding a distributer in the south. I live in Asheville NC and this little town is crazy about vino and food! Summer I feel your pain!
October 10th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
wanna fight?
October 14th, 2007 at 5:15 am
You guys don’t forget to check out Maynard’s new album October 30th. Yea.Yea. I’ll fight ya over a bottle of this wine marcy. No i won’t fight but i’ll share. Queen B rocks!!
December 18th, 2007 at 8:03 am
I saw the book upon the caduceus.. I am going to ask to Bacco about this wine. He always speaks to me about earth’s fruits … great passion. Il __nettare__ degli Dei.
thanks.
December 22nd, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I’m still waiting patiently for Merkin Vinyards to distribute in Jackson, MS.
Please hurry Maynard. Thanx, Summer
December 27th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Hi Summer,
Unfortunately, do to a monopolistic system of distribution, your state is not open to direct shipping, so you should probably try to contact a retailer in your area and request this wine.
More here: http://www.freethegrapes.org/wine_lovers.html#laws
December 29th, 2007 at 5:12 am
I have actually been talking to a distributor in Jackson on Lakeland Drive in the Quarter. I hate to badger the poor man. I’ll remind him again when I see him. I’m sure christmas was a busy time for him. Thanx jatemack.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Hey All,
Haven’t tried the wine yet, doesn’t distribute to Australia yet. Maynard when you and the boys come out here again, be sure to drop me an e-mail.. Yarra Vallley has some of the best wines in the world, wonder if you have ever been there?
January 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Hey Everybody,
I was fortunate enough to grow up in Northern Arizona, and have tried Maynard’s wine. It is very good, a little pricey, but well worth it. The only one I purchased was De la Naga, but I want to try the Chupa. I look forward to going back and buying a few more bottles this spring. If anyone lives in the Washington DC area, and wants to buy a bottle, let me know. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t charge a cent more than what I paid for it. I know that all of you are as big of fans of Maynard artistic expressions as I am.
Best-
February 28th, 2008 at 11:13 am
My suggestion is to plan a road trip to Arizona. We live just outside the Cornville area and make it down to Page Springs on regular basis. We have a number of bottles of Maynard’s wine and they all titillate the senses. The last bottle we opened we shared with friends right before we went to the TOOL concert. I strongly encourage you to find a way to get any of the wines but if you can’t that means more for us which we will literally drink up!
March 7th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Hi Kathy,
That’s a great suggestion.
I was able to procure a couple bottles this year. Regular readers should be on the lookout for a contest in the near future in which one of these wines will be the prize. Stay tuned!
March 7th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Hey it’s summer lou again. Gonna look at the website and see if i can get some wine shipped to Chicago at a hotel we will be staying at in May. Will be the highlight of this trip if i can pull this off. Still no Caduceus in Mississippi……patiently waiting. Maynard, Are we there yet???