Geese
March is pruning month. Warm weather stimulates the vines. Sap flows. After every cut the vines bleed (or cries depending on what appellation you work in). The surrounding environment also wakes. In March birds take center stage.
Read MoreRead MoreDuclaux La Germine Côte-Rôtie 2019
As the decades pass, Linden’s red wine style has become more confident in terroir interpretation. For years we held Bordeaux as our benchmark. We grow the same grape varieties and have similarities in climate. But now we have a clearer understanding of how our soils give signature to our wines. We’ve always tasted wines from all over the globe looking for direction and inspiration. And that inspiration is coming from new places.
Winegrower’s Weather Worries
The weather we are currently experiencing brings with it some angst. But what exactly do winegrowers worry about?
Read MoreAm Radio
Yesterday presented ideal bush pile burning conditions. It had been many weeks since our last rain, so the stacked branches were easily ignited. An all-day rain was about to settle in and the winds were calm. No chance of the fire escaping its boundaries. So burning in the rain was the task of the morning. Most of my time is spent watching. Just in case. Watching flames lick the sky is eventful (these were very large piles), but I had to seek nearby shelter from the cold rain.
Read Morethird of a four-part series: 1987
Changes in winegrowing and winemaking evolved thoughtfully and intentionally. But marketing and sales were much more reactionary. There were no established paths to follow for new, small regional wineries. Initially we weren’t even sure who we were marketing to.
Read Moresecond of a four-part series: 1987
1987 was Linden’s first vintage. There was a lot of pressure to make a great wine right out of the starting gate. Big powerful wines were garnering accolades and high Parker points. New technologies and scientific analysis were driving American winemaking. I was not immune to the trends of the day. The path of numbers-driven, interventionist, aspirational winemaking was my initial approach.
Read MoreFirst of a four-part series: 1987
1987 was Linden's first vintage. Over the next couple of weeks I'll write about the most significant changes and improvements that have impacted wine quality. I'll also write about forty years of changes to the cellar, sales and marketing, and the business side of the operation since we started in 1985.
Read MoreFrom the Library | Special December Tastings
What to Pair with What's on Your Table: A Holiday Wine Seminar
Read MoreBarrel Conundrum
The cellar is now quiet. Fermentations are mostly complete, and all the new wine is in barrel. This year’s yields were down by almost 50%. This presents a unique problem that impacts both last year’s and next year’s wines.
Read MoreLate Harvest
Last week, after a long pause, we finally picked Petit Manseng. It was a late harvest. The wine will be Late Harvest. This is so simple that it is confusing. Late Harvest is an official federal designation that has no guidelines. But you can count on the wine being sweet, concentrated and delicious.
Read MoreFirst Impressions: 2025 Reds
Last week the last of our reds were drained and pressed. The have some very nice material to work with when it comes time to blend. Here are my first impressions of the young, raw wines.
Read More2025: A Classic Vintage
With the exception of a couple laggard barrels the 2025 wines have now finished fermenting. As anticipated, they are powerful and concentrated with fresh acidity. They are also wonderfully classic; reminiscent of some of my favorite vintages from the 1990s and early 2000s. At this stage these wines are raw, unevolved and tricky to evaluate. While aromas and flavors will change dramatically over time, a wine's texture remains fairly constant. Texture in wine is hard to explain. It refers to mouth feel, tactile sensation, weight, and harmony. But my favorite analogy is the anticipation when sinking one's teeth into an apple.
Read MoreVintage Matters
Read MoreToothsome, But Not Photogenic
Red harvest started yesterday. The clusters were not pristine. The grapes were a bit gnarly looking. The vines look somewhat bedraggled. The crop is small. But the flavors, ripeness and concentration are remarkable.
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