Large, loose and full

Our designated Cabernet Sauvignon cluster remains large, loose and full. This year Cabernet Sauvignon clusters are bigger than normal. The previous year’s weather in June determines this year’s cluster size and number of clusters per shoot. Apparently, Cabernet enjoyed the cool, dry June of 2023. This would explain the large size and quantity of clusters per shoot. The clusters are loose. There is ample space between individual berries (the opposite would be referred to as tight clustered). This is a result of small sized berries due to the drought. The lack of water for the past six weeks has slowed berry enlargement during the developmental stage. The clusters are full because the weather during flowering was ideal and a larger than average percentage of flowers were successfully pollinated. 

The present situation is akin to winegrower nirvana: large and numerous clusters provide generous yields. Small berries give us the best shot at concentrated wines. And loose clusters reduce the chance of rot should the weather turn wet before harvest (better internal drying of clusters and less “neighbor to neighbor” spread should one berry start to rot).

The only down side is that we will soon have to begin a fairly vigorous cluster thinning (removal of some bunches) as the crop on most Cabernet vines is too large for the kind of wine we want to make. I only wish that we could transfer the excessive Cabernet clusters to Merlot which had poor fruit set and in some blocks the crop is meager.

Generally the vineyard is holding up well with the drought (less than one inch of rain in June and only a trace in July). However, young replant (replacement) vines and vines planted on thin rocky outcrops are stressed. 

I would not be opposed to a soaking inch.

Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Hardscrabble Journal: July 14, 2024