Journal / Field Notes | May 22, 2023

Flush of Green

The transition from shoot thinning to shoot positioning and tying has begun. Our marathon of canopy management will continue until early July. Predicted cooler, dry weather will slow shoot growth. This is a blessing as timing is everything. Keeping up can be difficult when the shoot growth is rampant.  

Vintage personality is already emerging. Shoot development in the early budding varieties (Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is very even. Each shoot is about the same length. However in the late budding varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc it is uneven. This is probably due to the temperatures during and just after bud break. Early budding varieties experienced a bit of a heat wave during bud break whereas the later varieties started their growth cycle under cool conditions.

Cool temperatures make for slower, more uneven growth. This could potentially be a quality concern. Asynchronistic shoot growth, or flowering or ripening can influence the harmony, mouthfeel and flavors of wine. This is especially true with red wines as their skins play such a critical role in the quality of the tannins.

We’ll keep an eye on the Cabernet Sauvignon. If flowering is uneven we’ll be prepared to remove lagging shoots or clusters as the season progresses.

  • Subscribe to Linden Updates for the latest vineyard and cellar information.

Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal/Field Notes: May 22, 2023

Hardscrabble Journal, Field NotesJim Law2023