Hardscrabble Journal

Lucky Break

Linden was lucky this week. Daily predictions of heavy rainfall from thunderstorms never materialized (with the exception of a 15-minute deluge on Monday). Soils are beginning to dry out. Perhaps the vines will slow their unrelenting vigorous growth and give us a break from long days of cluster zone aeration (leaf and lateral removal), shoot tying, and hedging.

Generally things look good. Linden’s largest plantings are Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and they have very good crops. Our youngest planting of Chardonnay will be in full production this year. We will be able to harvest different sections and make the wines separately. This will give us the first glimpse of terroir characteristics.

Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc are the problem children this year, probably a continued hangover from the soggy 2018 vintage. Both varieties produced very few flower clusters in the spring, so the crop is variable, with some vines having a full crop and some with next to nothing.

Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: June 21, 2019