Hardscrabble Journal

Third Time’s a Charm?

This week we planted a small block of Merlot. This the third vineyard planted on this site in the last thirty years. The first two didn’t make very good wine. It’s not the site, which is quite good with very interesting, rocky soils. It was what was planted there.

In 1990 we planted Chardonnay here with great expectations. For a dozen years the vines were balanced and easy to manage. They consistently yielded good crops. But the wine was mediocre. It was flabby with no depth and verve. Going back in my records, I eventually learned that the clone of Chardonnay we planted was intended for cooler regions. It was early ripening and low in acidity. Ideal for Champagne and Chablis, but not so ideal for Virginia. Out it went.

In its place was planted Carmenère. Carmenère is one of the Bordeaux red varieties. The others such as Merlot and the Cabernets had done very well at Hardscrabble, so why not?

We learned why not. It is very high vigor, grows like bamboo, and yields almost no clusters. What little wine we were able to make from it was serviceable at best. Help yourself Chile.

Third time’s a charm: Merlot. Actually, this block is surrounded by other Merlot plantings that usually become part of the Hardscrabble blend. It just took a little time for us to come around.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: April 17, 2020