Hardscrabble Journal

First Glimpse

Vintage 2020 is beginning to come into focus. Yesterday berry samples were taken, lab analysis run, and juice tasted. White grapes are first to ripen, so they command our full attention at this stage. The only definitive conclusion we can surmise is that 2020 will be a very late harvest.

In many vintages we will start harvest in the very end of August. The Boisseau site is very warm and always ahead of the other vineyards. Boisseau Chardonnay is always the first to pick. This year the Boisseau Chardonnay crop is smaller than usual. A smaller crop will ripen faster than a large crop. Given the lab numbers and flavors, we could start harvest around Labor Day weekend.

Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc vines are still young. Younger vines ripen their crop faster than older vines. It will probably be next in line, but it could be a good week after Boisseau Chardonnay.

I am nervous about the large size of the clusters and berries. The compactness of the clusters makes them more prone to rot. If we have several days in a row of warm, rainy weather, bunch rot could be a big issue. I’ll feel better when the cooler, drier air of next week arrives. At this time, the remnants of Laura could give us some rain, but it should be short lived with dry weather following.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: August 26, 2020