Hardscrabble Journal

One Fine Day

What a difference one fine day can make. Hardscrabble’s old Chardonnay vines, planted in the 1980’s, are always slow to finish ripening. All our other Chardonnays are now in the cellar fermenting away. But yesterday the old vines turned a corner.

Yesterday was the perfect ripening day with mild temperatures, cloudless skies, and dry winds. You could feel the berries relaxing from firm and rigid to soft and malleable. Flavors transitioned from citrus to apple. The tart acidity toned down to fresh. We pick tomorrow.

Our two day pause has allowed Jonathan to start racking (pumping) fermenting Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc into barrels. The earlier picked Chardonnay will ferment and age in old, neutral 228 liter barrels, some of which are now twenty years old. We will save newer barrels for the older vine juice.

Sauvignon Blanc went into old puncheons which are 500 liters. These large format barrels restrict oxygen pick up and leave the wines fresher. The Semillon went into our concrete egg. This is a first. The egg is now 11 years old and has become less aggressive in its influence on the wines. Every year we like it more.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: September 24, 2020