Journal | January 21, 2022
Blending Trials: Part I
Blending trials begin in January. After several weather delays we finally got started this week. Red wines from the previous vintage (2021) have now settled down and are beginning to show their personalities. We also have time. This is a slow process. When tasting young, tannic red wines, palates can fatigue quickly. We taste for a maximum of two hours every afternoon. It can take a month or more to complete blending decisions for all our red wines.
Our approach to blending at Linden is very methodical. We try to be as objective as possible knowing that this is, in fact, a very subjective endeavor. All decisions are palate based. There are no numbers, science, or lab tests involved.
Our first focus is making the best single vineyard blend possible. This year we started with Avenius Vineyard, which is a smaller planting than Hardscrabble. It is therefore a bit more manageable as far as the number of variables. The 2021 vintage gave us ten Avenius barrels: 4 Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 Merlot, and one Petit Verdot. But it is more complex than just grape variety. There are two different plantings of Merlot, several different coopers and barrel ages, and wines from both freely-drained tanks and from the press.
The first day we taste a sample of each individual barrel, noting its merits and deficiencies. Samples are taken in the morning so that the wines can come to room temperature. Tasting cold red wines in the cellar would be futile.
The second day we begin the blending trial. Three blends are made, again using the samples taken from each individual barrel. One blend is called the "cellar blend," which is all ten barrels together. The second blend is called the "elegant blend." These are the wines that showed the most finesse. The third blend is the "power blend:" barrels with lots of weight and structure.
This is just the starting point. We’ll spend the next several days building (or in fact subtracting) a blend that is balanced and best reflects the terroir and the vintage.
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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: January 21, 2022