Linden Update | January 26, 2022
A Quiet Winter
This winter seems to be going on for a very long time. We’ve been lulled into a comfortable sense of complacency. But we’re not feeling guilty about it quite yet. This year’s winter weather has been uncommonly typical. Our pruning opportunities have been dictated by cold, snow, and ice. That’s fine since we are in the early stage of pruning. All the vines have to be pruned by April, but it can be done at any time over the next several months.
We have started our annual red wine blending trials. The ups and downs of the 2021 vintage left us dazed and confused by the end of harvest. However these wines are exceeding expectations and things are looking up for some very nice single vineyard wine bottlings. If you would like to learn more about our process, decisions, and the 2021 red wines, read about our Blending Trials in Hardscrabble Journal. Hardscrabble Journal | Vintage 2021
Warm Vintages for a Cold Winter
We eat seasonally. We respect our own internal clocks. We’re guided by the availability of fresh produce. Stews, warming soups, and roasted root vegetables are decidedly cold weather fare. This year as most of us experience a true winter, we turn to old-fashioned recipes and more traditional hearty fare. All this influences our wine preferences. Light, crisp whites and fruity reds take a back seat to more robust wine styles.
So we thought that we would be helpful with our mid-winter “four pack” offering. Wines made from warm vintages tend to be full bodied, generous, and warming, making them ideal for winter fare. 2016 and 2019 were both hot and dry vintages at Linden, so we chose two white wines from 2019 and two reds from 2016 to fit the bill.
Mid-Winter “Four pack” Offering
2019 Boisseau Viognier
2019 Wabi Sabi
These two white wines are most definitely outside of Linden’s stylistic wheelhouse. They are very full bodied, lush, and lower acid. A winter squash risotto, lobster, pumpkin soup, or egg dishes (soufflé) are all great pairings.
2016 Petit Verdot
2016 Hardscrabble Red
Petit Verdot wants to be with spicy foods. Barbeque and smoked meats are top on the list. Vegetarians may need to be creative, but sundried tomatoes might be a good place to start. This Hardscrabble Red is starting to show some bottle age complexity. Braised meats and stews are easy “go to” dishes, but you could also experiment with olive dishes, duck breast, or moussaka.
Ordering
Our mid-winter “four pack” is offered at $167 through Linden Direct.
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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Update: January 26, 2022