Linden Update | September 19, 2023
White grapes being pressed. Wine is pumped to stainless steel tanks.
White wine fermenting in stainless steel tanks.
Harvest Update
Linden’s white grapes are now off the vines and fermenting in tanks and barrels. One exception is Petit Manseng which will stay on the vines until as late as November for a Late Harvest pick. This has been a truly exceptional vintage due to the extreme summer drought. The theme of harvest 2023 revolves around a very high sugar content. This means high alcohol wines, something we have not dealt with for years. Our mantra is to respect the vintage. This year we have had to change up our picking strategies with an eye to achieving balance. An example would be with Hardscrabble Chardonnay. The younger plantings spiked their sugar content during the early September heat wave. The resulting wines will have a potential alcohol well over 14%. Fortunately Hardscrabble’s older vines normally ripen several weeks later. We picked them on the early side with lower sugars (and higher acidity). The intention is to blend old vine and young vine Chardonnay to make a balanced wine.
This week starts red wine harvest. We will be racing to pick Merlot (always ripens first), then the younger plantings of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Our concern is that they are about to become overripe. The resulting wines would be monster fruit bombs with alcohols as high as 15%. This is not the Linden style. But again we respect the vintage and work around what the year brings. Fortunately our older plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot are ripening at a more even pace. They will take advantage of cooler weather and even a bit of rain, which will slow ripening and sugar accumulation.
L’Auberge Provençale and Linden Wine Dinner
Thursday October 5, 2023
Meet & Greet 5:30 pm | Dinner 6:00 pm | $175/person
Long time friends Sommelier Christian Borel and Linden’s Andy Gail will team up for a night of seasonal pairings. For those of you who haven’t yet been regaled by Andy behind Linden’s tasting counter, you are in for a treat of entertaining stories along with a depth of knowledge about each wine.
L'Auberge Provençale
13630 Lord Fairfax Hwy, White Post, VA 22620
(540) 837-1375
celebrate@laubergeprovencale.com
Tasting at the Winery
Our comparative tastings have been well received, and this fall’s theme focuses on vintage, age, and terroir.
Vintage
How does the weather during a growing season impact wines style?
Village Chardonnay: 2018 and 2019
Age
There is no substitute for the complexity and finesse time gives to wine.
Petit Verdot: 2014 and 2019
Terroir
The revered expression of where the grapes are grown.
2019 Boisseau Red and 2019 Hardscrabble Red
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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Update: September 19, 2023