Linden Update | February 21, 2024
The graft union at the base of the vine is our Achille’s heel. We now insulate young Merlot vines with compost.
February Update
It has been a good winter for our vines. An early cold snap in January was well timed. The vines were in full dormancy and most resistant to damage. The cold may have helped keep some disease and insect populations at bay.
But now our weather worries shift to the opposite side of the equation: too warm. The vines are now more sensitive to warm temperature stimulation as they wake from their deep sleep. A string of days in the 60s or 70s could start the sap flowing which makes vines less resilient to cold temperatures. If a warm period is followed by a very cold snap, it could damage the vines.
This is exactly what occurred in early March of 2014. A warm February was followed by a polar vortex with temperatures falling to the single digits. Young Merlot vines are most sensitive to late winter temperature fluctuations. In 2014, both Hardscrabble and Avenius had new plantings of Merlot vines. About half of those vines died, just before they were old enough to produce a crop.
Winter 2024 Tasting Menu.
Vintage Tastings continue through March
If you are curious about how and why wines age, this is a rare opportunity to taste for yourself.
Winter 2024: Tasting Vintage and Age
Winter is a slow time at Linden, so we are pleased to be able to offer tastings that include older vintages. We focus on two themes: vintage influences on wine style and the evolution of complexity and harmony as a wine ages. Join us in the tasting room. Reservations limited to groups of 1-4.
Prepaid reservation for parties of 1 to 4
$20 per person
R&D Sundays
For Friends of Linden
During the winter we open very old vintages so as to learn about how Linden’s wines age and evolve. We thought that we might share the experience. Every Sunday through March we will offer Friends of Linden the opportunity to purchase a glass of a special Library wine with over a decade of age.
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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Update: February 21, 2024