News from Linden | April

By the Skin of our Teeth

Brisk, breezy, and bone chilling are not ideal April weather descriptors. It’s not been a fun week to work outside. We’ve lost the habit of dressing appropriately and have suffered the consequences on several occasions. We do however feel very fortunate to have escaped any vine-damaging frosts.

This past week, four mornings have experienced temperatures in the low to mid 30s F. One of those included a dusting of snow. Chardonnay has already budded and is frost susceptible. If the temperatures were a few degrees colder it would have been curtains for much of the crop. But they weren't, so the vines are okay and therefore we are okay.

I have to admit that even after all these years farming, so many close calls can be stressful. A warm March resulted in early bud break. We still have a few more weeks of potential frost to worry about. If nothing else, it keeps our minds off of other concerns.

Vineyard Isolation | 2020

The seasons and the vines are not on lockdown. We continue to farm. We cannot receive visitors, but we can write. Daily entries in Hardscrabble Journal and weekly updates sent by email are our only way of keeping you informed.

See all of Jim's posts on life and work since March 16, 2020 in Vineyard Isolation | 2020.

Raid the Cellar Sampler | 2017 Reds

Releasing the 2017 vintage at this time is what it must feel like to be a parent of a prodigious child. Proud and anxious to share her special talents with the rest of the world, but worried that it might be too early. So, to mitigate any guilt, let’s call this a pre-release.

Vintage 2017| Poised, Perfumed, and Precise

As with so many great years, ideal September weather made these wines special. Warm, sunny days, cool nights, and no rain. This allowed us to pick exactly when we wanted to without worries of excessive heat or deluges.

These red wines are complex and long, but already very approachable. They share a vintage typicity of aromatic lift, dark fruits (vs. red fruits) and a refreshing minerality. There is a European sensibility of balance, harmony, and density but without excessive weight. They are quietly complex and need attention and contemplation. So, given our current circumstances, now is a very good time to open these bottles.

We took the opportunity to taste this past week. Here are some of the highlights. We’ll include detailed notes inserted with each order.

2017 Hardscrabble

• Come hither aromas of ripe blueberries and black currants, expresso beans, and rose petals.

• The palate is seamless. Bittersweet chocolate and blackberries on entry, then a peacock’s tail of supple tannins in the finish.

2017 Avenius

• Resinous, aromatic lift of black cherries and balsam. Black peppercorns and graphite. Saline.

• Sweet mid-palate, refreshing energy, intense yet weightless. Firm, concentrated long tannins.

2017 Boisseau

• Boisseau often follows its own path. 2017 is no exception. It is a very different site and makes a very different wine than its stablemates.

• Nose of fresh thyme and basil, forest berries, and sweet pastries.

• There is a fresh, lively acidity. This, combined with herbal notes and restrained tannins, makes it ideal for vegetarian dishes.

2017 Claret

• Toasty, heady aromas. Very complete and elegant. Gains intensity as it evolves. Boxes above its weight class.

At this time purchases will be limited to only one sampler per customer. However, at the end of Linden’s sampler campaign, for a short period of time, all of the 2017 wines will be available for purchase in unrestricted quantities.

Linden’s 2017 vintage sampler will be available for $203. Other wines can be included to qualify for a 12-bottle discount of 10%.

We cannot accommodate pickups at this time as we feel an obligation to comply with CDC social distancing guidelines. Believe me we will be very glad to see you at the proper time.

Linden Direct

Linden now ships wine via UPS to the District of Columbia in addition to Virginia. We are offering free shipping and handling during our closure.

We shamelessly remain stubborn Luddites, so you’ll have to call in your order the old-fashioned way: 540-364-1997. Shari is working in her vineyard in the morning but in the office by the phone on weekday afternoons from 12:30 to 5:00. Otherwise please leave a message.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Update: Week of April 19, 2020