Down Time
Reflecting our respect for the seasons, we are now in rest mode with a self imposed ban on doing anything of importance.
Read MorePulling Out Vineyards
We’re pulling out. But don’t worry. Although I’ve always been intrigued by Nova Scotia viticulture, I’m not moving to Canada. We’re pulling out vines. Quite a lot of vines.
Read MoreAll Quiet Now
Even after all these years (this was vintage 37 for me), I remain a bit stunned as to how quickly all the frenetic activity of crush comes to a halt. The cellar seems to have an echo. No more bubbling or humming of a fan, a heater, or a chilling system.
Read MoreStill Pressing Reds
Not quite done, but the cellar feels cavernous now as most of the red fermentation bins have been drained and the wines rest in barrels. The empty bins have been thoroughly washed and sent back to storage in the barn loft. Room to move never felt so luxurious.
Read MoreIn Sum: Harvest 2016
The fog of crush is lifting, so there is time for a bit of reflection on the harvest and the potential nature of the wines from vintage 2016. At this phase it is difficult to objectively evaluate the wines, however we have a good general sense of what we can expect.
Read MorePetit Verdot
Petit Verdot is an obscure grape variety that came to us from Bordeaux. In Bordeaux it has historically played a very minor role in left bank blends.
Read MoreTwo Day Tastings Begin
Many of the red wine lots have finished their fermentations and are now dry. The bins and tanks have been “buttoned up” and sealed to exclude any air (oxygen). This stage called “post-fermentation maceration”.
Read MoreDrain and Press
Today is the first day of “drain and press” for some of our red wines. Some bins of fermented red grapes are now wine and it is time to separate the wine from the skins. We do this first by pumping the wine off of the skins through a colander-like screen.
Read MoreDemi Sec
Yesterday’s picking of Petit Manseng was our earliest harvest date since we planted the variety in 2002. We’ve always made the wine in a Late Harvest style, but this year that style would not be appropriate.
Read MoreObeying the Grapes
I was hoping that yesterday would be the last day of crush for the reds, but we couldn’t quite do it all. We started the day picking.
Read MoreWinding Down
It may be a bit premature, but there is a sense that the end is in site. I’ll probably feel differently when I go back to the cellar to try to figure out how we are going to manage the rest of the week.
Read MoreThe Fuse Has Been Lit
From Wednesday evening through Saturday we had over four inches of rain. Conditions were damp, but cool throughout this period. Yesterday, once the sun came out, I mustered up the courage to walk the vineyard blocks that we were not able to harvest pre-rain.
Read MoreSmell, Feel, Taste
Pump-overs and punch downs are at a critical stage now, as the reds are at their peak of fermentation. Every twelve hours decisions are made as to what level of extraction each bin requires. By shear necessity these decisions are made quickly and intuitively.
Read MorePicking up the Pieces
We are taking a break after a tremendously exhausting, but satisfying week. Break is relative. While harvest and crush are on hold as gloomy weather still prevails, the cellar is very much alive and needs a lot of attention.
Read MoreNe Ratez Pas
A cascade of red grapes and fermenters are filling the the cellar at a pace I have never experienced. We have harvested 80% of our entire red wine production in 6 days. Red harvest usually spans 3 weeks.
Read MoreO.M.G. What Just Happened?
I’m sure records were broken as to the shear quantity (not to mention quality!) of grapes we picked yesterday. The rain teased us from the very beginning, but a good part of the day was rain free until the very end when we all got soaking wet.
Read MoreRain Pick
Today will be one of those days we all dread. Picking in the rain. The forecast moved the start of the rain from later in the afternoon to the morning. We will start to pick at daybreak and keep going all day, probably taking breaks in any heavy showers.
Read MoreTwo tenths of an inch
We got very lucky last night. Only two tenths of an inch of rain. This will have no direct negative effect on fruit quality. However the down side is that is is warm and wet outside right now. I can feel the botrytis rot ready to rear its ugly head.
Read MoreGame Face
Our leisurely harvest pace has come to an end with the forecast of rain. Today begins a stretch of bringing in as much fruit as logistically possible.
Read MoreFingers Crossed
This time of year the first thing I do in the morning in check the weather forecast. Its the last thing I do before going to bed. I also check it during the day, at lunch and in the evening.
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