Historical Pruning
Pruning season is in full swing. It is the perfect time to evaluate and scrutinize vine performance. It takes about 50 hours to prune one acre of grapevines. We become intimate with the vines. We make plans for vintage 2020.
Read MoreBlending Trials part 3: The Big Week
Blending decisions have been made on paper. Next task is to physically make the blends in the cellar. Timing is weather dependent, as we don’t want to be wasting nice pruning days doing cellar work. We wait for a string of inclement weather days to do the actual blending work. This happened last week.
Read MoreBlending Trials part 2: Big Decisions
Over the past two weeks we have been methodically tasting and narrowing down the blends of the three single vineyard wines: Boisseau, Avenius and then Hardscrabble. Earlier in January we tasted and made notes on each individual barrel. Now we start, just as a chef assembles ingredients without a recipe. Over the years we have developed a methodical approach to blending. Otherwise there would be chaos.
Read MoreBlending Trials Part 1: Getting Acquainted
Every January we begin the process of determining the best blend for each of Linden’s red wines. In this case, the 2019 vintage. We are a bit rusty this year, as we did not do this last January. We produced no red wines in 2018 due to weather. Conversely, this year we have lots of good material to work with.
Read MoreHow long does a grapevine last?
How long does a grapevine last? This frequently asked question is a good one, but one without a good answer. You see, it depends.
Read MorePreparations for the first day of pruning
The first day of pruning generates both reverence and excitement. It is the beginning of the new growing season. Each pruning cut contributes to the many decisions that will impact the 2020 vintage.
Read MoreFirst Notes on the 2019 wines
This week we tasted the 2019 wines from barrel in the cellar. This is not the most ideal setting as it is better to draw the wines in the morning and then taste them at correct temperature in the library where in fact, we are also warm. But tasting in the cellar is faster and can give us a good overview of what to expect as the wines settle down during their winter slumber.
Read MoreGood Fences Make Good Neighbors
Spontaneous wildlife sightings are some of rural living’s greatest rewards. A brief unexpected appearance can turn a bad day around. Bear, deer, raccoon and fox are our closest neighbors. They are adorable, especially their young. They love to eat grapes, and they add a good deal of stress at harvest time.
Read MoreThe Last Critical Decision
Merlot fermentations are complete, with the Cabernets close behind. Fermenters are buttoned up with the new wine still soaking on the skins. Post fermentation maceration is the fancy technical term for this. Now the fun begins: two-day tastings.
Read MoreLast Day of Harvest
Yesterday we picked our last grapes under a hot October sun. Petit Manseng and Vidal Blanc are two varieties that were planted with the intention of making special sweet Late Harvest wines. For several decades this worked out quite well, but with climate change, the weather often dictates a drier style wine.
Read MoreRed Crescendo
The 2019 harvest has been relaxed and evenly paced. Until now. Continued dry, warm conditions have quickly spiked ripening in Cabernet Sauvignon. Seemingly overnight the grapes transitioned from “almost ready” to “pick now!”
Read MorePicking Decisions
The continuation of warm, dry conditions have given us the opportunity to precision pick. Instead of massive hectic harvest days, we have a relaxed approach.
Read MoreInspired by Others
At harvest time I drink a lot of good wine. Not to drown sorrows (2018) nor to celebrate (2019), but to learn. As the season unfolds I look to my colleagues for inspiration. These are other winegrowers, mostly in Europe where the vintages can also vary considerably. The inspiration is their wine.
Read MoreBack at it
This glorious dry weather brings us an extra benefit: down time. No rush to beat a rain. A four-day pause from harvest is rare and special as we are afforded an opportunity to get caught up with cellar work and attend to some vineyard fine-tuning.
Read MoreChardonnay Grapes
Dry conditions have afforded us the opportunity to precision pick. We have seven different plantings of Chardonnay at Hardscrabble. They range in age (35 years to 4 years), soils, and clones. By harvesting and vinifying each block separately we are able to better understand the personality of each parcel.
Read MoreIn the Groove
So far this has been a very, very good September for harvesting grapes. Better yet this means really good wine. All we got from Dorian were a few stiff breezes. Harvest has been fabulously uneventful. Pick. Crush. Sleep. Repeat.
Read MorePatience Rewards
Patience rewards, but the wait has been agonizing. The Dorian threat didn’t help, but it looks like we are all clear. Our big push starts tomorrow at Avenius Vineyard to continue at Hardscrabble.
Read MorePause
It is fitting that we should take a break from harvest and crush over Labor Day Weekend. The first small flurry of ripe grapes is “in the barn.” Now we wait. And watch Dorian’s track.
Read MoreLooking Ahead
Chardonnay harvest at Avenius and Hardscrabble is still weeks away, but we are starting to zero in on strategies now.
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