This past week was a picking marathon. In advance of weekend rain we picked all the Merlot, most of Boisseau Vineyard, and all of the young vines at Hardscrabble. This past week’s picking strategy serves as a good primer on the relationship between grape maturity parameters and wine quality.
Read MoreSaturday was our last day of white wine crush (with the important exception of Late Harvest Petit Manseng which is usually in November). The Chardonnay is more intense and concentrated than any other vintage I have experienced. Tomorrow we retool the crush equipment for reds and then Tuesday we dive right into Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Read MoreAvenius Vineyard Chardonnay was picked last week in the early morning hours during the heat wave. Harvesting in hot conditions is not desirable, but it was necessary.
Read MoreLast night we had two and a half inches of terrifying rain in a couple of hours. Terrifying because these severe storms included a small dose of hail.
Read MoreIn most circumstances some drought stress (also known as hydric stress) makes for big, concentrated red wines. This is what we are hoping for this year.
Read MoreHarvest and crush are underway at Linden. We’ve picked Boisseau Chardonnay and Viognier along with Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The picking was easy as the clusters were pristine with no rot or bird damage. Crush was a breeze too. There was nothing really to sort out. The only down side was low juice yields as the grapes are not very juicy. Lots of pulp.
Read MoreToday is the first day of harvest. We start at daybreak picking Boisseau Chardonnay and Viognier. Both blocks are very small and the picking should only take about 4 hours. We will then head back to Hardscrabble to pick Semillon. Across the board these are the most beautiful, flawless, perfect looking clusters I have ever seen. Droughts do have some benefits: no disease issues.
Read MoreThe most important winemaking decision is when to pick. We walk the vines, taste the grapes, take samples for lab analysis, taste the juice sample, and watch the weather. But each vintage is unique and this critical decision isn’t always straightforward.
Read MoreNext week harvest will begin. It is an early start due to our continued drought-like conditions. … We are waiting for a predicted high-pressure system that will sweep through in mid-week. By the end of the week we should experience classic early fall weather: cool nights and low humidity.
Read MoreYesterday we sampled Avenius and Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc berries. In the lab, Shari extracted about 200mls of juice and ran analysis for sugar, pH, and TA (titratable acidity). Jim then did an aroma and palate evaluation. We are now tracking ripening. In many ways this is the start of crush 2023.
Read MoreVéraison is the vine development stage that signals the beginning of ripening. The berries start to sweeten up. You can taste varietal flavors. Most dramatically, there is also a color change. It is very evident in the reds, but the white fruited varieties also shift from deep green to yellow.
Read MoreHow do you know when you are in a drought? When a winegrower hopes for rain. It has been almost six weeks since our last significant rainfall. The hit and miss thunderstorms have consistently missed Linden.
Read MoreIt is dry, very dry. No appreciable rainfall for nearly a month. However, with a few exceptions the vines look great. Shoot growth is slowing and the canopy remains green and vibrant. Remember that grapevines originate from the Mediterranean where it rarely rains in the summer.
Read MoreIt has been over three weeks since we have seen a measurable rain. Hit or miss thunderstorms have missed Linden so far.
Read MoreIt is a common practice to grow grass between the vineyard rows. Mowing decisions are not based on aesthetics, but on the vineyard ecosystem.
Read MoreIn the mid-1800s horticulturalists started exchanging exotic plant species across the Atlantic.
Read MoreWe are observing a first potential issue in Chardonnay. Some berries are not enlarging as they should, while others are normal
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