Bittersweet
This could be the last week of pruning therapy. There is no better satisfaction than this slow, methodical vineyard work on a warm early spring day.
Read MoreMistakes
The most valuable lessons come from mistakes. In the cellar the learning curve is quick, consequentially the next vintage’s wines improve. Unfortunately, …
Read MoreSoil Matters
Pruning affords the opportunity to take stock of each vineyard block. Each vine is addressed, assessed, and shaped according to its vigor and form. Yesterday we pruned the “Five Rows” block of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Read MoreInspiration
Yesterday was a dismally grey, rainy day. No pruning, no energy, no enthusiasm. We decided that Riesling would brighten our spirits.
Read MoreLong Term
Yesterday we completed pruning the 2003 block of Cabernet Sauvignon here at Hardscrabble. Our vine blocks are designated after the year they were planted. I was in an experimental mode in 2003.
Read MoreLunch
Tasting wines objectively is impossible. Tasting wines blind closes the subjectivity gap.
Read MorePilgrimage
Yesterday I took advantage of the quiet to make my sometimes-annual trek to the slave cemetery. I discovered it decades ago by chance.
Read MoreVirgin Harvest for Cabernet Franc
Linden’s new planting of Cabernet Franc is now pruned and ready for its first year of production. Winegrowers call this the virgin harvest.
Read MoreEarly Magnolia Bloom
There is a small Magnolia tree on the south side of Linden’s old barn. It began blooming yesterday. This Magnolia is one of many indicator plants on the farm. Every year I dutifully record the first bloom of crocus, daffodil, forsythia, henbit, and peach.
Read MoreCrying Vines
Warm weather instills a greater sense of immediacy in our pruning. When a pruning cut is made, the sap flows prolifically. While this is normal, it seems more pronounced than usual. American winegrowers refer to this as vine bleeding. The French call it crying. I won’t comment on perceived cultural biases.
Read MoreCorona Closing
Linden will be closed the weekends of March 21 & 22 and March 28 & 29.
We will post updates on Linden’s web site. I will also send updates via email as circumstances evolve. We will refund all prepaid reservations.
Read MoreHistorical 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 MoreWabi Sabi
Linden’s Wabi Sabi is an impulsive, generous, fruit driven wine with richness, loads of texture, and a creamy finish. It is so outside Linden’s stylistic and philosophical wheelhouse that it makes absolutely no sense.
Linden Evolution Seminars
Hardscrabble and Avenius Vineyards: Long Learning Curves Finally Crest
After decades of trial and error with our red wine vineyard blocks, we are finding our groove.
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 More2016 Claret
This classic Linden Claret is medium bodied, restrained, sinuous, harmonious, and quaffable.
2016 Petit Verdot
This is a rustic Petit Verdot with loads of spice, dark fruits, and tannins. The wine is very jammy and assertive.
Read MoreTerroir Project Update
Exactly three years ago I began chronicling the process of removing and replanting a vineyard with the goal of producing better wine. We are now at the halfway point and 2020 will mark the “virgin” harvest: the first vintage.
Read MoreVintage Variation
Vintage refers to the weather influences during the growing season the year the grapes were harvested. That date on the bottle encapsulates a six-month saga beginning in April with bud break and ending on the autumn day the grapes are picked. The weather during that period impacts yields, quality and wine style.
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