Linden is soon going into hibernation. We’ll be closing the tasting room for the holidays and the month of January. However, we’ve reached back into our library and are offering several DIY tasting options to help you celebrate the holidays, ring in the New Year, or perhaps hunker down for a blizzard.
There are many compelling reasons to delay the start of pruning vines. Academicians, consultants, and plant pathologists all caution against pruning early. But after a month of cellar and office work, my separation anxiety from the vineyard was too much to bear. I needed to get outside and I needed to reconnect with the vines.
Read MoreWinegrowers are in a constant state of discovery as each slope, each site, each microclimate, and each vintage is different.
Read MoreThe weather 2013 provided us with ripe grapes, but bear ate most of it.
Read MoreNine years past vintage this wine demonstrates the reward of aging. It remains fresh and lively with a red cherry brightness. It also has a darker side of fig or plum compote, fall leaves and lingering tannins.
Read MoreMost of Linden’s Red wines have finished fermenting. In a few short weeks a slurry of juice and skins has become wine. Now we have to decide when to drain these fermentation vats into barrels.
Read MoreNo two vintages are alike, but as each harvest unfolds we can’t help thinking back and making comparisons.
Read MoreToday we pick the last Hardscrabble Cabernet Sauvignon. The skin tannins have relaxed and it should serve as a nice foundation for Linden’s red blends. That is it for the red grapes. Petit Manseng will be picked on Friday. That will be it for Vintage 2022.
Read MoreLingering. Homage is a one-time bottling of Merlot (68%) and Cabernet Franc (32%). With seven years of age, it is harmonious, contemplative, and resolved.
Read MoreThe rain remnants of Ian were not welcome. The grapes are swollen and the clusters are fragile. But they survived. We’ll now take advantage of a string of beautiful, sunny crisp days.
Read MoreThis is one of Linden’s benchmark wines. It is now “in the window” of great drinking pleasure. Aging rewards.
Read MoreWe picked for three days straight. We picked at all three vineyards. We picked four different varieties. We picked 18 blocks. Today we ran out of lugs (picking baskets), cooler space, and time. We’re trying not to be too exhausted as we now have two days of crush ahead of us.
Read MoreAll of Linden’s Chardonnay is now “in the barn”. The grapes took full advantage of dry, sunny weather.
Our eyes are now on red grapes and the track of Hurricane Ian. We’ll start red harvest on Wednesday. Ian will decide for us how much to pick.
Read MoreAll Linden’s Chardonnay will be “in the barn” by Monday. We allowed it to take full advantage of dry, sunny weather.
Read MoreAutumnal. Aged red wines often evoke a feel of fall. The 2013 Hardscrabble Red has an earthy, dried leaf character that dovetails well with its black raspberries on the nose and dark fruits on the palate.
Read MoreToday we crush both Hardscrabble and Avenius Sauvignon Blanc. They were picked meticulously over the last two cool mornings.
Read MoreSinewy: lean and muscular. This is a wine that won’t relax any time soon. It’s all muscle, no fat, with a bright acidity that gives the wine length and freshness. We’ve held back an ample stock of bottles knowing that its best years are yet to come.
Read MoreFinally, the weather we had hoped for has arrived. Perfect ripening conditions. Tomorrow will be the beginning of a long stretch of harvesting and crushing.
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