harvest reports
The Story Inside the Story - Viticulture and Winemaking Update
September 2, 2005!
It's On
Early Friday morning, September 2, 2005, we pulled the trigger on the harvest of 2005. A small, but beautiful pick of Sauvignon Blanc was the first into the press. The hope is that one of the most challenging and expensive growing seasons in 20 years is behind us and the silver lining is a harvest of fine quality. With the amount of time and energy into this years' vintage, we deserve a good harvest. More than most years, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature even though we did everything right.
All worries aside, the last few weeks have been excellent for ripening grapes. Warm dry days have brought both reds and whites along nicely and have kept one of the years' enemies, botrytis, quiet. The forecast for the next week is good.
Despite the fact that the 2005 vintage is 10 days to two weeks late on paper, flavor development in the grapes is ahead. This year at lower sugars and higher acids, many grapes are already exhibiting some very nice flavors and aromas, significantly ahead of previous vintages.
Grape vines in the North Coast are generally in very healthy condition with excellent leafy canopies intact and brimming with good energy. We think with the right weather conditions, harvest will pick up and make up for a wet spring and cool summer.
Breaking it down by variety in the North Coast and Sonoma, the conditions look like this:
Sauvignon Blanc - Crop size below normal. Small loose clusters. Flavors are a beautiful citrus and grass, lots of floral characteristics. Firm acids.
Carneros Chardonnay - Grapes have filled out nicely and harvest appears to be above average in size. Clusters are tight with grapes. Flavors and aroma are citrus and apple-like, acids are crisp and long.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Crop size is still above normal. In some cases, veraison was uneven so green thinning is underway right now. More grooming work on Cabernet will keep the quality potential high. Mountain and benchland locations are looking particularly good and ripening in these areas is moving along nicely.
Merlot - Crop size is one of the best in years. The cooler summer has protected this variety from the usual sunburn problems, so quality potential is good, but it has slowed down veraison and ripening and, in some cases, Merlot is behind Cab. This is a little unusual.
Pinot Noir - Sonoma Coast - crop size was severely affected by weather at critical times of grape development. In some cases the supply is off 60-70%. What is left out there looks very good with great flavors and structure. Because of the very small crop and strong vine health, we expect to start the Pinot Noir harvest soon.
The action is definitely picking up and I'll report in when we have the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir in the tank. Put your good thoughts towards good weather.
More... later, Mike