harvest reports
The Story Inside the Story - Viticulture and Winemaking Update
Mid-Harvest - October 7, 2005
Nail Biter
Just to put it in perspective, last year we finished harvest on October 1st. All whites, all reds. Today is October 7th and we are approximately 20% finished with more than 500 tons of Chardonnay left to be picked, along with all of the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. With little heat available after November 1st, we have less than three weeks to get it all in. And if that is not enough drama, the potential out there is for one of the largest crops in California history. It's late and it's a lot. There is a very real chance that we could run out of tanks and barrels before this is over.
Despite all of the possibilities, this harvest so far has provided us with wines that are very different than what we've had in years past. The virtually stress free cool growing season and the last couple of weeks of Indian Summer have provided excellent conditions for grape ripening such that flavor, sugar, acid and tannin are all moving and maturing in unison. The results so far are wines of extraordinary balance and great flavors. More European in style than classic California. The weather for the next five days looks good. To ask for two more weeks of warm dry weather seems like too much to hope for.
By varietal in the North Coast:
Sauvignon Blanc - Very good. Production above average 15-20%. Nice fruit, clean, very crisp acids. Harvest complete.
Carneros Chardonnay - Good to very good. Only a small portion harvested. Big crop. 30% or more above average. Flavors and acids maturing at lower sugars. Great balance.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Excellent. Small crop. Beautiful flavors, exceptional balance. Potentially a great year. Harvest complete.
Sonoma Merlot - Good to very good. Only a small portion harvested. Production above average by 20-25%. Good flavors, minimal herbaceous aromas, full body with good structure.
Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon - Too early to tell on quality. Crop size 30% plus. Herbaceous flavors maturing out earlier. Potential for quality is high.
More... later, Mike
On a silver platter almost!
2005 Estate Merlot
The Clean Team