harvest reports
Winding Down 2001
To My Friends:
Hot-cold, dry-wet, big-small, early-late. In 2001, we saw it all. It was a season of extremes. This means that we in California will have some incredible wines and some mediocre ones too. Beware of the unripe and well done. The in-between could be great! At Benziger, we have worked hard and sacrificed to eliminate the extremes.
The 2001 harvest started very early and was speeding towards a record breaking early finish. This whirlwind of ripening grapes and fanatic harvesting; exacerbated by late August heat, did not bode well for high quality, especially in reds. Then, just as it was ready to get completely out of control, on September 9th, a cold front came through that lasted until September 30. This cool period let our Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon gain more flavors and generally reach a better level of maturity. A heat spike October 1st and 2nd kicked us into over drive. As of October 9th, we are 85% finished (same time last year we were only 40% finished). Every single fermenter and tank at both facilities is full! This is a first. The quality looks above average, but I will know more in another 10 to 14 days.
Benziger Family Vineyards
Sonoma Mountain, October 10, 2001