Rain Pause

Yesterday we wrapped up a very active five-day harvest push. All our Merlot and Cabernet Franc were picked in advance of the soggy weather we are now experiencing. Cabernet Sauvignon is not yet ripe.

This is precisely why we blend. The very ripe Cabernet Franc and Merlot will contribute body and weight to the final wine, but Cabernet Sauvignon always has the finest tannins. We need those tannins to frame the blend. But those tannins have not fully developed and if we had picked, the finish of the 2024 reds would be hard and short.

So we endure an agonizing wait. Once the drizzle lifts and the sun shines we’ll be walking the vineyard. Cluster health and skin tannins will be evaluated. Then we decide when to resume harvest.

Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Hardscrabble Journal: September 18, 2024