Quick end to red harvest
Linden’s 2024 Harvest is nearly complete. Only Petit Manseng remains on the vines. Weather events and rain forecasts called for a final push this past weekend. Given the current string of damp, gloomy days it was a good call.
Read MoreRed Grape Harvest Update
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2024 Harvest and Crush | Tour and Tasting
Read MoreRain 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.
Read MoreMerlot Ready
We have a very active 4 or 5 days ahead of us. Merlot is ripe, concentrated and flavorful. As with the white grapes, ripening happened faster than anticipated. Next week’s forecast does not look promising with showers possible every day starting Tuesday. This may force our hand to also pick some Cabernet Franc from our earlier ripening young vines.
Read MorePerfect Harvest Weather
Finally it all feels right. One should always begin a harvest morning wearing a jacket or sweater. The Chardonnay grapes taste like there is a chill in the air: crisp, crunchy and vibrant. I’ll never really know if this perception is in our heads or on our palates, but spirits are lifted.
Read MoreHarvest Update
Harvest this past week was very active. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are now starting fermentations. Chardonnay is underway and will be the main focus this coming week.
Read MoreVintage 2024 Begins
This is it. Harvest is in full swing. Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and some Chardonnay are ready. Ready is subjective. When to pick is never an easy decision, but it is the most important winemaking decision.
Read MoreStart of Harvest
Vintage 2024 will commence on Friday, August 23 at Boisseau Vineyard. We’ll be picking Chardonnay and Viognier. This is our earliest start of harvest. Avenius and Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc will most likely follow next week.
Read MoreBirds
We are not seeing much bird damage this year. There are those who have theories as to why (heat, drought, hurricane winds), but bottom line this is just one less thing to lose sleep over.
Read MoreWhiplash
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Two More Sunday Vineyard Tours
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Veraison nearly complete
Veraison (color change) of our Cabernet Sauvignon cluster is nearly complete. The waiting game starts. There is now very little that we can do in the vineyard to make improvements in wine quality. We turn our attention to preparation for harvest and crush.
Read MoreDebby and the Grapes
As I write this, Debby is passing just to the west of Linden. We’ve had a lot of rain. Four+ inches is my guess at this point.
Read More50% Veraison
Our Cabernet Sauvignon cluster went through the 50% veraison stage on Thursday, August 1.
Read MoreStart of Veraison
A few berries on our Cabernet Sauvignon cluster have turned color. This transition is called veraison. This year it is early. All indications point to an early harvest.
Read MoreLag Phase
Our Cabernet Sauvignon cluster is now in “lag phase”. When grape berries develop, there are three distinct physiological phases from bloom to harvest. In June and most of July, the berries enlarge quickly due to the cells dividing. They accumulate a lot of acid, but very little sugar (sour grapes). But about seven weeks after bloom the cells cease dividing and pause. This second stage is called lag phase.
Read MoreLarge, loose and full.
Our designated Cabernet Sauvignon cluster remains large, loose and full. This year Cabernet Sauvignon clusters are bigger than normal. The previous year’s weather in June determines this year’s cluster size and number of clusters per shoot.
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