Fire & Ice
What a bizarre summer here in the valley – but as I’ve said a lot recently, there apparently is no “normal” anymore. After a series of blistering 107-degree days two weeks ago, we’ve now been through some cool, 70-degree days, had a little bit of welcome rain, and seemingly have another significant heat wave headed our way starting Monday or Tuesday. We could shatter the all-time record for most days over 90 degrees in the valley. If you have any doubts about climate change, just ask anyone who farms for a living…
A heavy crop hanging at Maresh
The favorable weather we had at flowering in June allowed a very healthy fruit set this year – in fact too healthy for fine wine purposes. The clusters are already quite large and heavy (see above photo, taken yesterday afternoon at Maresh), approaching a typical harvest weight of 80-100 grams – but we’ve got several weeks to go yet – the clusters could nearly double in weight by harvest! We have started dropping fruit to one cluster-per shoot, but even at that we may have to drop more to get to our target of 1.75-2 tons/acre. (Left to its own devices, nature set a whopping 5 tons/acre in our blocks this year – and this is on old vines whose yields are naturally lower!) We’ll do another pass when veraison is nearly through – by then we’ll see what this next heat wave has brought us.
The first few berries are turning color at some sites now – here’s another shot from yesterday at Maresh -
First signs of veraison in the Dundee Hills
Please join us in sending out good vibes and JuJu for four or five weeks of warm, sunny days and cool nights! In the meantime – come on out and join us at the winery. I’ll be in the tasting room all weekend with a great flight of Burgs and Pinots open, and we’ve got all the remaining inventory of the incredible François Lamarche wines on sale at 25% off while they last. Cheers!
