2007? The proof is in the bottle!

There has been a lot of negativity surrounding the 2007 vintage in Oregon. I’m happy to report that proof to the contrary is in the bottle! The 2007 vintage will answer all requests for lower alcohols. The wines are beautifully integrated and drinking much softer at an earlier age – that is to say these are beautifully nuanced wines that are enjoyable now. The vintage, though initially criticized by those with little understanding of year-long viticultural practices, has recently been lauded by more independent critics such as Jancis Robinson and Jay Miller.

Tick tock ...

It's almost time! We are scant weeks away from the start of Harvest 2009 and everything is looking good. Currently we are experiencing veraison .vuh-ray-shun. (noun, taken from the French): the period when grapes stop growing and begin to ripen. They usually get softer and change color. White wines become more golden in color and red wines more purple.

There does not seem to be a set amount of time from when veraison begins until the grapes are ready to pick. Also, grapes do not ripen at the same speed. Crop yield estimates are made at this time, and all but one cluster per shoot may be removed and discarded to achieve the desired yield of under 2 tons per acre.