Devoto field report: pick date Monday 10/3

Have been up at Devoto four times in the last week or so, watching the 828 block come along. The weather's been holding, the canopy and vines look to be in great shape. On 9/15 the block was between 20 and 21 brix, maybe a point higher the following week, and just today I put it at 23.2. Was tempted to pick this Friday with particularly warm temps coming tomorrow and Thursday. As one passes grape trucks coming and going throughout Sonoma, one gets anxious!

But the acids in the lab came out a little high (9.6 TA, 2.9 pH), and though I couldn't taste or smell any green notes, I've decided to let it go through the weekend and pick on Monday. The weekend should cool down which should hopefully concentrate flavors, and then I'll get it off the vine and safely crushed before the rains come mid next week!

Devoto Gardens, by the way, is looking particularly gorgeous these days. Here are some shots of Stan's bachelor buttons and sunflowers, almost ready for market