Release Party Pics -- thank you all

2011s in bottle!

Our 2011 Pinots (225 cases) are in bottle and resting up in Napa at Anu Wine Storage.  Big thanks to the over-worked, under-appreciated, and often bullied Wait Cellars' bottling team. 

While our mantra this year was "no crying!", there was a fair amount of sobbing ("Gravity, NO!!!") after I managed to drop this case from a significant height.

Wineluv at Blu Restaurant Weds 8/29

Hello All, we're pleased to be pouring our 2010 Pinots and our 2011 Chardonnay at Blu Restaurant in SF as part of a tasting sponsored by our friends at Wineluv, an organization dedicated to sourcing some of the best wine deals out there and then giving back to charity.  Bottles will also be available for sale.  Come by for a taste!

"Jack Pierce" block

A quick shot of the "Jack Pierce" Chardonnay block just off Olivet Road, about a mile south of Inspiration Vineyard and Harvest Moon, and farmed by Randy at Harvest Moon.

There is a rustic quality here that speaks to a nice natural balance -- no hedging, no weeding, and look at the great cluster spacing and even ripening here.  Am estimating about 6lbs a vine (3+ tons/acre) in this vineyard planted about 10-15 years ago, about my ideal. 

Veraison was perhaps 70-80% done when I visited two weeks back.  Flavors were wild, intriguing, some spice not there in last year's fruit.  In keeping with the restrained "school night" style of my 2011, I'll be picking this fruit early, perhaps the week after Labor Day.

Auspicious vintage taking shape

Have been remiss in not posting more updates on the vineyards this summer -- by most metrics and accounts everything looks very very good.  May-June were relatively mild, and the fruit set we got is the best I've seen.  Unlike others in the RRV, Devoto Gardens was not hit with a high amount of shatter due to spring rain in 2011, and this year looks even better: nice vertical growth (well trained by Stan; also a characteristic of the 828 clone), maybe 7-8lbs per vine with maybe 10% due to be dropped as veraison finishes up.

Here's the exposed side of the 828 block.  Stan has been less aggressive with leaf pulling at Devoto Garden this year, which I like.  Mildew pressure hasn't been crazy (Stan has been on an 18-21 day spray regimen) and I live in fear of the dehydrating 100 degree heat we got in September 2010.  So far the fruit seems to be on a beautiful slow ripening trajectory.

Note exposed vs unexposed sides; and the limited hedging, a nice sign of naturally controlled vigor.




This year I'll be sourcing an additional ton from Devoto's block of Dijon 667, planted in 2008 and first harvested last year.  I have also found some very interesting Chardonnay down the road from Inspiration Vineyards, the so-called Jack Pierce block farmed by Harvest Moon, and I'll be sourcing that for my Chardonnay in 2012 in lieu of Inspiration.

The Pommard clone I sourced last year at Flanagan Vineyard won't be available this year (Kosta Browne beat me to it), but I've decided to retire the Russian River blend I've traditionally made from fruit near Windsor, like Flanagan, anyway.  (The 2011 will be the last vintage of that profile -- rich, opulent, thoroughly Russian River Pinot Noir to enjoy while it lasts!)  I have been moving stylistically toward leaner, cooler climate Pinot, away from the RR valley floor, south and west toward the Sonoma Coast and the Petaluma Gap....stay tuned!