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.
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| 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.
