Notes From The Winemaker

Wrapping Up The 2006 Harvest

The end is finally in sight! Over the next couple of days we will be pressing off the last of the extended maceration Syrah fermentations from the vintage. This one has felt really long and nasty, and frankly I'm glad to have it behind me.

I hired a couple of part-time interns to help finish pressing and barrel work this last few weeks. Thanks Tatiana and Patricia! Their help has allowed me to take care of some needed office work and wine shipping. Wine Club members will be receiving their allocations of the 1999 Sunny Oak Syrah (our last vintage from this venerable Foothill vineyard) and the 2000 Haynes Pinot Noir just in time for the holidays.

I have been saving up a few photos from the harvest to post; here they are:


First, here are a bunch of Estate vineyard Pinot Noir ferments in tank. Earlier I mentioned how much I love what these tanks contributed to the wines fermented in them. The wood fermenters are not without their "issues", but overall I'm happy we went with them this year.


This is a photo of Mourvedre stems drying in the sun outside the winery. Thanks to my friend Mark Herold for the idea. In the past I have liked some of the characters from the stems present in "whole cluster" red fermentations -- pretty, high-tone aromas and increased structure in the mouth -- but been less enamored of "green" aromas and harsh tannins that stems often contribute. Drying the stems before incorporating them back into the ferment seems to eliminate these negative characters.


Finally (for this post) here is a photo of our most excellent basket press. I absolutely love this machine! Compared to the tank presses I have used over the years, it is easier and faster to load, cycle and clean up, and so far (after two vintages) I can say it gives much better quality juice -- fewer harsh and bitter tannins at the end of the press cycle. The late-press wine is so nice I no longer keep a separate press fraction in my ferments. This simplifies my life, which I really appreciate. Also I really dig the retro look and feel of the basket press.

posted 12/08/2006 12:29:00 PM