Harvest Post 2011
October 28, 2011
Cabernet Crunch, with a side of Merlot
Good things come to those who wait….
After a slow, delayed start to the harvest, the weather has proven ideal the past week or two. Warm sunny afternoons have pushed the finest Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes of the season to ripeness, and we are crushing, destemming, fermenting and pressing off daily.
As winemaker Dean Sylvester put it, the first 5 weeks of harvest are usually devoted to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Chardonnay. Then the final 2 weeks are the biggest – all the finest Cabernet with some Merlot, almost every day…the ‘lion’s share’ of our crush. We’ve come to associate the Cabernet Crunch with long but gratifying workdays which have increasingly shorter sunlight hours. The production team is usually here until well after dark. During Cabernet Crunch, it has become a ritual for each member of the team to take turns preparing a hearty mid day meal for the entire crew. It’s fun to see what each person will cook or bring in!
If you’re planning a trip to Whitehall Lane, the coming weeks of November are perfect. There is a lot going on…to see, smell, savor and taste. And bring your winemaking questions…we like sharing our love of the process with others!
