If it is time for the vintage recap it means vintage is done!!

Just as exciting as seeing the first grapes come into the winery is seeing the last grapes getting pressed off.

Blisters have turned to callous, white hands have been dyed black, and grapes have become wine.

And in almost all cases, really exciting wine.

Time and again in fatigued phone conversation with other winemakers one comment has come up about the 2007 vintage. What a remarkable and strangely wonderful year.

The very moderate summer gave way to a quick heat spell that brought in much of the warmer climate fruit from Dry Creek and Sonoma Valley. Everyone was bracing for a year like 2003 or 2004– years where fruit came in on the winery like a hailstorm over Texas. But then, as everyone was buttoning up the hatches and locking the storm windows the weather turned cool again.

After the 12th of September it was another two weeks before more fruit started coming into the winery. The resulting fruit had reached great physiological and flavor maturity and sugars much lower than expected. At some places they were even harvesting at 22.5 brix!

I am generally thrilled with the quality of the fruit and the nascent wines now starting their life in barrel in the cellar. This is not to say that there were not surprises. For instance, I was expecting Kick Ranch to be the power Syrah in the line-up, but it is downright sexy and feminine. In contrast, the Old Lakeville Vineyard Syrah, from a cooler site, is an absolutely inky, potent, hell-raiser of a wine.

From the home vineyard, I am really pleased with the Bedrock wines. In particular the carignane and barbera, both components of the heirloom wine are just lovely. Both show crisp red fruits and classic Sonoma Valley perfume and spice. The Zinfandel is too high in pH for my taste but this will be brought into check by the other components of the blend.

All in all, an auspicious beginning to what I hope will be my life work. I cannot wait for y’all to try them!