First Fruit

My god it is hot.  Seriously, like a fuckin’ dry sauna for over a week now.  As such, grapes are ripening incredibly fast– practically faster than I can bring them in.

This week we brought in Rebecca’s Vineyard Pinot Noir East Block on Tuesday.  On Wednesday I received two tons of Bedrock Zinfandel (which soaked up to a whopping 31.4 brix!!) and picked out at 1.7 tons/ acre, and on Thursday I received 4 tons of beautiful Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, and a touch of Cinsault, from Lorenzo’s on the Dry Creek Bench.

Tomorrow is the rest of Rebecca’s, which is coming in at about 1.5 tons per/acre.

Monday will be Bedrock Carignane, Barbera, Merlot, and perhaps even Syrah.  Soon thereafter will be Monte Rosso Semillon and Mourvedre for rose’.

The fruit character is quite good– though everyone is clamoring about how this vintage looks like 2003 right now I would like to remind folks that the heat wave in 2003 came in the beginning of August and the grapes had two weeks less hang time to mature flavors.  As such, I think that the flavors are excellent– it is just that the sugars are really high.  In most cases the pH’s and acids are better and indicate more balance results of last year (which was an excellent year all round).

Alright, time to take a nap.