Final Fruit

    With the harvesting of Harwood Syrah, Lauterbach Hill Syrah, and Annendale Syrah on Friday, an exhausted little Bedrock Wine Co. can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.

It has been a long, topsy-turvy, harvest; fitting for an eventful growing season full of fires, ice, heat-waves, and long cold spells.  Luckily, though there are spots of concern and the harvest is certainly not flawless, the overall fruit quality ranges from good to excellent.  Particularly lucky for Bedrock is that Syrah seems to be the most uncompromised by the wacky climatic trends of this years growing season.  It was able to weather the two weeks of heat at the beginning of harvest that brought in an avalanche of Zinfandel and Pinot Noir, and benefited from long hang times.  Also, it was another year, like last, where the value of the California Field Blend was made abundantly clear– the vivacity and brightness of Carignane, the color and richness of Petite Sirah, and the spectrum of ripening points throughout the other mixed black varietals,  were able to temper the surmaturite’ character of Zinfandel, making wines that are remarkably poised despite their apparent power.

Over the next couple of days I will do a 2008 vintage retrospect in regards to the various types of wines that Bedrock Wine Co. makes.  The first will be on our new white wine, Cuvee Caritas, and the rose’.  The second installment will be on Syrah.  The Third, on the Heirloom Wines.  The Fourth on the wonderful Cabernet we have in the winery now from both Bedrock Vineyard and Monte Rosso Vineyard.  The Fifth will be on the creation of the Bedrock Wine Co. jug wine, whose working name is “Hooker’s Shebang!.”

After pitchforking 48,000 lbs of fruit into the destemmer this year it sure feels nice to sit down and type again!