2007
Few years in the last ten have been as unpredictable or as unexpectedly successful as the 2007 vintage. Unusually warm weather in March hurried vines to early budbreak with the exception of Pinot Noir, which may have been pushed deeper into dormancy by a particularly hard freeze in the latter part of February. All varietals broke on or near St. Patrick ‘s Day into brilliant spring sunshine.
The weather cooled in April and remained chilly in May, slowing shoot growth. Lower than normal temperatures throughout May and into early June caused shatter and excessive lateral growth. Weather warmed in late June and into July, and two minor rain events in July contributed to a late flush of vigor, pushing vine growth through veraison and into the fruit-ripening cycle.
August mornings were clear and nights were unusually warm. This, combined with hot and arid temperatures through the latter part of August, ripened most Pinot vineyards by the first week of September. Despite the heat, the grapes came in looking clean and tasting fresh.
After the first week of September, temperatures cooled and the morning fog returned, lowering water stress and raising botrytis pressure. Despite dire predictions, three weather events passed over Western Sonoma County during the latter part of September without incident. All Chardonnay, Syrah and Zinfandel grapes were picked in this cool, marginal period before the fall’s first major storm arrived on Friday, October 12th.
This “La Nina” year, marked by cooler latesummer temperatures and earlier than normal precipitation, delivered fruit with clarity and precision. This allowed terroir driven flavors a chance to shine, leading to perhaps the most site expressive collection of wines bottled to date.
