2019
There is no dull moment in the life cycle of an estate winery and 2019 was no exception. Fresh off the heels of an elongated 2018 harvest that saw late ripening varietals put down to barrel in mid–November, 2019 began as we readied ourselves for a quieter quarter in the cellar. This was mirrored in the vineyards, as temperatures got cooler and collectively marched toward winter dormancy. Our focus and collective gaze moved from cellar to vineyard as we prepared ourselves for the cold, quiet wet winter months to follow.
Precipitation leading up to and through January can best be described as “normal” – about in line with historical averages. This proved handy by providing ample opportunity to get through the lion’s share of vine pruning without much delay.
Things remained very cold and wet as we experienced three “atmospheric rivers” in a row. The Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley did experience one exceptional rain event over the course of three days in late February that brought flooding in some areas, damaging businesses and homes in low-lying areas along waterways. The vines on the other hand remained unperturbed, still deep in dormancy from what felt like a colder and wetter February.
As we moved into March the cold lingered, despite the calendar telling us spring was around the corner. With the extended cold, we believed that a deeper vine dormancy was in store and that bud break would be pushed further out in 2019. Typical and consistent rain left us feeling that saturated soils would also provide ample moisture deep into the growing season.
Every growing season has its quirks, and in 2019 it came in the form of a very late season (mid-May) rainstorm. Fortunately for us, we had observed little-to-no bloom prior to the storm, and we remained hopeful that bloom and fruit set would be marginally impacted. Late season rain did bring recharged soils, requiring a particular vigilance in our management of vine vigor and cover crop. Throughout the month and after the storm event cool weather persisted, suggesting a late season harvest by the time fruit had set.
As the season transitioned from a cooler-than-average May, we saw warmer June and July temperatures – not extreme, but rather marked by consistently warm yet mild weather. As plants began to grow, managing their growth and tucking shoots became the name of the game. Our initial hypothesis of a late season harvest began weakening, reinforced by the first signs of a late-July veraison – similar to harvest 2018.
It was all gas, no brakes as August and September rolled around. Continued warm weather persisted, but still in the absence of any marked heat spikes. However, the writing was on the wall: Harvest was not to be as late as initially projected. The dance between vineyard and cellar began anew. As the grapes hung fully colored awaiting their turn to be picked, our focus shifted once again to the cellar, and we prepared for the first fruit of the season.
September 3rd, 2019 marked the start of the season when Pinot Noir came off the vine and into the cellar. Warm weather persisted throughout the month, and once we started we didn’t stop. We harvested in a consistent, continuous fashion until our last Syrah came off the vine on October 13th. Fruit ripened quickly over the course of September into October, keeping us on our toes for a month-and-a-half. In a year bookended by floods and fires, we were fortunate to be spared by both. When we looked up after the last fruit had come in, we were grateful for a stable and succinct harvest. For us, we ultimately found balance in a season that seemed defined by extremes at both ends.
