Bring on the Bold
“We heard it just before dawn the morning of August 25; a clap of thunder followed by the unmistakable patter of raindrops on the skylight above our bed. Even at that early hour, we enjoyed a moment of relief.
It was the only measurable rain (just 0.01 inches) of the entire summer…a breath of fresh air for the entire farm. The vineyard roads were covered in dust. Leaves on the younger Pinot Noir vines were starting to yellow long before their time. The wild blackberries were just shriveled versions of their usual plump selves.
There is no doubt the dryness will mark this year’s wines.
“If you favor the bigger, bolder expressions of Pinot Noir then 2023 will be a vintage for you!”
Like the blackberries, the Pinot Noir grapes are small and clusters relatively light. The lack of moisture in the growing season means there is less juice per cluster. The heat has thickened the grape skins. That’s a recipe for concentrated, darkly colored wines. We’ll need to take pains to handle the fruit gently, to draw out as much complexity and elegance as the vintage allows.
We’re expecting over 50 tons of Pinot Noir, 12 tons of Chardonnay and nearly 5 tons of Gamay. After several short years we will have plenty of fruit to fill our barrel room again. And it seems clear at this writing that if you favor the bigger, bolder expressions of Pinot Noir then 2023 will be a vintage for you!”—Doug Tunnell, owner & winemaker
You can see how the 2023 vintage unfolds firsthand during your next tasting with us. September and October are wonderful times to visit the farm and observe how we process our estate-grown grapes. Tastings are held Wednesday-Saturday by reservation.