August 31
The high pressure over the region continued and brought hot and dry conditions to Napa and Sonoma counties this week. Oakville and Rutherford were the hotspots logging in at 106 degrees on Wednesday the 29th. At Soda Canyon Ranch vineyard it was 103 degrees. This greatly accelerated ripening in all locations.
We continued our Pinot Noir campaign with the completion of harvest at our West Pin vineyard on Westside Road. The first of the Pinot Noir in tanks completed their cold soak and began fermentation. Each lot has distinct character and promises to contribute to a complex blend.
We began harvest from our Soda Canyon Ranch vineyard with a small block of Merlot on Saturday, September 1st. The forecast calls for a continuation of the hot and dry weather into next week, so we will bring in more Merlot shortly. Our vineyard crew at Soda Canyon, led by Dave Shein and Rafael Barbosa, are doing an excellent job keeping the vines hydrated under these dry conditions.
The Sauvignon Blanc continues to bubble along in its slow, cool fermentation and it tastes delicious.
~Daniel Baron