Start your engine! On the heels of fantastic 2012 and 2013 vintages, 2014 has been a near perfect growing season as well. We’re going for the three-peat here.

Temperatures in Yountville are forecasted in the low to mid 80’s for the next 10 days, which is perfect for us and the picking crews. We expect to make the call the week of August 25th-29th and will send another update as we approach.

Above are a few images from our visit to Morgan Lee on Thursday. You’ll notice a very healthy canopy protecting the clusters, which are beginning to show a lot of flavor (peach, melon, citrus). There is still a little variation in the clusters (in terms of flavor), which will even out of the 10 days or so, and we’ll let it hang until the flavor is appropriate to pick.

Here is the lab panel from the juice analysis on the must:

Titratable Acidity –  8.2 g/L
pH  – 3.06
Brix  – 19.8 degrees

As we approach our pick, we’ll see the acid decline inversely parallel to the degrees Brix. Sugars rise, acid drops… Patrick, Eric, Fernando & Dez will make the call based on the optimal compliment between the two flavors.

If you have any questions about any of the information, please don’t hesitate to email your winemakers. If you would like to be at the winery when the fruit arrives and we press off the skins, please let us know as we’d love to have you

Harvest is almost here – and we’re getting pretty excited !!