Now that the majority of the 2017 vintage is in the barrel - it is the winemaker's job to assess the new wine and reflect on the year.
I started by going to the stunning Red Willow Vineyard after harvest - no grapes on the vine - just the leaves showing autumn colors and last minute maintenance being performed by a few of the farmers.
2017 had us on our toes - cooler weather ushered in heat as previously noted - then the smoke from the fires filled our lungs and surroundings for several weeks. We can see that the wines might pick up a slight savory character from this - the skins were thick and full of tannin. So there will be lots of color, grip, and personality in the big red wines.
We're looking forward to the wines completing malolactic fermentation after which they will be showing their true colors. We'll keep you informed on the developments in the cellar as we rack and top throughout the fall and winter.
