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Winter 2000 Newsletter
General Winery News Special Report Uncorked! New Releases Awards and Reviews Personnel Corner |
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General winery news:
Eventful Growing Season Delivers
By Tom Shelton
Uneventful is the weather descriptor winemakers hope for, and with minor exception (along with a not so minor earthquake), that is exactly how best to describe the 2000 vintage, at least up until the first week of October. Bud break occurred normally, following a cool, but not cold winter. Trace rainfall during bloom caused some concern for grape growers who benefited from the valuable experience gained during the spring of both 1996 and 1998. Very little shatter was reported and, predictably, the set was even and crop potential appeared closer to "normal" than the smaller 1998 and 1999 vintages. The Growing Season With the exception of a short-lived but blistering heat wave between June 12th and 14th, Napa Valley experienced a mild summer with cool evening temperatures. Slow, steady ripening ensued and with that came heightened expectations for flavor development and color. Rains forecast between August 30th and September 2nd caused some concern, but the light showers that did occur were of little consequence and in fact contributed to flavor development, especially in red grape varieties. As of this writing, most white grapes and the lighter red grape varieties are in. Many vintners are awaiting further flavor development for Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the cooler districts such as Carneros and Stags Leap where ripening was interrupted by showers. Even more than the intermittent showers on October 10th and 11th, subsequent cloudy and cool conditions have significantly delayed the final days of harvest. A window of warm weather the third week of October provided welcome relief for patient growers. On average, Napa Valley can expect 100 days between bloom and harvest. During the legendary 1997 vintage, however, the average "hang time" was greater than 110 days. For vintage 2000 we can also expect more than 110 days, indicating another long growing season with the potential for wonderful color and flavor extraction. |
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White Wines
The even, cool growing season has resulted in a higher than average crop size for Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and many white grape varieties. Craig Williams reports that wines contain remarkable flavor and excellent acids, and predicts white wine quality in 2000 may rival the great 1996. Red Wines Light showers at the end of August had the beneficial effect of slowing down ripening and promoting full flavor development. Notable is the fact that grape seed and skin maturity has occurred at lower sugar levels than in previous years. According to one winemaker, flavors have been developing at lower sugars than in other years, allowing us to make full-bodied wines at lower alcohol levels. Many winemakers are predicting that the 2000 vintage will rival, if not surpass, the stunning quality of 1997. Perhaps the only surprise was related to crop size. Based upon cluster counts, many vineyard managers and winemakers predicted a large crop. Berry size, however, was small and cluster weights much lighter than anticipated. |
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Even as we wait for the final loads of Cabernet Sauvignon to hit the fermenters, excitement over the 2000 vintage is building. According to Craig Williams, fermentation aromas are an early indicator of superior wine quality. "There is no range of aroma that would suggest variable quality," he reports. "Everything is amazingly consistent, which suggests another very strong vintage." |
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