We’ve been very patient this vintage.  Often it is California’s sunshine that causes consternation for grape growers as temperatures soar, humidity drops and fruit ripens prematurely on the vine. Farmers rush around wishing they could pick everything in one day and wineries are jam-packed with tons of fruit waiting to be fermented.

 Instead, the Medlock Ames 2007 vintage has been more about riding out some cooler weather, rain showers and tasting fruit religiously everyday to see how flavors are progressing.  Some of our fellow growers in the Alexander Valley were all picked and finished by early October.  They’d read the hazy forecasts about rain and low temperatures and had decided to pick rather than risk their crop.  Certainly, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir – less hardy varietals than our Cabernet and Merlot – go a little weak-kneed when the sun vanishes but we held fast and decided to let the fruit mature for longer.  That’s not to say that the rain didn’t faze us.  I’ll confess to having a few sleepless nights but all that paid off as the sun shone on October 20^th and continued to soar for the next week. That extra wait has resulted in some delicious ripeness without high sugars: our holy grail.  Now we are galloping to bring in the final few blocks of Cabernet.  Although the crop is lighter than expected we’re tasting flavors that we’re proud of and look forward to nurturing those over the next few years. We’ve aged a little this past month but the wine is worth it.