Winemaker's Journal

November

Daniel Baron in a Whilte Oak forest in Higbee, MO.

In our Alexander Valley program, all the tanks were pressed by late October and malolactic fermentations are almost complete. As each week passes, we rack another few tanks off the lees and declare them complete. Soon, we will start putting together the first stages of the 2008 blend.

The last of our Napa Valley wines will be pressed the first week in November and malolactic fermentations will be virtually complete. I don’t know if it’s the season, but I suspect our ability to control temperature in the winery has given us the fastest completion of primary and malolactic fermentations in our history. The wines will need to be racked a few more times to clarify them so they can be evaluated for blending.

The 2008 vintage continues to impress us with dark colors, intensity of berry fruit and smooth tannins. It combines intensity with elegance at moderate alcohols.