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GREETINGS FROM THE HEART OF THE NAPA VALLEY!
Crush 2001 - The Promise of Great Wines to Come
September 26, 2001. Following a roller coaster growing season here in the
Napa Valley -- including a thrilling thunderstorm earlier this week, harvest
snuck up on us three weeks earlier than usual. Taking a momentary break
from checking the vineyards, sampling the grapes, coordinating
hand-harvesting, delivery and crush, Merryvale winemaker Stephen Test
reports, "March was unusually warm so bud break came early, April and May
were unseasonably cold and hot respectively, and June and July were ideal
for the vines. With the crop being a little light, the grapes couldn't
help
but ripen earlier than normal."
We began crushing Sauvignon Blanc the middle of August followed by early
Chardonnay and Merlot harvests. Dovetailing with another subject
dear to
Steve, he concludes, "the grapes may all be picked by the time the Giants
start play in this year's World Series."
Merryvale's 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon harvest began on September 8th and will
likely continue through mid-October. What about the effect of from
Monday's
thunderous rain? 'Cab grapes can take a rainstorm or two, so there's no
problem,' says Steve. All the fruit coming in this year is
remarkably
clean with excellent flavors, tannins and sugars. Good news for the
makings
of great wines!
(For our photojourney through the Season of the Vine, click here:
http://www.merryvale.com/postcard-selectivity2.html
<http://www.merryvale.com/postcard-selectivity2.html> )
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