2009 Ends...

It's been a challenging year.

In the vineyard, things went very well. Budburst was late, and the season remained late to the end. Spring was mild, unlike in 2008. Frost events were not excessive. There were no significant heat spikes, but the weather was warm in the late summer. There was a bit of unusually early rain, but with luck and a bit of diligence, the grapes made it through just fine. The vineyard yields were right where we wanted them. Bird pressure was not bad. The 2009 wines are tasting very good.

I began working with a new custom-crush facility, and in a joint venture with them, began my first foray into white wine with a Carneros Chardonnay grown by my friend and fellow meditator, Paul Larson. The vineyard is just east of Schellville at the southern end of Sonoma Valley, where the valley opens up to the grasslands abutting San Pablo Bay. We are working to produce a delicate wine that retains the fruit characteristics of Chardonnay with just a light touch of the smooth complexity that is usually "over the top" in a butter & oak bomb. Just 20% of it is being barrel-fermented and going through complete malolactic fermentation, and the remaining 80% is in stainless steel tanks. These constituents will be blended to make our finished wine.
It is tasting fantastic now, as we stir the lees in the barrels. I am very excited about the progress of this delicious wine.

The Pinot and Syrah hit their numbers perfectly. We picked the Pinot on October 30th & 31st - a Halloween wine! The Syrah came off the vine on November 11th. Both wines are now aging, and will remain so for all of 2010. Flavors and colors are deep! I'll taste and report as the year progresses.

In the vineyard and in the winery, things are looking and tasting great!

So what's the challenge? The wine market. These wines are expensive to produce, and large segments of the buying public have traded down to price points that don't support this level of viticulture and winemaking. I'm hopeful that the improving economy will encourage more wine aficionados to return to the wines that exhibit the passion and terroir that come with small batch, hands-on methods.

Lift your glass (filled with Clary Ranch wine, of course!) in a toast:
May the Coming Year be Filled with Joy, Health & Prosperity for All!

Happy New Year!
-Paul