Interesting weather, some sun, some sprinkles, should have high 70's this weekend but more rain is forcast next week. Received an response from Dick Shea regarding current harvest:
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From: sheavineyard
Sent: Wed 9/24/2008 5:25 PM
To: Dennis
Subject: Re: 2008 Harvest?


We are about 10 days away from the first harvesting. Keep your fingers crossed!
Dick
-------------- Original message ---------------------->
>
>
> How is the 2008 Harvest looking?
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> I know you are busy but thought I would ask.
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> Thanks
>
> Dennis
>

If the rains don't slow them down very much they might be done before the same time last year. I hope the rains hold off next week.

Nice sunny day in Willamette Valley today. Weatherman suggests mid-80's on Sunday. Some of the lower vineyards are starting to pick. Harvest will be starting bigtime next week, keep your fingers crossed, this little Indian Summer hit of sunshine will be great for the 2008 Pinot Noir vintage. Cool mornings, warm afternoons - lots better than last year.

It's beautiful off the coast right now. The rains from the past few days have gone. Clear skies as far as I can see and the waves are a surfers heaven right now.

quote:

Originally posted by benchland:
It's beautiful off the coast right now. The rains from the past few days have gone. Clear skies as far as I can see and the waves are a surfers heaven right now.

*sigh*

quote:

*sigh*

You'll be out here soon enough Joe! Today has been one of those days you want to last forever.

Well... today was one of those days that FEELS like it will last forever... and you hope it doesn't.

The rain has arrived in true Oregon style. So far only about 3/8" through Friday afternoon, but the worst of the forecast is for tonight and tomorrow.

This season is about a week behind all others, and several weeks behind hotter vintages. So, no opportunity to pick in front of the rain this year (but in most years about 2/3 of our fruit goes through the rain, and survives just fine). But, the good news is that the fruit is in great shape, and the flavors are starting to come on strong.

We'll likely pick some fruit on Wednesday or Thursday this week, then more next weekend and on into next week. So far, so good... but the amount of rain [or not] in the next couple of days could certainly impact that. We'll know soon...

quote:

Originally posted by BHVineyard:
Well... today was one of those days that FEELS like it will last forever... and you hope it doesn't.

The rain has arrived in true Oregon style. So far only about 3/8" through Friday afternoon, but the worst of the forecast is for tonight and tomorrow.

This season is about a week behind all others, and several weeks behind hotter vintages. So, no opportunity to pick in front of the rain this year (but in most years about 2/3 of our fruit goes through the rain, and survives just fine). But, the good news is that the fruit is in great shape, and the flavors are starting to come on strong.

We'll likely pick some fruit on Wednesday or Thursday this week, then more next weekend and on into next week. So far, so good... but the amount of rain [or not] in the next couple of days could certainly impact that. We'll know soon...

Let's hope for the best!!

Tom,

Thanks for the update. Here's hoping for the best. Sounds like it could be a good year, in general, if this rain event is not too large.

Thanks Sharkey.

We did get about 0.75" last night. Overall not too bad. There was a rippin wind all day today and some sun poked through too. The wind dried out the fruit; and this evening it is quite cool.

We do have a little splitting in some small berries, but it is not pervasive. I think with the cold weather and the wind we should be in good shape. There's a chance of a few showers over the next few days, but at this time it is not looking serious... and, we are supposed to get sun tomorrow (Sunday), which will help.

I expect that we'll start picking on Thursday. The forecast is for some really nice weather next weekend too. If that materializes we'll pick more at that time.

As I've said before, growing Pinot in Oregon is like a basketball game-- all the action happens in the last minute when the score is 100 to 100.

Tom

Tom - good luck with the 2008 vintage. We look forward to tasting it with you down the road..................

See you on 10/29 in Wilmington.

Tom

Tom,

Thanks. Deb and I look forward to seeing you and Meg in a few weeks.

By the way, the new wine that you tried in barrel turned out very well. It's not labeled yet, so I probably can't bring it, but will get you samples soon.

Best,
Tom (and Deb)

Lots of rain falling on the coast right now. I was out in the valley yesterday and while it was sunny, the temps were still in the 60's. I spoke to Nick Nicholas of Anam Cara on Tuesday (another beautiful day) who was hoping to get his grapes in today.

I sure hope this storm misses the valley.

A beautiful day is developing after hail storms last night. I'm not sure what made it to the valley but hopefully we should be in for a great weekend of sun.

Was worried about freezing and frost last night but a front came in an kept temps above that. Appears to be sunny weather for the next five days. Lots of grapes are going to be picked this week, this could be an amazing vintage, looking forward to the first tastes.

Seems like this harvest we're dancing with the devil trying to bring in this crop.

Typical Oregon October weather. Thought my garden would get wiped out and the end of the tomato harvest but no, they survived last night. Looks like a few more of the green ones will get red. (Ducks survived also last night).

Nice crisp day in the 60's, blue sky. Great picking weather.

What a beautiful week in Oregon, crisp weather, most of the grapes are in, larger growers are probably still at it, maybe a few showers on Thursday.

2008 Vintage could be a special year, we certainly had the weather and conditions for it, now it is up to the winemakers. Mother nature did her job!!!!

Joe wrote: "Seems like this harvest we're dancing with the devil trying to bring in this crop."

For the most part, this is always what it is like in Oregon. Our decisions are usually forced by weather, birds, and yellowjackets. The theory of hangtime is great, but the reality of having quality fruit that is not chewed, diluted, or rotting is usually what will determine the pick date.

With respect to '08, I'm with duck833 on this one--- 2008 may be a very special year: We have modest sugar levels -- low 23s to mid-24s; high acids, and in our part of the world, no rain after 10/5.

Our first pick at Le Cadeau was 10/9, followed by 10/14, and 10/15. We have all the Le Cadeau fruit in, and the chemistry numbers are just wonderful. The flavors are great, and in most cuvees we had good material for a modest amount of whole cluster.

One point of significance is the skin thickness. The juice to skin ratio appears to be quite low. In a typical year, we plan about 60-cases / ton. I'll be surprised if we see more than 55-cases / ton this year. When you combine that with small clusters and in many cases a lot of fruit dropping, there's not much wine, and what is there is extremely concentrated BUT without the high octane.

There is a lot of time between where we are at and a finished product, but I'm really excited about what we have in the tanks.

Meanwhile, there remains one lot of purchased fruit for our new non-Le Cadeau brand that is still hanging. This will be a late one, but we're hoping to get some great flavors from the long hang time. So far the weather is cooperting, but that may change in the next day or two. In either case, this will be a late harvest wine.

More to follow as the wines go into barrel, but my early view is that those that had crop levels low and did the right viticultural things throughout the season will make some extraordinary wine in '08.

Tom

I guess it's still too early for congratulations, Tom, but your enthusiasm comes through clear. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you!

Seaquam,

Thanks!

It's a bit risky being enthusiastic this early in the game... many things can go whacky in the winery over the months ahead. But in the absence of something strange happening, these should be great wines.

Apart from the excellent harvest weather, this is a year where we've invested heavily in the vineyard, particularly in the area of shoot positioning. We also have five winemakers in 2008 doing Le Cadeau cuvees-- a great team. Add to that another new Rousseau oak fermenter, and some interesting cooperage selections, as well as a very small tank of several new clones, and we have the components of what should be fun wines. But we'll need to wait a year or so to know for sure.

Tom

AS a huge buyer and consumer of Oregon wines in genral pinots in particular, all this news sounds exciting.

But;

It's starting to sound a little CAish now: Every year is the new vintage of the decade. Now I'm getting future offers for 07's where the wine makers are claiming last year was as good as 05 was! I was in the Willamette last month, and I agree that things were looking very good. But's let's back off the California hype a bit. I look forward to the tasting reviews.

Southern Oregon is looking pretty good. We had 2 nights of freezing temps that stopped everything in their tracks, with the Applegate seeing more damage than the rest. Overall everyone here seems pretty happy with their grapes. Most vineyards will be done picking by the end of this week, finishing up with Chardonnay.

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy Fitzgerald:
Now I'm getting future offers for 07's where the wine makers are claiming last year was as good as 05 was!

Out of curiosity, which ones? A couple of Oregon wine makers have told me the same thing. However, up to this point, the only '07's that I have had the opportunity to taste were barrel samples at Thomas and Westrey. Both were very impressive.

I barrel tasted 2007 Shea "Homer" and block 33, both very nice.