Last week’s cooler weather was much appreciated on Spring Mountain. The cooler weather allowed the grape flavors to catch up with the sugars and much-needed pressing and cellar work to get done. Harvest is still progressing but at a much slower pace. Tim Mosher at School House has finished harvest. Normally, their Syrah would be harvested as much as three weeks after their Chardonnay, but this year the Syrah was harvested only five days after their Chardonnay came in. This Monday Wes Steffens at 7 & 8 started his Cabernet Sauvignon and is very happy with what’s come in. Matt Gardner at Keenan is running on cruise control and will finish harvest this week with a block of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Pam Bergman is about a third done with her harvest and is in a holding pattern with her Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc for the next week or so.
Written by Stuart Smith, Smith-Madrone Winery, published in Napa Valley Register