January 10, 2009

2008 was a year that flew by. As the year started, we were working with the 2007s in the cellar. 2007 yielded some of the nicest wines we have ever seen here in Pennsylvania. As we were being distracted by the finesse and concentration in the cellar, 2008 took off on us out in the vineyard.

Budbreak began right on schedule, and we moved steadily through to flowering. The year at midway was warmer and drier than expected, and disease pressure was lower again. In early August we were starting to worry about drought conditions and that the vines might start spiking sugars like California. Luckily, some fortuitous showers along with some cooler spells slowed the sugar accumulation down and allowed the flavors time to catch up.

What we had anticipated as an early harvest turned into a later one as we waited for the full flavors of the grapes to come around. Grapes really didn’t start coming in at full speed until the end of September, which meant for a jam-packed October. Ray and I worked many late nights processing grapes and nurturing fermentations along as we witnessed some amazing grapes enter our winery. October 2008 ranks up there as one of the hardest I’ve ever been through. But it was well worth it.

As I taste through the 2008s in the cellar, I am floored by the quality of the wines. Thinking back on 2008 and comparing it to 2007, I feel that this year wasn’t quite as ideal as last year. 2007 was glorious, and we made some wonderful wines. My experience with grapes of this caliber is limited to 2005 and 2002, so 2007 was a learning experience. What makes the 2008 wines so special is that they followed the 2007s. What I learned in 2007 was tweaked and applied to the 2008 vintage, resulting in one of the strongest cellar of wines that I can remember (or even imagine.)

Here’s what’s slowly running its way through malolactic right now in the cellar…

Allegro Chardonnay

With the quality of 2008’s growing season, I was faced with a strange dilemma growing the Chardonnay. In our cellar, we are sitting on lots of Reserve Chardonnay from the 2006 and 2007 vintages. I didn’t need more Reserve Chardonnay, so I thought we’d try to pick it a little earlier for a leaner and smaller style of wine in line with our regular Chardonnay bottlings. I might have failed. This is one nice Chardonnay. We cold-fermented it before running it to barrels this time, and the fruit is punched up another few notches.

Twin Brook Pinot Grigio

Tim Jobe grows some of the nicest grapes around. I am thrilled that he parts with some of his Pinot Grigio grapes for our purposes. This year the wine has solid fruit aromas grounded with a nice earthiness. Quite possibly our best Pinot yet.

Allegro and Mazza Riesling

The Riesling again came through and produced the refreshing wine we have come to expect. We sweetened this wine with unfermented Traminette and Vidal juice, and it finishes drier than in years past. This will be a very refreshing summertime wine.

Landey Chambourin

Waltz Merlot

Karamoor Merlot

Stewart Cabernet Franc

Allegro Cabernet Sauvignon

Fiore Cabernet Sauvignon

Flowing Springs Petit Verdot

Shirland Syrah