A dam burst two weeks ago. The ripeness that was lurking in the grapes exploded. Just a couple of days of warmer weather, a little bit of drying wind– and suddenly grapes that might have ripened over a four to six week period all became ripe– urgently ripe!– at once. We began harvesting and did not stop fro ten days. It was a busy time.

Now all of this wine is in barrel, or, in the case of the Delta Verdelhos, in tank. The winery is full of yeast, the grapes are full of nutrients, and everything is fermenting in a hectic race. Only Courier SB, Glos, and some of the barrels of LSB, are proceeding at a dignified pace. We think that this has something to do with how clear the juice has been in each case. We are still learning.

We have produced some excellent dark and rich juice for the Gemella program. It is nearly dry already and shows more minerality than last year. The Elsa's Vineyard is also already showing stern minerality. LSB shows more richness than last year; Naucratis a kind of dancing lightness.

Now we have few days to breathe, to order the barrels, check the yeast, go back to the vineyards, and work on the website. Rain threatens, but we have nothing but confidence in the run of the harvest.