Andrea Roth/Register Merlot grapes.

Jon Priest, winemaker for Etude, said his pinot noir harvest began in early September. “The mild weather pattern continued throughout our three-week harvest, allowing for moderately paced and deliberate ripening. The resulting wines have wonderful perfume and very good density.”

Cool weather dominated early October, with some rain coming in the first week, but most white varieties — those more likely to be affected by rain than red varieties — were already harvested.

While the pinot harvest may be wrapped up, harvest for the remaining red varieties is still a few weeks away from completion. “Patience in 2006 is a virtue,” stated Michael Weis, winemaker at Groth Vineyards & Winery. “Our classic Indian summer is allowing patient winegrowers to maximize the maturity of their cabernet without developing the monster sugars that can plague a warmer year.”

Weather reports predict sunny, mild weather in the near future, which should provide vintners with the conditions needed to bring a successful close to a dramatic year. “We are in a wonderful, long growing season — magnificent hang time for the development of very complex, concentrated flavors,” said Bo Barrett, winemaker for Chateau Montelena Winery. “It should be a bitchin’ vintage!”

quelle: http://www.winebusiness.com/.

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