News and notices about the vineyard and winery
This is a block of Riesling that was planted last year. The workers are removing all but one cane, selecting the strongest, and tying it to the post. In a few weeks they will return and cut the cane at the bottom wire to encourage the growth of lateral canes which will carry the fruit next year.
This is our new Charddonnay block, in the Lafond Vineyards, that we all think will be our stellar block. Each plant is enclosed in a cardboard carton, similar to a milk carton, to protect it from the elements, mostly wind, and at the same time provide a warmer micro climate within the tube.
The plant will soon push out beyond the carton but for now we have a picture of what is going on inside.
In two days our workers planted 7 acres of Chardonnay. The first image shows the vines as they arrive from the nursery. These vines have been grafted to a special rootstock and grown in the nursery for one year.
This block is very sandy — easy digging. We have added a shovelfull of compost to each vine to help it along. A small harvest should be possible in 2009.
Three new releases:
Lafond Vineyard 2005 Pinot Noir Clone 777
Lafond Vineyard 2005 Pinot Noir Clone 113
Lafond Vineyard 2006 Chardonnay Wente Clone
In viticultural terms grape clones are not really clones, there is no DNA manipulation. In every vineyard there are vines, which through natural mutation, produce grapes that are a little better than the others. This can range from color, flavor, bunch size or any other criteria. If the the characteristics are of sufficient value the grower may graft the wood from this vine to a standard root stock. It is still the same variety but with emphasis on the new characteristics for which it was selected.
Pinot Noir is the variety most susceptible to these mutations and in the past 20 years many of these new clones have been recognized and used in vineyards in California. In our vineyards we have 8 different Pinot Noir clones. Many we value as stand alone wines, and all, as components adding complexity to the final blend.
The three wines we are releasing include a Wente Clone Chardonnay. Selected from our best Chardonnay block, fermented and held in stainless steel, without malolactic fermentation. The result is a wine that brings out the full characteristics of this great grape – incredibly fruity and rich.
All thee wines are being sent to this months Wine Club Members.
Each wine is priced at 38.00 and for a very limited time we are offering the Three Wine Clone Selection for 99.00 + tax + 6.50 shipping charge.
For more information and to order.
Now that pruning is over workers are focusing on preparing the new Chardonnay block for Spring planting. The first step are the posts which locate every fourth vine. These are very carefully laid out, first by survey and then by very careful alignement.
The vines may not care but the visual effect is very reassuring. A geometric order imposed on what we cannot control — nature.
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