*Rain in the distance over Rattlesnake Mountain*

The 2026 Red Wine Pivot

Not the August we were hoping for. Just as the vines were transitioning from growing leaves to ripening grapes it rained. A lot. This stimulated new green growth at the expense of ripening. In an attempt to compete with and slow down the vines we are allowing the weeds, the cover crops and the grass to grow unchecked. This may not appeal to our visual aesthetics, but we are growing grapes for the palate, not the eye.

I'm not so worried about the whites. In fact it could be a blessing as a delay in ripening can push harvest into the sweet spot of mid- to late-September when the nights are cool and the days are bright and clement. But the reds are of concern. Veraison (color change) is uneven. Some clusters are already purple and others still green. We anticipated this in the spring when bud break was uneven and sporadic. This was most likely due to the very cold winter along with the depletion of carbohydrates by the gluttonous sucking of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly. August rains have exacerbated the situation. The vines are confused and have reverted back to a vegetative cycle instead of concentrating on ripening fruit.

Red wine quality is defined by the suppleness and elegance of tannins. The Holy Grail of big, long-lived red wines is a massive but silky tannin structure. Tannins come mostly from grape skins. Synchronistic maturity is a key to achieving this Holy Grail. The grapes should ripen uniformly so that the all the grape skin tannins are at peak maturity.

Well, frankly that's not going to happen this year. But it is not all doom and gloom. It is reality. We are farmers and the best farmers are stoics. This is the hand we were dealt and we will still make some memorable red wines. We approach our craft with intuition. If the skin tannins are less than ideal, we can deemphasize that part of the wine by easing back on extraction during fermentation. Cooler fermentation temperatures, less movements, and less time in contact with the skins. This emphasizes fruit and freshness rather than ponderous structure and mouth-coating tannins.

So as we prepare and plan for vintage 2026 we look for palate guidance not from Bordeaux or Napa, but from Burgundy and Beaujolais: wines that always please with fruit and acidity rather than tannins and oak. So many wines to learn from and so little time.

*Uneven ripening in the Cabernet Sauvignon*

Barrels Available

After the frost in April we are anticipating low yields at harvest. And so we have barrels available for sale. If you would like a barrel of your own, please email us at wine@lindenvineyards.com. $100 each and pick up before Labor Day.

Linden Update | August 14, 2026

The 2026 Red Wine Pivot

Barrels Available

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