How Cold is Too Cold?
The temperature in the vineyard was 2°F on Saturday morning (12/24/22). Based on past experiences, we don’t expect this to be a problem for the vines. But we won’t really know until the vines bud out in April.
Read MoreMentor Wine: 2019 Midland Blaufränkisch
I humbly admit to a bit of smug skepticism before pulling the cork. A Shenandoah Blaufränkisch?
Read MoreThis Old House
An old house reminds us of our place in life. We are not the first, nor will we be the last, inhabitants. The long nights of winter solstice give us extra time to sit by the fire and ponder and wonder. How did past generations endure those dark, cold, long nights?
Read MoreCabernet Sauvignon
I’ve too often heard comments that “Cabernet Sauvignon can’t ripen in Virginia”.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the majority grape in most of Linden’s red wines. Our high elevation (1,200 to 1,400 feet) makes us one of the coolest areas in Virginia. Cabernet Sauvignon is a late ripening variety. Most of Virginia has enough heat to ripen it. Heat is not the obstacle. Soils are. Cabernet is very soil sensitive. Plant it in the wrong soil and it will not ripen. Plant it in the right soil and it produces magical wines.
Read MoreLast Call
Linden is soon going into hibernation. We’ll be closing the tasting room for the holidays and the month of January. However, we’ve reached back into our library and are offering several DIY tasting options to help you celebrate the holidays, ring in the New Year, or perhaps hunker down for a blizzard.
Vertical of Village Chardonnay
Evolution of Claret and Petit Verdot
Special Occasion: Avenius and Hardscrabble Reds
Read MoreThe First Day of Pruning
There are many compelling reasons to delay the start of pruning vines. Academicians, consultants, and plant pathologists all caution against pruning early. But after a month of cellar and office work, my separation anxiety from the vineyard was too much to bear. I needed to get outside and I needed to reconnect with the vines.
Read MoreShared Knowledge
Winegrowers are in a constant state of discovery as each slope, each site, each microclimate, and each vintage is different.
Read More2013 Avenius Red: The year of hungry bear
The weather 2013 provided us with ripe grapes, but bear ate most of it.
Read More2013 Claret
Nine years past vintage this wine demonstrates the reward of aging. It remains fresh and lively with a red cherry brightness. It also has a darker side of fig or plum compote, fall leaves and lingering tannins.
Read MoreTwo Day Tastings
Most of Linden’s Red wines have finished fermenting. In a few short weeks a slurry of juice and skins has become wine. Now we have to decide when to drain these fermentation vats into barrels.
Read More2014 Hardscrabble Red
No two vintages are alike, but as each harvest unfolds we can’t help thinking back and making comparisons.
Read MoreLast Week of Harvest
Today we pick the last Hardscrabble Cabernet Sauvignon. The skin tannins have relaxed and it should serve as a nice foundation for Linden’s red blends. That is it for the red grapes. Petit Manseng will be picked on Friday. That will be it for Vintage 2022.
Read MoreHomage 2015
Lingering. Homage is a one-time bottling of Merlot (68%) and Cabernet Franc (32%). With seven years of age, it is harmonious, contemplative, and resolved.
Read MoreSurvived Ian with minimal casualties
The rain remnants of Ian were not welcome. The grapes are swollen and the clusters are fragile. But they survived. We’ll now take advantage of a string of beautiful, sunny crisp days.
Read More2009 Hardscrabble Red
This is one of Linden’s benchmark wines. It is now “in the window” of great drinking pleasure. Aging rewards.
Read MoreWe Picked
We picked for three days straight. We picked at all three vineyards. We picked four different varieties. We picked 18 blocks. Today we ran out of lugs (picking baskets), cooler space, and time. We’re trying not to be too exhausted as we now have two days of crush ahead of us.
Read MoreIn the Barn
All of Linden’s Chardonnay is now “in the barn”. The grapes took full advantage of dry, sunny weather.
Tough Decisions
Our eyes are now on red grapes and the track of Hurricane Ian. We’ll start red harvest on Wednesday. Ian will decide for us how much to pick.
Read MorePicking Chardonnay. Merlot soon
All Linden’s Chardonnay will be “in the barn” by Monday. We allowed it to take full advantage of dry, sunny weather.
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