2013 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.
Read More2013 Hardscrabble Red
Autumnal. Aged red wines often evoke a feel of fall. The 2013 Hardscrabble Red has an earthy, dried leaf character that dovetails well with its black raspberries on the nose and dark fruits on the palate.
Read MoreFarewell Sauvignon Blanc, Hello Chardonnay
Today we crush both Hardscrabble and Avenius Sauvignon Blanc. They were picked meticulously over the last two cool mornings.
Read More2014 Petit Verdot
Sinewy: lean and muscular. This is a wine that won’t relax any time soon. It’s all muscle, no fat, with a bright acidity that gives the wine length and freshness. We’ve held back an ample stock of bottles knowing that its best years are yet to come.
Read MoreFinally, Perfect Weather
Finally, the weather we had hoped for has arrived. Perfect ripening conditions. Tomorrow will be the beginning of a long stretch of harvesting and crushing.
Read MoreFirst Day of Crush
Today we crush and press Hardscrabble Semillon and some Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc. The first day of crush brings excitement and angst.
Read MoreStill Waiting
At this writing the sun is bright and a drying wind gusts out of the north. Six hours ago it was damp, foggy, and drizzling. Our erratic growing season seems to want to continue into harvest.
Read MoreWaiting For Ripening
Waiting is the hardest part. Especially when it is raining. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes are very close to full maturity. But to make a balanced, terroir driven wine, close isn’t good enough.
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