We just put the last of the 2000 vintage into barrels. Some years, more so than others, stand out to challenge both our vines and our patience. Vintage 2000 was an interesting growing season to say the least. Unusually high temperature spikes throughout the summer, followed by a colder than usual fall and sporadic early rains, made it a difficult harvest to predict. Due to the cool temperatures and long hang-time provided by our location, it was a nail-biter to the last picking lug.

Despite all of these obstacles our patience and good timing seems to have paid off. Dimitri Tchelistcheff, our winemaker, thinks that the 2000 wines will be our second best, exceeded only by ‘97 our “Vintage of the Century” year. Here is a brief overview of his thoughts on Harvest 2000.

“Vintage 2000 far exceeded my expectations. The Chardonnays are rich in fruit and character, the Reserve lot of Chardonnay is particularly delicious. Our vintage 2000 red varietals had remarkably small berries with intense concentration, which has resulted in some superb wines. You can look forward to both regular and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a Lake William blend.”

As a side note to those of you who love our Cabernet Franc, we’re excited to let you know that we will have a better supply in the future, plus this 2000 vintage was fermented in our small rotary fermentor and could prove to be our best Cabernet Franc ever.