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As usual ( read always ), the weather has been a little crazy. A dry harvest last fall ( thank you very much ) gave way to increasingly heavy weather and one of our wettest Decembers ever. January and February were quite dry, unusual to say the least. Then, increasing rain culminated in a very soggy April. Some mold damage resulted therefrom, but it was not too severe. Throw in a little spring frost and hail damage and there you have it, crazy. Warm weather arrived in mid-May and is highly welcome.
Our 2000 Chardonnay, 2001 Sauvignon Blanc and 1998 Merlot are now available for purchase.
The 2000 Chardonnay is developing more slowly than most recent vintages. Its tart, steely character indicates an acid balance that will provide good aging potential. Hints of pear, pineapple and lemon in the aroma are less evident in the flavor at this young age. While enjoyable now, it will improve in the bottle for several more years.
The Mayacamas 2001 Sauvignon Blanc has received notable critical acclaim already. It also is tart and zesty with elements of lime, sage, and other herbs in the nose and taste. Further improvement in the bottle can be expected for at least another year or two.
This year's Merlot release, the 1998, exhibits highly attractive aroma and bouquet development. Its foundation suggests blackberries and currants which really jump out of the glass on swirling. The flavors are more subdued at the moment but there is great promise in their future. This wine will improve for eight to ten more years and be vibrant for at least an additional decade beyond that.
Our 1997 Chardonnay is now being re-released as a library selection. Very highly regarded from the beginning, this vintage has fully lived up to its promise. Rich, complex and almost viscous, it fills the nose and mouth with what we think Chardonnay is all about. Mineral sensations abound and linger in the finish. In its prime now, it will remain in excellent form for several more years and then decline very slowly.
Galileo said "Wine is light, held together by water." I might prefer "vines are water, held together by light ( the sun )." Both are valid thoughts. Vine and wine are what hold us together, of course, and the weather and everything else that affects them control our lives. How important they have thus become to us is well described by W.C. Fields' enlightening lament, "We lost the corkscrew and were compelled to live on food and water for several days."
Cheers,
Bob Travers
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