Embracing the Cold

Prior to being a farmer, winter used to be my least favorite season. It’s cold. It’s grey. And you can’t do much outside. But now, winter has become a favorite. A season of reflection, clarity, and relaxation.

The 2025’s were put to bed a few weeks ago. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot are all in barrel, while Merlot has found its new home in our brand new concrete tanks. It will be interesting to see how each of these wines express themselves in a few months, once it becomes time to critically evaluate each lot and assemble the blends.

We have a single barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon from this past harvest, and it happens to be my favorite barrel in the cellar. I’m not sure if it’s my favorite because it’s the only Cabernet barrel that we have, or if it’s actually the best barrel in the cellar. Either way, it’s distinctly different from the rest, and will undoubtedly find it’s way into Concerto. That I’m sure of.

There’s almost nothing to do in the vineyard right now, and there hasn’t been much to do for weeks. There’s also very little to do in the cellar. Pruning starts on January 2. Until then, we take it easy, tidy up loose ends, and enjoy some much needed time with our families.

Happy Holidays to all!