During the past few days, I have been receiving comments from various winemakers about how this year's grape harvest has been going. Here, I am passing on these reports, a few days ahead of the usual weekly posting of my blog.

 

Billo Naravane (Rasa Vineyards, Walla Walla) - "Harvest is going great so far. We are seeing fantastic phenolic ripeness at lower Brix accumulation. This could result in a classically styled vintage. Pinto and I are very excited about the possibilities." (10/16)

 

Judy Phelps (Hard Row to Hoe, Lake Chelan) "It is going slow. We have so far only picked Primitivo, Sauvignon Blanc and Orange Muscat. Our estate Cab Franc is at 22 Brix, Malbec at 22.5 and Riesling at 20, so we'll let them hang a little longer. We expect Cinsault this week from Wahluke Slope and maybe Pinot Noir and Merlot from our south shore vineyards at Lake Chelan." (10/17)

 

Corvus Cellars (Walla Walla) - "While cooler temps and increased rainfall had us all worried most of the 2011 growing season, Mother Nature kicked it into overdrive towards the end and gave us some hot and dry days in these later months. We would have liked a few more, but we've not figured out who will listen to our request :-). As this email goes out, we are preparing to pick fruit from our own Corvus Estate Vineyard [on Red Mountain] as well as the other grape sources that we use for our wines....The lower sugars will naturally translate into lower alcohol and potentailly better balanced wines. The acids have been dropping and the flavors have really started to mature. We are hopeful that some fantastic wines will emerge from the 2011 harvest." (10/18)

 

Karen LaBonte (Trio Vintners, Walla Walla) - "Just crushed the Tempranillo from Les Collines and it's going to be a beauty! I can't wait for this to develop over the next 2 years or so!" (10/18)

 

Steve Snyder (Hollywood Hills Vineyards, Wodinville) - "Starting with a cool spring, the middle of the summer was dry - but not as warm as normal - and now a cool damp fall. Even with those climatic variations, things are still on schedule in the Yakima Valley. Picking for us starts next week - about a month later than normal - and with slower ripening, the fruit is developing more intense flavor and color. A cooler years gives us many winemaking options, including the possibility of a Rosé for the first time in several years. Wouldn't that taste great next summer when it gets hot again?" (10/19)

 

Trey Busch (Sleight of Hand Cellars, Walla Walla) - "Overall, terrific day at SofH! 4.6 tons of Red Mtn. Cabernet in the door and resting in their fermenters, cold soak, whole berry." (10/19)

 

Greg Harrington (Gramercy Cellars, Walla Walla) pretty much said it all - "Harvest is progressing well. We will be done with pretty much everything except Cab, Cab Franc and Petite Verdot by Monday. Then we are going to white knuckle it until the first week of November." (10/19)

 

For more reports on the 2011 Harvest, go to Sean Sullivan's Washington Wine Report (www.wawinereport.com).

 

Next Review of Washington Wines Blog posting to be November 1

Since this posting takes the place of the one scheduled for October 24, the next one will be on Novermber 1, simultaneously with the November issue of the Review going on line.