Winemaker's Journal

November

Daniel Baron in a White Oak forest, Higbee MO

In our Alexander Valley program, all the tanks were pressed by mid-October and malolactic fermentations are making excellent progress. As each week passes, we rack another few tanks off the lees and declare them complete. Soon, we will start putting together the first stages of the 2007 blend.

The last of our Napa Valley wines was pressed the last week in October and malolactic fermentations will be completed by the end of November. The wines will need to be racked a few more times to clarify them so they can be evaluated for blending.

The 2007 vintage continues to impress us with dark colors, expressive fruit character and smooth tannins. It combines intensity with elegance at moderate alcohols.