2009 Vintage - early reports

I'm starting to hear some preliminary reports on the 2009 vintage which might be of interest.

The winter of 2008-09 was not as dry as the previous two years, but the total rainfall was still slightly below average. The growing season was long and cool, with a little late season Powdery Mildew to watch out for. Early predictions of a bumper crop proved largely unfounded; many growers are reporting roughly average yields, though in some cases there was some green harvesting. There were some reports of shatter on early flowering varieties.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are early ripening varieties and had mostly been harvested prior to the storms in October. The storms were not as heavy as predicted, but still posed significant problems; the grapes took in water and sugar levels dropped. In some cooler areas the grapes struggled to ripen and may taste green or dilute; in warmer areas sunburn was a problem. The rain also encouraged the development of botrytis, which is unwelcome in red grapes. But overall most seem happy with the quality and yields; at least one winemaker has told me he believes the 2009s are the best wines he's made so far.

Elsewhere in the state the big problem has not been the weather but the economy. The market for $50+ wines has all but evaporated, with consumers scaling down their purchases in search of value. Many growers who had failed to sign contracts for their fruit have been forced to sell cheaply, to pick and crush for the bulk market, or in extreme cases not to pick at all. Expect a glut of bargain 2009s in the near future.

I hope to try some barrel samples of the 09s in the coming months and will report what I find. In the meantime I hope that local growers and winemakers will add their thoughts either as a comment or - if you prefer not to be attributed - by email.

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