Saintsbury Reports Ideal Weather Promises
Outstanding Pinot Noir Quality in Carneros
Carneros,
Calif. Saintsbury Viticultural
Director Randy Heinzen reports that three weeks
out from the Pinot Noir harvest in the Carneros
District things are looking good for the 2006
vintage. Early reports indicate that there is
an abundant Pinot Noir crop developing under ideal
weather conditions that has the potential to produce
outstanding wines as long as prudent viticultural
practices have been employed.
"We had late rains in April and May leading
to abundant soil moisture going into bloom,"
reports Heinzen. "We also had a great set,
so we are seeing increased cluster size. While
the cluster number is below average and down from
2005 the overall crop is up 25 to 30%."
DROPPING FRUIT FROM THE VINE TO INSURE
QUALITY
Saintsbury is selectively dropping fruit from
most vineyard sites, a practice they believe is
critical to offset the effects of larger cluster
weights in order bolster flavor intensity and
quality in the resulting wine. In several vineyards
Saintsbury reduced the fruit to one cluster per
shoot instead of the usual one-and-a-half to two.
While August has been wonderfully mild and sunny,
heat spikes in July made for a very rapid veraison
period (the time it takes ripening grapes to turn
from green to black).
"During veraison, we experienced the transition
from no color to full color in the grapes in just
a matter of days," continued Heinzen. "Typically,
Pinot Noir takes weeks to complete this process.
It was beneficial, as the heat stopped canopy
growth, and forced the grapes to begin ripening.
Therefore, we are extremely optimistic that we
will achieve full color and intense flavor from
this year's crop."
SLIGHTLY LATER HARVEST EYED
As is typical in viticulture, all eyes are on
the weather between now and harvest. Heinzen hopes
for moderate temperatures (in the low 80s) for
the next 21 days. At this point Heinzen sees the
harvest arriving about a week and a half later
than in 2005. Saintsbury farms its own estate
vineyards in Carneros as well as works with numerous
other growers throughout the appellation.
Saintsbury has built an international reputation
for their unwavering commitment to world-class
Pinot Noir from the Carneros appellation of which
they produce six different bottlings. In addition,
they also produce a highly acclaimed Carneros
Chardonnay, a "Brown Ranch Vineyard"
Chardonnay and a charming Vin Gris. In 2006, Saintsbury
enters its next quarter-century firmly established
as one of America's leading Pinot Noir specialists.
# # # #
Richard Ward, David Graves and Randy Heinzen are
available for interviews concerning the 2006 wine
grape harvest and the place of Pinot Noir in the
2006 harvest. Contact Tom Wark to arrange a time.
Saintsbury
Richard Ward & David Graves, Founders
707-252-0592
info@saintsbury.com
