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For those of you interested in such things, the 2012 vintage in California should be a fine one. We had a long warm summer that was not plagued heat spikes ( when it gets too hot the vines don't photosynthesize which delays ripening) so the vintage started just about on time and finished earlier than we expected. We've had a couple of pretty good rainstorms already and if fruit was still left on the vine, it could be lost.
All of the fruit we received at Longevity was uniformly ripe and clean. Acids and sugars were about where they needed to be. Everything that I have tasted thus far suggests that 2012 will be a fine vintage. With the economy waking up and the better weather this year than for the past two years, production is up so our next challenge will be to find wine barrels as there is a shortage of both new and used barrels available.
Chris Vais
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Nice Chris, keep us in the loop on your process...
Jay
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We processed just slightly less than 50 tons of fruit, say 2400 cases. WE currently have 14 - 1 ton open top fermentation bins that are full. As fermentation and post fermentation maceration finish. all of this needs to be pressed off of the solids, placed in settling tanks and then racked into barrels, hopefully to be completed before Thanksgiving. This year we produced Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel, Zinfandel Port, Petite Sirah, and Barbera.
Chris Vais
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We have begun bottling the 2012 white wines. The Pinot Grigio is in the bottle, to be followed by the Pinot Blanc and Viognier and later this spring the Chardonnay. The 2012 red varietals are finally all in barrels. The worldwide wine barrel shortage required us to hold some red wine in tanks longer than we would have liked. As was the case in 2011, the Pinot Grigio is a "rosato", the color is a copper/salmon color. The wine has an aromatic nose, tropical and citrus fruit flavors and a refreshing acidity with good mouthfeel.
I'm looking forward to the chardonnay. Our usual grower stiffed us at the last moment. We were able to secure chardonnay from a local grower. Most of the chardonnay grown in Livermore is either of two Wente clones. The fruit we secured was a mix of two Dijon clones. The cuttings were brought over from France and grafted to American root stock. These are the clones that the great Montrachets (French chardonnay) are produced from. We expect this will turn out to be very Montrachet like and all indications are that it will be a beautiful wine.
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The Chardonnay sounds fantastic, when will it be released? Maybe by that time PA will end it's restrictive shipping laws and allow direct wine sales. I have been fortunate to fine a few sellers that will ship to me "out of respect for the commerce clause".
Jay
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I would expect that it will be bottled in June or July. The plan is to have everything that we plan to bottle in 2013 bottled before harvest. We would like to have the month of August to prepare for harvest beginning in early September. Do you know someone in a neighboring state that we can ship to?
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I have my ways <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ninja.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Jay
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Bottled the Chardonnay. It is the best Chardonnay that we have produced. Very much like a French Montrachet. It s a pure expression of the fruit it was made from, not overly influenced by either oak or the effects of excessive malolactic fermentation. Will be released this fall before the holidays.
Our 2009 bordeaux blend and rhone blend, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, our 2010 Zinfandel, and our 2012 Pinot Grigio and Pinot Blanc are Silver medal winners n various wine competitions in California.
We are abut 45 days out from harvest.
Chris Vais
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Chris,
I'll take 6 of the Chards. Will contact you regarding shipping.
Jay
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I'm currently on the island of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands until about July 3rd. We are just beginning to bottles some of the 2012s and they look to be quite nice. I've got to fast several when I return Stateside as we are at the point where some of these need to racked out of the barrels and into tanks for blending.
We also may be looking at an early harvest, as early as mid August due to the dry conditions and warm spring.
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"Martha's Vineyard" Cab, doesn't get much better than that!!
Assuming I can make the NorCal gathering I'll definitely bring some wine you all to taste.
Chris Vais
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Quote:All your wine "talk" is a lot of fun to read. I would wait for the 2012 Heitz Wine Cellars "Martha's Vineyard" Cabernet when it is released in 2017. Then off course I am not impartial.
Kaj Hallstrom
Director of Sales and Marketing (retired)
Heitz Wine Cellars
Napa Valley, California
Kaj,
I'm leaving the South Lake Tahoe gathering and heading towards Portland and then The Rocks in Walla Walla. I can't wait to compare notes. I have some arrangements near Portland , but an introduction to Christophe Baron
would be very nice 
Heitz makes some of my favorite Cabs...
Jay
“Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.” - Hunter S. Thompson
"I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself." ~Dr. Ferdinand Porsche
"968Forums, a quaint little drinking community with a serious horsepower problem"
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn-out, shouting, 'Holy sh*t! What a ride!'"- Unknown
