2010 Harvest Update

So the 2010 harvest is wrapping up in the Finger Lakes and it seems like a good time to reflect on the season.

• Heat, Heat, & More Heat - We had plenty of steamy weather for most of the season. I remember back to the April-like conditions we had in February. Everything seemed ahead of the game - fruits, flowers, vegetables were coming of age about a month ahead of schedule. We held our breath in anticipation of the "normal" weather conditions to arrive, but they never did.
• When it Rains, it Pours - We did receive water this vintage, unlike the drier 2005 or 2007 vintages. However, the water we received was usually in downpours lasting anywhere from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours. Two inches of rain in that time doesn't stick around for very long. It felt like there was not a full day of rain from June through October - again, incredibly unseasonable for the Finger Lakes.
• The Confusing Science - As the harvest reports surfaced, winemakers around New York state were perplexed by the numbers coming off the vine. The pH's were rising dramatically and the TA's we're dropping at a pretty fierce pace too. The only problem seemed to be that the sugars hadn't developed at the same rate that the other numbers would indicate. Thus, more waiting for proper fruit development was critically important.
• Over Already? - The grapes arrived at a constant rate throughout the harvest. The steady pace and consistent weather conditions left us with nothing to do after mid-October (just kidding). With the last fruit from 2009 arriving to Heart & Hands December 3rd, it seemed like a gift to see the last of the Riesling on the 14th of October. There is plenty to still be done, however. But, we are elated that things went this smoothly.

With the wines in the tank and barrel, things are quite promising. The lip smacking Rieslings are crisp and have a beautiful core of citrus and tropical fruit. The Pinot Noir's are sure to not disappoint either. With everything from cherry to pomegranate, mocha, chewy, & beautiful weight they should be fun to taste over the next few months in the barrel.