 Bloom! While there were many rumors and supposed sightings, it was mostly a case of wishful thinking. Flowering started with the gorgeous 90F weather at the end of June and was complete within only a few days across all our vineyards. In fact, the extraordinarily condensed schedule saved us the argument of tallying first flowers versus 50% bloom as this year the difference was only about 3-days.
Typically bloom will take place within one to three weeks. This year’s compressed timeframe has a few indications for us. Foremost it is a very healthy viticultural sign, an indication that the vines are fully assimilating the sunshine, warmth, and nutrients and directly translating this energy into crop development. Or as our vineyard manager, Joey Myers, describes his views on why this season’s bloom is ideal: “the vines are running on all cylinders.”
We are two weeks behind historical bloom, on par with 2008, and currently tracking pinot noir harvest the first week of October. In the vineyard though most of the anthers have yet to detach from the freshly pollinated berries, set is beginning to be measured. It is thought that between 50-70% of flowers abort and that wind during flowering can cause cross pollination and impact fruit set. There is always something to be both mindful of and grateful for.. - M. Eleni Papadakis, Winemaker
|
