Message from Mike

We picked our Merlot today, all 3 tons of it.  The grapes looked really good after our final bunch, and individual berry thinning.  An extra week was allowed to allow for a better balance between ph, sugar and TA.  The wait was worth while, with the pips a nice golden brown, and lovely sugar/ acid balance on the tongue.  And rain did not interfere with our planning either.

The dogs looked disappointed to see their favourite snack disappearing down the road to the cellar.  But I tried to explain to them that there is still lots of Cab to snack on !

The Cab looks really healthy, and I guess we will only harvest in about 10 days.

We are now "bywoners" in Valley Green cellar, after 3 seasons on Strathian Farm.  I will be forever grateful to B J Allsop, and his wife Isobel, for putting up with us, AND, for enabling us to get into the business in their cellar.  After all, that's where the famous "Aching Heads" Cab was made in 2004 !

Don't give up on  the release of our 2005 Cab.  The label is about to go to the printers... Unfortunately, with only 800 bottles, there won't be much to go round...

Our 2006 Merlot/ Cab blend is to be bottled later this week.  Then some patience is required until it is released, hopefully towards the end of the year. 

March 28, 2007