2011 Harvest is Finished and Lookin' Good!

Another crazy year for wine- a year that was so cool that many didn't think that there would be a harvest. But when all is said and done, the wines are coming out very nice in spite of low sugars and lots of mold. I felt that we had a pre-run harvest last year having to deal with many of the same issues, so this year I was prepped with lots of information and methods to work with this years fruit.

The one big difference this year was when the rains came, much of the fruit was sound enough to make it through. The Tres Palmeras vineyard was one of them. Last year we had to give up on the fruit. This year was very low yielding, but at least I was able to get some fruit for all the labors of the year and it is tasting yummy! This vineyard designate will be going into a limited bottling for wine club only, so I am very excited.

Speaking of wine club- will start Jan 1st- watch the website- www.coralmustang.com for details. This has been a long time coming!

So on with planning for next year- cleaning up the vineyard, pruning, getting the wine finished with malolactic ferm and bottling up sparkling wine- yes, there may be something new coming to Coral Mustang......stay tuned-
The Mustang Winemaker

OMG - is the Rain Ever Going to End?

I thought last year was a challenge.......it is the first week of June and the vineyard barely has started blooming. That means that we are more than a month behind average- Yikes!! I have been out in the vineyard- when it is not pouring down rain- taking the risk of thinning as I am suckering. Anything looking wimpy goes.

Not only has it been raining but it has been cold as well. Feet of snow in the mountains, not inches. I've had to turn the heat on in my house and it is JUNE- I think- maybe this is some kind of time warp. I have Crape Myrtles in my yard that are changing color because it has been so cold- looks like fall out there.

Well that's what farming is, one big challenge. Nothing we can do but marvel at Mother Nature reminding us again who is in control.

Aside from the weather and the vineyard- TAPAS Grand Tasting in San Francisco tomorrow beginning at 2p- Ft Mason, Herbst Pavilion. This is one of the best events around and I am proud to be a part of this group. If you want to taste Tempranillo, this is the place you want to be. Wine can be bought at this event as well so you can stock up your cellar with the best Tempranillos around. Stop by and say hello and taste the 2004 and 2005 that I will be pouring along with special pricing for the event.

Well I wanted to add some pics to this entry, but there has not been much time between raindrops. But I would like to talk about what Frank has been up to. Three weeks ago he took of on his Harley headed with a group to ride to Washington DC for Memorial Day- Run for the Wall or RFTW. With him, he carried a placard for a soldier that had died in Vietnam. The Sunday before Memorial Day he placed it by the soldiers name- quite a special moment for him and a very special trip. I will be coming up with a way to log his daily journal either on the website or a link as it really touched me.

That's all for now- pics next time- I promise!

Is it Winter or Summer or How to Confuse the Vineyard

What can I say- it is either 85F in January or now below freezing with snow flurries. The vines started plumping their buds with the warmth, now they don't know whether to sleep or grow! So far lots of water this year, let's hope that continues. Want to see the bizarre weather check it out - Weather at Tres Palmeras/Coral Mustang Wines.

Still trying to finish wines off in the cellar even at this late date. With the late grapes came molds and bacteria that tend to stifle fermentations- definitely a challenge. Overall, I wouldn't say a stellar vintage, but certainly not as bad as many anticipated. The weather conditions last year kept the grapes from gaining too much sugar, but did allow them to mature in flavor- not the usual scenario for California, more like what you would see in more northern climes. Very exciting to see where the wines are landing after a very anxiety driven harvest.

Still working out the details for the Wine Club- I am a partner in another wine venture called Nuestro Vino where I make Sparkling. So working on a few details that may include some of those wines that I make as well. I will be updating my website www.coralmustang.com soon!

FoodWine ListServ - New Cookbook - I have to put in a plug for a new cookbook that features recipes from an incredible group of people that have listed together for about 20 years. As a member my paella was nominated, then passed the taste test and made it into this book! To celebrate, the book was featured at a signing in Marin and several Foodstocks. What a great time!

Well, it's time to go back to the cellar where time seems to fly!
Cheers, the Mustang Winemaker

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Well the new year has started and thoughts of harvest for 2011 have already begun. Focus to the vineyard- pruning, discing, tying- assessing what happened last year to do what is needed to bring the vineyard to it's best potential this year. Last harvest fruit was not taken from the Tres Palmeras vineyard-a hard decision to make for me. But some years warrant that action and from what I saw this year for grapes overall, a few more vineyards might have been better off left behind as well. A tough year....

Assessing the wines and how processes worked to produce those wines is also happening so that any changes can be started now. Last harvest brought a lot of challenges- molds, less than mature grapes, sunburn- things that I see, just not in the magnitude that I had this last harvest. So being ready for these situations is always warranted- though I hope not to see this happen for at least another 20 years!

This year Coral Mustang Wines will begin a wine club- yea!!!! Stay tuned to see updates on the website as well as an upcoming e-newsletter. Update on the tasting room- open by appointment only for the winter- let me know if you are in the area and would like to taste. Or if up you are willing to go just a short 30 minutes North, you can visit the winery. Either way give me a shout or an email.

In a tribute to Tres Palmeras, I would like to re-share a clip from a previous harvest - I hope you enjoy it and on with the new year 2011!