LaBelle Vineyard

Update August 25, 2024: We harvested on August 21! On the Friday before we were only tracking to an alcohol level of 12.2% so I thought we might have another week before harvest but then the temperature spiked up under skies of full sun the measurement on Tuesday came in at 13% so I took to the vineyard on Wednesday morning to harvest 279 vines of Touriga Franca. 

After speding the night in a refrigerated room we sorted. The cluster quality seems much better this year then last where we had some struggles with fending off hungry birds.

Then we destemmed, crushed and pumped the clusters down to the cellar and into a stainless steel vat where we will cold soak for a few days at 10 deg C before we allow the temperature to come up and start fermentation.

Also, took the chance to taste the 2023 vintage which is in barrel and is coming along nicely. We will taste every couple of months until it is "done enough" to go into bottle.