2012 Vintage
The harvest on October 7, 1 ton, was small due to the continuing Eutypa problems, so we bought additional Merlot grapes (0.75 tons) from Barghetto . To improve on the grape quality, we added bunch sorting tables before destemming, we added a vibration table after the destemmer to sort the berries and we used a new fermentation tanks which could be heated or cooled to better control the fermentation.
Harvest 2012
We harvested with a crew of 13
Lunch
As usual, Donna prepared a great lunch for all
Bunch sorting
We upped the game by inspecting every single bunch and eliminating damaged and unripe berries and other debris
Destemming & berry sorting
We used a new vibration table under the destemmer to sort the berries; i.e removing damaged berries and MOG (material other than berries) from what came out of the destemmer. The vibrating table also moves the berries into the new temperature controlled fermentation tank
Pressing in December
We pressed in December moving the fermented must with a shute from the fermentation tank into the press