Harvest  1999  October 16, 1999

Weather is spectacular, the fruit is spectacular, we hope the wines will be spectacular--but the real "spectacular" with Northwest weather like this is SUNSET.

We religiously take "sunset breaks" during crush, assuming good weather. Tired, grapes in the fermentor, beer in hand and a concrete wall under butt, there's nothing like the color and shapes. Sort of like love in a landscape.

Twenty tons of great pinot noir in Friday, more Saturday, along with perfectly ripened pinot gris, also from Ridgecrest.

We have chardonnay in barrel now, pinot noir pressed out and in tank awaiting barreling today.

We will be picking through the weekend as blocks reach their ideal flavor peaks.

We have the highly improbable luxury of no rain on the horizon until a week from now, and then a chance only.

Pinch me.

Harry