The 2009 growing season was very challenging, bothered by a bad set in May, a term called, “scattering” occurred.  We chose to drop all fruit bunches that had shattered berries. A small harvest to follow. 

The pick started in late October when the Napa Valley was challenged by two unseasonable storms dropping over six inches of rain and Dave Phinney, our winemaker, made a call to hang the fruit until November, basically taking a chance at possibly losing the entire crop if another storm was to follow.   

Wow… what a call Dave!!  80-85 degree weather, sunny days, perfect conditions allowing all the flavors of the fruit to balance out and allow the brix to season perfectly.  Stay tuned, should be a great Cabernet year with a small harvest of only 19 tons from our Stags Ridge Ranch.