Harvest is on the down slope at this point. Except for Syrah at Salaal and on Edna Ranch Oceanside we've got everything harvested. Today we're pressing Grenache for our 2010 Rosé. I'm guessing we'll have about a week or two's hiatus and then bring in the Syrah. A lot depends on the weather of course. For example today's soaking wet fog didn't further ripeness very much. There's still plenty to do around the cellar. The Pinot Noirs just finished going down to barrel, and they look to be fine wines. They are dark, fresh and juicy. They may even rival the '07s which is saying a lot. The early whites like Pinot Gris and Viognier are almost finished fermenting. I love the way these wines taste right at the end of fermentation. They are exuberantly aromatic; they perfume the entire cellar. With Chardonnay it is way too early to tell, you don't have a good grip on Chardonnay quality until January or February at the earliest - sometimes much later. It is a shy wine or maybe coy is the better word. The heart of this harvest was very compressed. We only brought our first fruit in three weeks ago and we're just about done - a fast and furious one for sure. 

-          Larry Brooks, Winemaker