Pinot blanc juice right from the press. Wow -- this stuff is nectar!
IT IS ON! I am extremely pleased to announce the start of the 2009 Harvest Season at Michel-Schlumberger Estate. Busy Brunson will no doubt check in soon with juicy details on the vintage but, for now, I wanted to post a quick photo series of the action.
It all began around 6:30 this morning when our very fine vineyard crew began picking the WPB block – west pinot blanc. I was hoping to get some cool shots of the crew harvesting the grapes in the beautifully misty morning but harvest prep in the Cellar took precedence (there’s always plenty of scrubbing to be done each day before the grapes hit the crush pad). So anyway, here we go. It’s Harvest 2009:
After hand-picking, Ramon drives the pinot blanc grapes down to the crush pad. I tried to get him to pose and smile but he's kinda shy...
There -- I caught him smiling!
Plump pinot blanc grapes ready to be pressed.
But before pressing the crew assembles for the annual Winemaker toast for a happy and safe vintage.
Brunson's blessing.
Sparkling wine at 9:00 AM. Tis the season!
The first load of grapes is dumped into the press.
A lovely cluster of pinot blanc.
Our first tank of juice for the vintage. Soon there will be more. A lot more...
