Sunday November 8th, 2009

The remainder of the Gamay Vineyard in Knights Vallley was picked. Just under a ton.
Unfortunately another small crop for 2009 Turner Vineyard.

BURGHOUND scores

2007 Pinot Noir – Horseshoe Bend Vineyard: (Russian River Valley, 14.4%, $38, 179 cases). A more complex but no more elegant nose displays cranberry and fresh red raspberry notes that accompany the appealing red pinot and spice hints that also carry over to the delicious, focused and nicely detailed flavors that possess a textured mouth feel and good intensity on the solidly long finish. This is also relatively understated and leaves plenty of dry extract on the finale. 90/2012+

2007 Pinot Noir – TNT Vineyard: (Russian River Valley, 14.2%). This quite resembles the 2006 version except the aromatic profile is slightly more elegant and not quite as ripe with supple, forward and rounded middle weight flavors that possess a dusty character and much better finishing depth than is brought to bear by the nose. I like the delivery as well as the developing complexity and this should amply reward patient cellaring. 91/2013+ Burghound.com’s 72 California Pinot Noir Selections

SEPT.29th, 2009

The Gamay Noir at Turner Vineyard in Knights Valley begins picking today. The 2 acre vineyard is not all ripe but a section at the top is. We are expecting about 1 ton of fruit to come in.

SEPT. 27th, 2009

Last night we attended the 2009 Sonoma County Harvest Fair. We entered 2 wines & won 2 medals;
2007 TnT Pinot Noir - GOLD medal winner
2007 Horseshoe Bend Pinot Noir - SILVER medal winner

SEPT. 18th, 2009

Horseshoe Bend Vineyard is being picked.

SEPT. 15th, 2009
After 7 days of cold soak & 9 days of fermenting, the Ruxton was pressed off & put into oak barrels.

Most of the crew ...and the reward

SEPT. 12th, 2009

Picking TnT Vineyard:
4a.m. we awoke to thunder, lighting & light rain. As we arrived at TnT vineyard to pick at 6:30 a.m. it continued. As the 20+ pickers began to pick the East side of the 2 1/2 acre vineyard the thunder and lighting subsided and the morning light and the moisture from the rain assisted. The light rain had made the stickiness that usually annoys me, non existent, nice. Our incredible crew was done by 9:30 with the entire east side plus a small amount from the very right of the West side picked. Totalling 1.7 tons coming in at 25.5 brix.

We toasted to our morning efforts with a glass of wine & a BBQ with our hosts Tom'n Tanya as the grapes were delivered to the winery. They hit the sorting table by 10:30.

SEPT. 6th, 2009

Walked through the TnT Vineyard. We will pick the 1 block on the East side next saturday. The West Block is not ready. The seeds are still green.

The Ruxton juice is in tank tasting really nice with lots of color. Fermentation has started.

Mat is going out to Horseshoe bend Vineyard tomorrow morning to check it.

AUGUST 31st

This past weekend we experienced 2 days in the hi 90's - 100 degrees then on Sunday back down to the 80's and today morning fog.

Mat has called our 1st picking day of the 2009 harvest Wednesday Sept. 2nd, Ruxton Vineyard will be picked.

The Horseshoe Bend Vineyard was not ready as of today.

AUGUST 9th, 2009

Ruxton Vineyard is almost complete veraison. The temperatures today have jumped to the hi 90's and look like they will remain hotter for the coming days. If so, harvest might begin earlier than we were expecting with the previous months cooler temp's and fog.

SUNDAY JULY 26th

All the 2008 Pinot's were bottled. Now the barrels are empty and ready for harvest.

Our temperatures have been almost perfect; cool mornings with fog, early clearing about 10 with sunny days in the high 80's and cooling off late afternoon. If our weather patterns continue, we estimate harvest being 10 days late.

June 28, 2009

Mat & Tom walk the rows checking out TnT vineyard. Tom'n Tanya are working hard with the heat in the high 90's today, trying to get all the shoots tucked in.

JUNE 1, 2009

We have had some hot days in the high 90's and some cool days in the 60's. Thus far the grapes are looking good although too early to get specific on rating upcoming harvest.

JANUARY 2009

We have had several guests come by and taste the 2008 wines out of barrel with us.
Horseshoe Bend & TnT are showing the most promising at this time.

Here are our tasting notes;

Horseshoe Bend Vineyard
Ripe raspberry, watermelon up front fruit with a touch of vanilla. Big mid palate of
rich red fruits and a full fruit finish.

TnT Vineyard
Boysenberry, pomegranate & cherry nose with a rich raspberry & cherry flavor profile.

Ruxton Vineyard
Wild strawberry & canteloupe nose with soft cherry on the palate finishing with
sandalwood, cherry & an earthiness.


We are really excited about the 2008 wines.