2006
SAUVIGNON BLANC WESTERLY
Santa Ynez Valley
For the second year in
a row we did an interesting experiment with crop yields. Our normal
procedure at Westerly is to thin the crop to half of what the
rest of the vineyard yields; since we buy our grapes by the acre
rather than by the ton the grower accommodates our needs. In the
last two years we were able to buy a ton of fruit from rows quite
close to ours that were farmed in the conventional way with higher
yields. In each year the low yield wine was more powerful and
dramatic and of superior quality.
What is interesting to
me is that the low crop wine is both more exciting to taste and
more challenging. It is racier in aroma and more tannic in flavor,
so it really needs bottle aging time before it can show all its
stuff. The high crop fruit is softer and easier, and develops
into ready to drink wine more quickly. So although it sounds good
to talk about low yields, it is understandable why many winemakers
are unwilling to take the steps required because it is not in
their immediate best interest. It costs lots more, and its superior
quality is difficult to perceive initially. Luckily, we have found
customers that appreciate our decidedly different style of sauvignon
blanc, and we are thrilled because this wine is so fun to make
and drink.