Vintage Update December 2001

Quality... It Starts in the Vineyard

A vineyard can be a very lonely place. You're generally out in the middle of nowhere, working alone, with no one to communicate with except Mother Nature and the birds and bees. But that's not really the kind of loneliness I'm talking about.

The object of my current frustration is the lonely process of making decisions about growing quality wines that no one else knows about, or sees, or understands. Pruning way back to keep the crop purposefully low (the financial people love that one), pulling off leaves and clusters to have even lower yields, tearing out perfectly good vines to put in new, better clones (I'm still trying to explain that one to my wife) - these decisions keep me awake at night wondering if anyone will ever know and appreciate these monetary sacrifices made in the name of quality....or if I'm just crazy and destined to remain a poor grape farmer.

Thus, you might appreciate my joy at hearing some encouraging words from Mark Chien, our state viticulturist in a recent newsletter to the state's wine grape growers. I'll let his words speak for themselves....but they offer a fine tribute to our extremely talented and dedicated vineyard manager Brett Mihalcik - and they make me feel a whole lot better!

"If anyone wants to see an awesomely well managed canopy please call Brett Mihalcik - the vineyard manager at Chaddsford. Brett and (his assistant) Eric Schatt have done a superb job of controlling vigor through rigorous and thoughtful canopy management. The result is some of the nicest looking and best tasting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay I have seen or swallowed in Pennsylvania or, for that matter, anywhere. There is no big secret to making great wine. This is it. Eric and Brett took a vigorous site and wrestled it to fine grapes with patient and thoughtful management. I admire and applaud the commitment to quality they have demonstrated. If Mother Nature cooperates, and you do a good job in the vineyard, the results are almost automatic. Please take the time to call Brett and visit - it will be an eye opening experience. Congratulations to Chaddsford for taking the time, expense and effort to make great wine in the vineyard." Mark Chien, Wine Grape Agent, Penn State University Cooperative Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences

Thanks for the kind words, Mark, and see "little" eric's update below on the 2001 Pinot Noir we plan to produce from these extraordinary methods in this extraordinary year. Also, for those of you interested in wines from the Miller Estate Vineyard, we will be releasing our first-ever vineyard designated wines from this estate vineyard, a Miller Estate Chardonnay and Chambourcin, in April 2002. A good part was pre-sold as futures, but the balance will be offered in two-bottle lots to Chaddsford Frequent Buyers, and a tiny bit will be kept for special tastings this spring in the winery's new Reserve Tasting Room. 

2001 VINTAGE RE-CAP

It's over, the winemaking team is sleeping again, and I'm relieved. Or maybe ecstatic is more like it. I have never seen such a season. The perfect amount of rain. Warm sunny days. Cool low-humidity nights. Weeds were not rampant, though they too enjoyed the season. There were no storms as we entered the harvest period.

Because things were hanging so clean and the acidity was high and healthy, we decided to let the early ripening varieties hang and hang. The Chardonnay, Vignoles, Seyval Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir were as close to a textbook description of perfect as you can come. Then came the Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the same pristine fully ripe colored and flavored condition.

With about a week to go for the Cabernet Sauvignon, we got our first frost, but it was very close to our ideal picking date. And from what I've been tasting in the cellar over the winter - which thrilled me right down to my toes -- the timing was perfect. You just can't ask for much more in a growing season!

Stay tuned for updates on the 2001 wines as we begin to bottle them this Spring. In the meanwhile we will be watching 2002 develop on the vines and I'll let you know how things are looking as soon as the spring growth begins. Right now I can only say it's been a helluva nice winter to be outside pruning!

Eric Miller, Winemaker