2025 Chenin Blanc

This is how I felt after tasting my first bottle of 2025 Chenin Blanc. Years of struggle finally paid off; I created a thing of beauty. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/tennis/alexander-zverev-wins-the-french-open-to-finally-earn-a-1st-grand-slam-title/ar-AA251XJq

Style: off dry Varietal: Chenin Blanc, plus 15% Sèmillon and a splash of white muscat Source: Paradisos del Sol, Zillah, WA, Paul Vandenberg Initial brix: 22 Initial pH: 3.4 Ingredients & Additives 85% Chenin 15% Semillon Preparation & Procedure Crushed and destemmed 2025-09-07 Topped once with muscat. It showed up beautifully in the first taste test, on ice cubes with cod miso soup. Stabilization & Clarification: None Aging & Bottling: Kenton tried a barrel sample in March and called it "a work of art" Verdict: This is gorgeous. As beautiful a wine as I have ever had. Light floral nose of white muscat with semillon coating the palate to deliver the elegant chenin flavor lightly but unmistakably, lingering for a few seconds before disappearing and making you long for the next sip.

Veraison Begins

Golubok and LaBelle are showing the first signs of the grapes turning color. That means harvest is expected by Mid September, maybe earlier.

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)

I'm seeing these pretty butterflies in the vineyard lately. Over the weekend I was able to get feedback from several friends on the Sangiovese. Despite its youth, it is shaping up pretty nicely and has plenty of yummy berry fruitiness and rich red wine lushness. The muscats and

Woolcarder Bee in the Monastery Muscat

Monastery Muscat has a pretty fuzzy underside of the leaf. This woolcarder bee decided it's worthy nest material.

Bold Jumper spiders

I only learned about this species this year. Just like a car that you recently bought, now I am seeing them everywhere. I was particularly happy to see they're willing and able to tackle a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, since those are grapevine sapsuckers. Grapes are vigorous, to

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Veraison Begins

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)

Woolcarder Bee in the Monastery Muscat

Bold Jumper spiders