OTTIMINO 2006 Harvest Update!

It's happening! Despite being a bit of a rollercoaster ride, the 2006 growing season seems primed to deliver another excellent harvest. As in 2005 spring rains stayed with us a little later than usual. Then an intense heat wave gripped California for two weeks in mid July, putting the vines into a midsummer siesta (the leaves don't photosynthesize because they are too busy protecting themselves). That put us on a path for a later start to this year's harvest, and the slightly cooler weather since then has kept us to an expected harvest about one to two weeks later than normal.
 
But this weather has also been perfect for vine development. All predictions were for a very small crop after the mind-boggling (but fabulous quality!) tonnage seen statewide in 2005. However, the vines had weeks of great weather AFTER harvest last year, and pumped lots of energy to the soon-to-be dormant roots. That energy has re-emerged during the last month of temperate weather, and small clusters have plumped up beautifully, balanced nicely by canopy growth.
 
Ottimino's vineyards look fabulous. Our cooler appellation meant less of a hit during the July heat wave, and veraison (coloring and ripening) has proceeded extremely evenly for notoriously unevenly ripening Zinfandel. The old vines at Von Weidlich Vineyard show a renewed sense of purpose, Rancho Bello Vineyard is bursting with vigor, and the young Ottimino Vineyard--our home ranch--is like a racehorse trying to break out of the gates (look for the first release of Ottimino's Ottimino Vineyard, a 2004, in the spring of 2007!).
 
As a winemaker, I never thought I would see it again: a string of vintages comparable to the fabulous run from 1994-1997. But 2001-2005 could be right up there for great quality, year after year. More evidence of this is coming your way soon in the form of the Ottimino 2003 Rancho Bello Vineyard Zinfandel, to be released this month! Right behind it will be the 2003 Von Weidlich Vineyard, another intense, concentrated offering from these 70 year old vines, set for release in January 2007.  Remember, we age all of our Zinfandels at least 20 months, then add significant bottle aging before releasing them to you. Ottimino's Zins are always full-bodied and balanced, great food wines but as ageable as any claret.

 
We expect to harvest our Zinfandels by the second week of October, and we'll have another update at that time. Meanwhile, come check us out at www.ottimino.com!

ATTENTION Club O members

We are offering our Club O members a 15% pre-release discount on the award winning 2003 Rancho Bello Zinfandel.* » Go to our online Wine Shop

 
When checking out enter PR10 in the promotion code box. Your savings will automatically be deducted after you update your shopping cart.

* 1 case maximum, 3 bottle minimum