PlumpJack Winery and CADE Winery harvest notes from Winemaker Tony Biagi...
PlumpJack Harvest
There are two great feelings during harvest 1) the day you start and 2) the day the last load of grapes finds its way into the auger. In 2009 that day was October 25th. Harvest is now completed at PlumpJack Winery and as of this writing we have two tanks still macerating. Most of the 2009 red wines have been barreled down and the whites have been racked and sulphured. I am just going into the cellar for the first time and tasting the fresh 2009 wines. At this point I feel we have a very strong vintage in barrel. The rains, which fell in mid October, did not affect the quality of the wine. The wines at this stage are black and teeth staining but tannins are supple and round. If I had to compare it to a vintage I would say a hypothetical blend of 2007 and 2006. 
Right now in the cellar at PlumpJack we are sanitizing crush equipment and putting it away for winter. Jeff Owens, PlumpJack’s, assistant winemaker has been in charge of racking the 2008 PlumpJack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. There is a old saying in Napa “when the wind blows out of the north it is time to rack.” This will be the last time the 2008 will be racked and blended until before bottling.After that we fall into a quiet sleepy time for the 2 weeks during and after Christmas. The cellar crew takes time off and we all recharge our batteries for the 2010 year. Harvest is only 8 months away.
Cade Harvest
Cade harvest was a long one. Starting August 20th and finishing on October 31st this was our most intense harvest on Howell Mountain. As of writing, we have four tanks on skins. All other tanks have been pressed and put to barrel for Malolactic fermentation.
Quality across the board is very high for the 2009 vintage. I even feel that the 2009 cade cuvee can be better than the 2007 version. The Howell Mountain wines at this point are very similar to 2007. Only time will tell if we can achieve the heights of 2007.
In the cellar we are currently racking the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc’s and adding S02. These wines will be blended and racked in January and bottled in March. After that we will be racking and blending the 2008 Cade Cuvee, 2008 CADE Howell Mtn and the 2008 Cade Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cade harvest was a long one. Starting August 20th and finishing on October 31st this was our most intense harvest on Howell Mountain. As of writing, we have four tanks on skins. All other tanks have been pressed and put to barrel for Malolactic fermentation.Quality across the board is very high for the 2009 vintage. I even feel that the 2009 cade cuvee can be better than the 2007 version. The Howell Mountain wines at this point are very similar to 2007. Only time will tell if we can achieve the heights of 2007.
In the cellar we are currently racking the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc’s and adding S02. These wines will be blended and racked in January and bottled in March. After that we will be racking and blending the 2008 Cade Cuvee, 2008 CADE Howell Mtn and the 2008 Cade Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
The week before Christmas has us bottling the 2007 CADE estate Cabernet Sauvignon. It will be a short run but we are very excited to get this wine to bottle.In the end harvest is always a time of rebirth. I am confident that the 2009 vinatge will be another successful vintage for CADE winery. 
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