Vashon Winery Journal (vashonwineryjournal.com)

The Tramp Harbor Red is now in bottle. I brought together my bottling crew of John and George and we bottled the THR and the 2006 Pinot Noir.

I am out in the marketplace selling the wine now and it is going well. Now I have to worry about running out and what am I going to do for an encore, another THR.

This wine is really good. The Malbec is forceful and rich backed by some other pedigree grapes. Though I couldn’t seem to use the Malbec in my normal Reserve blend it does well with the THR blend as it is the dominant grape. The wine is beautifully structured with a rich fruity character and a long taste profile. It is decidely fruit flavored with hints of blackberry and raspberry. The tannins are just right and the acid seems perfect.

The Pinot Noir is being Pinot Noir, finicky and transient; every experience with the wine is different. One thing for sure: it isn’t done changing yet. For that reason I have decided to release it on May 1 rather than April 1. I think it will still be young but it should be closer to what we will see later.

I am working with a family on Vashon Island who is planting grapes to sell to the winery. The initial vineyard is quite small…..though try telling that to the person responsible for upkeep of the vineyard such as pruning, shaping, trellising, weeding, spraying. We are planting four grape varieties: two clones of Pinot Noir (777 and Precoce), Chasslas Dore, and Siegerrebe. With more room it might have been of interest planting Pinot Gris as well.

I am also working with others as well. This is all very exciting and with the cold spring, a little unnerving. Luckily we don’t have anything in the ground yet.

Hope to see you soon at the winery.