how do your clusters look?

Cellar Rats (ITB)
21

Green Valley again today, in a cooler site then the two previous. Flowering is probably 75% complete here, but lots of shatter, with some clusters melting away at the touch. We’ll see how set finishes out.

Brian

22

Brian, why the shatter? Any idea?

23

Brian, do you see any correlation between vine vigor and fruit set out there. I have noticed in the past that lower vigor vineyards seem to set fruit better in adverse conditions.? Just curious to see if you noticed this pattern as well.

24

These are from about 2 weeks ago.
[good.gif]
Nola

25

I walked some blocks and gave some clusters the old shake test.

Dijon Chardonnay set pretty well. Only caps and old flowers in my hand.

Clone 4 did not set as well. Got some shot berries, etc. This ain’t the end of the world, though, as it is carrying a lot of crop. There is even tertiary development (the shoulders have their own wings). So far, 4 is ahead of the rest which is a little surprising. I see that changing though as we head towards veraison. It’s going to take some work thinning out the crowders and shoulders/wings. Interestingly, it appears there are some chicks and hens, presumably due to bloom weather. I think this is a good sign for quality.

A TON of lateral development. Trunk suckers have regrown. These vines are confused and need some dry, hot weather to get them back in line. Mildew pressure up here is pretty high right now.

Cab clusters are not huge in number but are long and well-developed. This long, drawn-out bloom has me a bit concerned, though. We’re still probably at 80 - 90%. Looks like it might be a mid-late October year. Cancel the Halloween plans.

Anyone else thinking about bud development for 2010? We haven’t been getting a ton of light with the fog and the cloud cover…

26

I was just thinking the same thing yesterday walking the rows, we’ll have to pay close attention at verasion and drop lagging clusters.

With all of our thunderstorms/cloudy days, I’m thinking we’ll be seeing a smaller crop next year, and our crop this year is small the medium potential in size. Good for quality, bad for the pocket book.