We finished picking cabernet franc on the 13th; the tanks are filled with black, waxy raisins that will be fermenting for the next two weeks. It was a fine vintage. A rich, roasted quality of the wine comes up to the nose already.
The clue to this vintage was to recognize the long August’s burn, hidden behind the rains – at the season’s break, the storms were just revitalizing thirsty grapes. We welcomed the rain every time, instead of picking before it arrived: that was the way we brought in a great harvest.
We are, however, exhausted from wresting so many harvests out of a drizzle that went on for weeks. I am changing all the lights in the cellar from neon, which almost drove us insane, to the softer, yellow light bulb.
We push and pump and then go to the woods with our green umbrellas. We lose sight of each other and look to see who comes back out of the haze with porcini.
– Andrea Franchetti
