Greetings all, As of May 17, things are now getting back to normal, if there is such a thing. While the vintage started early it has been cool in Sonoma and Napa and things are now about where they should be development wise. All of our vineyards look great, especially the Westerhold Vineyard that is planted to Syrah all of which is Alban One clone in Bennett Valley. The Dry Stack Vineyard that we share with Pax, Du Mol, the owners Peter and Marie Young and others also looks great. The Estrella River Clone is really moving beautifully as is the 174. The 877 is as always behind the other clones, but we expect it. We are going to drop most of it down to one cluster per shoot earlier then years past and make sure we get it as ripe and developed as we like. On the Napa Side the Showket Vineyard looks like it is going to have a healthy crop with yields higher then the past two vintages which are always very low because the soil is basically rocks and the occasional patch of nutrient deficient dirt. Kal Showket has already had to water so I am expecting small berries and intense flavors after a dry winter. Where as many vineyard managers push the early season water deficits, this vineyard drains so well that it is always dry even after a good watering. At this point (and I hate saying this) everything is right where we want them to be. All the best, Russell Bevan Bevan Cellars rbevan@pacbell.net
