August 3 - August 9, 2014

	Tuesday August 5, 2014 8:00 Pm: We are back from a nice vacation down to LA. I was very disappointed that some of my friends were not into my Tesla. I should know they are back in the last century. My friends, we saw 10 and half still think Combustion engines will rule forever, my opinion did not matter but I had no chance to challenge prejudice.................they were all into my friends M3, BMW. Pat told me I should not take it personally, of course I never take any thing personal. I like to hear what people say SO yes my friend bought  a new M3, fast but not good off the line like electricity. He did not believe me. They are conservative......... I met up with Craig and Christy today. They are from Texas and are into the environment. So it was nice to see them today. Craig and Cristy picked up their new Model S on Thursday. Both of them had found out I loved my Model S so when they found out a week or so ago that I had a winery, we arranged to meet today...............They had already been up to see the winery even though Pat and I were not there. We had a great lunch today and they headed off to Carmel on their way home to Texas in their Model S. They will not be charged were ever they stay for the night at a hotel room when charging. we all love our electric vehicles. I am sorry I have to go up stairs because my 4 month old cats, I can hear are trashing my movie room.................They missed me. 9:00 Pm: I tired those fun kitties finally so I am back for awhile before they get too active again. I had a nice day today with Craig and Christy but I found out when I got home about 3 pm that Catarino had found Pinot Noir at 25 sugar today. How could that happen on August 5. I did predict way back when............. that we could harvest sparkling wine in July and I knew we could have done that this year BUT it was nice to have a short vacation. The test two weeks ago was in a different area and we got only 16 brix so tomorrow will BEEEEEso interesting .......Harvest is the ultimate.................................................... so obviously I am looking forward to find out where Catarino found those grapes................Tomorrow is another day........... Wednesday August 6, 2014 Yes I am drinking 2013 PS again and will do............for 5 days........ we have 25 sugar on Pinot but too much acid............Matt wants to wait for the acid to go down, 3.3 would be good, we have 3.1. I disagree to delay harvest and wait for the sugar to stay the same and acid to go down........Acid could go down from 3.1 to 3.3 in one week. We got up to 96 today and tomorrow could be hotter...........so we will be harvesting red wine next Monday August 11....................Pinot Noir .........my choice Thursday August 7, 2014 8:30 Pm: It has been another interesting day with twists as usual. I have the final decision on when to start Harvest. For me this time is the most interesting, because there are so many things that can change in a few seconds, as simple to Matt explaining what happened last year and he did it with a short sentence and helping me to think about this year. This is my 36th year of producing grapes and wine from this wonderful vineyard. No one else wanted it back in 1979. I was lucky to find it. And the small house was 1100 square feet (More than our last house in Fairfax, up 120 stairs and only 1000 square feet)..................and it made Pat happy to have a normal house with a dinning room. Every year is different......... Today, Catarino and I walked through all the young Pinot vines in Block 2, off to the right of Block One old vines. There are two clones of Pinot, the darker ones............... Ok these two clones (Names?, I don't remember) were selected because the grapes should take longer to get ripe and have better color SO I had Catarino pick off about 20 bunches today as we strolled within 6 rows. This part of Harvest comes easy to me, pick a bunch at random but make sure you do not pick the same bunch in one area, easy. We got 24.4 sugar, I suspected 23.5. I thought the bunches could use another week, by looking. I do not taste but a few berries. Everything with acid and great fruit tastes great to me. Some winemakers say they can taste when the berries are ready. That is great for them but I rely on the numbers, sugar, acid, looking at color but not necessarily taste. It is hard to predict a wine on how it ages, to predict a taste of juice and decide on how the wine will turn out is beyond my comprehension. So the Ph came in at 3.3 so that is less acid than before and maybe we are ready in a week, but maybe this early the grapes will not have the softer tones, what ever that is, but maybe the tasters can perceive that. Like I said by looking I think we need another week so maybe August 14?, still early. Zin, Carignan, PS, Peloursin, Petite Verdot were all tested and we could have them ready within 6 weeks. It looks like the Harvest will be over by he first week in October. The last time that happened was in 2007, a great year............  Saturday August 9, 2014 I have a patient but dominant in her way.......four month old cat........She wants her Fancy Feast wet cat food.......she is very patient.........and will eat very little of other wet food and less of dry food.........It has been 3 days since Fancy Feast......Cory the male is Ok with other soft food.............I am not as patient so I just gave them Fancy Feast. I don't know if I had mentioned before about tomatoes?? I have a different idea about tomatoes than any one I have ever talked to or read about Tomatoes are probably my favorite food but I do not use it with pasta so I feel I am not a traditional Italiano. I like to taste all the flavors in any food............ I am different in some ways, I know but this is the one I can not understand........it is a tradition,..........I appreciate traditions but some traditions go too far..........I am talking about a small thing only for me:::::............Why do all people I know want to eliminate seeds and skins from tomatoes? I love the skins and seeds! They have so much flavor and intensity and especially healthy for us................why does anyone want to take out seeds and skins in many foods when we have heard all skins and seeds are good for us. So what is wrong with skins and seeds in most traditional dishes.....it is obvious that without them there is a smoothness, less intensity. I love astringency so maybe I am a minority but all food tastes better with skins and seeds........... I am thinking about only eating seeds and skins for the rest of the Harvest. There will be some grains at times, but mostly grapes and other veggies from our garden including tomatoes zucchini and peppers. We even have beans. I am thinking about eating very little meat for two months during this short Harvest. Most harvests last close to three months, so I will get back to more meat, especially for Thanksgiving. Catalina has some Blues on in the winery. It takes me back to New Orleans.
	For any comments or questions I encourage any of you to e-mail.....david@coffaro.com Dave
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