The 2010 Chateau Oiseau Chilean Malbec and Pinot Noir cuvées have been racked following completion of fermentation and have been inoculated with MLF bacteria to start the malolactic fermentation. Not much to show--and kind of boring, actually.
But in the vineyard, things are coming along well! The one year old vines in Clos Oiseau and Cotes du Oiseau are up to the trellis wire now (first couple pictures)! And the 3 week (!) old vines in grow tubes in the front yard (as yet unnamed vineyard) are rapidly climbing the grow tubes. Two have actually reached the top already. GROW TUBES RULE!!!
The wild labrusca vines in the back yard are taking over not only the simple trellis I built, but the entire woods behind it. Unfortunately, while they flowered this spring, there is not a sign of a grape. I have seen this variety of wild grape all over town now that I have an eye for it, and I have yet to see a single grape. This stuff might think it's grapes, but it's pretty useless if it doesn't actually make any. I might have to pull it out and plant something more useful in the spring. I'm toying with the idea of planting a few Cabernet Franc vines, which are said to perform fairly well in this part of Massachusetts.
-Jacques
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