The term "block" has been used in vineyards for years. It's usually used to denote any acreage of a given variety of grapes. Doesn't matter if it's an acre or ten acres. It's just a "block."
In the photo to the right, you can see Block One in the bottom right corner, and then Block Two above it (towards the setting sun). Block Six is off the the left and is planted more densely with closer rows.
Not sure how the terminology came about. John used to refer to the "Upper" and "Lower" Chardonnay.....The "Upper" is now "Block Two." Block Five--before it was referred to as such--was about five varieties. When I needed to refer to it as a set of rows of vines, I just counted blocks and it became "Block Five." Pretty straight-forward. And that started the numbering of the blocks here.
We now have seven blocks of vines here at what we are now terming the Cadenza Vineyards. Here's an overview list.....
1 - Chardonnay (0.5 acres)
2 - Chardonnay (1.5 acres)
3 - Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 acres)
4 - Merlot (3.0 acres)
5 - (currently unplanted)
6 - Petit Verdot (1.25 acres) and Cabernet Franc (1.0 acres)
7 - Sauvignon Blanc (1.0 acres), Viognier (0.75 acres), Semillon (0.5 acres), and Albarino (1.0 acres)
Each block is a bit different, and there are reasons behind why each has a certain variety planted in it. I'll try to sketch out my thoughts a bit here.
Block One
This is our young Chardonnay block, planted in 2015 to clone 548 and 96 on 101-14 rootstock from Mercier nursery. 548 is a small clustered clone, and 96 is not. I felt like we needed more Chardonnay at the time, and being situated right next to our other block seemed appropriate.
Block Two
This block was originally planted in 1973 to the Wente clone of Chardonnay. Rows are 12 feet wide and the vines were planted eight feet apart. This was pretty strenuous on the Chardonnay vines, and after time I eventually inter-planted these two four feet apart.
Over time, vines that died were replaced with new clones: Martini clone 4 in the early 1980s, the Colmar clone and 96 in the 1990s, then in 2004 I added in 95, 124, and 548. More 95 and 96 was to follow in 2012. This field blend of clones is now the signature character of Chardonnay at Allegro. While a lot of Chardonnays on the market are from one single clone or a blend of two, ours is host to so many clones that it's hard to pick out one distinct flavor. (Most clones have specific clonal flavor tendencies.) Our Chardonnay tastes uniquely like, well, our Chardonnay.
Block Three
The second of our two old plantings, this Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard was also planted back in 1973. The original clones (and the replacements in the 1980s) are no longer known, but suffice it to say that they are undoubtedly from California. All of the replacements (and interplantings like in the Chardonnay) have been of French clones. These seem to ripen earlier and produce more deeply colored and flavored wines.
Block Four
This is most likely the premier site on the property with its southeast facing slope. We planted Merlot clone 181 on 101-14 rootstock in 2015 at 1,895 vines per acre (that's seven foot rows with a meter between each vine.) This is the density of all of our newer plantings, and it allows us to crop each vine a little lower in order to achieve even riper flavors than ever before.)
The Merlot vines were chosen due to the fact that this block contains a high clay content combined with high iron. Viticulturally in the world, this matches with Pomerol in Bordeaux, widely known for their amazing Merlot-based wines. Seemed like the obvious choice for the site.
Hindsight being 20/20, we now also know that the base of this block is one of the coldest on the property and we have sustained bud damage these past two winters. Merlot may make some of the best wines we've ever grown here, but we wish it were just a little tougher in the field.
Block Five
Currently we have nothing planted in this block. Historically there was Seyval, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Merlot, Traminette and Cabernet Franc. I'm hoping that this is the future site of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot (with some thought to maybe more Cabernet Franc and maybe Tannat if it can make it through the winter and how about some Mourvedre if we ever get enough heat for it and maybe Grenache because I really like Grenache and.....
Block Six
This block was part of our 2015 planting, and it had never been planted before. We settled on Petit Verdot (both the 400 and 1058 clones) and Cabernet Franc clone 214. The row orientation--the same as Blocks 1 and 2 and 3--doesn't lend itself perfectly for red grapes, and more aggressive leaf-pulling is required to make sure the pyrazines are tamed early in the ripening process. We've been thrilled with how well the PV has performed (perhaps our most consistent performer) with the wines it has produced and how it has fared the winters. The Cabernet Franc has been less consistent, and seems to have taken a hit last winter as well.
Block Seven
This block has a slight northeasterly slope to it, so when we planted it in 2016 the thought was that it was best suited for white grapes. The soils seem to have less clay in them (which leads to a little more drought-stress than would be desirable for whites), but the slope angle will hopefully help retain more acidity and freshness in the wines. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon were chosen as they are classic Bordeaux varieties, and since we're all-Bordeaux-all-the-time, it was a natural fit.
As for the Viognier, I'm just in love with the wine. I think it makes some of the most interesting and resonating whites I've ever tasted, and comes with its own voluptuous mouthfeel as well. Now, if we could only get it to make it through winters ok as well as yield predictably I'd be happy!
Lastly, the Albarino is in the toughest part of that site, but it's also the toughest grape. Thick-skins and cold-hardiness are what I call "insurance characteristics" and that's really why we planted it. It usually makes lovely wines (as evidenced by our 2018 offering) and hopefully it will continue to perform consistently.
So, that's the overview of the vienyard. Hoping this helps you all understand a little behind the curtain as to the why behind Cadenza Vineyards. This is a special place, and I am grateful to be a part of it. Thanks for your support of this project.
In the photo to the right, you can see Block One in the bottom right corner, and then Block Two above it (towards the setting sun). Block Six is off the the left and is planted more densely with closer rows.
Not sure how the terminology came about. John used to refer to the "Upper" and "Lower" Chardonnay.....The "Upper" is now "Block Two." Block Five--before it was referred to as such--was about five varieties. When I needed to refer to it as a set of rows of vines, I just counted blocks and it became "Block Five." Pretty straight-forward. And that started the numbering of the blocks here.
We now have seven blocks of vines here at what we are now terming the Cadenza Vineyards. Here's an overview list.....
1 - Chardonnay (0.5 acres)
2 - Chardonnay (1.5 acres)
3 - Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 acres)
4 - Merlot (3.0 acres)
5 - (currently unplanted)
6 - Petit Verdot (1.25 acres) and Cabernet Franc (1.0 acres)
7 - Sauvignon Blanc (1.0 acres), Viognier (0.75 acres), Semillon (0.5 acres), and Albarino (1.0 acres)
Each block is a bit different, and there are reasons behind why each has a certain variety planted in it. I'll try to sketch out my thoughts a bit here.
Block One
This is our young Chardonnay block, planted in 2015 to clone 548 and 96 on 101-14 rootstock from Mercier nursery. 548 is a small clustered clone, and 96 is not. I felt like we needed more Chardonnay at the time, and being situated right next to our other block seemed appropriate.
Block Two
This block was originally planted in 1973 to the Wente clone of Chardonnay. Rows are 12 feet wide and the vines were planted eight feet apart. This was pretty strenuous on the Chardonnay vines, and after time I eventually inter-planted these two four feet apart.
Over time, vines that died were replaced with new clones: Martini clone 4 in the early 1980s, the Colmar clone and 96 in the 1990s, then in 2004 I added in 95, 124, and 548. More 95 and 96 was to follow in 2012. This field blend of clones is now the signature character of Chardonnay at Allegro. While a lot of Chardonnays on the market are from one single clone or a blend of two, ours is host to so many clones that it's hard to pick out one distinct flavor. (Most clones have specific clonal flavor tendencies.) Our Chardonnay tastes uniquely like, well, our Chardonnay.
Block Three
The second of our two old plantings, this Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard was also planted back in 1973. The original clones (and the replacements in the 1980s) are no longer known, but suffice it to say that they are undoubtedly from California. All of the replacements (and interplantings like in the Chardonnay) have been of French clones. These seem to ripen earlier and produce more deeply colored and flavored wines.
Block Four
This is most likely the premier site on the property with its southeast facing slope. We planted Merlot clone 181 on 101-14 rootstock in 2015 at 1,895 vines per acre (that's seven foot rows with a meter between each vine.) This is the density of all of our newer plantings, and it allows us to crop each vine a little lower in order to achieve even riper flavors than ever before.)
The Merlot vines were chosen due to the fact that this block contains a high clay content combined with high iron. Viticulturally in the world, this matches with Pomerol in Bordeaux, widely known for their amazing Merlot-based wines. Seemed like the obvious choice for the site.
Hindsight being 20/20, we now also know that the base of this block is one of the coldest on the property and we have sustained bud damage these past two winters. Merlot may make some of the best wines we've ever grown here, but we wish it were just a little tougher in the field.
Block Five
Currently we have nothing planted in this block. Historically there was Seyval, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Merlot, Traminette and Cabernet Franc. I'm hoping that this is the future site of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot (with some thought to maybe more Cabernet Franc and maybe Tannat if it can make it through the winter and how about some Mourvedre if we ever get enough heat for it and maybe Grenache because I really like Grenache and.....
Block Six
This block was part of our 2015 planting, and it had never been planted before. We settled on Petit Verdot (both the 400 and 1058 clones) and Cabernet Franc clone 214. The row orientation--the same as Blocks 1 and 2 and 3--doesn't lend itself perfectly for red grapes, and more aggressive leaf-pulling is required to make sure the pyrazines are tamed early in the ripening process. We've been thrilled with how well the PV has performed (perhaps our most consistent performer) with the wines it has produced and how it has fared the winters. The Cabernet Franc has been less consistent, and seems to have taken a hit last winter as well.
Block Seven
This block has a slight northeasterly slope to it, so when we planted it in 2016 the thought was that it was best suited for white grapes. The soils seem to have less clay in them (which leads to a little more drought-stress than would be desirable for whites), but the slope angle will hopefully help retain more acidity and freshness in the wines. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon were chosen as they are classic Bordeaux varieties, and since we're all-Bordeaux-all-the-time, it was a natural fit.
As for the Viognier, I'm just in love with the wine. I think it makes some of the most interesting and resonating whites I've ever tasted, and comes with its own voluptuous mouthfeel as well. Now, if we could only get it to make it through winters ok as well as yield predictably I'd be happy!
Lastly, the Albarino is in the toughest part of that site, but it's also the toughest grape. Thick-skins and cold-hardiness are what I call "insurance characteristics" and that's really why we planted it. It usually makes lovely wines (as evidenced by our 2018 offering) and hopefully it will continue to perform consistently.
So, that's the overview of the vienyard. Hoping this helps you all understand a little behind the curtain as to the why behind Cadenza Vineyards. This is a special place, and I am grateful to be a part of it. Thanks for your support of this project.
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