Tom Scott Vineyard Newsletter - Spring 2013 - Barn Burner Cabernet Sauvignon
Dear Friends,
Vintage 2013 is under way! Every year has its own unique set of circumstances … and 2013 is no exception.
As is our custom, we began pruning on Valentine's Day, February 14th, because clearly hard work like this must be a labor of love. The canopy was particularly heavy this year due to last year's vigorous growth, but as he does every year, Tom made several work-related innovations that made the job of pruning easier. This year we each used an electric cart pulling a wagon. We were able to prune four vines, putting the cuttings directly into the wagon, before moving on down the row to the next set of four vines. When the wagons were full, we off-loaded directly into a dump trailer. When the trailer was full, Tom took the cuttings to the composting dump.
 From the first year we pruned the vineyard, we've used electric pruning shears. The shears are attached to a battery pack that we each wear. This year we attached the battery packs to the electric carts and simply attached a long power cord to the shears, allowing us ease of movement without carrying the weight of the packs. Easier and easier, so what could go wrong? After pruning just over 800 plants, Lauren's rotator cuff decided enough was enough! So, for the first time in nine years, we called in a crew to help finish the vineyard. Tom worked with the crew pruning and Lauren and Tom tied down the remaining vines and handled the finishing touches, reducing canes and adjusting the spurs. So, to all of you visitors that have asked us year after year, how long can we do this ourselves, the answer is "nine years!"
So into the future! The vines are already showing green growth and we are on frost alert. Once new growth is present, temperatures below 28 degrees, for a sustained period of 30 minutes, can damage it. At 34 degrees the sensors in the vineyard activate an alarm in our home, and Tom begins the late night, or early morning vigil of monitoring the temperature. A sprinkler system in the east field is activated at 34 degrees; this holds the air temp at 32 degrees. If the temperature continues to drop, Tom will activate the wind machine, and if necessary the vineyard heaters. Frost season generally ends the first of June and in a usual season the alarm may go off three or four times, generally without Tom having to take any action more than monitoring the situation. Still, you never know what will happen (remembering 2007) and you must always be ready, so we hang close to home and guard our new vintage.
 This year from January to March we had no rain. This made for great pruning weather, but leaves us with long-term questions. While our annual rainfall was on a par with previous years, we're waiting to determine what this prolonged dry spell will mean for our vines. From first growth in April until late July or early August we don't water our plants, during this growth period the vines are being sustained by ground water. So for the next several months we'll be watching and monitoring the vines closely, making sure they have enough ground water to sustain canopy growth while remaining water-stressed enough to produce those great flavors we've come to expect from Barn Burner. After the vines stop producing canopy and begin focusing on ripening the fruit, usually early August, Tom will continue watering cycles, as called for by the stress level of the vines, until the fruit is harvested in late October.
We've had lots of visitors this year to share with us the beautiful early spring-like weather, so we've been able to taste a lot of Barn Burner verticals. While we've concluded guests are often "even" or "odd," preferring the even or odd years, one thing is clear … all vintages are aging beautifully. The 2007 has made what Tom calls a "quantum leap" and is currently tasting stellar. If you've got it, drink it! If you don't have some tucked away in the cellar, you should consider ordering it now while we still have some available.
This March we participated in the 49ers Foundation Winter Fest at the Resort at Squaw Creek. The 49ers really know how to host a weekend and it proved a record breaking success, raising funds to support their "Safe, On Track and In School" programs.
 June will see us pouring our wine at the Barrel Auction at the Wine Auction Napa Valley. Come by and taste (and bid) on our 2011 Barn Burner. We're also offering an "E-Lot," so you can bid online (starting May 26th) and win an opportunity to brings friends to the vineyard for a tour, tasting and lunch.
Also in June, Barn Burner will be the featured wine at NatureBridge's 2013 Annual Gala. NatureBridge brings children and nature together in a science-based program in an outdoor classroom setting.
Thank you again for the pictures and comments about our wine. We'll try to share them more regularly on Facebook. We do so appreciate hearing from you. If you have not already done so, please "Like" and follow us on Facebook, as this makes sharing, in between sending these notes, a little easier.
Remember ... life like wine is all about balance.
Enjoy!
 Tom and Lauren Scott
www.tomscottvineyard.com
www.tomscottvineyard.com/wineshop
info@tomscottvineyard.com
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