2010 Claret Reserve Napa Valley

"Two thousand eleven was the coldest year ever over the course of the growing season, even if October was relatively warm," said Steve Pride.This estate at the top of Spring Mountain at the Napa/Sonoma line harvested most of its fruit in mid- to late November, with the reserve cabernet coming in on November 28--with no botrytis, according to Pride.The pHs are lower than usual.The estate's late-released reserve bottlings from 2010, another cold year here, are more powerful wines than the '11s, with considerable aging potential.

Following what Steve Pride described as "our coldest year ever" atop Spring Mountain, 2011 was even colder until September and October.But Pride describes the newer vintage as "great up here," as there was no botrytis."We didn't have a perfect fruit set but it wasn't bad up here, since we flower three weeks later than the valley floor.It's really another world at this altitude."Pride showed me a chart of degree days from March through October, comparing Pride Mountain Vineyard and Rutherford back to 1999.Whereas there were actually higher degree days here than in Rutherford in 2008, in 2010 and 2011 total degree days were significantly lower.Happily, the vineyards are above most of the fog, and good drainage makes it possible to harvest late without the same rot pressures that would affect lower-altitude vines or those with less air movement.