The 2005 Vintage
The vines woke up early in 2005 getting an early start.  May was very cool and wet, delaying bloom and harvest.  This combined with an above average crop load could have made for a problematic vintage, but an exceedingly benign and long Indian summer enabled harvest to last almost until Thanksgiving.  We were able to harvest each vineyard block at its optimum ripeness.

The 2004 Vintage
Very good weather characterized this vintage. Moderate spring temperatures brought a relatively early bloom. June began with a few hot days, but mild weather prevailed again until a brief hot spell in late September. Rainfall was below average with light storms, each in the last week of the month, occurring in June, September and October. Overall, moderate weather produced a prolonged growing season, and grapes were left hanging for an extended ripening period to develop the best flavors.

The 2003 Vintage
We had a very cool growing season in 2003. The vines "woke up" (bud break) at their usual mid-March time, but a very cool May and June made this a cool growing year. Some autumn heat enabled us to fully ripen our Chardonnay and make this exceptional wine.

The 2002 Vintage
We had a very mild growing season in 2002. Bud break and bloom were normal. Rainfall was slightly above average. Spring through early summer temperatures were cool and mild. In July and August there were a few days of hot weather followed by moderate temperatures. Harvest was about a week later than normal, but overall the 2002 vintage was cool with an average-sized crop of very good quality.

The 2001 Vintage
Very good weather characterized this vintage. Moderate spring temperatures brought a relatively early bloom. June began with a few hot days, but mild weather prevailed again until a brief hot spell in late September. Rainfall was below average with light storms, each in the last week of the month, occurring in June, September and October. Overall, moderate weather produced a prolonged growing season, and grapes were left hanging for an extended ripening period to develop the best flavors.

The 2000 Vintage
The calendar year began with below average rainfall, but 20 inches in the first two months brought the total to above average. Good bud break occurred mid-March, and warm weather with a few showers preceded bloom. Shoot and cluster growth were nicely balanced. Moderate temperatures followed a heat wave in mid-June and the summer was cooler than usual. Crop levels appeared average to slightly above. Harvest began a little later than normal, in mid-September. By the end of the season, yields were average and quality was very good. A small heat wave later in September was the exception during a cool harvest that extended into early November.

The 1999 Vintage
Like the previous vintage, this one began with a cold spring that delayed bud break up to a month. Again, bloom was cool and elongated, and yields eventually ranged from modest to average. Cluster counts were good, but the berries didn't size up, so bunches were small at harvest. A storm during the third week in September was followed by a week-long heat wave that seemed to ripen every variety at once. Artesa received Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain ahead of Carneros Pinot Noir as the first two weeks of October brought ideal weather and a busy harvest. The year produced vibrant, juicy Chardonnays and Pinots, and well-balanced Cabs and Merlots – not as big as the 1997's, but more intense than the 1998's.

The 1998 Vintage
The cool, rainy spring extended to June, and bud break was delayed over a month. The period of bloom was cool, late and elongated, and yields eventually ranged from modest to good, closer to normal but down 20% to 50% from the previous record vintage. As the mild summer moved toward fall, there were a few hot days in early August, a few rainy days late in the month, and more rain in late September. Finally, October rewarded the patient with a warm, sunny period of Indian Summer and harvest extended into November. The long, cool growing season produced bright fruit, good acidity and well-resolved tannins, and the wines were very appealing early in their development.

The 1997 Vintage
After a wet winter, spring was moderate and bud break arrived ahead of normal. The growing season began early and, with consistently very warm temperatures throughout summer and fall, stayed early. Bloom conditions were nearly ideal, and fruit set was uniform and very large. After two rather light harvests, the vines were ready to carry record yields, and the weather complied beautifully. The record harvest was unique in that the copious quantity of fruit was remarkably balanced and concentrated. One of the earliest harvests in recent years offered rich, well-balanced and lushly textured wines, and the quality of the Bordeaux varieties was exceptional.