2008 Wine May Offer a Bit More Smoke Than Usual…
Remember all those California forest fires in 2008? Well guess what, you might be drinking them with your next bottle of pinot:
And then, biblically, came the blazes throughout the Northern California hills but notably in Mendocino, where the 129 fires of the Lightning Complex blaze would ultimately burn more than 54,000 acres. It was, in the words of one Mendocino County vineyard owner, like “nuclear winter for several weeks.”
It also was the first time in recent memory that California vines were subjected to such smoke. How would the wines fare?
Bottom line: We’ll see, pretty soon, as 2008 reds come to market. (2008 whites are not terribly effected.) But in many cases, expect at least a hint of that smoke character in your vino…
The Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia also underwent quite a potentially damaging summer with bushfires throughout the state. It will be interesting who the smoke taint will manifest in the wines here too.
The Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia also underwent quite a potentially damaging summer with bushfires throughout the state. It will be interesting who the smoke taint will manifest in the wines here too.