Too busy to post pics, but we're finishing up putting clips on the 2nd of 3 wires today; many shoots are at the top wire. After a uniform budbreak, the subsequent cooler weather coupled with apical dominance has lead to some petty raggedy looking vines this year; end shoots tall and straight, middle ones shorter and floppy. The great weather over the last ten days has helped fill in the wires, and the warm, dry, sunny weather forecast for the next two weeks should finish filling them in. Looks like an expensive year setting the wires and positioning shoots.
'Saw the first signs of bloom today, 2 days later than last year. Given our lack of heating degree days so far this season, it is a hopeful sight. With the great weather that is forecast, maybe we'll have a short bloom and set period. If the forecast holds, given the great recent weather and vine growth, we also may not see the inflorescence necrosis we saw last year - we'll see.
On the down side, last year was one of the latest Oregon Pinot harvests; with the later bloom this year, it's going to be another long, anxious season...
