Vineyard Update 2: Fairview Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir

Kirk Williams, the grower at Fairview Ranch Vineyard in Santa Lucia, called me with the latest numbers. These numbers were taken around 10 am. before the heat wave started. The heat is supposed to last 4 days.
Samples taken: Thursday, 09/11/03

Clone	Sugar Level	Titratable Acid	pH
667	25.3 Brix (22.4 Brix last week; +2.9)	0.89 TA	3.27 pH
Pommard 4	23.9 Brix (22.7 Brix last week; +1.2)	0.86 TA	3.33 pH

I'm going down on Saturday morning to decide when to pick. Kirk said that Gary Franscioni and Dan Lee from Morgan will ride out the heat wave to get some extra "hang time".
The acids levels are too high compared with sugar. However, the sugar (Brix) will sky rocket with a heat wave. Last year's Pinot was impacted by 4 day heat wave; it went up +3 Brix. I don't want to relive that scenario again. The last thing I want is an overripe Pinot Noir.