So all is well here in Montalcino, although it took over 24 hours to get here the weather and the view was well worth the wait. Growing conditions here have been almost perfect, PJ is speculating that the consorsio is going to declare the 2009 growing season 5 stars, I have heard other people comparing this vintage to the magnificent 1997 vintage. Of course we wont know what the wine is like until it is released in five years but the if the last few days are what it has been like all summer it very well could be one of the great vintages. Beautiful even daytime temps, full sun and cool but not cold nights. Yesterday was my first day of work and luckily I arrived before the harvest, and am feeling the excitement and the pressure building towards the day when the sugars in the grapes reach the right level. PJ received most of his equipment the week before I arrived, and we have been getting the machinery ready, testing it, and cleaning. The feeling here is calm, if only because we know that in less than a week the full storm of the harvest will be upon us. I spent over an hour stripped down to my underwear inside PJs new 30hl Taransaud botte (large barrels) powerwashing the insides with hot water trying to remove as much of the hard green tannin as possible. Things have been good so far, basically just running around making sure we have all the things that we need. More to come on Monday when we begin the harvest!