jeidsath wrote:the ripest and sweetest
That choice may have been a reflection of a flavour preference for the wine, or at the very least, that decision would have had an inadvertant effect on the flavour of the wine. I'm not suggesting that the vines in the story were Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, but if they were (and the colours mentioned throughout the text suggest that they may have been a related variety), then the progression of flavorants throughout the ripening process, might be like this one in figure 5 of
Bisson (2001).
Bisson, L. 2001. In search of optimal grape maturity. Practical Winery & Vineyard.
July/August. Pp. 32-43.