The winter leading into 2022 combined less-than-average rainfall with higher-than-average temperatures, pushing our earliest bud break on record and yielding smaller clusters, and potential crop loads. April turned cold, and intermittent drizzle as the fruit set lowered yields a bit further. Mild summer temperatures followed, moderating earlier variations, until early September presented a vivid time stamp-a heat spell beginning Labor Day weekend that maintained daytime temperatures well over 100° for seven days. We fared well, as the majority of grapes had already been picked in anticipation of the heat, and the rest was scheduled to come in quickly. The resulting wines have gentle acids produced by a warm end to the growing season, yet they' re refreshingly elegant, lighter-bodied, and finely textured-unmistakably 2022 but quintessential Sonoma Coast.
