2021 Vintage Summary
With only about 14 inches of rain for the 2021 growing season, the plants were challenged from the outset of the year. A cold and dry late winter and early spring brought some uneven growth and in general the plants were more stressed than usual due to the drought conditions. The canopies were a little smaller than average going into the flowering and thankfully the weather was ideal and mild. Flowering is the most important time as it determines the quality and quantity and 2021 yielded an average to slightly below average crop size with outstanding quality. Largely, the growing season saw mild temperatures but with several heat events scattered throughout the season. Due to the changing climate, fog intrusion has been minimal the last few vintages. Fog is important in keeping the nighttime temperatures cool while refreshing the plants and keeping them hydrated, especially under severe conditions. 2021 thankfully saw the return of the fog and saved the vintage and the season finished up around the historical average for temperatures. August and September did see some elevated temperatures, but the morning fog and slow ramp up of daily temperatures were ideal and mitigated any heat damage to the fruit. Despite the inauspicious start to the year, the wines showcase terrific verve, character, and site specificity.
2024 Fall Release Preview