2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot
The grapes in this wine come from two different sub-regions in the Paso Robles AVA. The Templeton Gap on the West side of Paso Robles where Whale Rock is located, is the coolest district and has limestone soils, marine fossils and coastal influence.
Jack Knife and Pine Hawk Vineyards, both in the Estrella district on the east side of Paso, are warmer during the day and cooler at night and experience a diurnal shift of 40-50 degrees between day and night-time temperatures. Jack Knife has steep hillsides and is at 1300 feet elevation. Pine Hawk has gentle rolling hills. Both these vineyards have gravelly loam soils.
Vintage 2022 was extremely challenging, especially in Paso Robles. After a cool summer we had a nine-day heat wave which started during Labor Day weekend. The heat was unrelenting day into night. The Cabernet was behind because of the cool summer growing season and the vines shut down and some sites due to challenging water supplies didn’t fully recover.
Whale Rock Vineyard was hit the hardest with a stunted canopy due to a diminished water table because of a prolonged drought. The west side of Paso Robles has had more issues with water than the east side. Because of the lowered water table, the limestone rich soils were unable to retain enough water to sustain the vines and the clusters were approximately 50% raisins after the heat wave. Unfortunately, this was about 6 or 7 weeks before the grapes were physiologically ready for harvest. When the heat wave broke it rained for two days followed unseasonably cool weather. Harvest lasted for what felt like forever.
The grapes were destemmed then punched down and pumped over each, once a day. After fermentation the wine was aged in 40% new French barrels for 17 months prior to bottling.
The wine is made in a focused, elegant style. Aromas of cassis, red berries are followed with fragrant aromas are followed by classic flavors of plums, cassis and cedar with a savory finish. All the vineyards in this wine are certified organic.
