The 2022 growing year began with a single early-winter rainstorm. Spring saw some showers in March and April, followed by frosts after bud-break. There was strong shoot growth in May and flowering occurred under ideal conditions. Early July saw the onset of veraison and the yields were looking average – a relief after the small crop in drought-stricken 2021. Through the summer we enjoyed classic Napa Valley ripening with even, moderately warm days and cool nights – until Labor Day kicked off a severe 8-day heat wave. But we were in a fortunate geographic position – while our vines are off the valley floor, enjoying evening cooling and afternoon breezes which can extend the time to maturity, at 800 feet, they are not extremely high-altitude, either. As a producer inclined toward a more traditional style, we had already picked some blocks in the normal course before the heat wave arrived. The rest were ready to come in, so like most everyone across the Napa Valley, we scrambled to bring in the all of our fruit as the thermometer rose, finishing with the Mourvèdre and Petit Verdot on September 12.