2022 Pulido~Walker Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard

The 2022 Napa Valley growing season was a study in contrasts. An atmospheric river dumped more than four inches of rain in a 24-hour period in October of 2021, capping a two-year dry spell and setting up the vines with a good amount of ground moisture as they woke from winter dormancy. The rains petered out fairly early in the spring of 2022, however, making for an especially small yield in the Melanson Vineyard, where the steep grade and stony soil tend to retain less moisture.

The summer months were relatively uneventful, despite being on the warmer side. We saw better vine development than in the two previous seasons, with a full canopy that would stand the fruit in good stead when the thermometer spiked in September. With the Labor Day heat event, what had been a fairly sedate growing season became a critical test of our abilities.

As temperatures across the valley rose above 110°F and stayed there for several days, we were grateful for the elevation of the Melanson Vineyard, as well as some afternoon shading, good canopy development, and overall vine maturity—all important factors in how well the fruit fared under such stressful conditions.