2022 Pulido~Walker Cabernet Sauvignon Policy Estate 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, ultimately making for a smaller crop.

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.

Farming in the Policy Vineyard is exemplary, and that was key to withstanding several days of temperatures above 110°F. The soils here are deep, with good capacity for holding moisture, and the vines have a larger root base so they remained well irrigated. Once again Clone 7 was the star of the vintage, coming through seemingly unperturbed. All of that fruit made the final bottling.