The 2021 growing season started off a bit cold but soon warmed up to normal temperatures. Sonoma County was truly blessed to miss the serious heat waves that affected other parts of California and the Northwest. Instead, we experienced a perfectly “normal” summer with moderate temperatures and foggy mornings. Harvest was a bit earlier than normal, and the ongoing dry conditions lowered yields but the flavor concentration in the grapes was outstanding. We harvest our grapes before dawn in the cooler temperatures before sunrise. The grapes arrive at the winery cold and crisp within just hours of being harvested. We diligently hand-sort and destem; the berries then ferment in open-top, stainless-steel tanks. The barrel regime is different from our estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which uses a mix of American and French, as this wine is aged in 100% French oak barrels.