2022 California Wine and Field Report

2018 and 2019 vintages shine, while many in Napa hang dry 2020 for insurance

The 2022 wine and field report consists of tastings across 12 AVAs from Temecula to Paso Robles and into Napa and Sonoma Valleys. The tastings cover over 50 wines with 25 specific notes on offerings producing very good to exceptional ratings. The tasting tour was conducted from July 4 to July 11, 2022.

Universally the 2019 vintage will be heralded as one for the ages. Napa red varietals – particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot offerings – have great structure, body and age-worthy acidity and tannins that will afford collectors great opportunities to pack their cellars since the 2010 vintage and the so-called “drought years” of 2012-2015.  Southern California had moderated heat spikes and great rainfall early, little frost and great canopy and early cover crop elements that lend great earth and herbaceous notes to many blends and even some single varietal offerings.

The 2018 and 2019 vintages in Paso Robles yielded a great number of outstanding wines. Top examples from both years are marked by energy, precision and complexity, and are destined for long aging, assuming readers have the willpower to resist their upfront, seductive fruitiness.
– Josh Raynolds, Vinuous

While 2018 was a good vintage by comparison the arduous early frost and heat spikes later in the same year – albeit a non-event for many lower Napa AVAs – may cause some pause but good wines may be found particularly with established winemakers who are accustomed to working through drought impacts and “game day” harvesting schedules to protect brix levels. While this was long before staff shortages due to the Covid 19 pandemic, some winemakers faced labor competition at harvest time and simply had to work with high sugar and potentially higher alcohol levels with their wines. Here blending and winemaking techniques will separate the winners and losers for the vintage.

And that brings us to 2020. I’m still reeling from the sight of the burn damage in Calistoga, down to the valley floor and foothills, that polluted much of upper and central Napa Valley crop, forcing many premium and collector labels to leave the fruit to hang well into January 2021 so insurance adjustors could make their inspections. What wine was sold will generally go to commercial concerns for high volume grocer labels, as much as 70% of all crop according to two separate vineyards in central and upper Napa Valley. Impacts are far more manageable in central coast and southern coast California AVAs which will give these regions shelf room and new looks for those seeking particularly red single varietal and blends from that vintage.

“I’m still reeling from the sight of the burn damage in Calistoga, down to the valley floor and foothills, that polluted much of upper and central Napa Valley crop, forcing many premium and collector labels to leave the fruit to hang well into January 2021 so insurance adjustors could make their inspections”

Overall inventories are high for yields in 2018 and 2019 which should offset higher demand pricing overall in the market except for key premier 2020 offerings. In which case most collectors and club members are already scooping up what they can of select Napa offerings that did make it to barrel that year. Early white varietal tastings from early harvest 2020 and the 2021 vintage look promising. While it is still too early to stake a claim on the 2021 vintage, most trade and experts we spoke with suggest red single varietal and blends will resemble 2018 offerings based on the similarity of weather and growing conditions. 

The exceptional notes come from two separate nested AVAs: three from Oakville AVA, two from Calistoga AVA and the final from a historic Napa Valley Chardonnay blend, all from the 2019 vintage.

The full ratings list and tasting notes for the report follow.

Very Good Ratings (87-90)

Cass Winery 2021 Oasis Rosé (Paso Robles AVA)                                                                                           

69% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache light press. Clear salmon color, with medium intensity aromas of strawberry, raspberry and pastry tart with developed characteristics. Dry with medium [+] acidity on the palate, with medium intensity flavors of same with additional wet stone notes, low alcohol (12.4 abv) nice body and medium finish. A very good wine to enjoy with friends on a summer day, over tapas or at your favorite sunny place. Enjoy now, would not benefit from further aging.

B Cellars 2019 Calesa Vineyard Pinot Noir (Petaluma Gap AVA)

At elevation with wind blown granite soils. Medium ruby color with medium intensity aromas of red cherry, currant, clove and baking spices with developing characteristics. Dry and medium acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with additional wet stone minerality and strap leather notes, medium tannins high alcohol (14.4 abv) and a long finish. Very good wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.

Pine Ridge Vineyard 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Stags Leap District AVA)

Sourced at elevation in SLD as well as oak knoll. Citrus pineapple and pastry notes. Some malolactic presence great pairing with sushi and seafood dishes. Very Good wine. Enjoy now, would not benefit from further aging.

Lorenzi Estate 2018 Estate Malbec (Temecula Valley AVA)

Medium ruby color with pronounced intensity aromas of bing cherry, pastry tart, clove and white pepper with developing characteristics. Medium [+] acidity and dry on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with saline and graphite traces, high alcohol (14.9 abv), medium tannins and a long finish. Very good wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.

Outstanding Ratings (91-95)

Tablas Creek, 2021 Cotes de Tablas (Adelaida District AVA)

Medium lemon color with medium [+] intensity aromas of grapefruit, melon rind, pastry crust, blossom, and white peach with developing characteristics. Dry and medium [+] acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with some salinity traces, full body and long finish. Outstanding wine. Can drink now has potential for aging (5-10 years) Received Regenerative Organic (ROC) certification.

Copia Vineyards & Winery, 2019 White Wine  (Templeton Gap, AVA)

75% Chardonnay 25% Viognier estate blend. Pale lemon color with medium intensity aromas of honeysuckle butterscotch jasmine and pastry tart with developing characteristics. Fresh and dry on the palate, medium acidity, and medium intensity flavors of same with trace minerality and grapefruit notes, medium body, high alcohol (13.8 abv) and long finish. Outstanding wine, drink now at your favorite surfing 🏄‍♂️ beach or picnic.

Caelesta Vineyard 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon + Petite Sirah  (Paso Robles AVA)

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% old vine Petite Sirah. Deep ruby color with pronounced aromas of baked plum, black cherry, cedar, black tea leaf 🍁with developing characteristics. Dry and medium acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with traces of brush sage and cocoa, medium tannins, medium alcohol (12.6 ABV which is ridiculous 🤯 due to the old vine petite Syrah which ripens at a much lower brix) and a long barnyard finish. Whoa. Outstanding wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.

Lorenzi Estate 2018 Corkscrew (Temecula Valley AVA)

Delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varietals. Medium ruby color with medium [+] intensity aromas of dark cherry, black currant, baking spice, clove, black tea leaf 🍁 with developing characteristics. Dry and medium acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with additional notes of black pepper and cooked blackberry pocket pie, high alcohol (15.1 abv) medium tannins and a long finish. Outstanding wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.

B Cellars 2021 Blend 23 (Sonoma Valley AVA)

Loire Valley style blend of Chardonnay from Star Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc and a splash of Viognier. Pale golden color with medium [+] intensity aromas of honeysuckle, lemon tart, pie crust and a splash of sunshine ☀️ with developing characteristic. Dry with medium acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with a touch of saline and butter, high alcohol (14.4 abv) full body and a long finish. Outstanding wine. Can drink now, has potential for further aging (up to 10 years).

Pine Ridge Vineyards 2018 Malbec (Stags Leap District AVA)

Deep purple color with medium [+] intensity aromas of red bing cherry, cola, clove and white pepper with developing characteristics. A sharp dryness and medium acidity on the palate with medium intensity flavors of same, medium tannins, high alcohol (15.3 ABV) and a medium finish. Very good wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.

Pine Ridge Vineyards 2019 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

100% varietal grown at 200 feet elevation. Deep ruby color with medium [+] intensity aromas of dark cherry, black currant, black tea leaf 🍁 and strap leather with developing characteristics. Dry and medium acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with additional loamy dust traces you would expect from Rutherford, medium grippy tannins, high alcohol (14.8 abv) and a long chewy finish. Outstanding wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.

Pine Ridge 2019 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep ruby color, with medium [+] intensity aromas of bing cherry jam, vanilla, clove and forest floor with developing characteristics. Dry and medium [+] acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with trace Klamata olive and crumble shale notes, medium tannins, high alcohol (15.5 abv well balanced without the petrol trace) and a prolonged finish. Outstanding wine from what appears to be a stellar vintage. Can drink now has potential for further aging.

Matthiasson 2020 Refosco (Oak Knoll AVA)

Harvested in August prior to the fires that devastated the majority of Napa Valley crop. Medium ruby color with lush aromatics of black plum, dark cherry, clove, black tea leaf 🍁 with developing characteristics. Dry and medium [-] acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with additional traces of river gravel, medium tannins, medium alcohol (11.5 abv) and a long finish. Outstanding wine. Drink now may not benefit from further aging

Turnbull Wine Cellars 2016 Fortuna Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville AVA)

Deep ruby color with pronounce intensity aromas of black cherry pie crust and violet petal with eucalyptus notes and developing characteristics. Dry and medium [+] acidity with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with additional traces of dark baked fruits and bay leaf, high alcohol (14.8 abv) medium [+] tannins and a prolonged finish. Outstanding wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging

Turnbull Wine Cellars 2015 Leopoldina Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville AVA)

Deep ruby color with medium [+] intensity aromas of blackberry cocoa black tea leaf and earth with developing characteristics. Dry and medium [+] acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with additional bramble and black pepper notes, medium tannins high alcohol (15.4 abv), and a long finish. Outstanding wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging

Grgich Hills 2019 Chardonnay Mijenko’s Selection (Napa Valley, AVA)

Pale lemon color with medium [+] intensity aromas of grapefruit, almond, elderflower, puff pastry with developing characteristics. Dry and medium acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with additional traces of white peach 🍑 with full body medium alcohol (13.5 ABV) and a long finish. Outstanding wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.

Venge Vineyards 2020 Scout’s Honor Proprietary Blend (Napa Valley AVA)

Deep purple color with pronounced aromas of blueberry and baked plum cooking spices and clove with developing characteristics. Dry and medium acidity on the palate with pronounced intensity flavors of same with additional cigar box and strap leather notes, medium [+] tannins high alcohol (est. 15.2 abv) and a longgg finish. Outstanding wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging

Venge Vineyards 2019 Igneous Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga AVA)

12YO estate Cabernet sourced 100% Calistoga designation. Deep purple color with medium [+] intensity perfume and red fruit aromatics with dark plum black pepper with developing characteristics. Dry and medium acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with additional trace of bramble and with chewy tannins high alcohol (est. 15.4 abv) and prolonged finish. Outstanding wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging

Venge Vineyards 2019 Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Cabernet (Oakville AVA)

Deep purple color with pronounced intensity aromas of cooked plum clove tobacco leaf and forest floor with developing characteristics. Dry and medium [+] acidity on the palate with petrol and chili pepper traces high alcohol (15.6 abv) crisp chewy tannins and a long finish. Outstanding wine. Hold this wine, and let it soften with another 5-10 years in the cellar.

Exceptional Ratings (+95)

B Cellars 2019 Frediani Vineyard Petite Syrah (Calistoga AVA)

Deep purple color with pronounce intensity aromas of dark cherry, black currant, clove, black tea leaf and leather that leap from the glass with developing characteristics. Dry and medium [+] acidity on the palate with pronounced intensity flavors of same with traces of licorice root and minerality, high alcohol (15.6 abv with no lingering petrol effects) medium tannins and a long finish. Exceptional wine paired with lamb 🐑 sliders. Can drink now has potential for further aging.

Turnbull Wine Cellars 2016 Pierra Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville AVA)

Deep ruby color with medium [+] intensity aromas of bing cherry, pocket pie, baking spice and valley earth, with developing characteristics. Dry and medium intensity acidity with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with traces of cocoa saddle leather and tobacco leaf, medium tannins high alcohol (xx abv) and a long, exquisite finish. Extraordinary wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging

Turnbull Wine Cellars 2019 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville AVA)

Deep ruby color with medium [+] intensity aromas of dark cherry, plum, black tea leaf, clove and gravel with developing characteristics. Dry and medium intensity acidity with medium intensity flavors of same with traces of saddle leather, dark chocolate, medium tannins high alcohol (14.5 abv) great body structure and a long finish. Exceptional wine.  Worth cellaring and revisiting every 5-10 years if your stock and patience will allow for further aging.

Venge Vineyards 2019 Kenefick Ranch Vineyard Merlot (Calistoga AVA)

100% Merlot from the dry creek running through the property. Deep purple color with pronounced intensity aromas of lavender, dark fruits, black tea leaf and sage with developing characteristics. Dry and medium [+] intensity flavors of same with additional traces of rich cherry jam with medium tannins high alcohol (est. 15.2 abv) full body and and long finish. Extraordinary wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging

Venge Vineyards 2019 360 Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville AVA)

Deep ruby color with medium [+] intensity aromas of raspberry jam and tart cherry that leaps from the glass along with clove, green tea, white pepper with developing characteristics. Dry and medium acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with chewy tannins high alcohol (est. 15.2 abv) and a long caressing finish. Exceptional wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging

Grgich Hills 2019 Tasting of Paris Commemorative Chardonnay (Napa Valley AVA)

Pale lemon color with exquisite aromas of cream, butter, melon, green apple, peach and vanilla with developing characteristics. Dry and medium acidity on the palate with medium [+] intensity flavors of same with some wet stone minerality, full body, medium alcohol (13.5 ABV) and a longggg finish. Exceptional wine. Can drink now has potential for further aging.