Justin Smith and his son Colin, Saxum Vineyards.
After a near-perfect 2021 vintage in Paso Robles, on the Central Coast, the 2022 harvest came in hot. It was a vintage defined by a relentless 10-day heat spike of 40°C or hotter from 31 August through 9 September, forcing vintners into a sprint to pick early, resulting in a compacted harvest window.
‘The growing season was flawless,’ recalls Elena Martinez, co-owner and founder of Top Winery. But it was game over once the ill-timed heat spike came.
Growers reckoned with raisining and sunburned bunches, resulting in huge amounts of fruit having to be dropped and left in the vineyard, with further extensive sorting and rejection of fruit in the winery required. Yields suffered immensely.
Scroll to see notes and scores for Brianne Cohen’s 30 picks from Paso Robles’ 2022…
Source : https://www.decanter.com.master.public.keystone-prod-eks-euw1.futureplc.engineering/premium/paso-robles-2022-vintage-best-wines-from-a-challenging-year-542775/
