During the winter of 2023, California and the Napa Valley received approximately 160% of normal rainfall. In the central Sierra Mountain range, it was the highest recorded snowfall in history. This was the third largest rainfall in my history in the Napa Valley exceeded only 2017 and 1982.

With so much groundwater in the root zone, the grape vines took their time coming out of dormancy. This was on average one month later than normal as was bloom, and veraison, (when the fruit turns colors). Both the spring and summer were mild with temperature in the low eighties much of the growing season with only a few heat spikes into the nineties.

Salexis hand-picked our Chardonnay from the Napa Valley Carneros vineyard and the Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard on October 11th which was a full month later than the typical September 10th to 15th harvesting. Our first Cabernet Sauvignon was picked on October 21st. The second pick of our Cabernet Sauvignon, along with some Petit Verdot was harvested on October 28th. Lastly, our Merlot came off the vines on November 2. Crush can be summed up into one word: LATE!

With the extended hang time on vines, the resulting wines should have a myriad of flavors and mature tannins.