2018 Vintage

The vintage commenced with precipitation much below average, though reservoirs remained full through the season after a very wet 2017. January and February were warm, resulting in premature budbreak in select parcels, increasing worries of frost as nighttime temperatures dipped below freezing on February 23^rd and 24^th. Luckily, no harm was done, and the following months saw temperatures at, and often below, seasonal averages. 2018 was a classically cool growing season in the Sta. Rita Hills- an epic year for SLS's cool climate varietals.

The 2017 vintage commenced with a refreshingly wet winter, which flushed vineyard soils of built-up salts and promoted healthy root and cover crop growth in the early season. Bud break occurred in mid-March and fruit set in mid-May. Winter rains deferred the need to irrigate until June, but also required heavy shoot thinning, leafing, and hedging, as vine canopies were quite vigorous. Average August temperatures were followed by three heat waves through September, which made picking decisions challenging and fruit sorting imperative. Hard work resulted in wines with a rich fruit core, underlaid by an elegance from the early- and mid-season cool temperatures.