The Wonderland Project No.9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

"Vineyard: On a west-facing slope, above the fog line, on the northern ridge of the Atlas Peak AVA, we farm Cabernet Sauvignon clones 412, 4, 8, and 337C planted mostly to rootstocks 3309C and 1103P. The soils here, Hambright and Guenoc, are dominated by red volcanic material with lots of flat rock, providing exceptional drainage to the hillside vineyard.

Vintage: 2023 began with a series of impressive rainstorms that saturated the soils
and filled water reservoirs in January. Cold temperatures and a wet winter kept the
vines in hibernation until late Spring, with budbreak only starting in late March. A
cool Spring kept vines in bloom for longer and moderate Summer temperatures
extended the growing season even more. This temperate growing season harkened
back to pre-drought years and allowed the grapes to gradually ripen. The weather
remained steadily temperate throughout the picking season which allowed grapes
to develop flavor, and a push of heat early in October encouraged lingering grapes to
ripen.A cold winter with average rainfall delayed typical budbreak by a couple of weeks. The dry and warm spring that followed hastened the vines’ growth and a temperate summer provided an ideal condition for the start of veraison. Late summer heat waves prompted an early harvest beginning on August 13th.

Cellar: Harvest began on September 15th 2022. The grapes were fully destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks for up to 29 days. After pressing, the wine was aged in 70% neutral and 30% new French oak barrels for 18 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered. " -Winery notes