The 2021 vintage was of excellent quality, especially for well-selected sites. With very little rain during winter, the drought had a large effect on vineyards. Canopies and berries were small across all vineyard sites, lending to a concentration of aromas and flavors in the finished wines. The cooler spring delayed shoot growth in some vineyards and growers had to be careful not to over-correct and push vines for more growth later on. The mild summer and light crop helped speed up ripening. In addition, the hills did not cool off at night, which expedited ripening ahead of the valley floor in some cases. The harvest started early and ended early and abruptly, with over 10 inches of rain falling shortly after the last grapes were picked in mid-October.
