The 2016 growing season was about as close to ideal as we can get. We received
an average amount of rain over winter, with only one big storm in early March
that topped off soil moisture. Spring was very pleasant, so the vines got off to
a great, albeit early, start. Average temperatures continued through summer,
with the occasional heat spike that Cabernet seems to love. Warm temperatures
continued into the fall, so the Cabernet harvest started about 7-10 days earlier
than normal. Northern Alexander Valley kicked off in mid-September, and we
wrapped up in the second week of October on the other end of the Valley.