The 2025 Harvest: A Vintage Worth the Wait
There’s a certain rhythm to the vineyard thatnever changes—the quiet of winter pruning, the anxious optimism of bud break,the steady hum of growth through summer. But every year tells its own story. And 2025? This is one we won’t forget.
The Growing Season
This year started with intention. To mitigate frost risk, we made the call to begin pruning later than usual, starting in early April. As we worked through the vines, we tailored our approach shoot by shoot—leaving two buds on stronger canes and one on weaker growth to ensure balance from the very beginning.
Spring unfolded gently, with minimal frost pressure and a clean, even fruit set. As the canopy developed, we took a more targeted approach to sun management, applying shade cloth only on the southwest-facing side of the rows—the side most exposed to the intensity of the afternoon sun. This allowed us to protect the fruit where it mattered most while still encouraging even ripening across the vineyard.
By the time we reached shoot thinning, thevines had shown strong early vigor. We adjusted crop load accordingly, dropping to two clusters per shoot on stronger growth and one cluster on weaker shoots.This level of precision early in the season set the stage for what would becomean incredibly balanced crop.
The Climate Story
If there’s a word for the 2025 vintage, it’s “composed.”
The summer was notably mild by Paso Robles standards, with only a handful of days exceeding 105°F. Instead, we experienced long stretches of ideal growing weather—warm days, cool nights, and steady progression through the season. As we approached veraison, we allowed the vinesto experience a touch of stress, encouraging concentration and character in thefruit. Post-veraison, we applied moderate stress techniques to guide ripening without pushing the vines too hard.
By early September, conditions shifted intonear-perfect ripening weather, with daytime highs settling into the low 80s. Itgave us a long, even window to watch flavors develop and make thoughtful picking decisions.
The Harvest
We began harvest on September 8th and, in keeping with the pace of the season, everything unfolded gradually. The mild conditions extended the growing window,allowing the fruit to hang longer and develop exceptional depth and balance.
Our final pick came on October 30th—the latestwe’ve ever finished harvest.
That extended hang time made a difference. We saw remarkable uniformity across blocks, with fruit coming in at optimal ripeness without sacrificing acidity or structure.
The Fruit And when it came in, it delivered.
The 2025 harvest brought beautifully structured fruit with deep color, vibrant aromatics, and a sense of purity that reflects the season. Dark berries, subtle florals, and a lifted freshness define the wines. Tannins are present but refined, and there’s an energy that suggests both early drinkability and long-term potential.
The Cabernet Sauvignon, in particular, stoodout phenolically—showing exceptional development in both structure andexpression. From the start, it distinguished itself with depth, polish, andclarity, and continues to impress with how complete it feels. It’s a wine thatnot only looks the part, but delivers on the palate with confidence andprecision.
In the cellar, the wines were expressive from the start. Fermentations were steady and clean, and the wines are now aging in French oak, where that same through-line of balance and precision continues to evolve.
What is Next?
As excited as we are about the 2025 release, we’re already looking forward. Each vintage teaches us something, and we have a few areas of focus and newtechniques we’re eager to explore as we head into the 2026 season.
But for now, we’re raising a glass to 2025—a vintage defined by patience, precision, and a growing season that gave us the time to get it right.
We can’t wait for you to taste it.
