Hamel Nuns Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
2022, Moon Mountain District, California, USA
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Profile & Story
2021 autumn rains set the stage for saturated soils and provided ideal conditions for nutrient mineralization for the vines throughout the winter. Spring 2022 rainfall brought the total to 29 inches for the vintage, surpassing our annual average. Temperatures from January onwards remained consistently warmer than our prior 10-year average throughout the growing season. Fortunately, the vines tolerated the heat well, and grew full and balanced canopies. The above-average warmth persisted through the summer, resulting in an earlier veraison than usual and setting the stage for earlier ripening. We completed picking by September 8, the earliest finish to harvest in our records. The fruit displayed beautiful freshness, integrity, and balance — characteristics that are also reflected in the wines. Despite the record warmth of the season, we successfully dry-farmed 76% of our total vineyards.
Tasting Notes
Opening in the glass with a deep ruby hue, the 2022 Nuns Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon reveals lifted aromas of red and black cherry, wild plum, and currant, framed by notes of sandalwood, iron, and flint. On the palate, the wine is energetic and finely etched — structured yet weightless — with supple, super-fine tannins and a saline mineral edge carrying through a persistent finish. Elegant and expressive, the wine captures the interplay of freshness, depth, and minerality defining Nuns Canyon Vineyard's character. Accessible in youth, it will gain complexity and nuance over the next two decades.