2022 Space Cadet

These are some of the very best wines I have tasted in all the years I’ve followed Paul Lato. The Chardonnays are particularly terrific. There’s a bit more focus and tension in the whites these days, which makes the wines not only delicious but also more versatile at the dinner table. The Pinots are on the lighter side, a reflection of both the growing season and the decisions Lato made in response to those conditions. “We chose lighter extractions because we had mold in the vineyards that required spraying and constant diligence to keep in check. We did not want to push too hard,” Lato explained. Despite all of his success and experience, Lato retains the passion, ambition and enthusiasm more often found in younger professionals who are just getting started. The wines this year are truly memorable.