2022 Pinot Noir La Rinconada

“Two thousand twenty-two was a tough year," Trey Fletcher explained at Sanford Winery. "Everything ripened at once. We picked the two ranches (Sanford & Benedict and La Rinconada), all 262 acres, in 13 days, as opposed to 26 to 35, which is more typical." As for the wines, the 2022s build on the successes of prior years under Fletcher's tenure, within the limits of what was possible. Not surprisingly, the Chardonnays are a bit more successful than the Pinot Noirs. Even so, the Pinots are all beautifully delineated. That is especially evident in the single-block wines, all of which are very well articulated for a year that presented so many challenges. The Chardonnays spent about 11 months in barrel with no stirring, followed by 6 months in tank, while the Pinots saw 18 months in barrel with no racking. Fletcher was among the producers who increased the use of stems in 2022 as a means for lowering temperatures during ferments and preserving freshness. Stem inclusion for the Pinots ranges from zero to 40%.