Vitesse Vineyards 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
SPECIFICATIONS
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, grown predominantly on the upper, hillside slopes of Spring Mountain in Napa Valley, with additional select lots from premium Napa and Sonoma vineyards.
Alcohol: 14.9%
Residual Sugar: 0.1%
Volatile Acidity: .65 g/L
Titratable Acidity: 6.7g/L
pH: 3.8
Aged 20 months in French oak barrels, 15% new.
Winemaker: Miguel Caratachea
Fewer than 200 cases made
WINEMAKING
The 2022 Vitesse Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterful expression of Napa Valley’s unique terroir, capturing vivid varietal flavors with a depth and purity that is truly captivating.
Aromas of ripe black cherry and pomegranate rise gracefully from the glass, mingling with floral hints of rose petal and subtle undertones of walnut.
On the palate, this wine is both satiny and complex, with fine-grained tannins delivering a smooth mouthfeel that builds toward a long, lingering finish.
VINTAGE 2022
The 2022 growing season in Napa Valley was defined by ongoing drought conditions, a fast, early start to harvest, and two defining weather events, an intense multi-day Labor Day heat wave followed by mid-September rain, that effectively split the vintage into “two harvests.” In many sites, dehydration during the heat event contributed to reduced yields and heightened concentration, while cooler nights helped vines recover and preserve freshness, an advantage often amplified at higher-elevation mountain vineyards, including Spring Mountain.
Winter: Napa entered 2022 with meaningful rainfall in late 2021 (notably October and December), followed by a return to dry conditions from January into March. Soils and reservoirs remained under long-term drought pressure even with that late-2021 boost.
Spring: Budbreak began in March (including in Carneros and some mountain appellations). Spring temperatures skewed mild-to-cool, and vineyards generally saw healthy shoot growth as the season progressed toward bloom and fruit set. (Some higher-elevation sites reported late-season cold/frost alarms in May, but Napa overall avoided the worst statewide frost impacts.)
Summer: Early July marked the start of veraison. August brought classic Napa conditions (warm days and cool nights) supporting steady ripening. Then, around Labor Day, a 5-day stretch of triple-digit heat (with some locations reported as high as ~110–118°F) accelerated ripening decisions and, in blocks that stayed on the vine, led to some dehydration that ultimately intensified flavor concentration.
Harvest: Harvest began in early August for whites, with red varieties following quickly, compressing the usual gap between white and red picks. The pace was intense through mid-September, when rainfall (roughly 0.6–1.2 inches reported) caused a sudden pause. After that break, mild, sun-filled early October weather allowed remaining fruit to reach ripeness more slowly and cleanly, and many producers finished harvest in October rather than “wrapping by late September.”
2022 Vintage Highlights
The 2022 vintage stands out for the combination of extreme heat, a rain interruption, and the composure of the fruit on the other side, yielding a 2022 Vitesse that's deeply colored and structured with luxurious tannins and fruit-forward aromatics. Where dehydration reduced berry size and tonnage, it also boosted concentration and intensity.
Price: $75. per bottle
