92 The Tasting Panel

92 International Wine Report

Vineyard Source

Lawrence Vineyards’ picturesque view of the Royal Slope illustrates the beauty in its grapes – and ultimately the
wine it produces. The Lawrence family developed their first block of vineyards in 2003 and has been farming the
Royal Slope for more than 40 years. Lawrence Vineyards prides itself on its clonal varieties and well-drained soil.

Palate

Black cherry, dried fig, violet, Cassis, dark chocolate, black pepper
Consistently round fruit throughout the palate with soft tannins and a lingering finish.

2022 Vintage Report
The growing season started out with a cold, wet winter, putting significant moisture into the soil. Early varieties
started to bud at the end of March/early April. A rare blizzard hit Columbia Valley April 11-14th. Temperatures
went as low as 26°F in some areas. This caused primary and secondary bud damage in early varieties in some locations. It also stalled bud break for two to three weeks. Cool weather continued through bloom. Summer temperatures finally arrived after the third week of June. July and August had above average heat. However, by
that point, the growing season was already two to three weeks behind recent years, as it had been all season. As a result, most growers picked very little fruit in September. This left the state with both a sizable crop to pick in October and needing a month of exceptional ripening weather to bring the harvest home. October delivered exactly that. Columbia Valley saw ideal growing conditions, with temperatures five or more degrees above average, resulting in near-perfect finishing weather given the coolness of theseason. Growers and winemakers did 10-12 weeks of work in half that time or less. It is expected to be a standout vintage for higher end reds.