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 the
season. 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.