Fission 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

The base of Fission is sourced from Alta Vista Vineyard, located above the town of Sonoma at the southern end of the Mayacamas Range. Situated at 1,650 feet, this 17-acre site is one of the highest elevations in the region. The vineyard, planted in 1972, follows the natural contours of the hillside, with varied exposure depending on terrace length. The soils are rocky, with highly fractured stones in an advanced state of decomposition. The vineyard is dry-farmed, using St. George rootstock and an old field selection of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is surrounded by native trees and vegetation, offering breathtaking views from Sonoma to San Francisco Bay.

2022 brought a dry winter—less than 11 inches of rain fell—limiting vine vigor and reducing yields in this dry-farmed site. As a result, canopies were smaller, and the fruit developed exceptional concentration and flavor intensity. Mild spring temperatures led to a warm, even summer, producing a steady ripening curve; careful observation ensured harvest was timed for optimal freshness and vibrancy. The vintage signature is a firm, present tannin structure and remarkable depth.

This winemaking is about as minimalist as it gets. The hand-harvested fruit was destemmed and carefully sorted to preserve whole berries and minimize oxidation. The must was gently gravity-fed into 5-ton open-top fermenters and chilled to 50°F for a five-day cold soak to enhance color and flavor extraction. Fermentation began naturally with native yeasts as the temperature gradually rose, lasting about 15 days.

Once fermentation was complete, the wine was drained, and the remaining skins were pressed to capture the final flavor components. Combined free-run and press wine settled for 36 hours before being transferred to barrels for aging. The wine was racked to tank and returned to barrel in January after malolactic fermentation, and again in May to integrate the different lots. In August, the final blend was assembled and prepared for bottling.