Wines

TASTING NOTE
Our 2021 X Omni Vineyard Estate Chardonnay features an expressive, mineral-driven nose of lemongrass, citrus rind, orchard fruits and a discreet presence of warm spices. The cleansing and bright palate leads with kiwi, lime, and pear before giving way to a richer, savory finish with echoes of brioche. There is a lovely interplay between the depth of flavor and the lively acidity which makes this wine pleasing and compelling.

WINEMAKING
The 2021 X Omni Chardonnay was raised in 50% new and 50% neutral French oak barrels for 18 months and was bottled in April of 2021.

2021 GROWING SEASON
A mild and dry winter followed by a cool spring and one of the driest growing seasons on record. A cold period in mid-May and a wet first week of June mildly impacted flowering resulting in some reduction in crop.
There was a significant heat event at the end of June with temperatures over 110 degrees for three days. Fortunately, the recently formed small, green berries experienced no damage from the extreme heat. The growing season remained warm and unusually dry, which significantly reduced disease pressure throughout the remainder of summer.
Fearful this growing season would deliver an uneven, premature harvest, the beginning of September ushered in near-perfect weather with a return to mild daily temperatures and cooler nights: a classic harvest situation with steady, non-stressful ripening.
Harvest casually began the second week of September. We were rewarded with vibrantly ripe fruit containing naturally high acids with a core of minerality and intensity. A vintage to remind us to never judge too quickly.
(or, things can and often change for the better; a reminder of the resilience of vines?)

TASTING NOTE
Our 2022 X Omni Chardonnay slowly opens to fragrance of citrus zest, ginger, almond and orchard fruits. Medium-weight and elegant, the flavors follow with lemon curd, toasted hazelnut and spice. A slight savory profile is accompanied by a solid core of fruit along with lively acidity. There is a sustained energy and concentration throughout followed by the signature chalky impression of the X Omni vineyard. This is an age-worthy vintage that will unfold slowly, rewarding cellaring and improving with bottle age.

WINEMAKING
Nurtured in 70% new French oak and 30% neutral French oak barrels for 18 months and was bottled in April of 2024. This wine was bottled unfiltered and may therefore develop a natural sediment.

2022 GROWING SEASON
The 2022 growing season was characterized by unique challenges and ultimately favorable conditions, resulting in a successful harvest. The season began, following a mild winter, in March with budbreak, suggesting we would see an early harvest. However, on April 14th, a severe frost event - described as a one-in-50-year occurrence - dropped temperatures to the mid to low 20's, affecting emerging shoots, setting vine development back 2-4 weeks. Depending on the air flow within the vineyard some blocks were less affected. Nonetheless, this frost event set the stage for a heterogenous crop owing to secondary shoots pushing to replace the primary shoots lost.

April, May and early June were cool and wet, further delaying the season. Flowering occurred in late June almost 4 weeks later than usual with a healthy crop. Luckily, the tenuous season, improved considerably as warm, hot weather took control for the balance of the growing season into September and early October. It's worth noting that 2022 was the third warmest year ever behind 2014 and 2015. This key factor contributed decisively to the vintage's success.

Harvest began the first week in October as we anxiously kept an eye out for rain. The ample crop was clean with higher than usual acid levels and varying maturity owing to primary and secondary shoots. We concluded harvesting by the 16th as impending rains were arriving soon. Fermentations proceeded unfailingly to completion by the end of November. This was followed by long, measured cellaring, with admittedly seems rather simple, but is nonetheless an essential procedure that allows the wine to develop its true, coherent character.

Despite the challenges and subsequent reporting, the 2022 vintage produced pure, lively wines built on a footing of solid fruit. These will be enduring wines.

TASTING NOTE
The 2021 growing season with its cooler than average weather in August and September presented us with clean fruit exhibiting both sweet and savory components exemplary of Pinot Noir. Fruits of black cherry, strawberry, and blood orange combine with violet and savory spice box fragrances. Echoes of those aromas layer across the palate, framed by an excellent balance and unpretentious extraction. The wine possesses a graceful weight and length with fine-grained tannins.

WINEMAKING
The 2021 X Omni Pinot Noir was raised in 60% new and 40% neutral French oak barrels for 18 months and was bottled in April of 2023.

2021 GROWING SEASON
A mild and dry winter followed by a cool spring and one of the driest growing seasons on record. A cold period in mid-May and a wet first week of June mildly impacted flowering resulting in some reduction in crop.

There was a significant heat event at the end of June with temperatures over 110 degrees for three days. Fortunately, the recently formed small, green berries experienced no damage from the extreme heat. The growing season remained warm and unusually dry, which significantly reduced disease pressure throughout the remainder of summer.

Fearful this growing season would deliver an uneven, premature harvest, the beginning of September ushered in near-perfect weather with a return to mild daily temperatures and cooler nights: a classic harvest situation with steady, non-stressful ripening.

Harvest casually began the second week of September. We were rewarded with vibrantly ripe fruit containing naturally high acids with a core of minerality and intensity. A vintage to remind us to never judge too quickly.
(or, things can and often change for the better; a reminder of the resilience of vines?)

TASTING NOTE
Our Pinot Noir progresses gradually, once opened, as would be expected from a vintage with such a delayed growing season and harvest. The carmine red hue presents aromas of cherries, roses, raspberries with savory notes of cardamom and black licorice. The flavors suggest red fruits, huckleberry, blood orange and black tea; bright acidity, a signature of this year, is an attractive partner to the silky texture, maintaining a freshness across the entire finish.

WINEMAKING
Our 2022 X Omni Pinot Noir was cellared in 60% new and 40% neutral French oak barrels for 18 months. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered April 2024.

2022 GROWING SEASON
The 2022 growing season was characterized by unique challenges and ultimately favorable conditions, resulting in a successful harvest. The season began, following a mild winter, in March with budbreak, suggesting we would see an early harvest. However, on April 14th, a severe frost event - described as a one-in-50-year occurrence - dropped temperatures to the mid to low 20's, affecting emerging shoots, setting vine development back 2-4 weeks. Depending on the air flow within the vineyard some blocks were less affected. Nonetheless, this frost event set the stage for a heterogenous crop owing to secondary shoots pushing to replace the primary shoots lost.

April, May and early June were cool and wet, further delaying the season. Flowering occurred in late June almost 4 weeks later than usual with a healthy crop. Luckily, the tenuous season, improved considerably as warm, hot weather took control for the balance of the growing season into September and early October. It's worth noting that 2022 was the third warmest year ever behind 2014 and 2015. This key factor contributed decisively to the vintage's success.

Harvest began the first week in October as we anxiously kept an eye out for rain. The ample crop was clean with higher than usual acid levels and varying maturity owing to primary and secondary shoots. We concluded harvesting by the 16th as impending rains were arriving soon. Fermentations proceeded unfailingly to completion by the end of November. This was followed by long, measured cellaring, with admittedly seems rather simple, but is nonetheless an essential procedure that allows the wine to develop its true, coherent character.

Despite the challenges and subsequent reporting, the 2022 vintage produced pure, lively wines built on a footing of solid fruit. These will be enduring wines.