Somehow we’ve arrived at the back end of summer again. I hope it’s been a good one for you and your families.

As autumn approaches, I sit here thinking about how best to convey what makes these wines matter. A great wine can be enjoyed around the table with friends without demanding quiet reverence, yet still have something special to offer in a quiet moment. That is what I’m chasing in these wines.

A number of you told me how much you loved the brightness and elegance of the Cabernet Franc and Merlot this spring. Some of you also hinted that, come fall, you were hoping for a little more richness and depth.

And that is exactly what you’ll find in these new wines.

The 2022 WeatherEye Viognier comes entirely from Block Twelve, a tiny, steep parcel high on WeatherEye’s north face, planted in the traditional échalas style. We share this block with just one other winery, and as far as I know Dillon is the only producer bottling Block Twelve on its own. The fruit carries an unusual natural concentration, giving a wine of real flesh and depth, held in balance by salinity, mineral tension and restraint. We made just 54 cases.

Hibernāle has the depth and richness of Cabernet, but also freshness, aromatic lift and tender tannins. What I love most is its transparency. You can feel where, when and how it was grown in the aromatic detail, mineral line and persistence. Power without the muscle mass.

River Rock Block Six Syrah brings the darker, more savory side of the release. Blackberry and black plum sit at the core, with black olive, violet, iron and a flinty, crushed-rock character around the edges. With air, the fruit becomes broader and more expressive, carried through a long, saline finish.

There’s more depth and richness in this release, but the thread running through all three wines is grace, detail and composure.

I’ve also opened a very small piece of the library. Just 18 bottles of Autumnāle and 30 bottles of WeatherEye Syrah Version Three remain. They’ll be available to club members while they last.

The artwork accompanying the release comes from my oldest daughter, who asked last spring if she could make something for the club. We ran out of time then. She did not forget. Her younger sister is now quite certain that spring belongs to her.

I hope you enjoy these little pieces of family life finding their way into Dillon. This is still a very small winery, and your support genuinely matters. It gives me the freedom to keep working with tiny vineyard blocks, making small lots, and giving the wines the time and attention they need.

I’m grateful for that, and grateful you’re here.

Marc