Bright cherry fruit with hints of cedar and pepper Taste and Texture: Lots of raspberry flavors give this wine its distinguishable character. A round, supple mouthfeel is followed by a long, lingering finish.

Wine maker notes

In our quest to make a great Merlot we decided to include fruit from two regions. We chose Monterey for the exceptional texture that the grapes from there provide and Paso Robles for the sunny California red berry characters that fruit from that region imparts in the finished wine. By blending fruit from the two counties, we are able to craft a vibrant, delicious wine you will remember for a very long time. The 2001 vintage in Monterey and Paso Robles was marked by cool weather, first in the early part of the season when we experienced frost after bud break and then towards the end of the growing season in August. Although this increased the ripening time for most grapes, Merlot progressed at a normal rate and the result was great fruit with bright colors and saturated flavors.

Technical notes

Varietal Composition: 83% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Syrah Appellation: Central Coast Fermentation: 100% native malo-lactic fermentation Oak Aging: 5 months in 52% French oak, 48% American oak Total Acidity: 6.3 g/l pH: 3.42 Alcohol: 13.7%