2002 Merlot - Sonoma County / Sonoma County Selection

GRAPE SOURCE
* Redwood Ranch (48%)
This Alexander Valley vineyard is owned and meticulously farmed by Jim and Gayle Reed.
* Calypso Vineyard (35%)
Otis Holt’s tiny three acre parcel in Russian River Valley has always delivered grapes of uncompromising quality.
* Redwood Hill (9%)
Owned by Patrick and Susan Coonan, this high-elevation Sonoma County vineyard was planted in 1990 on a terraced hillside in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains.
* Bradford Mountain (8%)
Owned by Bill Hambrecht, is located on the northwestern side of Dry Creek Valley at about 1000 feet elevation.

WINEMAKING
Each small lot of grapes was kept separate from fermentation through barrel aging, providing multiple blending options prior to bottling. This wine is an example of how selective grape sourcing and quality small lot production techniques can create intensely flavored and wonderfully structured wine. We have selected three of Sonoma County’s finest merlot vineyards to produce this wine, and blended a small amount of cabernet sauvignon to enhance structure and complexity.

WINEMAKER'S NOTES
Ambitious aromas of sweet cedar, mocha, and juicy black cherry fruit. The dark berry fruits explode in the mouth and continue through its impeccably balanced, wonderfully long finish. The structure-building component of cabernet sauvignon adds beautifully integrated tannins without compromising the accessible nature of this generous, mouth-filling wine.

Bottled: April 2004
Winemaker: Gary Farrell
Varietal Composition: Merlot 85%,Cabernet Sauvignon 15%
Alcohol: 14.4
Case Production: 1302
Acid/pH: 0.70/3.35
Released: September 2005
Appellation: Sonoma County