Harvest Date October 14

Growing Season The El Niño influenced spring delayed the start of the growing season and contributed to a small crop yield. An extended Indian Summer allowed the fruit to reach maturity with rich, complex flavors.

Winemaking

• Hand-harvested grapes
• Whole cluster, direct to press
• Barrel fermented with indigenous yeast, 3 months to completion
• Concurrent spontaneous malolactic fermentation
• Barrel aged 10 months in Francois Freres and Sirugue barrels, 60% new French oak, sur lies and stirred
• Bottled unfined, unfiltered August 1999