Harvest Date October 2 & October 21

Growing Season An early spring in the Russian River Valley set a large crop, requiring extensive work in the vineyard to manage the yield for optimum flavor intensity and richness in the grapes. Cool weather in late September and October extended the harvest providing for enhanced flavor development

Winemaking

• Hand harvested grapes
• Whole cluster, direct to press
• Barrel fermented with indigenous yeasts, 9 months to completion
• Concurrent native malolactic fermentation in barrels
• Barrel aged 10 months, 64% new French oak, sur lies and stirred
• Bottled unfined and unfiltered, January 2003