Harvest Date October 2 - 9

Growing Season The 2003 growing season began as a difficult one with hot and cold spikes. Rain in late spring prolonged bud break, and resulted unusual ripening patterns. Diligent work in the vineyard throughout a consistently warm summer resulted in wines of complexity and power.

Winemaking

• Hand-harvested grapes
• Whole cluster press
• Barrel fermented with indigenous yeasts; 2 months to completion
• Concurrent spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels; 6 months to completion
• Aged 15 months in Francois Freres, Seguin Moreau, Cadus, and Alan Fouquet French oak barrels; 89% new
• Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2005