Harvest Date September 27

Growing Season The growing season began with warm, dry weather in March, resulting in early bud break. A long summer of even temperatures had a moderating effect, lowering yields and maximizing complexity in the fruit. Six days of heat in the first week of September increased flavor intensity and led to an early harvest.

Winemaking

• Hand-harvested grapes
• Whole cluster, direct to press
• Barrel fermented with indigenous yeasts; 1 month to completion
• Concurrent spontaneous malolactic fermentation, 5 to 8 months to completion
• Aged 11 months in French oak barrels; 68% new, sur lies and stirred biweekly
• Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled September 2005