1997
Paul Hobbs Merlot, Michael Black Vineyard Napa Valley
Winemaker's Notes
Enticing aromas of dried herb, black cherry, and sweet vanilla. Ripe, rich mouth-filling flavors of blackberry and truffle. The stylish, sweet fruit flavors are broad across the mid-palate, with a firm tannic backbone. This is an elegant wine that will continue to unfold its charms for several years to come. Alcohol 14.2%.
Vineyard
Owner/Manager
Michael Black
Vineyard
Michael Black Vineyard
Appellation
Napa Valley
Clones
Curtiss
Vineyard Age
11 years
Site
The hillside soils are rocky and low in organic material, volcanic tuft. Vine density is 1000 plants/acre. There are two small parcels located in the Coombsville area, east of the town of Napa.
Yield
Less than 3 tons/acre
Harvest
Harvest Date
September 10 and 13, 1997
Harvest Brix
26.4° and 26.2°
Growing Season
The warm, dry soils at the end of February triggered budbreak a month early. A temperate summer with moderate, steady temperatures allowed the fruit to reach optimal maturity with good hang time for the full development of character and flavors.
Winemaking
Hand harvested grapes
Fermented in an open-top fermentor , with punchdown cap management
5-day cold maceration, 28 days total maceration
Fermentation with indigenous yeast
21-months in French oak barrels, 50% new
Unblended, unfined, unfiltered; bottled August 1999
