2000
Paul Hobbs Merlot, Michael Black Vineyard Napa Valley
Winemaker's Notes
Deep red/black color. Aromas of blackberry, cinnamon, cedar, and dried roses exude from the glass. On the palate the wine reveals richness wrapped with fruit and milk chocolate flavors, made more intriguing with a trace of spice and earth. Medium ? bodied, this is an elegant wine that is enjoyable now and will be for years to come. Alcohol 14.6%.
Vineyard
Owner/Manager
Michael Black
Vineyard
Michael Black Vineyard
Appellation
Napa Valley
Clones
Curtiss
Vineyard Age
14 years
Site
In the Coombsville area east of the town of Napa. A southeast exposure on a hillside with rocky, volcanic soils.
Yield
Less than 2.0 tons/acre
Harvest
Harvest Date
September 28
Harvest Brix
24.9°
Growing Season
Warm days and cool nights during the growing season resulted in a crop with excellent color, fully developed flavors and great acidity. Diligent work in the vineyard to limit a large crop set helped optimize richness in the grapes. Cool weather during harvest provided enhanced flavor development.
Winemaking
Hand harvested grapes
Fermented in an open-top stainless steel fermentors
5-day cold maceration, 21 days total maceration
Fermentation with indigenous yeast
18-months in French oak barrels, 65% new
Unblended, unfined, unfiltered; bottled April 2002
