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BLEND
& GRAPE SOURCES: 95% Napa Valley Merlot, 5% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with 57% of the fruit harvested from estate-owned vineyards and 43% from independent growers. RELEASE DATE: January 2004. HARVEST DATES: Sep. 8 – Oct. 12, 2001. |
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WINEMAKING
DATA: Grapes were harvested at an average 24.8º Brix, fermented in stainless steel tanks, then aged 18 months in a combination of new French oak barrels (30%) and older French oak (70%) before being blended and bottled in August, 2003. Similar to the Cabernet Sauvignon with its extractive, well-balanced flavors, the 2001 Merlot is round, lush and approachable, with a subtle, mocha-like nose followed by a dash of allspice and floral essence. Supple tannins, hints of dark chocolate and well-integrated oak end in a lengthy finish that will continue to develop. |
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The
2001 vintage produced extremely balanced, concentrated and flavorful fruit
with generous yields, despite a variable growing season usually associated
with less successful years. A warm spring resulted in early budbreak, followed by a few days of freezing temperatures which caused some detrimental frost in early April (a natural thinning!). Prior to flowering, record high temperatures in early May caused rapid vine growth, and maturation was further accelerated by heat spikes in early June. Finally, mild temperatures in July and August provided ideal growing and ripening conditions and allowed vines to recover from their growth spurt in the spring. Harvest began at the beginning of September with Sauvignon Blanc. Some of the early-maturing red varieties were harvested on September 10th with fully developed flavors and tannins. The mild temperatures which followed allowed further hang time and flavor development for the later-maturing Cabernet Sauvignon. Finally, the advent of hot, dry weather which maintained its grip through most of October afforded even the most stubborn vineyards a chance to ripen and produce some of their best fruit since 1997. |
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WINEMAKING
QUOTES: FROM THE WINE ADVOCATE "This is a superlative vintage in the North Coast. a cool (but not excessively so) growing season was followed by fabulous weather in September and October, allowing producers to harvest at their leisure . . . All things considered, this is a great vintage for all varietals.” |
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