Winemaker’s notes : 1997 season was an ideal for producing a great vintage. The weather was perfect during bloom, resulting in a substantial crop, and the ripening phase was warm and long.

 The fruit was crushed in small lots, fermented and hand punched with a warm fermentation (86-90 degrees) in open topped fermenters. They were fermented with wild and cultured yeast. After a 7-10 day fermentation-maceration, the wine was gently pressed and put into French oak barrels and a few American oak barrels.

It was aged for 21 months and during the aging the wine received seven rackings. The wine is unfined and unfiltered.

 Tasting Notes : The ideal growing conditions are reflected in the wine’s balance between intense, complex and persistent flavors and textures. In appearance the wine is deep ruby in color and very bright, especially for an unfiltered, unfined wine. In the nose the wine projects sweet floral aromas with wild cherry fruit and warm toasty oak. It is seductive and inviting.

 In the mouth the wine is medium-full bodied and has mouth filling ripe tannins. It has a full middle body with a very long finish. The wine exhibits a spectrum of flavors ranging from sweet toasty oak and brown spiced to wild cherry and chocolate.