NOSE: blackstrap molasses, raspberry, sweet smoke, candied plums, beef, grilled herbs, bay, cinnamon and clove.

TASTE: A cool climate style. Like a Carneros merlot in its brighter, lighter fruit and good acidity. Ripe, rich flavors of brandied cherry, red raspberry, plum, herb, bay, cocoa nibs, coffee, roasted morels. Elegant. Has tremendous character and sense of place. This is one to decant for an hour before drinking. Lay down an additional supply to enjoy as soon as 2012. BY then the wine will be a voluptuous, silky, mountain, merlot. All things in time.

TECHNIQUE: Hand sorted fruit, fruit destemmed and berries barely broken, 5 day cold soak, wild and inoculated fermentations, all small lot open top fermentors, hand punch downs and pumpovers three times daily, malolactic completed in barrel, minimal handling (3 rackings), bottled UNFINED and UNFILTERED.