This wine has six vineyard sources. The first is located at the eastern end of the valley, while the second and third vineyards are to the south. The fourth and fifth are on the west side of Sonoma Valley, on a southwestern slope of Sonoma Mountain. The sixth is located on the central Sonoma Valley floor. All of the properties were planted in the early 1990's. Yields in 2000 averaged 2.9 tons per acre. Winemaking Following hand-harvesting, the grapes were destemmed only (whole berries). Fermentations were conducted in a combination of open-top vessels with a punch-down device and closed tanks with gentle cap irrigators. Several types of yeast were used for both inoculated and uninoculated fermenting. Most lots were pressed directly to barrel, and malolactic fermentations finished in barrel. After one year, the wines were racked and returned to barrel for an additional year of aging. Tasting Notes Warm plum and dark fruit fill the nose of this wine along with hints of vanilla and spice. On the palate, it offers juicy, ripe cherry 9,450 cases produced. Alcohol content, 13.3% by volume.

Bon Appétit "Top wines for July. Classic California Merlot, with lovely plum and spice notes." Wine Enthusiast "A very different profile from the winery’s Napa version. It’s earthier, with coffee and rhubarb flavors along with cassis and oak, and rougher around the edges. There’s a lot of power here." California Grapevine "Highly recommended...attractive, forward, herbal, plummy, sweet cherry fruit aroma with overtones of toasty oak; medium to medium-full body; forward, rich, supple cherry fruit flavors; medium to medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Easy to drink now." Denver Post "What a super wine, huge in flavor and depth of character; a ripe plum pie in liquid form, with peek-a-boo tannins and tangy acidity." Wine Spectator "Smooth and supple, with tasty plum, black cherry and currant, finishing with a nice beam of fruit. Drink now through 2005."