Vineyard
At 2300 ft., Ash Creek is the highest-elevation vineyard in Sonoma County. The name Ash Creek is derived from the vineyard’s thin, volcanic, ash-like soil. The combination of its high altitude climate—cooler days, warmer nights, shorter growing season—and stingy soils make for low yields of intensely concentrated fruit.

Vintage
For the most part 1999 was a cool and dry season, with much less warm weather than normal. To ensure fully ripened fruit, extra steps were taken in the vineyard including: judicious irrigation to control growth and maintain uniformity as well as cluster thinning to promote ripening. Late September gave us the heat spell we needed to begin harvest, which went very quickly and was effectively over by October 23rd. The grapes for this wine were picked on October 18th.

Vinification
Cabernet Sauvignon from the Tin Cross block and Merlot from the Jackknife block were fermented in open top fermenters for 12 days and then placed in French oak for 20 months before blending. The wine, which was bottled in July of 2001 was aged an additional 12 months before release. Alcohol 13.8%, Total Acidity .64, pH 3.63, residual sugar .02

Tasting Notes
Concentrated blackberry, spice and vanilla aromas give way to a rich, black-berry infused mouthfeel tinged with the vineyard’s signature herbal, cedar and mint notes. The layered flavors and textures culminate in a languid finish noted for its fine-grained tannins. Will cellar nicely for up to 12 years.

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