Nose

This distinctive mountain-top Merlot is dark and intense with notes of toasted
cedar, wild brambleberry and smoky tobacco.

Palate

Ripe, fleshy black fruit and
deep chocolate flavors give way to a velvety mouthfeel while soft oak tannins
complement classic Howell Mountain minerality. This wine is drinking
beautifully today, and will continue to develop for at least another 8 - 10
years.

Growing Conditions

A warm, dry spring brought early bud break, helped with canopy vigor and
berry size and created ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set. With the
exception of one heat spike in late June/early July, temperatures were
consistently in the zone for optimal vine activity, resulting in notably healthy
vines as fruit went through veraison and started ripening. Two brief midSeptember
rains had virtually no impact on the grapes. The vast majority of
the more delicate skinned grapes had already been harvested and sunny
weather with breezes followed the rains, allowing for the mostly Cabernet
Sauvignon that remained to dry out almost immediately. The cooler, sunny
weather throughout October allowed the final grapes still on the vine to linger
longer, developing more phenolic and flavor maturities with sugar levels
remaining steady.

Vineyard: Three Tears Vineyard

Aging

22 Months, 100% French Oak.