Growing Conditions

2012 summed up to be a perfect vintage with clear sunny days and cool evenings. This
produced a long, moderate growing season with extended hang time and even ripening,
resulting in optimum tannin maturity and a deep range of flavors. The vintage ended with a
textbook harvest starting on September 1st and ending exactly two months later on Halloween.

This vintage’s blend is 54% Napa Valley, 14% St. Helena, 11% Napa-Carneros, 10% Oakville,
3% Mt. Veeder, 2% Diamond Mtn, 2% Oak Knoll, 2% Rutherford, 2% Sonoma Coast

Bottling

This wine was lightly fined with egg whites and bottled without filtration in
January 2014.

Winemaking

Our Claret follows the Bordelaise model of blending different Bordeaux varietals. Malolactic
fermentation is completed in barrel, and the blend is assembled early so they are “elevated” as
the finished wine.
Native-yeast barrel fermentation and full natural malolactic fermentation.

Aging

The 2012 Claret aged for 12 months in 12% new French & American oak barrels (Demptos &
Canton) and aged sur lies with monthly bâtonnage to coat the tannins and smoothly integrate
the wood. .