"The twenty-five year old vines I planted in 1996 on the Crane Vineyard continue to produce merlot with expressive maturity. Raspberry bread pudding, mint and mocha aromas. The fruit is powerful and well complemented with spice, displaying energy and elegance. Notable structure in this vintage. Layered flavors of black cherry, blueberry compote and dried pomegranate with baking spices, blue flowers and cocoa. The tannins soften to round edges on the palate, giving way to a silky finish."

In the Vineyard:
Year Planted: 1996
Varietal: Merlot
Clone: French
Sub Appellation: Oak Knoll District
Vineyard: Crane (3.5 acres)
Harvest Date: October 19th, 2018

In the Cellar:
Bottling: 162 cases produced
Barrel Aging: 20 months in 50% NFO, 50% Neutral (TQ, Seguin Moreau, Nadalie and Remond)