"The twenty-five-year-old vines I planted in 1996 on the Crane Vineyard produce merlot with increasingly expressive maturity. Aromas of raspberry bread pudding, mint and mocha aromas are well complemented with spice. The fruit is powerful with layered flavors of black cherry, blueberry compote and dried pomegranate edged with baking spices, blue flowers and cocoa. Displaying notable structure, the tannins soften to round edges on the palate, giving way to a silky finish. The 2018 vintage is a beautiful balance of energy and elegance."

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)