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Tasting Notes • 2005 Merlot

Harvest Date:	September 29, 2005
Sugar Level:	23.9º Brix
Total Acidity:	0.71 g/100ml, pH 3.51
Vineyard Source:	M1 block of Bill & Claudia's Vyd, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
Fermentation:	Must divided between 800gal tank and 16 ½ ton bins. Pump-over/punch down 2X per day. Pressed on Oct 6. Racked off heavy lees Oct 12 and added Malo-lactic culture.
Malo-lactic:	Three months in tank.
Barrel Aging:	17 months in French oak, 5% new. Three rack and returns.
Bottled:	September 6, 2007 . 341 cases produced.
Alcohol:	13.8% by volume.(pH 3.49, TA 0.63 gm/100ml)

The 2005 Merlot was harvested and crushed on September 29. The must was pumped to a small tank and 16 ½ bins and the yeast was added immediately. The tank was pumped over and the bins punched down 2X each day until Oct 6 when the wine was pressed. The fermentation finished in the tank and the wine was racked off the heavy lees on Oct 12 at which time the malo-lactic culture was added. The malo-lactic conversion was complete by Dec 15. The wine was left on the M/L lees until Jan 21, 2006, and barreled on Feb 15.

The wine was removed and returned to barrel in July 06, May 07 and July 07. Prior to being returned to barrel the last time a very small amount of cabernet sauvignon and primitivo were blended in. The wine was filtered on Sep 4 and bottled on Sep 7, 2007.