1999 Merlot ~ Two Moon Vineyard
~ Dry Creek Valley ~
THE
VINEYARD — At
1700’ elevation, Two Moon Vineyard sprawls atop McCray Ridge, located
between Healdsburg and Guerneville, on the western edge of
the Dry Creek Valley appellation.
The site typically begins each day in sunlight and enjoys a steady
airflow from the Pacific Ocean 15 miles west.
With few climatic variations, the mountain vineyard enjoys a long
growing season. The four acre
Merlot block was planted in 1987 to contour around a knoll in ten-foot-wide
terraced rows, with vines 6 feet apart on vertically shoot positioned
trellises.
TASTING
NOTES —
Velvet purple core with deep ruby highlights.
Exotic nose: ripe cherries, plum, hints of cinnamon and cardamom.
Complex flavors of freshly crushed blue plum, stone fruit, and spice.
Balance of berry and oak.
Long, full finish.
Well-integrated tannins.
Robust, single vineyard Merlot
WINE MAKING DATA —
Harvest: September 30, 1999
Tonnage: 11 (2.75 tons/acre)
Harvest Brix: 24.7
Alcohol/Vol. 14.1
pH: 3.55
Cap Treatment: pump-over
2x a day for 3 days
Malolactic finished fermentation in barrel
Aging: 14 months
Barrels: Medium toast,
French oak 30% new
Unfiltered, unfined
PRODUCTION —
570 cases of .750’s
99 cases of .375’s
48 cases of 1.5’s
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