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2000 Merlot, McNab Ranch, Mendocino

Vineyard

McNab Ranch is located in Mendocino County between Hopland and Ukiah, in a small valley west of Hwy 101 and farmed Biodynamically using natural composting, cover crops and beneficial insects in place of conventional farming techniques. While Biodynamic farming is complex and time consuming, the purity and balance of varietal flavor in the final wine is ample reward.

Vintage

The growing season of 2000 began with the warmest winter on record, which gave way to a very warm spring punctuated by a record heat spell in mid June. The relatively warm weather moved us two to three weeks ahead of schedule. A more temperate summer followed, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly. The long, drawn out harvest yielded extremely high quality fruit giving us wine with tremendous body and texture.

Vinification

Great care is taken to capture and preserve the distinct character of McNab Ranch. Biodynamic farming encourages a unique population of bacteria and yeast both in the soil and in the grape, whose unique components are what gives the wine character and flavor distinct to McNab Ranch. We use the indigenous yeast to perform the fermentation, yielding a flavor profile that is one of a kind. Throughout the winemaking process we use a "hands- off" approach, watching closely and only intervening when absolutely necessary. This wine underwent a long, slow fermentation, finishing in barrel and resting on lees for nearly a year to build body and mouthfeel. In total the wine was aged in French oak for 16 months before being bottled, unfiltered, in the spring of 2002. Alcohol 14%, pH 3.6, TA .6, Residual sugar .08.

Tasting Notes

Mendocino produces somewhat lighter styles of Merlot than, say, Napa or Sonoma; but this is no lightweight wine. It is full-bodied, firmly textured, quite dry and powerful on the palate with a long finish. It tastes of dried berries, cedar, tobacco and oak. Serve with ribeye steak, prime rib, rack of lamb or lamb stew.