Technical notes:

• 100% Merlot
• Following one of the best growing seasons Long Island has had, the grapes came from Martha Clara Vineyards and were chosen from a special block A3 Planted in 1997 to Clone 9 on 101/14 Rootstock for the perfect balance of the canopy, ideal for creating a rich and concentrated wine.
• The yield was 2.08 tons per acre.
• The harvest was done carefully by hand on November 1st followed by meticulous sorting on the sorting table at Wolffer Estate.
• The ideal summer and autumn conditions provided a long hang time that insured outstanding numbers. The Brix (sugar) was 24.0 the Total Acidity was 5.3 gr/Ltr. And the PH was 3.76.
• The must was cold soaked at 50º Fahrenheit for 5 days followed by a hot fermentation up to 88º Fahrenheit for the first 1/2 then cooled to 77º for the remainder of the fermentation.
• The cap was meticulously pumped over 3 times a day during peek fermentation and was macerated for a total of 29 days.
• The press wine was separated at 0.6 bar. The young wine settled for 6 days in stainless steel tanks before being racked into French Barrique (50% new and 50% 1 year old barrels)
• Malolactic fermentation was done very slowly by natural strain of bacteria. The wine matured for a total of 20.5 month in barrel with a total of 6 rackings done with intense care. The wine was never filtered or fined and was bottled on July 16th of 2003.
• Only 2090 750ml Bottles and 18 Magnums were made.

Tasting notes:

• Dark red brick in color.
• The wine shows rich lush fruit aromas, loads of ripe plums and cassis with hints of vanilla and elegant toast and fine leather hints.
• The mouth-feel is ultra lush with layers and layers of velvet tannins amidst ripe and concentrated berry and skin characters with a wonderfully intense and smooth finish.
• This is Merlot at its best, intense, seductive and powerful with great balance and also classic earthiness and structure making this a wine with great aging potential.

Serving suggestion:

• Drunk on its own this wine is a meal in itself.
• Will match and enhance Steaks, Lamb and Game dishes.