Old Vine Merlot
The Vintage
1999, without question, a great vintage. From bud-break in mid-spring to harvest in October, the
growing conditions were ideal. Rarely have we worked with red grapes processing better color and flavor.
The Grapes
All grapes used to craft this wine were harvested from our superb Kestrel View Estate Vineyard. Cropped at 2 tons per acre (55% less crop than most Washington State growers), the fruit harvested was ripened to perfection.
The Winemaking
Harvested and sorted by hand with great care, only the riper, larger primary clusters were destemmed and crushed. 10-15% whole berries were present in the fermentor. The yeast strain D-254 was utilized to conduct fermentation. The malolactic acid fermentation occurred in oak barrels during the 11 month aging period. French (50%), Hungarian (25%), and American (255) oak barrels provided yet more bouquet and flavors. This is an un-filtered wine.
The Wine
Made utilizing a very stringent barrel selection process, this wine offers elegance, depth and satisfaction to the consumer of truly fine red wines. Fabulous structure, fragrant, sensuous aromas and flavors of black currants, Italian plums, vanilla, and earth package this superb wine. The presentation is seamless, the body is quite full.
| PH |
|
3.53 |
| TA |
|
5.9 g/liter |
| ALC |
|
13.9% |
| RS |
|
2 g/liter |
| Cases |
|
190 |
| Release Date |
|
November 2001 |
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|
Kestrel Signature Edition Wines
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