Vintage
2004 was a challenging but highly successfulvintage for the Santa Cruz Mountains. A heat spike in early September forced us to re-evaluate our traditional cool-climate viticultural practices. Hard work and patience allowed us to adapt to growing conditions that were more like Napa or Sonoma than Santa Cruz Mountains. Beautiful weather during most of our “ripening zone” led to miniscule yields of intensely flavored fruit.

Vineyards
This Merlot comes from our Razorback Vineyard the warmest site at the Fogarty Home Ranch. At 1400 ft in elevation, Razorback Ridge is more protected from the cooling ocean influence. The eastern exposure provides for warm sunny days and cool nights, perfect for ripening Merlot in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Winemaking
Miniscule yields and warm conditions awarded us the materials to produce a blockbuster Razorback Merlot in 2004. Following three days of cold soak, we inoculated the must and left the juice in contact with the skins for an additional week. The must was gently pressed to one-yearold French oak for 22 months. We racked the wine every four months before bottling it unfiltered.

Tasting Notes
We pushed the limits of ripeness with this wine and it has paid off with aromas and flavors of anise, cocoa, raspberries and dark berries. This wine is not for the timid, but it possesses fabulous texture and is packed with ripe fruit. Its forward nature allows it to be drunk with pleasure now, but it should continue to improve over the next decade.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains

WINEMAKING TEAM
Michael Martella and Nathan Kandler

VINEYARDS
100% Razorback Estate Vineyard

Elevation: 1400 ft.
Distance from the ocean: Less than 13 Miles
Climate: Cool, Mountain, Maritime
Soils: Sandy loam over gravel, over bedrock.
Finished alcohol: 16.2%
Acid/pH: .72/3.65
Oak Treatment: 100% French 22 Months
Total production: 151 cases
Release Date: March 1, 2009
Retail price: $45.00

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