1999 St. Francis Behler Reserve Merlot, Sonoma Valley

Winemaker Notes A superb Merlot, named in honor of the Behler family, who first cultivated a portion of the rich Sonoma Valley floor land in the early 1900's. The land is recognized as St. Francis' original estate vineyard and original winery site. Well-drained rock and gravel topped with rich loam ensures abundant concentrated fruit. The valley microclimate, tempered by cooling breezes and morning fogs from both the Pacific and San Francisco Bay, is an essential key in the development of superior complex flavors of cherry, chocolate, coffee, and plum that distinguish this wine. Throughout the growing season vine canopies are thinned for increased sun exposure, which further concentrates flavor and color. Hand-picked in late September, the fruit was crushed, fermented, pressed, racked into oak, and aged twenty-four months, then held an additional ten months before release.