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Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Rich and complex with strawberry and blueberry/blackberry fruit. Spicy notes of toasty oak and a hint of black licorice, cedar and chocolate. Light notes of vanilla. The flavors are very concentrated with strawberry jam, blackberry and chocolate with ample, fine-textured tannins leading to a long finish. Great structure for ageing.

The Vintage
The 2001 vintage came with a picture-perfect growing season that ended on the early side. A few summer rains, unusual for California, came and went with no consequence to the grapes. The crop was the lowest we have seen in some time.

Vineyard
The vineyard for Domaine Georg Rafael is located just northwest of the town of Napa in the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley. The hillside location starts at 100 foot elevation and rises dramatically to about 600 feet at the top. The lower section is planted with Chardonnay and the upper to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The soils are primarily silty loam. The 2001 includes all of the "Crown" block and "Ridgeline" block near the top of the vineyard due to the low crop level.

Vinification
The grapes were lightly crushed and fermented on the skins with a selected yeast for 14 days. One third was made in open fermenters with punching down which produces a softer wine.
The larger portion was tank fermented with the cap gently pumped over with a "sprinkler" twice a day. The wine was then put in French oak barrels, 36% new, and aged for 28 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered. Blending of the two lots occurred in the second year of ageing.

Technical Information
Grapes harvested: September 13, 2001.
Sugar at harvest: 24.5 degrees Brix
TA (Titrateable Acidity): ): 6.1 g/l
pH: 3.68
Alcohol: 14.6%
Cases produced: 907