As with some of our other wines in 2011 (Papa’s Block Syrah, Rossi Ranch Zin), the rain in early October actually proved beneficial, lowering sugar and diluting the freakishly high acidity in this coolest-ever vintage.  In short, the rain brought the fruit into better balance.  Of course, it came at the expense of botrytis so picking had to be done with surgical precision.  Approximately one-third of the crop was left behind but what arrived to the winery was pristine.  Fermented with local yeasts.  Seventeen days on the skins.  All French oak, 23% new.  Bottled unfined and unfiltered.