After a very dry growing season characterized by warm sunny days and cool nights, the grapes were hand picked before dawn on September 25, and Ocotber 13, 2009. The grapes were hand sorted, then crushed, cold soaked and fermented with a period of extended maceration. The wine was pressed on November 2, 2009 and will be aged for about thirty months in 100% new French oak barrels and then bottle aged for an additional year prior to release.