Growing Conditions
Winter 2015 was the warmest on record, resulting in early bud break. Cooler, wetter
weather in spring months slowed development, however, leading to a challenging,
extended bloom period. The resulting uneven fruit set translated to a small crop
and smaller berries with very concentrated flavors. Weather throughout the summer
growing season was consistently warm, bringing on a very early harvest.
Napa Valley soils are comprised of broken down or decomposed rock that has
been carried downhill from the eastern Vaca range and the western Mayacamas
range to the base of the valley, where they intermingle with the silt, clay and gravel
deposits of the Napa River flood plain. Mount Veeder is atypical for a Napa
mountain appellation; its soils are derived from ancient sea bed rather than volcanic
matter, with clay and gravel loams predominant.
70% Merlot from Mt. Veeder, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
from Oakville
Harvest
August 25 and September 9 and 16
Bottling
The wine was then lightly fined with egg whites and bottled without
filtration in June 2017.
Winemaking
Spontaneous, native yeast and native malolactic fermentations
Aging
Our 2015 Template rested on its lees for 22 months in new French oak barrels
(Taransaud) with bi-monthly bâtonnage to coat the tannins and smoothly integrate
the wood.