Appellation:

Hames Valley AVA "Southern Monterey County, CA"

Vineyard:

“Francis Vineyard"

The Francis Vineyards lies at the south-west tip of Monterey County, Ca. This vineyard was created by a very knowledgeable vineyard manager for the Franscioni faimly by the name of Francis Cavalei. He drew from 33 years of vineyard expeiriance along the Central Coast and Monterey County. This vineyard was created to produce exactly what one will expeiriance when they taste a bottle of our Joyce "Francis Vineyard" Merlot a bold yet lucious, sophisticated and very approachable bottle of Merlot. The climate at this vineyard site consists of warm days with cool dry nights which makes this vineyard site ideal for these Merlot vines.

Alcohol:

14.7%

P.H.

3.72

Residual Sugar:

0.00%

Malolactic:

100% Malolactic Fermentation

Cooperage

60% New Oak Treatment, 40%French Oak, 20% American Oak; 2 years

Tasting Notes:

This Merlot boast bright flavors of rich, wild, summer blackberries combined with chewy flavors of mocha vanilla and caramel. The finish is solf and silky with gental but evedent tannins. This wine is 100% unfined and unfiltered.

Retail:

$19.95 per bottle

Bottled:

November 2008