This is our flagship wine that we pride ourselves in evolving it to perfection every year we make it. This season we picked the vineyard at different intervals to enhance the complexity, add more acidity and balance, and keep the alcohol levels down to where Pinot Noir should be. It is such a supple grape that the process must be simple and easy on the grapes to bring out the pure fruit flavors associated with the Santa Rita Hills grapes. What you experience here is blueberries, raspberries and blackberries with an infusion of light smokey vanilla from the oak barrels. This wine is well balanced and while young will evolve into pure elegance in the near future. Hold and open at Christmas 2006 or cellar.