These grapes are from French clone 877 grown in the Stagecoach Vineyards in the eastern hills above Napa Valley. The vineyard is on a rocky, steep slope that faces southwest for maximum sun exposure. The fruit was picked October 17 and October 21 at 24.8 and 24.0 Brix respectively. The fruit was hand sorted and underwent a two-day cold soak before being inoculated with a Côte Rôtie (Rhône) yeast strain. A portion of the fruit was fermented whole cluster, and some was left on the skins for extended maceration. The wine underwent secondary fermentation in neutral oak and aged 19 months in barrel before bottling in June 2011. The wine rested in our underground cellar until its release in February 2012.