The Melange is a Bordeaux-style blend made using Cabernet Sauvignon from the Old Chatham Ranch Vineyard and Merlot and Syrah from our estate vineyard – Hawks Butte. The wines were made separately and blended just before bottling.

The grapes were harvested in the last week of September and the first week in October in 2007. Yields from the two vineyards were about 3 tons per acre. The grapes were destemmed and crushed then cold soaked for 5 days. Once the grape must warmed fermentation started. When fermentation was 50% completed we added commercial yeast to each varietal to ensure a clean finish. Fermentation lasted 10-14 days. Once completed we pressed the wine off the skins and seeds and let settle for 48 hours in stainless steel tanks and inoculated with Oennococcus Oeni cultures to start malolactic fermentation.

The wines settled for two days before being racked into barrels. We used approximately 30% new French oak and 70% neutral French oak barrels. Artisan cooperages include: Remond, St. Martin, Rousseau, Sirugue, Saury and Vicard with medium to medium plus toast levels. The wines aged for 22 months in barrels.