1999 NAPA VALLEY, CARNEROS
	Keenan has been purchasing Merlot grapes from the Carneros region of the Napa Valley for many years. The "Carneros" is the region of Napa closest to the San Pablo Bay and is known for producing high quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. Merlot produced in this region tends to be very fruity and soft with distinctive spicy nuances. In 1989 Keenan began purchasing Merlot from the Carneros to blend with the estate Merlot grown on Spring Mountain. The two wines are a great match; the Carneros Merlot softens the dense, powerful wines produced from the estate grown fruit. But, in 1999 we were so happy with how the Carneros Merlot was tasting, we decided to bottle a small amount on its own. The finished wine now shows ripe black cherry and raspberry aromas, yet coffee and cinnamon nuances become more pronounced as the wine opens up. We reserve the sale of this wine primarily for the tasting room, but you might see it on a select few winelists in the Northern California market.
WINE DATA AWARDS & RATINGS 2002 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Silver Medal Alcohol: 13.5% Total Acidity: 0.61 grams/100mL pH: 3.35 Residual Sugar: Dry Bottling Date: August 25, 2001 Blend: 100% Merlot Production: 300 cases