VINEYARDS
The vineyards in the warm heart of San Luis Obispo County have proven themselves as a quality source for our Hawk Crest Merlot, offering an abundance of plum and berry notes. In the 2002 vintage, Hawk Crest winemaker Mark Smith balances richly flavored fruit from the central part of Paso Robles with grapes from Lake County, which lies just north of the Napa Valley and is increasingly recognized as a wine area in its own right. The Lake County fruit contributes grip and structure to the blend, balancing the rich San Luis Obispo fruit and creating a wine that is accessible and full of character. The wine was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, which provided a small amount of oak to support the wine’s wealth of fruit flavors.

VINTAGE
A cool spring delayed bud break and flowering. Abundant early summer heat, however, accelerated the vines’ development. August cooled to almost autumnal conditions, slowing development to a more normal pace. Then Labor Day weekend ushered in one of the sunniest, warmest Septembers in recent memory. While most of our white varietals had already been picked, we watched carefully to see how the remaining vines would fare. We were selective in our picking to avoid overripe flavors, harvesting only grapes that had achieved full ripeness and the optimum balance of sugars and acids. This vintage highlights the benefits of our careful vineyard management practices and our close, long-term relationships with growers.

WINE
There’s plenty to like about the 2002 Merlot, starting with its lively aromas of blackberry, lilac, blueberry syrup, and white pepper. In the glass, this medium-bodied, welcoming wine is round and ripe, with flavors of cherry plums, blueberry, cocoa powder, and a hint of smoky oak. Pair it with roast pork in a wine reduction or ricotta-and-spinach ravioli, or enjoy it at the holiday table with roast turkey and all the trimmings.