Technical Data

1999 THE MARAUDER

Grapes: Syrah 100%
Vineyard Sources: Alban Vineyard 40% Bien Nacido Vineyard 36%
Stolpman Vineyard 24%
Harvested: October 28, 1999 at Alban
November 19, 1999 at Bien Nacido
October 27, 1999 at Stolpman
Brix: 25.6 at Alban
25.8 at Bien Nacido
25.2 at Stolpman
pH: 3.24 to 3.64 at harvest (various lots)
On the skins: Alban – 14 days; Bien Nacido – 14 days
Stolpman – 15 days
Racking regime: Racked 3 times, including for bottling
Barrels: 100% NEW (various French coopers and forests; 22% American oak)
In Barrel: 17 months
Filtration: NONE
Fining: NONE
Alcohol: 14.2% by volume
Bottled: Via gravity flow on May 20, 2001
Total Production: 332 Cases + 24 Dbl. Magnum Bottles
Release Date: Spring 2002

2000 IN FLAGRANTE

Grapes: 88% Syrah 10% Grenache 2% Viognier
Vineyard Source: 51% Alban Vineyard 20% Bien Nacido Vineyard
17% Stolpman Vineyard 12% White Hawk Vineyard
Harvested: October 20 and 25, 2000 for Alban Vineyard
November 6, 2000 for Bien Nacido Vineyard
October 10, 2000 for Stolpman Vineyard
October 24, 2000 for White Hawk Vineyard
Brix at harvest: 25.3 and 26.0 for Alban Vineyard
24.0 for Bien Nacido Vineyard
25.1 for Stolpman Vineyard
24.6 for White Hawk Vineyard
pH at harvest: 3.20 to 3.74, depending on lot
Fermentation: Small, open top fermenters with manual punch-downs
Indigenous yeasts
Racking: 3 times, including for bottling on average
Barrels: 72% NEW OAK, of which were 57% French, 10% American, 5% Russian, 28% USED barrels
Filtration: NONE
Fining: NONE
Alcohol: 14.9%
Acidity: 6.82 g/Lit.
Bottling: June 8, 2002 – via gravity flow, as usual (19 months in barrel)
Total Production: 727 Cases + 33 Cases of Magnum Bottles
Release Date: Spring 2003

2001 MIDNIGHT OIL

Grapes: 96% Syrah 2.5% Grenache 1.5% Viognier
Vineyard Source: 39% Alban Vineyard 32% Stolpman Vineyard
18% Bien Nacido Vineyard 11% White Hawk Vineyard
Harvested: September 22 & 28, 2001 for Stolpman Syrah
October 3, 5 and 10, 2001 for Alban Syrah
October 3 & 5, 2001 for White Hawk Syrah
October 12, for Alban Grenache
November 8 & 9, 2001 for Bien Nacido Syrah
Brix at harvest: Ranging from 24.4 to 26.8 Brix – (various lots)
pH at harvest: 3.22 to 3.70 (various lots)
Fermentation: Small, open top, with manual punch-downs.
On the skins for between 8 to 19 days on various lots
Racking: Alban Grenache – 1 time, not including for bottling
Alban Syrah – 2 times, not including for bottling
Stolpman Syrah – 1 time, not including for bottling
White Hawk Syrah - 1 time, not including for bottling
Bien Nacido Syrah – 2 times, not including for bottling
Barrels: 73% NEW oak (of which 20% was American, the rest French oak)
27% USED barrels (1 to 3 year olds)
Filtration: NONE
Fining: 1 Egg white per barrel
Alcohol: 14.8%
Acidity: 6.30 g/Lit.
Bottling: August 2, 2002 – via gravity flow, as usual (21 months in barrel)
Total Production: 917 Cases + 20 Cases of Magnum Bottles + 12 Dbl Mags
Release Date: April 1, 2004

2002 “JUST FOR THE LOVE OF IT”

Grapes: 96% Syrah 2% Grenache 2% Viognier
Vineyard Source: 29% Alban Vineyard 27% Bien Nacido Vyd
21% Stolpman Vineyard 15% Shadow Canyon Vyd
8% White Hawk Vineyard
Harvested:
September 24, 2002 for Shadow Canyon Syrah
September 27 & October 8, 2002 for Stolpman Syrah
October 9 & 12, 2002 for White Hawk Syrah
October 11, for Alban Grenache & Viognier
October 23 and 29, 2002 for Alban Syrah
November 5 & 6, 2002 for Bien Nacido Syrah
Brix at harvest: Ranging from 23.0 to 27.4 Brix – (various lots)
pH at harvest: 3.18 to 3.63 (various lots)
Fermentation: Small, open top, with manual punch-downs.
On the skins for between 11 to 16 days on various lots
Racking: Alban Grenache – 1 time, not including for bottling
Alban Syrah – 3 times, not including for bottling
Stolpman Syrah – 2 time, not including for bottling
White Hawk Syrah - 2 time, not including for bottling
Bien Nacido Syrah – 2 times, not including for bottling
Shadow Canyon Syrah – 2 times, not including for bottling
Barrels: 87% NEW oak (of which 14% was American, the rest French oak) 13% USED barrels (1 to 3 year olds)
Filtration: NONE
Fining: 1.5 Egg white per barrel on about 50% of the lots. None on the rest.
Alcohol: 15.3%
Acidity: 6.0 g/Lit.
Bottling: June 22 – via gravity flow, as usual (+/- 19 months in barrel)
Total Production: 1020 Cases + 30 Cases of Magnums + 104 Dbl. Mags
Release Date: April 1, 2005

1999 VIN DE PAILLE

Grapes: Semillon
Vineyard Source: Brander Vineyard in Los Olivos, California
Harvested: October 7, 1999
Brix @ harvest: 23.3% - then air dried until…..pressing
Pressed: November 19, 1999
Brix @ pressing: 48%
Fermented in 100% new French oak with indigenous yeasts only
Alcohol: 7.9% by volume
Residual Sugar: 35%
In barrel: 34 months
Bottled: Via gravity flow on August 9, 2002
Total Production: 1386 Bottles of 365ml. size

2002 The STRAW MAN (a.k.a. Vin de Paille)

Grapes: Semillon
Vineyard Source: Brander Vineyard in Los Olivos, California
Harvested: October 8, 2002
Brix @ harvest: 24.0% - then air dried until…..pressing
Pressed: December 3, 2002 (dried for 57 days)
Brix @ pressing: 49.5 – 59.0%
Fermented in 100% new French oak with indigenous yeasts only
Alcohol: 7.2% by volume
Residual Sugar: 48.2%
Total Acidity: 7.8 grams/Liter
In barrel: 29 months
Bottled: Via gravity flow on June 9, 2005
Total Production: 1,836 Bottles of 375ml. size 

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A Sampling of 2002 White Burgundy

Larry Meehan was a one time "boy entrepreneur," now a full time Dad. In the moments when the insanity fades, he is a fairly prolific tasting note writer, minor league party planner/caterer, sporadic wine educator, and consultant for a few retailers who (at their own peril) seem to value his opinions. Hailing from near Cleveland, he frequently gathers with local enthusiasts to share thoughts and a few glasses, but also concocts a number of tasting events that bring friends together from around the country. Larry samples hundreds of wines a year from a myriad of regions -- "Understanding the diverse and constantly changing landscape of wine will be a life long endeavor...I'm glad it is so much fun!"

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