Our low-yielding clone 181 Merlot from Jaeger Vineyard on Big Ranch Road in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley was harvested October 4 by hand, at dawn. We performed a vigorous sort and fermented the must in a stainless steel, temperature controlled tank for 17 days followed by malolactic fermentation in barrel. Lush, ripe, with notes of sweet strawberry, vanilla, mint and spice.