The vineyards were pruned as usual in February of 1999. Pruning was followed by initial early spring warmth, but the weather then remained cool for the remainder of the spring months. There was little or no frost, giving us a healthy, abundant bloom. Typically we experience no rain from April through October, but this year we had a small rainfall in May. Along with the above average rainfall from the winter preceding the growing season, the late showers gave us good moisture in the soil for the entire summer. Mild summer months led into our Indian summer (early fall), ripening the grapes nicely in late September and October. The Black Sears Vineyard was harvested in mid-October, while Beatty Ranch was picked in the last days of October. TASTING NOTES The 1999 old Vine Zinfandel is packed with rich, intense, jammy fruit flavors. In the nose there is an abundance of blackberry, raspberry and black cherry. The massive fruit flavors give way to a chocolaty richness on the tongue that finishes with a sultry, smoky finish that lingers on the palate.