A vineyard designated Merlot produced since the inaugural 1978 vintage, the Three Palms Vineyard is located on the northeast side of the Napa Valley in an alluvial fan created by the outwash of Selby Creek. The soil (what there is of it) is rocky and well drained, causing the vines to send their roots far, wide, and deep to find the necessary nutrients and water. The stones aid the vineyard, by absorbing the sun’s heat during the day and then radiating it during the night, which protects the vines during frost season and helps ripen the fruit throughout the summer. The classic, full-bodied wine from this site truly reflects the vineyard’s unique terroir.

The 2005 season began with a wet winter and spring, which led to annual rainfall totals that were well above average. We had an ideal fruit set, which produced an abundant number of full grape clusters. As a result, the vintage yielded exceptional fruit for the season. The harvest lasted over two months—into the early days of November. In many ways the 2005 season was reminiscent of the excellent 1997 vintage, which offered an abundant harvest of remarkable quality.