Our estate vineyards are planted on the south western slope of the Nob Hill over looking Franktown. The rows of vines , on a 6x11 spacing, are angled with the slope of the grade, a configuration which allows for maximum vines per acre. At the time of grafting, there wasn’t the push to have the bud wood classified by clone number. The Cabernet Sauvignon came from a Chateau Montelena vineyard, the Cabernet Franc came from somewhere in Sonoma near Healdsburg and the Merlot’s origin is unknown. In today’s world, the clones would be numbered and pedigreed. We have a drip system installed, however until recently we watered very seldom and the vines grew almost too well.

The area’s topography and aspect contribute to a special microclimate. Hillside topography and valley temperature inversions combine to give the region an unusually moderate temperate regime during the growing season, with lower maximum temperatures and higher minimum temperatures than nearby locations of Franktown. The microclimate of the Nob Hill region is clearly distinctive when compared to the surrounding areas. The microclimate is significantly cooler than Franktown to its northwest and north, due to various tempering influences primarily associated with its upland location. So too is it cooler than adjacent land to the west in Douglas County, due to its predominantly northeastern aspect which provides oblique sun and shade in the afternoon, and massive numbers of Ponderosa pines.

The special climate and soils of our location help create grapes with intense flavors, soft firm tannins and good acid balance. The wines produced from these excellent grapes are age worthy as well as being very approachable at release. Ours wines tend to have deep color with cherry berry flavors with a hint of cassis. The eastern aspect of our vineyards and cooler temperatures make it difficult to produce over ripe grapes with high sugar, allowing the production of wines with high extraction, high alcohol and in-your-face fruit flavors. Instead, we produce subtle, well-structured, food-friendly, age-worthy wines.