Eight miles north of San Pablo Bay, the Bundschu family's 161 year-old vineyard wraps around the southwest slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. The terrain features steep, southwest-facing hillsides of shallow, rocky soils of volcanic ash and alluvial wash. Pervasive maritime breezes and long daylight exposure allow fruit to develop intense concentration while retaining vibrant structure. Two distinct blocks of Merlot have consistently produced top lots with the greatest complexity, concentration and balance. Each vintage, the top five barrels from these lots are selected for this distinctive bottling.