A third successive extended growing season and another late harvest characterized the conditions, allowing the fruit to benefit from lengthy hang-times. This period facilitated steady and full flavor maturity with balanced natural acids and manageable sugar/alcohol levels. Crop levels rebounded after the low-yielding 1999 harvest, necessitating fruit thinning to meet our stringent yield and fruit concentration goals. Harvest concluded just as the first late fall rains approached, ensuring the fruit remained healthy. This timing also enabled us to work with high-quality lees in barrel, enhancing palate texture.