At Chalk Hill, Merlot is as significant a wine as Cabernet Sauvignon: different in character, but profound, powerful, and every bit as extracted, structured and ageable as Cabernet. With a host of new clones of Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties reaching full maturity on the estate, the coincidence of a great vintage in 1999 was cause for excitement. Temperate, consistent weather provided substantial "hang time" for our Merlot, and the fruit ripened evenly and fully throughout all blocks, leading to a well-paced harvest during the first two weeks of October. The season also offered deliciously abundant crops of Malbec, which, with its dense color and plush middle tannins, is a gracious complement to Merlot. Three new clones of Malbec, UCD 04, UCD 06 and UCD 08, were blended into the 1999 Merlot along with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The Malbec, however, makes the largest impact, both in the wine`s velvety texture and its core of blueberry and blackberry flavors Traditional techniques captured the essence of the fruit. Clusters were de-stemmed with minimal crushing of the berries. Fermentations, both primary and malolactic, were native. The wine was aged in French oak, with coopers Taransaud and Bossuet prominently featured. The wine was racked three times per year and was bottled without fining, in large part due to the contribution of the Malbec to the blend. This Chalk Hill Merlot will appeal to those searching for serious Merlot on a par with the noble wines of Pomerol.