Jackknife Ridge Block, Ash Creek Vineyards, Sonoma County

Jackknife Ridge - Merlot
Planted 1993

This vineyard is five acres (3,300+ vines) of Merlot, planted on clone #3, 3,309 rootstock planted in April, 1993 on certified, heat treated, 2-year-old bench grafts from Sonoma Grapevines. This block is 2,200 feet in elevation with deep soils of rocky, Sobrante/Suther/Laughlin gravelly loams. Prior to planting at 6 x 11 spacing the rolling hills were deep ripped to 4 feet with 6 tons to the acre gypsum turned into the soil then fumigated. We installed peeler cores every 24 feet, 36 inch Lyres from A & P Structures. The vines produced their first crop in 1995. The vines are up on fruiting wires and are at maximum cordon length. The average yield is 3-4 tons to the acre. The vines are trained to an "S" pattern so minimum cutting of the main cordon shoot insures proper length. Each cordon contains 14-16 spurs. Small clusters and berries are the norm. The north side of each row is leaf thinned for uniform color and exposure.

Block Statistics

Appellation	Alexander Valley	Elevation	2,200' Hillside
Clone	Clone #3	Shoot Thinning	Y
Rootstock	3,309, heat treated, 2-year old benchgrafts	Leaf Pulling	Y
Varietal	Merlot	Crop Thinning	Y
Trellis System	Open U, 6 x 11 spacing	Soils	Sobrante / Suther / Laughlin
Irrigation Regimen	Drip/fertigated	Year Planted	1993
Winemaker Tasting Notes	"… dark berry, chocolate, silky up front, good mid mouth, tannic" "… aromas of bitter chocolate, dark berry, slight mint, spice"
Medals / Ratings	Part of Imagery Ash Creek Vineyards Cabernet - Gold Medals for 97 and 99

Year	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2001
Yield (Tons)	4.54	GF = 0.77 Benziger = 9.27	GF = 0.75 Benziger = 15.7	GF = 0.75 Benziger = 7	14.2	7.9	19.3	19.3
Brix	23º	GF = 23.7º Benziger = 24.4º	GF = 26º Benziger = n/a	GF = 25.8º Benziger = 24.6º	24.4º	22.8º	25.5º	25.5º
TA	0.62 g/100 ml	GF = 0.48 g/100 ml Benziger = 0.48 g/100 ml	GF = 0.66 g/100 ml Benziger = n/a	GF = 0.78 g/100 ml Benziger = 0.63 g/100 ml	0.54 g/100 ml	0.58 g/100 ml	0.50 g/100 ml	0.50 g/100 ml
pH	3.43	GF = 3.76 Benziger = 3.70	GF = 3.50 Benziger = n/a	GF = 3.60 Benziger = 3.64	3.59	3.58	3.75	3.75
Winery	Benziger	Gary Farrell Benziger	Gary Farrell Benziger	Gary Farrell Benziger	Benziger Reserve Vineyard Designate	Benziger Reserve Vineyard Designate	Benziger Reserve Vineyard Designate	Benziger Reserve Vineyard Designate
Year	2002	2003	2004	2005
Yield (Tons)	21	14.92	24.3	15.52
Brix	24º	25.4º	23.6°	n/a
TA	0.45 g/100 ml	0.46 g/100 ml	0.50 g/100 ml	n/a
pH	3.65	3.80	3.58	n/a
Winery	Benziger Reserve Vineyard Designate	Benziger Reserve Vineyard Designate	Imagery Reserve Vineyard Designate	Sugar Loaf Winery

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Ash Creek Vineyards
31617 Pine Mountain Road
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA
Telephone: (707) 484-2707
info@ashcreekvineyards.com