May 2019 to May 2021
- Planting Date: April 5-12, 2021
- Acreage under vine: 3.68ac
- AVA Classification: Texas Hill Country
- Region: Pedernales Watershed, 4 miles W of Johnson City
- Topography: Sloped Limestone Terrace, live oaks, native grasses, wildflowers, and very much cleared cedar; no prior cultivation
- Elevation: 1,450′ (443.2M), 40′ elevation change
- GPS: 30.262326, -98.462126 (30°15’44,4″N 98°27’43.7W)
- Soil: Well-drained Doss Silty Clay, Brackett Association, and sandstone aggregate to 24″; limestone foundation. Significant fossilized seabed treasures across the site. Ripped to 18”, disced, overseeded in 2020
- Varietals
- Merlot 181 ENTAV-INRA on SO4 — East block to Live Oak Mott
- French Clone, originated from Bordeaux, certified 1973
- Nursery: Wonderful, Kern County, California
- Merlot FPS 24.1 on SO4 — Live Oak Mott and West Block
- Italian Clone, VCR 101, certified 2002
- Nursery: Novavine, Sonoma County, California
- Total Planted: 5009 bench graft dormant vines
- Vines survived nationwide pandemic, CA wildfires, TX ice storms and Easter Weekend shipping drama before planting
- Merlot 181 ENTAV-INRA on SO4 — East block to Live Oak Mott
- Spacing: 8×4
- Orientation: South-North, with prevailing summer winds
- End posts: 195 posts, set by hand; bois d’arc, aka Osage orange;
9’ length, 3.5’ in concrete; 125 lbs; Transported by Sommelier Logistics - Irrigation: Drip, 7 zones – rainwater capture + site well (depth 400′)
- Soil and Site Analysis: Fritz Westover
- Vineyard consultant: Bill Blackmon
- Installation: Donny Jackson, with team lead Diego
- Vine Planting: Luis Cortes and his team, by hand