The Royal Cuvée is a prestige bottling that showcases the superb quality of the grapes grown on our 335-acre estate vineyard in Carneros. Made only from the first pressing of grapes hand-picked from our vineyards, this classic Brut blend of two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay offers the delicacy and exuberance of perfectly ripe fruit well-integrated with mature complexities derived from over five years of aging on the yeast. The 2001 vintage gave us an abundant crop that we thinned heavily. After a dry winter, we received just enough rain in February to bring us to normal levels. After a warm day or two in June, temperatures stayed in the 80s and low 90s through the growing season. Harvest was orderly and many vineyard blocks ripened slowly, allowing fruit to ripen fully while maintaining bright acidities.