McDowell Valley is located in Mendocino county due east of the town of Hopland.  The soils are an elevated alluvial fan that was trapped on a narrow valley when a mountain top slid due to a massive earthquake 10 million years ago.  The deep rocky soils are well drained and suited for growing quality fruit, unlike the hardpan clay soil of the ancient valley floor.  The vines we work with here are by far the oldest we deal with and date from 1911 to 1968.  The wine we have produced is a field blend of which roughly 60% is syrah with the remainder made up of Durif, Carignane, Pelourcin and Aubun.  Most of you may be familiar with Durif and Carignane but not the other two.  Pelourcin is an almost extinct French red-wine grape recently identified as one of the varietals whose DNA is present in the Durif and Petit Sirah varieties.  Aubun is an obscure southern French varietals from Midi and Provence some believe to be related to Conoise.    Needless to say it is difficult to discern many of these plants while wandering around the field blend fire hydrant-like vines.  The wine though will speak for itself and is one we are sure you will enjoy.