After many years of experimentation, our winemaker has developed just the right blend for our Old Mill Red that packs plenty of flavor but is soft and easy to drink, with meals or by itself. Composed mostly of Marechal Foch and Chambourcin, there are also small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, which are all fermented and aged separately until blending. The wine is then matured in small American oak barrels for 8 to 10 months and bottled soon after, to retain the rich fruit character. After much experimentation with several different sources of oak from several different producers, we have found that barrels made of American white oak from the Ozarks of Missouri, air-dried for 24 months, are the best suited to the flavor profiles of the reds produced at Alba.