Merlot
In the mood for red? This luscious vintage is packed with dark fruit—think blackberry, black cherry and raspberry—and layered with smooth vanilla, sweet aromatics and soft tannins for a plush feel on the palate. A cheese plate’s best friend, this is a great wine to have on hand for spur-of-the-moment entertaining.
Pairings
- Rich cheeses
- Beef
- Pork
Winemaker Notes
Viticulture Notes
We harvested these grapes mostly at night to keep them cool. A portion of the fruit was then held in a cold soak for 24 hours before fermentation to maximize the extraction of flavors and color. Fermentation took place at hotter temperatures to further enhance flavor and pigmentation. Wine was racked every two months and aged on oak to complement the natural intensity of the fruit with layers of soft vanilla and sweet aromatics.
We made our Merlot from grapes grown throughout California, mostly in the Central Valley area of Lodi. The 2016 harvest came early but is considered an exceptional year for fruit. Warm temperatures in spring and summer encouraged the grapes to mature and develop full flavor characteristics and intense color. Rich, balanced and structured, this is one of the best vintages in recent years.
- origin: California
- alcohol: 13.5%
- acidity: 0.50g/100mL
- pH: 3.65
