2002 Merlot, Napa Valley-Carneros

Price: $28.00
Qty.  

ORIGIN: The grapes for this Merlot came from select vineyards situated entirely on the Napa Valley side of the Carneros AVA. The wine is a traditional blend of 85% Merlot from the Hudson and Beckstoffer vineyards, with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon added from the Truchard vineyard.

VINEYARD NOTES: The growing season was cool and long, with harvest stretching out leisurely and well-ordered for weeks on end. The grapes that made up this Merlot were harvested by hand from September 18 all the way through October 17, in order to achieve absolutely optimum ripeness from each vineyard, block, and variety.

WINEMAKING NOTES: The fruit was gently destemmed, leaving many uncrushed berries, and fermented in closed-top fermenters. These were pumped over twice daily, and the must was pressed at dryness. The press wine was separated from the free run, and the press fraction was not used in the final blend. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, about 40% new, for eighteen months, and bottled on April 14, 2004.

TASTING NOTES: Aromas of ripe black cherry, cocoa powder, and sweet tobacco—like the wrapper of a fine maduro cigar. In the mouth it is simply soft as velvet, showing brambly red currant flavors, with mint and black coffee hints in the lush, smooth finish.

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