Palate
Chocolate, raspberry and cherry-like flavors. Full bodied with depth and a long, rich finish
Growing Conditions
Vineyards: Napanook, Rancho Chimiles, Caldwell Vineyard, Hossfeld Vineyard, Moon Vineyard.
Sold out.
Bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Winemaking
The red grapes are picked fully ripe, brought to the winery in small bins, and destemmed only. The whole berries are then fermented with wild yeasts. This is followed by malolactic fermentation with indigenous yeasts in small French oak barrels. Interestingly, this red grape regime of whole berry fermentation in small lots softens tannins and magnifies fruit flavors.
Aging
The Merlot is aged in a combination of new (80%) and one-year-old barrels for approximately 18 months.
Appearance
Intense purple color.