Nose
Our 2014 Rutherford Merlot opens with rich aromas of Marion
berry, cherry and hints of forest floor and roasted portabella.
Palate
The
medium tannins and brightness on the mid-palate makes this Merlot
very drinkable. The tannins are like a light dusting of cocoa on the
finish with a slight gravelly minerality.
Growing Conditions
The grapes for the Rutherford Merlot were sourced from our
Rutherford estate vineyard, which is farmed according to biodynamic
and organic principals, and is known for gravelly alluvial fan soils with
good drainage, creating more intense flavors. Vineyards are monitored
throughout the growing season to balance crop size and quality. By
practicing leaf removal in early summer, cluster thinning at time of
veraison, and harvesting one side of the vine at a time, we achieve
concentrated flavors with optimum ripeness.
The 2014 vintage in Napa Valley was one of the earliest harvested
vintages in years. A warm spring led to early bud break and created the
perfect environment for flowering and fruit set. With warm days and
cool nights, our team was able to maintain ideal acid levels with
optimum, bright fruit flavors.
Winemaking
The grapes were on the skins for 36-55 days before being separated out.
Aging
It was
aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, mostly Saury, Radoux,
Nadalie and Demptos, with 33% new oak.
