Nose
Our 2013 Small Lot Napa Valley Meritage opens with aromas of
Madagascar vanilla, black cardamom and a touch of star anise.
Palate
Jammy
fruit flavors of cassis and brown sugar accented with dark chocolate
and allspice seamlessly spread across the palate.
Growing Conditions
The 2013 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 for this Meritage are grown in the famed Napa Valley
appellation, and the blend is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,
Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc providing an array of varietal
characteristics to work with when crafting the wine. Cabernet
Sauvignon provides richness to the wine, while Merlot contributes to
the silky mouth feel. The Cabernet Franc provides stunning aromatics
while the Malbec and Petit Verdot lends backbone to the overall
structure of the wine resulting in a blend that will age nicely over the
next 8-10 years.
Aging
This Meritage is 100% barrel-aged for 20 months in
French oak, 40% new.
Food Pairing
Silky, well balanced
tannins and a full, round mouthfeel make this the perfect
accompaniment to traditional pasta dishes with marinara sauce
