Nose
With freshness emphasizing its southern Napa origins, the 2014 Merlot combines juicy dark cherry fruit, blueberry and light floral violet notes with subtle hints of cinnamon, vanilla, clove and cocoa, imparted from the oak ageing.
Palate
The generous fruit flavors, polished structure, mouthwatering acidity, silky tannins and lush texture show just how complex and refined Merlot can be.
Winemaking
The grapes for this Napa Valley Merlot underwent a two- to three-week maceration period designed to extract ideal flavor, color and tannin from the skins. Using traditional winemaking techniques, Winemaker Christophe Paubert aged this Merlot in high-quality French oak barrels (35% new) for 16 months. This deliberate lesser percentage of new oak imparts structure, ageability and a slight spice complexity to the wine that still allows the fresh fruit flavors to take center stage.
Aging
French oak barrels (35% new) for 16 months.
