Our 2017 Napa Valley Merlot is a cellar-worthy wine that will age beautifully for a decade or more. The wine opens with aromas of preserved marasca cherries, rose petal, anise and a touch of soft, supple leather. The well-textured palate brings fruit-forward notes of blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and black cherry that blend seamlessly with spicy, earthy undertones of allspice, sautéed sage, black tea leaf and hints of clove before a lengthy, memorable finish.
Composition
100% Merlot
Vineyards
- Pahlmeyer Estate Vineyard,
- Rancho Chimiles
Critics
97 Points
James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com, June 15, 2021
Blueberries, plums, dark flowers, tar and sandalwood on the nose. It’s full-bodied and creamy with supple tannins. Polished and rich, yet so fresh and balanced. Smooth, firm and flavorful. Caressing finish. Plush 2017 character. Drink or hold.
93 Points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, October 31, 2019
The 2017 Merlot, bottled at the beginning of September, delivers evocative notions of warm black plums, blackberry pie, mulberries and fruitcake with hints of tar, charcuterie, black olives and cracked black pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate practically prances with lively black fruit preserves and savory accents, framed by rounded tannins and loads of freshness, finishing long and fruity.
Winemaking
- Alcohol:
- 14.9%
- Harvested:
- September 8 to February 7, 2017
- Bottled:
- August 14, 2019
- Released:
- March 1, 2020
Grape clusters from our high-elevation vineyards were gravity-fed onto a vibrating table where two screens sifted out materials other than grapes, and we removed by hand any fruit that did not pass visual inspection. After gentle destemming, individual berries were hand-sorted again to ensure that only the best grapes were delivered to tanks. The fruit underwent five days of cold maceration and up to six weeks of primary fermentation before gentle basket press. We aged the wine in 100% new French oak barrels for 20 months. After careful blending of select lots, the wine was bottled in Spring 2019 for additional bottle age before release.