Smooth Leather Merlot

The Stags' Leap Napa Valley Merlot 2009 is what Winemaker Christophe Paubert describes as a "serious Merlot." With freshness and acidityunderscoring its cool climate origins, the wine combines delicious black cherry, cassis and licorice flavors with subtle notes of leather, pepper and cinnamon.

Aromas of a old leather bound book. Smooth and satisfying, red and black currant, cedar, tobacco, sweet espresso and oh so subtle spice. Sit back and enjoy this classic.Blend: 100% Merlot

We craft this wine to be our complex yet approachable Merlot. The wine offers aromas of black cherry, leather and spice with layers of rich dark red fruit flavors and a long, smooth, sweet finish. A touch of Syrah adds a jammy fruit character. I think of this wine as a great 'any day red.'

This Merlot combines fruit from Napa, Sonoma and Monterey. The flavors and textures unique to each region harmonize perfectly to create a wine that has dark succulent fruit balanced by natural acidity. Intense aromatics of raspberry and blueberry lead to flavors of crushed berries, vanilla and leather, which are wrapped up in a soft, smooth tannin structure.