Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot 1999

The 1999 Merlot crop enjoyed a late ripening season blessed with beautiful moderate weather, providing ideal conditions for the fruit to enjoy a long hang time on the vine. Immense structure and intense flavor developed in the fruit and were extracted into the wine cuvees. The character of select French oak cooperage was imparted over a period of eighteen months to provide a balance to the fully ripe fruit. Ripe black cherry, currant and roasted coffee bean aromas and flavors are framed in a structure similar to a great Cabernet Sauvignon which variety constitutes 7% of this blend. While enjoyable in its vibrant youth, this fine Merlot will bottle age gracefully well beyond ten years.