Shafer Napa Valley Merlot 2004
Merlot
from Napa Valley, California
winemaker's notes:
Varietal Composition: 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
The 2004 Merlot is rich purple, reflecting the vintage, and offers lush, focused flavors and
aromas of bright cherries, strawberry, red and black plums, and cranberry. The Cabernet
Sauvignon gives the wine added strength, firm tannins, and age-ability. Cabernet Franc
brings in lovely fragrance with a hint of violets.
Flatter this Merlot's fruit by adding a similar element of fruit to poultry, pork and meat dishes (duck
breast with dried cherry-Merlot sauce, roast chicken with cranberry-wild rice stuffing).
Carmelized onions, roasted garlic and mushrooms are also pleasant companions.
