Flora Springs Napa Valley Merlot 2016
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Winemaker Notes
Our Napa Valley Merlot is an approachable, people-pleasing wine, one of Flora Komes’ favorites as she loved its beautiful fruit flavors and supple, easy-going texture. The 2016 vintage draws on estate fruit from our sustainably-farmed vineyards in St. Helena, Rutherford and Oakville, properties we have owned and farmed for decades. This 100% Merlot delivers showy black cherry and blueberry flavors with notes of dark chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker (did someone say s’mores?). Hints of lavender and leather add complexity, along with a brown spice character from the French oak barrels. This is an unctuous, mouth-filling wine with ripe tannins and just the right amount of acidity to keep it fresh and focused.
Incredibly versatile, our Napa Valley Merlot is an ideal match for roasted chicken with lemon and herbs, slow-cooked lamb stew or spinach risotto with taleggio cheese.
Professional Ratings
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Smooth, juicy, and lush with notes of plum, earth, and spice; fresh, bright, and balanced with generous length.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is 100% varietal and a good showcase for the grape. Thick rounded richness and dense flavors of cherry and vanilla are complemented by sage, cedar and dried herb.
Other Vintages
2017-
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It all began over 20 years ago, when Jerry and Flora Komes bought the first vineyard - a vineyard with lots of history, great soils and two ghost wineries. Their retirement project became a lifetime passion for son John Komes and daughter Julie Garvey and their families. John quickly talked the family (including another brother Mike Komes) into making wine. Julie worked side by side with John as the first two years they made the wines. Julie’s husband Pat Garvey took over the vineyard side of things. In 1980, Ken Deis was hired as winemaker and he has been part of the family ever since.
Winemaker Ken Deis makes use of every tool at his disposal. First of all, he trusts his senses: The feel of the berry in his fingers, the taste of the fruit and then the wine, the smells during fermentation. A winemaker needs to understand the source of his fruit and Ken has worked closely with vineyard manager Pat Garvey for more than 20 years so that they can anticipate the challenges that each vintage brings. Ken has also adopted the same curiosity that the entire Komes-Garvey family has and it has paid off royally in the quality of his wines.
As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.
Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.