Windsor Merlot 2011
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Windsor Vineyards grew quickly with its high quality wines, value prices and personalized labels. Strong moved Windsor to Healdsburg in 1961 to be closer to his vineyard properties. He later established another winery, Rodney Strong Vineyards, in the same location.
After a series of different owners including Beringer Blass, Windsor was recently purchased in 2007 by Vintner Patrick Roney who also owns ultra-premium Girard Winery in Napa. Mr. Roney plans to continue Windsor's long consumer-friendly tradition with direct sales to consumers and personalized wine label opportunities, as well as to launch a new era for Windsor by developing his newly-aquired 40-acre estate vineyard property located in the Russian River Valley in Healdsburg, and by introducing a new line of ultra-premium wines to complement Windsor's classic offerings.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.