Winemaker Notes
Blend: 89% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Fruity nose with lots of plums, cherry cake and some mint chocolate. Medium-bodied with juicy and crunchy plums, cherries, and a hint of vanilla on the palate, leading to a pretty long, fruity finish with some mocha and tobacco in the end. Nicely firm and tight. Typical merlot fruit and brightness showing good drinkability. Enjoy now.
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Tasting Panel
The Alexander Valley is underrat- ed when it comes to Merlot this winery has produced a top-notch example. It displays ripe berries with excellent clarity and savory notes that lare generous and persistent on the palate. Pair it with familiar favorites like old- fashioned beef stew or lightly seasoned prime rib.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Alexander Valley Vineyards Merlot shows how well this grape variety performs in this AVA. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of ripe red fruit, savory spices, and hints of oak. Pair it with slow-cooked stews. (Tasted: June 27, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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.