Winemaker Notes
75% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Deep and well-extracted red cherry fruit scents with a soupçon of roasted bread and a veneer of crème brûlée richness added in for good measure, this wine is attractive from the outset. Supple to start on the palate with a plush early texture, it firms up towards the back and makes good use of late-arriving tightness for a bit of grip and up to a half decade of ageworthiness. It can be tried at any point but will soften with rest.
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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.