Winemaker Notes
This 2019 Merlot is a beautiful deep purple in the glass. The nose is expressive with ripe red fruits and a touch of dried fennel. On the palate, the wine’s medium-bodied tannins complement the crisp acidity and savory undertones as big red fruit flavors dance across the palate. The wine has a strong, smooth finish with more red fruit and plum notes and a subtle hint of crushed graphite.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of spiced plum, crushed red cherry, nutmeg and clove. Full-bodied with fine, powdery tannins. Nice weight and rich texture on the palate, with a wash of well-ripened black fruit. Chocolate and espresso come through.
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.