Jason-Stephens Estate Merlot 2009
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Other Vintages
2014-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Wong
Wilfred
The success of the winery is driven by the balance in the wines’ structure. Their philosophy for the wines is to express the fruit aspect in the flavor and aromas as wine is a derivative of grapes. Their barrel selection ensures oak attributes without overwhelming the entire flavor profile. Great structure is derived from the acidity and smooth tannins. The overall balance mixed with a velvety texture and refined flavor is what makes these palate-crafted wines a memorable and enjoyable experience.
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.
Home to some of California’s most influential winemaking pioneers of the late 1800s, Paul Masson and Charles Lefranc, the Santa Clara Valley AVA hugs up against the southwestern border of today’s famous Silicon Valley and excels in the production of bold reds, as well as some whites.