Winemaker Notes
This Merlot-based blend is inspired by its Bordeaux namesake and Materra's vines proximity to the Napa riverside. Opaque Ruby in color, with a nose bursting with red fruit hints at the concentrated flavors to come. Initial notes of black cherry, ripe plums, and black tea, with hints of spicy oak and vanilla on the palate. The mouthfeel is very plush and powerful with soft, silky tannins. The Cabernet Franc element is more noticeable in the finish, with its characteristic blueberry flavor and bold, long lasting tannins.
Blend: 91% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A ripe, dark-fruited and racy red with dried flowers, vanilla and moist earth undertones. Medium- to full-bodied, smooth and velvety with succulent fruit. Bright, fruity finish with moderate length.
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.
As one of Napa’s coolest sub-appellations, the area begs for diversity among its vineyards. Merlot and Chardonnay firmly compete with Cabernet Sauvignon for a place here. Some of Napa’s best Zinfandels also come from the Oak Knoll District.
Situated far in Napa’s southern end, Oak Knoll receives a strong cooling influence from both the San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Coast’s evening fog and breezes. Summer days are warm but on average ten degrees cooler than in St. Helena farther north up the valley; summer nights are chilly. A long growing season promotes for leisurely ripening of grape berries, resulting in an impressive balance of sugars, phenols and acidity.
Notable producers include Trefethen, one of the appellation’s oldest wineries, Robert Biale, legendary Zinfandel producer and Lewis Cellars, a family-run, hands-on establishment.