Winemaker Notes
The 2015 Merlot is an absolutely gorgeous wine from Mayacamas that shows wonderful purity and restraint. As this slowly begins to unwind in the glass it releases pretty aromas of bing cherries, red currants, wild herbs, spices, crushed stones, with underlying nuances of tobacco and fresh cut floral stems all taking shape. This medium-bodied Merlot is precisely structured with fine, silky tannin's and is all about balance and finesse. Displaying sheer class, and refinement, this is a beautifully made Merlot that possesses the brilliant age-worthy qualities Mayacamas is known for. That being said, readers should plan on showing a bit of patience, as this beauty will require at least a few more years of bottle age before it begins to show its best.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
The subtle berry, tobacco and fresh-herb aromas are very attractive. It’s full-bodied with soft and round tannins that are chewy and focused. Rich, flavorful finish. A beautiful, traditional red that shows its mountain origins. Drink or hold.
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.
Centered at the peak for which it is named, Mount Veeder is Napa’s largest sub-AVA. But even though the entire appellation spreads over 16,000 acres, vineyards cover a mere 1,000. Scattered among Douglas firs and bristlecone pines, Mount Veeder vineyards extend south from the upper elevations of the Mayacamas Mountains—the highest point at 2,400 feet—to the border of the Carneros region. Less than 25 wineries produce wine from Mount Veeder fruit.
Winemaking began early in this appellation. In 1864, Captain Stelham Wing presented the first Mount Veeder wine to the Napa County Fair; it came from today’s Wing Canyon Vineyard. Prohibition, of course, halted winemaking and viticulture wasn’t revitalized until the founding of Mayacamas Vineyards in 1951 and Bernstein Vineyards in 1964.
The Bernstein Vineyards was actually home to the first Petit Verdot in California, planted in 1975. Today most of the Petit Verdot in Napa Valley originates from this vineyard.
Rocky volcanic clay and ancient seabed matter dominate Mount Veeder soils—perfect for Bordeaux varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot enjoy spectacular success. These varieties produce wines rich in brambly blackberry and black cherry fruit with herbal and floral aromatics. Structures are moderate to assertive and wines have great staying power.
Chardonnay from Mount Veeder is lush, full and balanced mineral and fresh citrus flavors.