Winemaker Notes
Blend: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The dense ruby/purple-hued 2010 Proprietary Red Profile (92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot) displays a glorious bouquet of sweet blueberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, acacia flowers and a touch of oak. Deep, licorice-infused cassis, white chocolate and espresso roast flavors emerge from this complex, full-bodied, opulent, fleshy 2010. Its length, sweet tannins and overall intensity of flavors suggest it can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years.
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Wine Spectator
A smooth, rich and seamless effort, with tannins building around a seductive mix of dark berry, currant, loamy earth and tobacco. Flexes tannic strength on the finish.
Merryvale Vineyards is a family-owned Napa Valley winery dedicated to passionate winemaking and the fine art of living well. For the past 25 years Merryvale has been turning exceptional Napa Valley grapes into world class wine. Merryvale is world renowned for rich, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, the iconic Bordeaux-style red blend, Profile, and our everyday drinking, fruit driven brand, Starmont. Merryvale's historic building was the first winery built in the Napa Valley after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, and has become a must see attraction for visitors to the valley.
Merryvale is committed to protecting and preserving the environment through conservation, renewable energy and sustainable farming practices at our three estate vineyards. Merryvale has received Napa Green Vineyard, Napa Green Winery and Bay Area Green Business certifications.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.