Merryvale Profile 2011 Front Label
Merryvale Profile 2011 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

Aromas of violet, plum, black cherry, cassis, nutmeg, vanilla, dark chocolate, and the impression of minerality. Palate is restrained by Napa standards, but still full bodied and round, with all the color, depth, and persistence one expects from Profile. This wine must be decanted in its youth, and with proper cellaring it will age for 10-15 years and beyond.

Blend:42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 19% Petit Verdot, 15% Malbec

Professional Ratings

  • 91
    The winery's top-end Bordeaux red, this blends 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 19% Petit Verdot and 15% Malbec. The fruit is sourced from the family's estate vineyard on the eastern slopes of the Napa Valley, then aged 20 months in French oak, 90% of it new. Black in color, it tastes of cedar and smoke, with soft layers of subtle plum and cassis before a grippy finish. Enjoy through 2021.

    Cellar Selection

Merryvale Vineyards

Merryvale Vineyards

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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.

BUS184459_2011 Item# 184459