Winemaker Notes
Merlot is harvested from five separate hillside locations on the Truchard Vineyards Estate. The difference in these micro-climates and soil conditions have set our Carneros Merlot apart and has been a favorite of our customers since first planted in 1974. An intense nose of ripe plum, wild blueberries, and cassis with a hint of cedar, earth, and subtle mint. The mouth is layered with bright flavors of black cherries, red currents, and sweet vanilla. Ripe tannins fill the palate and provide an elegant finish of dried red fruits.
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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.