Uppercut Meritage 2012 Front Label
Uppercut Meritage 2012 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

The 2012 Uppercut Meritage, the premier release, brims with black cherry, ripe raspberry and red currant character, accent by intriguing hints of mocha and bay leaf. This myriad of aromas and flavors reflect a core blend of Merlot, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The plush texture flavors fan out across the palate in layers of juicy red and dark-fruit and then culminate in a long finish tinged with vanilla, nutmeg and hazelnut from barrel aging. “It’s fun to play with the Bordeaux-heritage varietals and see how they interact with each other,” saysWinemaker Trevor Durling. “The blend will change with the vintage; 2012 was a great year for Merlot, so we chose that for our primary grape and added others for complexity. This is an inviting, food friendly wine with enough flavor depth for roast pork, lamb, duck or beef, yet its bright acidity and soft tannins also complement wild mushroom lasagna or even grilled salmon.”

Blend: 85% Merlot,, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec

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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.

SWS375310_2012 Item# 157541