2015 Winemaker Series Merlot

ABOUT WINEMAKER SERIES

Our Napa Valley collection of wines are crafted with the same approach to winemaking as our limited-production estate wines, using great care in harvesting and handling the grapes, and a measured hand in the cellar, to produce wines of supple power, elegance and age-worthiness.  In addition to some estate-grown grapes, we source high-quality fruit from independent growers who farm their vines to our precise specifications.  

VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING

With 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a fruit-driven Merlot in a richer style with nice minerality. The Merlot was mostly sourced from the Collins Vineyard in St. Helena while the Cabernet Sauvignon is from the Battuello Vineyard in St. Helena and Shooting Star Vineyard in Pope Valley.  After fermentation, this wine was aged for 21 months in 65% new French oak barrels and 10% new American oak barrels (25% neutral barrels). 

VINTAGE

Overall, 2015 was a year with lower than usual crop size but with high quality fruit.  The growing season was hot and dry and harvest started and ended early. A very warm and relatively dry winter led to early budbreak but, conversely, temperatures were abnormally low during the bloom period in May. During this extended bloom, there were two small rain events that resulted in a high incidence of ‘shatter,’ reducing tonnage.  While it was a challenging vintage, by continually adjusting to the challenges and employing best practices, the grapes brought into the winery were of high quality.  

TASTING NOTES

This Merlot offers generous aromas of ripe plums and red fruits along with toffee, nutmeg, and tobacco.  Medium-bodied, the wine has a juicy mouthfeel with supple tannins and a long finish filled with dried cranberry and hints of clove.

FOOD PAIRINGS

Enjoy with roasted chicken with sautéed wild mushrooms or herb-crusted pork chops.