2017 Merlot
Wine Specs
Vintage
2017
Appellation
Alexander Valley
Harvest Date
October 4 & 13, 2017
Acid
0.65 g/mL
pH
3.59
Aging
New French Oak & neutral French & American Oak for 15 months.
Bottling Date
March 22, 2019
Alcohol %
14.6
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
When Mark first tasted the 2017 Merlot on its own he knew it was a super star in the making. This wine has a very dark purple hue that borders on opaque with an effusively fragrant nose of dark red fruits, cassis, and ripe black cherry. Velvety, full-bodied and satisfying this wine offers mouth-filling flavors of ripe dark fruits, black currant, and baking spices that linger in a long soft finish.
James Suckling score: 92 points
Vineyard Notes
Record breaking winter rainfall kicked off the season, replenishing soils and ponds. A pleasant spring brought bud break at the normal time, and we welcomed small berries with excellent color. A hot summer came to a peak on Labor Day weekend but our grapes fared well and once cooler weather arrived, our red varietals were able to mature at a gradual pace which allowed full varietal characteristics to develop until the grapes were harvested in mid-October.
Blend
79% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot
