Nose
The 2012 Michael Black Vineyard Merlot is a truly delicious wine that is a benchmark for what Napa Merlot can be. Licorice, blackberry, and black olive offer a wide spectrum of aromas.
Palate
It is a richly layered wine that delivers lots of spicy red and black fruit flavors with a fleshy and succulent mouthfeel.
Growing Conditions
Michael Black Vineyard, planted in 1987, lies on a hillside in Coombsville strewn with gravel, rocks, and small boulders. Michael Black propagated a unique clone that produces small berries and clusters that limit over plumping while contributing structure in the fruit. The cool climate of Coombsville promotes spicy aromatics and refined tannins. Average yields are less than 1.5 tons/acre.
Bottling
July 22, 2014
Winemaking
Crush: 100% whole berries
Pre-fermentation: Cold-soaked for 3 days at 55 degrees F.
Fermentation: 7 days followed by malo-lactic fermentation in barrels
Aging
21 months in 100% French oak barrels, 45% new for the vintage
