Nose
The 2015 Merlot Bosché expresses ripe dark cherry, black currant, and blackberry fruit components. With great depth of aroma and flavor, there are nuanced notes of sweet oak spice, juniper berry, black pepper, vanilla and dark chocolate. The oak spice is well integrated, not dominant, yet provides a substantial backbone to the complexity of the wine, balancing the abundance of fruit.
Palate
The flavor is big, voluptuous, soft and velvety, with rich black cherry. The tannins are well integrated, leading to a long, fruitful finish.
Growing Conditions
The 2015 winter was one of the driest on record for the Napa Valley. The region received 75% of normal precipitation. The relatively dry, warm winter promoted early bud break, and a cool spring supported a long flowering period. The balance of the season was moderate to warm, the crop was light, with small clusters and small concentrated berries, and the fruit ripened about two weeks early on average. A moderate harvest gave way to a warm spell that completed the ripening process a bit early.
Harvest
August 22
Bottling
March 2017
Aging
Aged in barrel: 17 months
Appearance
Medium dark ruby.
