Nose
Mocha, blackberry, grilled herbs along with cedar and new leather leap from the glass in this rich and unctuous wine.
Palate
A seamless structure and long finish will allow this wine to age easily 15-20 years.
Growing Conditions
We purchased the land for this vineyard in 2001 after searching for a location that would allow us to produce profound terroir based wines. Located in Knights Valley, ten acres are planted, two-thirds to red varietals and one third to white. Planting was done in stages by varietal to create the three wines in succession. The elevation of this vineyard is 2300-2500 feet and its steep slopes and bowl shape create intriguing microclimates with mostly southern and western exposures. The soils are rich in volcanic ash – ideal for Cabernet franc and Chardonnay; clay for Merlot and Sauvignon blanc. La Mekerra displays a sense of wild animal, full of energy. The wines have floral dark fruit mixed with minerals and big tannic structure for the red and great natural acidity for the whites.
Soil composition: Clay and volcanic ash Year Planted: 2003 Size: 6 acres Vine spacing: 5’ x 3’ Clones: Cab franc 327/332; Merlot 181 Elevation: 2500’ Appellation: Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley Varietals: Cabernet franc; Merlot First Vintage Produced: 2007
The 2010 Mekerra is a striking Cab franc/Merlot blend that entirely illustrates how wonderfully complex and impressive Cabernet franc can be. La Mekerra Vineyard soils are rich in both volcanic ash and clay - perfectly suited for Cabernet franc and Merlot.
Aging
22 months 75% new French oak
