Nose
With even a little air, dark blackberry, tarry smoke, crushed violet, and charred beef fat aromas
emerge. Once the masculine aromas escape the more subtle and delicate Coombsville characteristics become
apparent, i.e. aromas of fresh black currant, sweet bramble vine, and cool wet stones.
Palate
The mouth follows suit
as it enters first with a thickness and a black fruit sweetness that one would expect from the initial aroma.
Typical to its Coombsville pedigree, it never feels heavy as it fills every corner of your mouth. The 100% new
oak provides structure and a pleasing toastiness but doesn’t overwhelm. This wine is still a baby and a bit
disjointed as are many 2012s. With even a few more months in the bottle, it should become seamless and
even more rich.
Growing Conditions
Merus is handmade in every sense of the word. It is composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon from the
Coombsville Viticultural Appellation in the Southeastern corner of the Napa Valley. The individual vineyards
selected for Merus are owned by a handful of serious growers who possess extraordinary terroirs and a
willingness to implement our strict farming and harvesting protocols. Severe pruning, cluster sorting, small-lot
fermentations and careful lot selection combine to create a wine that is dense, concentrated and nuanced.
The bulk of Merus comes from a single well-chosen Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard site in the Coombsville
A.V.A of the Napa Valley. This is one of the coolest sites in the Napa Valley which allows the vines to remain
viable and active into November. What it also has going for it under challenging conditions is very
well-draining soil (volcanic strewn with river cobble), early morning sunshine due to the gentle eastern aspect,
and daily afternoon breezes.
Aging
100% new French oak from selected coopers; 26 months in barrel.
Appearance
By looking at its saturated purple-black color, you can tell immediately that the 2012 Merus is a powerhouse
of a wine.
