Nose
The 2018 Napa Cellars Merlot boasts aromas of plum and black cherry, sweet espresso, rose petal, dried herbs and bergamot on the nose.
Palate
Flavors of dark berry flavors with treacle, tobacco, vanilla and toasted caramel notes dance on the juicy palate.
Growing Conditions
Grapes for the 2018 Napa Cellars Merlot are sourced from vineyards mainly from the
mid-southern parts of Napa Valley, including Oak Knoll, along with a small portion
from St. Helena and Carneros. These regions are ideal for cultivating Merlot grapes with moderate to cool climates that support a extended growing season, resulting in elegant, intricate, complex and balanced wine.
Harvest
Grapes for the 2018 Napa Cellars Merlot are sourced from vineyards mainly from the
mid-southern parts of Napa Valley, including Oak Knoll, along with a small portion
from St. Helena and Carneros. These regions are ideal for cultivating Merlot grapes with moderate to cool climates that support a extended growing season, resulting in elegant, intricate, complex and balanced wine.
Winemaking
Once harvested, the grapes underwent a 10 to 16 day maceration period and were
fermented using the délestage method. This process allows the winemaker to extract
copious amounts of color and flavor from the skins, while avoiding excessive extraction of bitter and astringent flavors.
Aging
After the fermentation process completed, the wine was aged for 15 months in 100% French oak barrels, 36% of which were new.
