Palate
Elegantly, expressive, and authoritative, the 2018 Merlot Reserve is a notch above the standard Merlot. While still showcasing the dominate plum, black cherry, humus, herb and tobacco characters, the reserve has a more refined and sophisticated delivery, and deliciously generous and toasty finish of well-integrated, plush tannins.
Growing Conditions
February saw abundant rains, followed by lots of filtered light in spring and early summer. Both bud break and flowering occurred a bit late, but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. Summer brought generous sun during the day and cooler marine influences, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes. The relatively mild summer followed by extended fall sunshine and moderate heat created near-ideal conditions for winemakers to allow their fruit to accumulate flavor complexity with gradual increases in sugar levels.
