Palate
Our 2012 merlot has supple, velvety tannins with round black cherry and plum flavors
and an incredible finish.
Growing Conditions
The grapes are sourced from our estate vineyards on the Silverado Trail and Tubbs Lane
in Calistoga, Napa Valley. The Calistoga AVA is the 15th AVA to be approved within the
greater Napa Valley appellation. Calistoga's qualifications as an outstanding winemaking
area were established when winemaking began shortly after the town was founded in
1857. The AVA is located at the northern end of the Napa Valley at the foot of Mount
St. Helena where it has been blessed with a unique micro-climate and deep volcanic
soils perfectly suited to vineyards. The growing season is warm to hot, depending upon
the time of year; summer temperatures peak to 90°F (32.2°C) and fall to low 50s°F
(11°C), the result of marine air from the northwest producing cool afternoon and
evening breezes. The soils are almost completely of volcanic origin, soils range from
rocky, stony loam on the hillsides, to gravelly or cobbly loams on the alluvial fans, to
heavier clay-silt soils in the valley center areas.
The 2012 vintage is one of the best in recent history. Ideal weather during the growing
season and then right at the end of September a cool period which allowed for intense
flavor development without sugar accumulation producing balanced and ripe fruit of
extraordinary color and flavor.
Select barrel lots were
carefully chosen to create our Merlot. Our 2012 bottling is 85% merlot and 15%
cabernet sauvignon.
Bottling
Bottled May, 2014.
Winemaking
The grapes were hand-picked, in small lots, at the peak of ripeness, destemmed, cold
soaked, fermented to dryness and gently pressed.
Aging
The wine was then aged in a
combination of 40% new French and 60% neutral oak barrels.
Food Pairing
Try these recipes with our 2012 Merlot: pates, charcuterie, spiced nuts, Gruyere crisped
potatoes au gratin or merlot beef stew
