Nose
Vibrant and youthful, our Rutherford Merlot opens with aromas of
bright red fruit, white pepper and a delicate earthiness.
Palate
On the palate,
the wine is soft, yet fruity and evokes the flavors of a freshly baked
cherry tart. This Merlot is light but with compelling texture and a
velvety, persistent finish. Enjoy now, or cellar 6 – 8 years.
Growing Conditions
A warm, dry spring brought early bud break, helped with canopy vigor
and berry size and created ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set.
With the exception of one heat spike in late June/early July,
temperatures were consistently in the zone for optimal vine activity,
resulting in notably healthy vines as fruit went through veraison and
started ripening.
Two brief mid-September rains had virtually no impact on the grapes.
The vast majority of the more delicate skinned grapes had already been
harvested and sunny weather with breezes followed the rains, allowing
for the mostly Cabernet Sauvignon that remained to dry out almost
immediately. The cooler, sunny weather throughout October allowed
the final grapes still on the vine to linger longer, developing more
phenolic and flavor maturities with sugar levels remaining steady
Aging
22 Months in 100% French Oak, 40% New.
