Cabernet-like in structure, the 2012 Rutherford Merlot
displays aromas of black cherry and espresso bean
aromatically accented with hints of mulled spices.
Earthy
and rusty on the palate, the wine displays a medium to full
body with luscious raspberry and blackberry flavors with
smooth tannins that are lively in the mouth before
culminating in a long, delicious finish.
The grapes for the Rutherford Merlot were sourced from
our Rutherford estate vineyard, known for gravelly alluvial
fan soils with good drainage, creating more intense flavors.
Vineyards are monitored throughout the growing season
to balance crop size and quality. By practicing leaf removal
in early summer, cluster thinning at time of veraison, and
harvesting one side of the vine at a time, we achieve
concentrated flavors with optimum ripeness.
"Classic" and "perfect" are just two accolades being
bestowed upon the 2012 Napa Valley growing season and
harvest. Textbook conditions saw near-ideal spring bud
break, steady flowering, even fruit set, and a lengthy stretch
of warm days and cool nights during the long summer
months. Late and light rains held off until Napa Valley's
treasured wine grapes found optimal ripeness, bringing
exceptional quality to the crush pad and into the cellar.
The grapes for this Merlot were all harvested from our
Estate Vineyard in the heart of Rutherford.
The wine
spent 18-20 months in French oak with 45% in new oak
barrels.
