Winemaker's Notes
The Merlot fruit comes primarily from Mendocino and Lake Counties, and other varieties from Dunnigan Hills. Merlot from Mendocino’s Redwood Valley has a very distinctive bramble and raspberry fruit profile. The Lake County fruit adds complex notes of dried herbs and cherry, while the Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, grown in the Dunnigan Hills, lend color and backbone to the wine. Malbec adds an intriguing floral/anise note. (Merlot 85%, Petit Verdot 7%, Malbec 4%, Petite Sirah 2%, Cabernet 1%, Other 1%.)
This is a very fruit-forward Merlot that showcases raspberry and blueberry flavors. The fragrant nose pops with blueberry, rose, cassis, cedar, and spice. By barrel aging the wine for 16 months, the mouth-filling tannins are rounded, and it delivers a long, spicy finish.
