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| 2006 Merlot Description In 1989, we started a twelve-year process of replanting the older blocks of vines to newer rootstock and clonal combinations. We also decided to add, for the first time, a block of Merlot, one of the five main varietals of traditional Bordeaux wines. Our first Merlot harvest was in 1991, but we sold the fruit until we believed the vines were mature enough to produce the quality of fruit we desired. In 1998, we finally began to keep the fruit and produced our first Merlot. We age our Merlot for fourteen to eighteen months, in predominately French oak barrels, and generally maintain a lower percentage of new oak to allow the fruit to be more pronounced. Our Merlots tend to have very consistent aromas and flavors of bright cherry and rosemary. The later character is attributable to the grove of 100+ year –old Eucalyptus trees that drop leaves and bark on the corner of the property where our Merlot block is located. (When this section was planted to Cabernet, it also exhibited this herbal minty character). The 2005 Merlot's aromas of herbal mint and sage compliment the ripe fruit flavors of cherry and plum. The smooth finish is round and soft on your palate.
Harvest Harvested 9/14/2006 @ 23.5 Brix Aging 70% French 25% New 17 Months Laying Down Bottled on March 4,2008 Other:
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