Merryvale Profile, 2006
| Vintage: | 2006 |
| Wine Type: | Red Wine |
| Varietal: | Bordeaux |
| Appellation: | Napa Valley |
| Alcohol %: | 14.9 |
Aromas of cassis, raspberry, perfume and vanilla are interwoven with tobacco, cedar and cocoa. On the palate the wine is dense and concentrated with a finish that is long and complex.
A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc from the Merryvale Estate Vineyard (St. Helena Appellation), Showket, Stagecoach, Beckstoffer-Vineyard X. All the fruit for this wine was handpicked and triple sorted.
After a six day cold soak, the wine underwent extended maceration. We aged Profile for 25 months in 90% new French Oak barrels (Taransaud, Darnajou and Sylvain). This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The 2006 vintage has been described as a “growers” year by some vintners. After a late bud break due to an unseasonably cool spring, the Napa Valley experienced a record setting heat wave in July, which allowed the grapes to catch up in ripening. An ideal mild weather pattern came in August and an “Indian Summer” followed into October allowing for slow and even ripening, resulting in acids and sugars in perfect harmony.
Our favorite pairings include beef tenderloin, and herb encrusted rack of lamb.