Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 2009
| Vintage: | 2009 |
| Wine Type: | Red Wine |
| Varietal: | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Appellation: | Napa Valley |
| Alcohol %: | 14.9 |
Dark purple in color with generous aromas of currants, blackberry, licorice, chocolate, black olive, espresso and vanilla. The wine is round and full on the palate with forward fruit and great structure from the balanced acid and tannins. Decant this wine in its youth and enjoy for the next 10+ years.
For most of the 2009 harvest in Napa Valley, things went smoothly. Early-ripening whites—Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc—and reds, namely Carneros Pinot Noir, were picked at optimal ripening levels, capping a summer of mild, steady weather. Cabernet Sauvignon enjoyed the same ideal growing conditions until October, when a pair of strong storms dumped enough rain to worry growers. Wineries that waited out the deluge faced a mixed bag, but those who picked before the storms, including us, are very excited about the young wines’ overall quality and ripeness at slightly lower alcohol levels.
Hand-picked, triple sorted; Extended maceration; Aged 22 months in 70% new French oak barrels; Minimal handling; only racked three times; Unfined and unfiltered
Our Napa Cabernet received choice lots from our Estate Vineyard located in the hills high above St. Helena, as well as fruit from other top Napa vineyards, including Stagecoach and Kenefick. The fruit was hand-picked and triple sorted before undergoing extended maceration and a long, cool fermentation for increased flavor, color and aroma. The wine was aged for 22 months in 70% new French oak barrels. Our Napa Cabernet bottling is always blended with other Bordeaux varietals for their added aromatic and balanced tannin contributions. The wine was racked three times, and was bottled unfined and unfiltered.