R Merlo Estate Vineyards
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Ray and Robin Merlo first started their professional lives in a field very different from winemaking. Ray as a medical doctor and Robin as a physician assistant, they started a family practice in Redding, California. Their first entry to winemaking was from visiting family in Northern Italy in the mid ‘80’s. “It was a revealing trip for us. All my relatives had small plots of land where they grew grapes for their own use,” says Ray. “We visited the old family vineyard, which was planted by my great-grandfather and is still to this day maintained by my cousin. It was then that we thought we might like to continue this family tradition back home.”
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Directions
Directions to Hyampom from Eureka: Start North on US-101 N/Redwood Hwy/5th St. ontinue to follow US-101 N. 9.4 miles
Merge onto CA-299 E toward Weaverville/Redding 69 miles. Continue through Weaverville to Hwy 3. Turn Right. 8 miles. Continue thru Hayfork. Turn Right onto Hyampom Rd. 22 miles. Continue to Hyampom 23 miles. At Hyampom the road becomes Lower South Fork Rd. Winery is on the right 1/2 mile. Directions to Hyampom from Redding: From I- 5, North or South of Redding, exit 299W 1.2 miles. Turn right onto Ca-273N/ Ca-299W/Eureka Way. Continue to follow Ca-299W. 45 miles. Turn left onto Hwy 3 continue thru Hayfork, turn right onto Hyampom Rd 23 miles. Countinue to Hyampom 22 miles. At Hyampom the road becomes Lower South Fork Rd. Winery is on the right 1/2 mile.
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Cabernet Sauvignon
2000 was an unusually hot year as there were over six weeks in July and August that topped out in the 100’s. The temperatures cooled going into September, delaying the harvest until the end of October. The cool spring and scorching summer influenced the fruit and resulting wines, making them much lighter and a little less complex with more fresh fruit character.
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Chardonnay
This Chardonnay has bright aromatics of citrus blossoms and candied ginger. The flavors boast rich golden apples resting on a background of soft creamy roasted cashews, enhanced by aging in French oak. The finish is well-balanced and smooth with moderately crisp acidity.
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Merlot
Late spring frosts began the 2001 growing season. Water used to protect the grapes cooled the soil and set back the early spring growth. The summer was fairly typical with a few weeks of extreme heat combined with various small thunderstorms. Harvest was pushed to the end of October, resulting in fresh fruit flavors.
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Pinot Noir
2002 was an ideal growing year right until the 1st of October when the area was struck by an early fall freeze. A dry spring and a moderate summer had created a perfect growing season for our Pinot Noir grapes. Harvested before the first frost, this Pinot shows the magic of the season.
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Sangiovese
2001 began with late spring frosts, resulting in a later than expected spring growth period. A traditional few weeks of extreme summer heat arrived, but harvest was still pushed back until late October. This later harvest resulted in big, fresh fruit flavors.
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Syrah
2002 began with a dry spring and moderate summer; everything necessary for a superior growing season. However, on the 1st of October, the area was struck by an early fall freeze. The Syrah grapes remained on the vine through more than a week of freeze, resulting in higher alcohol wines with incredible levels of tannin extraction.
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