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Wine Details
Price:
$39.00 per bottle
Description:
This is the fifth year of a vineyard-designated Merryvale bottling from the Beckstoffer family's Las Amigas Merlot vineyard in Carneros. This modern planting of clones 181 and 314 is on a vertical, shoot-positioned trellis and is producing outstanding quality. In 2002 fruit was harvested very ripe on September 19th & 20th. Three of Merryvale's seven 2002 merlot lots from the Las Amigas vineyard were included in this blend. All the lots had similar characteristics of dark color, concentration, suppleness and balance.
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Varietal Definition
Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.
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