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Wine Details
Price:
$200.00 per bottle
Description:
Production of the inaugural vintage of Amuse Bouche wine is limited to 3,000 bottles. The Napa Valley Merlot grapes were harvested on September 18, 2002 at optimum brix levels (rootstock 101-14/clone 6) from their 3-acre block. The Amuse Bouche wine is showing remarkable structure and suppleness through fermentation, with aromas and flavors of black tea, currants, raspberries and anise. The Cabernet Franc grapes, from 20-year-old hillside vines in Oakville, California, were picked on October 3, 2002 and have joined the Merlot grapes aging in a variety of French oak cooperage.
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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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Cabernet Franc:
Cabernet Franc is an accessible, spicy, herbal, dark blue grape variety that is often compared to Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc tends to be softer and has less tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, although the two can be difficult to distinguish. Sometimes the French refer to Cabernets, which could mean either of the two grapes. Its typical aromas include an herbaceous and pronounced peppery nose, even in ripe fruit, and something eerily like tobacco. The Cabernet Franc ripens at an earlier stage, which gives it reason to exist in the Bordeaux area. In the Loire, where we find it a lot, it gives a clear red fresh and fruity wine.
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