![Darcie Kent Merlot, Livermore Valley](../images/products/4823/merlot_bottle.jpg) |
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Wine Details
Price:
$26.00 per bottle
Description:
Our wine making is gentle from start to finish, preserving as much of the pure fruit qualities as possible. We aged our 2003 Merlot in 100% small French oak barrels for 20 months to give it a rich aroma of vanilla and chocolate. We use a combination of Vicard barrels with medium to heavy toast for lots of chocolate aromas, Francois Frere barrels for vanilla, violet and berry flavors, and Vernod Allier barrels for a great mouth filling, velvet texture.
150 cases were crafted.
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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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