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Wine Details
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Description:
The PICAZO estate Merlot vineyard enjoys this cooler clime, about 200 feet above the floor of the Livermore Valley and about 600 feet above sea level. Thanks to moderate afternoon temperatures and cooling breezes, the grapes take a long-enough time to ripen ensuring full flavor and sugar development as well as soft, mature skin and seed tannins. Perfect climate and gravelly loam soils make these ten-year-old vines superb producers of Merlot at its finest – smooth and subtle, yet fruit-packed and full-bodied, enabling the Picazo family to keep its commitment to making truly outstanding Merlot.
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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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