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Tasting Notes
A classic, flavorful Merlot, this wine features aromas of savory spices, crushed dark berries, and plum. Structure and tannins complement layered flavors of cherry preserves, baker’s chocolate, and a hint of grilled fennel before the wine finishes with a lift of quenching acidity.
Vintage Notes
Cooler temperatures and an abundance of spring rains in 2023 pushed back the first day of harvest to the beginning of September. The later start and extra ripening time for the fruit allowed flavors and color to develop slowly for depth and concentration. Warm fall days spread out harvest to the end of October for many of the red varieties, with a final pick of Merlot delivered to the winery on November 2.
Vineyard Notes
This wine shows off the rich and aromatic fruit grown in Sonoma Valley, a historic wine region. Surrounded by the Sonoma Mountains to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east, the valley provides perfect conditions for Merlot grapes. Warm summer days are cooled by evening breezes and fog from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in fruit with complex flavors and aromas. For this Appellation Collection Merlot, we source fruit from two vineyards: our Behler Estate Vineyard for expressive flavor and balanced acidity and the Dinner Vineyard, high atop Sonoma Mountain for depth and structure.
Winemaker Notes
After hand-sorting, the grapes underwent a two-day cold soak to extract optimal color and flavor. The wine was then aged in 100% French oak barrels, 55% new, where it underwent malolactic fermentation, followed by 20 months of aging.
