2018 Merlot

Sierra Oaks Vineyard, Fair Play

Tasting Notes

Medium garnet color. Minerality up front with aromas of violet, tobacco leaf, forest floor, plum and dark chocolate as the wine opens up. This dry, full bodied Merlot is still on the young side, with big tannins and acidity to match, which will smooth as it continues to age. This is a Cabernet lovers Merlot; boldly structured and ageable, not the insipid round, fruity style the varietal has been so maligned for in recent years.

Food Pairing

Lamb chops or Pork Tenderloin with blackberry Merlot sauce. Beef stew or pot roast. Vegetarians may enjoy this wine with rich eggplant dishes like Eggplant Parmigiana. Aged cheddar and other strongly flavored hard cheeses will make a great pairing.

Winemaking Notes

100% Merlot. In our past 5 years of farming here in El Dorado, Merlot has emerged as the best performing Bordeaux variety in this region overall, and this wine showcases that quality. After harvest we bled off 20% of the juice for rosé prior to fermentation, concentrating the skin to juice ratio. After fermentation we used a little extra pressure when pressing the wine off the must, thus extracting more tannins for a strong tannic profile to this wine.

Aging

Aged for 20 months in 75% new French oak and 25% neutral oak.

125 cases produced