I’m not sure if anyone loves Merlot more than we do here at Markham Vineyards? Our dedication goes all the way back to 1980 when our very first Merlot was made from Nathan Fay’s grapes in the Stag’s Leap District. It led to growing Merlot on all of our estate ranches and continues to be 30% of our vineyard portfolio. Our 2014 celebrates its 35th bottling in all the cherry pie goodness for which it has been known!
From the winemaker – “A true Napa Valley blend of vineyards! Our Estate vineyards provide the backbone for the blend, totaling 50% of this bottling. Merlot from Oak Knoll gives sour cherry character while the Yountville components provide the classic Bing cherry aromas and flavors for which our Merlot is known. The
jammy notes come from blending in warmer up-valley fruit from Calistoga vineyards. Much care is taken to maximize the filtered light and allow the Merlot to hang freely within the canopy during harvest. This allows the fruit to mature and color evenly, leaving any vegetal hints behind. The wines are sent to barrels as individual lots to mature, allowing for greater understanding of the direct impact of our viticultural and fermentation practices each vintage.”
Rating:
This wine was given a 89 point rating by Wine Spectator.
The 2014 vintage was a truly remarkable year for grape growing in Napa Valley. We had a warmer spring followed by a beautiful warm summer and very pleasant fall. It was a stark contrast to the challenges of recent vintages. No frost, no rain, no hail, no long stretches of high heat. The consistent temperatures allowed the grapes to develop slowly and evenly, encouraging a rich crop of fully mature grapes. It was a classic growing season with great quality and large quantity.
B Side wines tell the story of the flip-side of Napa Valley. Nestled in rural areas and rolling hills along the eastern edge of the valley, these vineyards are just a few miles from the glamorous, high-priced wineries featured along Highway 29. The eastern side of Napa Valley includes areas such as Pope Valley, Chiles Valley, Wooden Valley, Stags Leap District and lower Calistoga. Vines in these areas are grown in thin volcanic soils, which yield smaller, more concentrated fruit.
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars began making Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc in the early 1980s. We combine estate-grown grapes with those purchased from a handful of skilled, fastidious farmers to create a wine that is complex, yet crisp and refreshing, and versatile with a wide range of dishes and occasions – from patio aperitif to elegant dinner party.
From the winemaker – “Delightful aromas of white peach and honeydew melon commingle with citrus and white grapefruit flavors that burst forth in this refreshing, crisp and balanced wine. To achieve the crisp minerality and bright acidity in the wine, we harvest at night for optimal fruit freshness that ensures our signature Sauvignon Blanc style.
The story of Chateau Souverain begins in 1944 when J. Leland “Lee” Stewart harvested his first crop of grapes from Howell Mountain vineyard in Napa Valley. In the years that followed, Stewart used innovation, meticulous standards and his natural gift for winemaking to establish Souverain as one of the great California wineries.
With roots deeply anchored in the Napa Valley, William Hill Estate crafts luxury Chardonnay and Bordeaux varietal wines from the undiscovered vineyards of California’s most celebrated regions. Beginning with William Hill Estate’s 140-acre benchland vineyard near the Silverado Trail, Winemaker Mark Williams turns to the hidden corners of southern Napa, the North Coast and the Central Coast to create a unique collection of rich, expressive wines.
While the high daytime temperatures allow for complete ripening, it’s the low night temperatures that create the thickening in the skins producing the aroma and flavor precursors that winemakers the world over search for. The Sunnybrook Ranch in southeast Paso Robles is situated on rolling hills with southern exposures offering early morning warming, protection from drying afternoon winds and cold nights slowing sugar accumulation, increasing tannins and flavor compounds resulting in extended hang time and delaying harvest until late November!
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