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Wine Details
Price:
$22.00 per bottle
Description:
This wine is 95% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. After a long and wonderful growing season the merlot was hand picked between October 17th and November 2nd at full maturity. The cabernet franc was picked on November 5th. The grapes were cold macerated at 50°Fahrenheit for up to three days prior to beginning of fermentation. The wine was tank fermented up to a temperature of 84° Fahrenheit and the pump over method was applied three times a day (every 8 hr) to extract color and mouthfeel. Total skin contact lasted 22 days. The wine stayed in French barrels (28% new oak) for 12.5 months during which in the first two months malolactic fermentation was completed.
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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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Cabernet Franc:
Cabernet Franc is an accessible, spicy, herbal, dark blue grape variety that is often compared to Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc tends to be softer and has less tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, although the two can be difficult to distinguish. Sometimes the French refer to Cabernets, which could mean either of the two grapes. Its typical aromas include an herbaceous and pronounced peppery nose, even in ripe fruit, and something eerily like tobacco. The Cabernet Franc ripens at an earlier stage, which gives it reason to exist in the Bordeaux area. In the Loire, where we find it a lot, it gives a clear red fresh and fruity wine.
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