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Tasting Notes
This wine shows lovely floral character with hints of savory, dried lavender, fresh thyme, and subtle blood orange zest, alongside notes of black cherry and black raspberry. Deep ruby red, it’s fresh and concentrated, and the floral and fruity balance presents a lovely complexity on the palate. The entry is a big burst of dark berry fruit with more pronounced blackberry, accompanied by hints of elderberry. Bold, velvety-rich tannins and a full-bodied, textural mouthfeel comes through on the lengthy, mouthwatering finish. Softer secondary notes of espresso, fresh tobacco, delicate spice, and warm cedar wood are all nods to the very well- integrated oak. The core is bright with a long line of refreshing acidity, certain to age for many years to come.Technical Information
| Varietal | Merlot |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Volume | 750mL |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Blend | 86% Merlot, 14% Petite Sirah |
| Oak Treatment | 100% French oak barrels (64% new) for 18 months |
| Alcohol % | 14.3% |
Winemaking
To demonstrate the authentic fruit expression of this unique Merlot block, our winemakers use traditional winemaking techniques with a minimal-intervention approach. The grapes from this singular lot are handpicked and undergo a three-week maceration period designed to extract flavor, color, and tannin from the skins. This Merlot is aged in 100% French oak barrels, with a mix of 64% new and 36% seasoned oak, for 18 months.Vintage
2020 was a season to remember. It was a warm, dry winter and the rain and cooler weather didn’t arrive until the end of March. A mild spring provided a great early start and summer brought very cool mornings and very warm days. But harvest was interrupted by wildfires across California, which came just as grapes started to be picked. We were very fortunate that none of our vineyards were in the active fire areas and the red wine harvest started in late August. While the harvest was smaller yielding and proved to be one of the most challenging in history, our talented and always optimistic winemakers created wines of very high quality from this unprecedented vintage.Vineyard
This 2020 vintage marks the twelfth release of our Block 20 Estate Grown Merlot, which originated from its namesake, block number 20, located within our estate vineyard. This singular stretch of land sits in the middle of the property where heat exposure is moderate and soil conditions are rich. Th e resulting crop is very low and perfectly balanced, making this unique production a small lot of wine that offers remarkable depth and concentration.