2015 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Saint Helena

Winemaking

Merryvale’s Estate Vineyard lies on an eastern ridge overlooking the Napa Valley at almost 1,000 feet of elevation. Planted in 1997, this vineyard consistently delivers grapes that stand out for their plush fruit character, complexity and silky tannins. The fruit was harvested at night in small picking lugs, then destemmed and double sorted at the winery. Each tank was gravity filled and the fruit was first macerated at 55°F for 5 days. Fermentation started naturally after that and reached peak temperatures of 90°F. Total maceration time was between 15 to 20 days. The wines were then pressed and barreled down where malolactic fermentation occurred. We aged the wine for 26 months in 80% new French oak barrels. The wine was racked four times and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting Notes

2015 was a beautiful year with excellent growing conditions at the right time and the resulting wines are rich and balanced with a lot of supple notes and length. The 2015 Saint Helena Cab is one of the best in memory, with a lot of red plum and typical cherry notes you find in the Cabernets from the hillsides of Saint Helena. It has a lot of savory notes such as thyme and rosemary. On the palate it is powerful but with sweet tannins. Overall the wine has some natural sweetness but plenty of acidity to keep the mouth fresh and round. It finishes with typical notes of tobacco and dark cocoa that you find in great Cabernets. With proper cellaring, this wine will drink beautifully for up to 20 years.