2007 Merlot, Grigsby Vineyard, Napa Valley
Wine Specs
Vintage
2007
Varietal
Merlot
Appellation
Yountville
Vineyard Designation
Grigsby Vineyard
Aging
16 months in French oak
Bottling Date
February 2009
Alcohol %
15.6
Wine Spectator
90
2007 Merlot, Grigsby Vineyard, Napa Valley
In Stock
The wine is exceptionally generous and expressive with its aromas, which pour out of the glass in a thick, rich mélange of ripe red fruit characters, highlighted with subtle notes of milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, and dusty minerality. A broad, soft, welcoming approach leads into a rich mid-palate full of delicious, juicy strawberry flavors and vibrant natural acidity. On the finish, the wonderfully soft, silky tannins that make great Merlot such a joy to drink are clearly on display, richly wrapped in a coating of sweet, luscious raspberry.
Taken as a whole, this Merlot is a perfect example of the exceptional concentration and purity of the very special 2007 growing season.
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Vineyard Notes
Located at the northwest corner of the Silverado Trail and Yountville Crossroad, our Grigsby Vineyard's soil is a light clay-loam, sprinkled with small river rocks. With its proximity to the Stags Leap District, the vineyard receives cooling breezes most afternoons, originating
from San Pablo Bay. Th e vineyard is farmed with the highest quality considerations, and the fruit clusters are hand-thinned to prevent crowding or shading for optimal color and flavor development.
Winemaker Notes
Winemaker Celia Welch worked closely with Sergio Melgoza, our vineyard manager, as they both believe that the art of making great wine begins in the vineyard. roughout Napa Valley, the 2007 vintage produced some of the greatest wine grapes in recent memory. Conditions were remarkably mild and even, with very few heat spikes, allowing flavors and tannins to ripen slowly and beautifully. Thanks to the benevolence of the season and to Sergio's dedicated efforts, the grapes matured with wonderful uniformity and we were able to
harvest at the peak of ripeness. e grapes for this wine were selectively hand-harvested during the cool morning hours, fermented for 14 days, and then gently pressed off and transferred into French oak barrels for nine months. In July of 2008 Celia added small finishing touches of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc to perfect the final blend, and returned the wine to barrels for seven more months of development and integration before bottling in February of
2009.
Production
115 Cases
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