2006 Starmont Merlot, Napa Valley

BLEND
87% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot

VINEYARDS
Select Napa Valley Vineyards including Juliana, Stagecoach, Orchard Avenue, Las Amigas

APPELLATION
Napa Valley

WINEMAKING

• Extended maceration on the skins
• Aged 15 months in French oak (25% new)
• Bottled unfiltered

BARREL AGING
Aged 15 months in French oak (25% new)

ALCOHOL
14.8% by volume

RELEASE DATE
March, 2009

CELLARING
The wine will reward those with the patience to cellar it.

WINEMAKER'S NOTES
Our Merlot is blended from lots selected for their complexity of flavors and round tannins. The wine is handpicked and carefully sorted before undergoing extended maceration. We blend in a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to provide additional aromatics and structure.

The 2006 vintage has been described as a “growers” year by some vintners. After a late bud break due to an unseasonably cool spring, the Napa Valley experienced a record setting heat wave in July which allowed the grapes to catch up in ripening. An ideal mild weather pattern came in August and an “Indian Summer” followed into October allowing for slow and even ripening resulting in acids and sugars in perfect harmony.

This Merlot displays notes of black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, roasted coffee and bramble. On the palate, the wine has a fruit forward entry with round chewy tannins. The finish is complex and lingering. Our favorite food pairings include cassoulet and sharp cheeses.