2009 MERLOT
Rutherford Napa Valley
THE BLEND 100% Merlot
RELEASE DATE Fall 2011
RETAIL PRICE
$34.00
$28.90 Club Price
Quantity discount available
STATS
Harvested ~ September 12 - October 2. 23.6° brix at harvest. 13.2% alcohol. 6.1 gr/L total acidity. 3.48 pH. Aged 18 months in French and American oak
A BRIEF HISTORY
A part of our family since 1990, Merlot holds
a special place in the heart of Frog’s Leap as the majority
of the fruit comes from the Estate surrounding our winery and
historic Red Barn. Situated in the eastern part of Rutherford
this vineyard is perfectly suited for growing Merlot due to
its rich, clay loam soils. We have found over the years that
Merlot likes “cool feet” and a “warm body.”
The clay soils hold more moisture keeping the root-zone cool,
while the setting sun over the Mayacamas gives our vines an
extra hour of evening sun. Sustainable and dry farming practices
reveal the true personality of the varietal, which we describe
as having red fruit flavors with a soft, supple texture. We
believe that our Merlot is another great ambassador of the Frog’s
Leap style - elegant, balanced and restrained.
ABOUT THE WINE
The 2009 Merlot, a winery favorite, shows off the beautifully aromatic and richly flavored character of this varietal at its very best. More expressive than most red wines, the Merlot opens with aromas of plum, dark cherries, cocoa and spice and it fills the void where Pinot Noir is too simple and Cabernet Sauvignon too intense. Yet, it is in the flavors where Merlot really shows its culinary versatility; rich and plush but with the definite bite of bright acidity. This is a great bottle to reach for when roasting chicken, braising veal shank or grilling some portobello mushrooms.
WINEMAKERS
John Williams and Paula Moschetti |
