This is our third vintage of Merlot produced from our own sloping vineyard in the Carneros appellation of the Napa Valley. This nine-acre vineyard is planted to an 8' X 4' spacing with roughly 1,520 vines per acre on 5C rootstock. This rootstock is a shallow rooting vine, well suited for the heavy clay soils of this area and provides resistance to phylloxera, as well. It is also less vigorous than some of the other rootstocks. The budwood was propagated from cuttings we brought in from the Pomerol region of France. We are so impressed by the color, density and complexity of this wine that the Carneros Merlot will be a permanent feature of our portfolio.

The 1994 Carneros Merlot was harvested on the 3rd of October and underwent 21 days of maceration on the skins. The wine was aged for 15 months in new, heavily toasted Allier and Troncais French oak barrels. While in barrel, the wine was fined with egg whites and bottled without filtration in March of 1996. The wine is blended with 7% Cabernet Franc. We produced 800 cases of this wine in addition to large formats.

Crafted to show the appellation characteristics that make the flavors and textures of this wine unique, it is not a reserve wine, but rather a wine produced to exhibit the time-honored "terroir" of the appellation.

CURRENT TASTING NOTES: This wine is showing its age. The aromas are lighter and the fruit flavors and body are becoming thinner than younger vintages of the Carneros Merlot. The finish is relatively short, and this wine should be consumed now.

FOOD PAIRING: Beef Carpaccio with Aïoli and Mint

CHEESE PAIRING: Mahon, Manchego

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