2018 Merryvale Carneros Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir | 100%
pH: 3.77 | TA: 6.1 g/L | ABV: 14.5%
Vegan | Napa Green Winery
Élevage: Hand picked. 5 day cold soak in tank. Native yeast ferment was punched down by hand, with sponatenous malolactic ferment completed in barrel. 30% new French oak for 11 months
Vineyards: Stanly Ranch Estate, Lee Vineyard and Brown Ranch. A representation of the region and the vintage, with fruit coming from 3 distinctly unique vineyards across the appellation with different microclimates.
Aromas of black cherries, baking spices, and sarsaparilla. The wine is robust, complex, and delicious, exhibiting more tertiary flavors as it evolves. The mouthfeel is silky, with beautifully integrated tannins and a long, lingering finish. Classic Carneros but with a distinct Burgundian influence. Highly enjoyable on its own, it will pair beautifully with a wide range of foods. Drink now and over the next 10 years.
Merryvale
Merryvale Vineyards is a renowned Napa Valley winery known for its elegant and balanced wines. Founded in 1983 as Sunnyhill Winery, it played a crucial role in the early days of the region, serving as a hub for local grape growers until 1986. A renewed focus on producing high-quality wines that reflected the unique terroir of Napa Valley began in 1986, when Bill Harlan and a group of partners acquired the winery and gave it the name of Merryvale Vineyards. In 1994, the Schlatter family acquired Merryvale, bringing their European winemaking philosophy and a commitment to sustainable practices to the forefront, which has continued under their stewardship to the present day.
Merryvale's wines are a testament to showcasing the unique terroir of Napa Valley while maintaining a distinctly European character, emphasizing elegance and balance over power, prioritizing vineyard selection and meticulous winemaking techniques. The winery's commitment to producing wines that age gracefully echoes the Old World tradition of crafting wines meant for long-term enjoyment.
The Vineyards
Merryvale’s Estate vineyards are situated in the hills of Napa. Each of the four estate vineyards in Merryvale’s portfolio: Profile, Altezia, Peridot and Coombsville, retain cool climatic influences to maintain freshness, structure and acidity; by elevation, the marine influence of the Pacific Ocean, proximity to the San Pablo Bay, or a combination of three.
It is the belief that it is in these cooler sites in Napa Valley that the future lies. Wherein these are the vineyards and sites that will produce the greatest wines in the decades to come.
The vineyard sites, totaling 55 acres in all, are complex, with multiple elevations, aspects, exposures and soil profiles. Natural water drainage concentrates the berries, while the cool climate conditions help maintain freshness, structure and acidity in the wines. The fruit from these properties create distinct and distinctive wines, each reflecting an authentic sense of place.