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Production: 1,276 cases Composition: 91% Merlot, 8.5% Malbec, 0.5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyards: Beau Terre, Dunlap, Baker, Smith & Windy
Flats Appellations: Oak Knoll, Carneros & Atlas Peak Elevations: Valley floor - 1,200 ft. Cooperage: 55% new Oak (13% French Oak Stavin, 34% Trust Hungarian, 53% French oak – Treuil, Trust Ingenieux)
Alcohol: 15.18%, TA 0.60, pH 3.63
Bottling date: March, 15th 2016
Release date: December 2016
Hill Family Estate takes Merlot seriously, and we believe the Merlot grape has a lot to offer that Cabernet Sauvignon cannot quite achieve. The Beau Terre vineyard is a centerpiece for Doug Hill's accumulated viticultural knowledge. From the row spacing to the trellising, the row direction and the clones selected, everything has been carefully thought-out to give Merlot its best expression. Bloom ended by May 20th, a long dry season loomed ahead, and by July 22nd most of the Merlot was at 50% veraison in Oak Knoll, and by August 1st in Carneros. By August 21st, brix numbers were 21 to 22, and color was already looking good. We harvested the grapes on September 24th & 30th. FX10 yeast was used and fermentations got going hot and fast. The blend was put together in June (2015), and it was bottled unfined and unfiltered in March 2016.
Winemaker Alison Doran's tasting notes:
Lovely sweet nose of mocha milk chocolate and raspberry, with more boysenberry adding in over time. Palate has nice concentration with cranberry and boysenberry and a ripe savory center. Interesting acidity unifies the chocolaty tannins, developing more polish on the finish as it gets more bottle age
