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Tasting Notes: Bright ruby purple in color, this Merlot presents cherry and spice aromas, with an ultra soft and polished mouthfeel.
The Vinyard: We grow 25 acres of Merlot on our Red Ranch in Alexander Valley, in sloping to steep gravelly loam soil. Spacing is 9 by 6, and trellising is Vertical Shoot Positioning. Our Bismark Ranch in the Mayacamas Mountains is home to two Merlot blocks, both near 2400 feet. Block 24 is planted to clone three on 110R. Block 8 is planted to clone 3 on St. George. Our Malbec and Cabernet franc are also from the Bismark Ranch. Soils are Sonoma Volcanic.
Vintage Notes: The 2002 vintage was cool; mildew pressure was high but less of a problem with Merlot than the very susceptible Cabernet. Yields were low in 2002, averaging less than 3 tons per acre. Merlot harvest began on September 4th at Bismark and ended on September 21st. Harvest sugars averaged 26.4 brix.
The Vinyard: We grow 25 acres of Merlot on our Red Ranch in Alexander Valley, in sloping to steep gravelly loam soil. Spacing is 9 by 6, and trellising is Vertical Shoot Positioning. Our Bismark Ranch in the Mayacamas Mountains is home to two Merlot blocks, both near 2400 feet. Block 24 is planted to clone three on 110R. Block 8 is planted to clone 3 on St. George. Our Malbec and Cabernet franc are also from the Bismark Ranch. Soils are Sonoma Volcanic.
Vintage Notes: The 2002 vintage was cool; mildew pressure was high but less of a problem with Merlot than the very susceptible Cabernet. Yields were low in 2002, averaging less than 3 tons per acre. Merlot harvest began on September 4th at Bismark and ended on September 21st. Harvest sugars averaged 26.4 brix.