2014 Napa Valley Merlot, Red Hen Vineyard

The wine is 100 percent Merlot from the historic Red Hen Vineyard. Our block is in the far northwest corner of the vineyard, nestled into the crook of Dry Creek. This block has been the basis of our Red Wine since 2003 (Steve started overseeing the farming back in 2002), and it was the inspiration for starting our own commercial wine venture. The vineyard sold, and our block is so rocky and low yielding that the new owners of the vineyard planned on putting their reservoir in this location. We couldn’t let this happen, so we convinced them to lease us the block so we could farm it ourselves, which we have been doing all of these years. The fruit was fermented in a small, open-top tank and punched down by hand two to three times a day, depending on the rate of extraction. The wine was aged in 2 new French oak Bousset barrels, and 6 older neutral barrels. The wine was bottled after 20 months of elevage, with no rackings.

The pH is 3.59, the acidity is 5.9 g/l, and the alcohol is 13.9%. 160 cases produced.

The wine has the richness and aromatic profile of Merlot, with impeccable balance and elegance. The Red Hen Merlot always has beautiful acidity even at a high level of ripeness, one of the fascinating aspects of this special terroir. The vineyard always gives intense cherry and fresh bay aromas, and is balanced by notes of chocolate, tea and earth. 2014 was warm but had ample spring rains, so the texture is more plush than the more structured 2013. As always it is defined by its beautiful and complex fruitiness and savory herbal qualities.