Sans

Wine Profile

Production Notes

Varietal Content: 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot; Cooperage: 100% French Oak; Age of Barrels: 40% New, 60% Neutral

Winemaker Notes

The 2015 growing season yielded a classic expression of Napa Valley Merlot, with a fleshy entry and juicy layers of Bing cherry, raspberry and plum, along with hints of blueberry, cedar, vanilla and clove. Underscored by polished tannins, the juiciness of the entry evolves into a lush, silky texture that carries the flavors to a long, generous finish marked by notes of freshly ground coffee beans with a splash of ripe, red cherry.

Production

In Napa Valley, a warm, dry spring resulted in any early budbreak, while an extended flowering period brought a return to normal yields after three years of abundant crops. With berry weights down, the grapes offered great concentration, while retaining excellent acidity. We had one of our earliest harvests in the past decade, with our first white grapes arriving at the winery on July 31st. A light rain in mid-September nourished the vines, while providing welcome additional hangtime. Overall, the quality of the fruit was exceptional, with our white wines showing both richness and complexity, and our red grapes displaying a fine balance between elegance and intensity, with gorgeous dark fruit flavors.

Other Notes

Released: June 2018