Sans

Wine Profile

Production Notes

Varietal Content: 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon; Cooperage: 100% French oak �75% new, 25% neutral

Winemaker Notes

Grown high on the slopes of Howell Mountain, the vines of Stout Vineyard have produced a spectacular Merlot, with enticing aromas of cranberry, currant, boysenberry, blueberry pie and pencil shavings. On the palate, the wine starts out juicy and bright, with cranberry, clove and blue-fruit flavors layered with savory olive and black tea notes that evolve into a lush mid-palate. The fruitfulness of the palate is framed by polished tannins that lead to a long, structured finish.

Production

2016 offered another near-perfect vintage in Napa Valley! While much-needed rain during the winter months helped to replenish our reservoirs, a dry spring and summer, with moderate temperatures and plenty of sunshine, led to another early harvest. Our first white grapes came into the winery on August 3rd, with the remainder of our whites following at an even, steady pace. A few weeks of ideally timed cool weather in early September provided additional hangtime, yielding bright acids and beautifully articulated flavors in our early ripening reds. Warm, dry weather for the remainder of the season allowed the rest of our grapes to develop rich, concentrated flavors, with polished tannins and wonderful complexity.