Merlot

Our 2018 Dark Horse Merlot is perfectly balanced with layers of ripe dark cherries and rich blackberries. Aromas of blue violet, toasted oak, mocha and brown spice rise out of the glass and lead to a long, plush finish. The grapes for this wine were selected from premier California vineyards by our Winemaker Beth Liston. In 2018, colder winter temperatures delayed budbreak about two weeks. In the spring, mild weather prolonged bloom time. For the first time in five years, harvest started in August instead of July. The red berries were harvested into November, marking an extended hang time that produced concentrated flavor and saturated color.

The Frei Brothers Sonoma Reserve Dry Creek Valley Merlot offers a rich, approachable style with ripe fruit notes and full-bodied structure. Layers of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and plum are accented by hints of cedar, clove and black pepper on the blanced palate. Barrel aging imparts notes of toasted vanilla and mocha on the supple finish.

Rich with dark fruits and carries just a whisper of oak. Full-bodied, it’s up for just about anything, from pork to poultry to pasta.

Our Mirassou California Merlot displays jammy dark fruit notes of blackberry, black cherry and hints of raspberry. Soft layers of vanilla and sweet aromatics compliment soft tannins for a full and plush mouthfeel.

Sourced from some of the very best vineyards in Sonoma Valley including Rancho Salina, Barricia, and Bedrock vineyards. A "No wimpy Merlot" with rich scents of black cherry, plum, vanilla, and dark chocolate. A very well-rounded wine with accentuated balanced flavors of plum, vanilla and cherry-spice. Mature, yet yielding, tannins lend a long and lingering finish.

Red Rock Reserve Merlot opens with aromas of caramelized sugar and vanilla backed by generous, jammy fruit flavors. Notes of blackberry, dark cherry and blackcurrant characterize the palate, where well-rounded structure frames flavors of cocoa and licorice before the lingering finish closes on a dark berry note.

Ghost Pines Merlot is a smoothly textured red wine that’s highly approachable and easy to pair with food. Layers of black cherry, cocoa and a bit of sage lift from the glass. A smooth mid-palate reveals ripe notes of wild blackberry and Mission plum with hints of toasted mocha and clove. The tannins are plush and mouth-filling with a long, structured finish. Each lot of our Ghost Pines Merlot was fermented under a unique set of conditions designed to showcase the fruit’s outstanding quality. Some lots were cold soaked to amplify their fresh fruit flavors, while others were fermented at higher temperatures to encourage depth of structure and denser, more intense flavor characteristics in the finished wine. To ensure balance, lots with ripe seeds and soft skin tannins were macerated for an extra week post-fermentation for added breadth and mouthfeel. In all, our Merlot saw up to 18 months’ aging in French Oak, which contributed additional layers of aroma and flavor, including notes of sweet caramel and vanilla. VARIETAL CONTENT: 87% Merlot, 8% Petite Sirah, 5% Zinfandel ALCOHOL LEVEL: 14.3% APPELLATION: 86% Sonoma County, 9% Lake County, 5% Napa County TITRATABLE ACIDITY: 5.7g/L pH: 3.61

The deep ruby color of our 2018 Columbia Merlot alludes to enticing aromas of rich ripe fruits and a subtle hint of vanilla and cocoa. 82 % of the grapes in this Merlot were sourced from the renowned, Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The intense sunlight and south facing exposure of this region produced fruit with complex, dark berry character. In the cellar, our oak regimen resulted in pronounced notes of toasted vanilla and baking spice. Balanced acidity complements the textured mouthfeel, leading into a bold, lingering finish.

Our 2017 Reserve Merlot has aromas bright notes of fresh blackberries, plum jam, and mocha with an opulent mouthfeel and long, structured finish.

Chateau Souverain Merlot opens with dark red fruit aromas reminiscent of black cherry and plum. On the palate, notes of fresh blueberries are complemented by hints of brown spice and baking chocolate. The wine finishes with soft acidity and a fruit-driven balance that gives the wine a polished sense of elegance.

Deep ruby red in color, this Merlot displays aromas of ripe black cherry, brown spice, and light toasty oak. In the mouth, the wine has a rich texture with concentrated black fruit and notes of mocha. This rich, balanced Merlot pairs nicely with a wide range of foods, including roast chicken and pork, or pasta.

Our Edna Valley Vineyard Merlot leads with aromas of blackberry and cherry with light layers of espresso, black pepper and leather. These characteristics reveal a velvety mouthfeel and inviting palate with supple tannins for a thoroughly satisfying Merlot.

Barefoot Merlot is a luscious wine with alluring flavors of boysenberry and split cherries followed by hints of silky chocolate for a decadent finish.

Not as full-bodied as Cabernet, not quite as fruity as Chianti, this pleasing medium-bodied Merlot delivers rich, flavorful notes of ripe raspberry, dark cherry and blackberry with a soft, smooth and refreshing finish. This wine is the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats like roast beef, chicken and pork tenderloin, and entrées with mushrooms and fresh herbs.