2010 Merlot

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Tasting Notes

This bright and focused wine opens with a beautiful array of lively floral and perfume aromas rounded by dense dark berries and pastry flake. On the palate, blackberry, blueberry, black and red cherry, and ripe cranberry flavors frame the wine complimented by savory notes as well as bitter-sweet cocoa, mocha, and toasty almond pastry. The tannins are lingering and chewy, and the finish is notably long. This is a wine to be savored.

Ratings

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous (May 2013) – 92 points
“Good full ruby. Creamy aromas and flavors of black raspberry, bitter chocolate and mocha, plus a whiff of truffle. Plush, pliant and broad on the palate, with a subtle tobacco nuance emerging with air. Finishes with substantial but sweet tannins that reach the front teeth. Excellent, varietally expressive Napa Valley merlot.”

Vineyard Notes

Seavey’s 17th vintage of Merlot, the 2010, was made from grapes that came from vines located in several different blocks of the south-facing hillside vineyard. While the growing season began cool, moderate temperatures generally prevailed, providing an opportunity to develop dark berry characteristics while maintaining tannin structure and preserving acidity.

Production Notes

Winemaking followed classic Bordeaux methods with whole-berry fermentation. In the cool of the early morning harvest, grapes were promptly de-stemmed and the berries were gently transferred into fermentation tanks. In order to carefully manage the tannins and resulting wine texture, the grapes were neither crushed nor run through a pump. Following fermentation, the wine was aged in French oak barrels (50% new) for 19 months before bottling in June 2012.

100% ESTATE GROWN, PRODUCED & BOTTLED, NAPA VALLEY AVA