2022 Merlot

Tasting Notes

Featuring scents of anise , nutmeg, plum compote, black tea, pencil shavings, and cassis, this vintage of Merlot is expressive and layered.

Vineyard Notes

Seavey’s 29th vintage of single-vineyard estate Merlot comes entirely from grapes grown on the steep hillside blocks of our estate, which we have been farming for over forty years. The 2022 growing season followed two years of drought and scant winter rains, so the vines started the season early and with very little natural moisture for growth. We also had about two weeks of high temperatures at the end of the growing season. The Merlot grapes were harvested in September.

Production Notes

Following classic Bordeaux methods, we separately harvest and vinify each vineyard block. In the cool of the early morning, grapes from our 2021 harvest were promptly de-stemmed, and the uncrushed berries were gently transferred into fermentation tanks to carefully manage the tannins and resulting wine texture. Following whole-berry fermentation, the wine was aged in French oak barrels (40% new) for 20 months before bottling in June 2024.

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