Artesa Vineyards & Winery - Merlot Reserve, Sonoma Valley

Classic Tier Reserve Tier Limited Release Wines

Albarino
Carneros Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (3 Liter) Chardonnay
Napa Valley Chardonnay Reserve
Carneros Garnacha Rosado
Alexander Valley Gewurztraminer
San Benito County
Select Late Harvest

Merlot Reserve
Sonoma Valley Pinot Blanc
Carneros Estate Pinot Noir
Carneros 3-Liter Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Reserve
Carneros Syrah
Sonoma Valley

This wine has four vineyard sources. The first is located at the eastern end of the valley, while the second and third vineyards are to the south. The fourth is on the west side of Sonoma Valley, on a southwestern slope of Sonoma Mountain. All of the properties were planted in the early 1990's.

Winemaking
Following hand-harvesting, the grapes were de-stemmed only (whole berries). Fermentations were conducted in a combination of open-top vessels with a punch-down device and closed tanks with gentle cap irrigators. Several types of yeast were used for both inoculated and uninoculated fermenting. Most lots were pressed directly to barrel, and malolactic fermentations finished in barrel. After one year, the wines were racked and returned to barrel for an additional year of aging.

Tasting Notes
This is a great Merlot. Brimming with black cherry and blueberry fruit, cinnamon, clove, and hints of a campfire in a cedar forest. Layered, but with the fruit always predominant. In the mouth a wonderfully smooth wine that has the warm comforting silky feeling from start to lingering finish. Splendid acid and tannin balance insure this wine will both go well with food and evolve into a greater wine over the next decade.

Alcohol content, 14.5% by volume.
900 cases produced.