Description

Student Winemakers: Kern, Meg, Westin, Josh. Merlot grapes is a Bordeaux grape, and one of our first plantations from our estate vineyards are at the heart of the student learning experience. The Stan Clarke and Myles Anderson estate vineyards encompass six planted acres with 16 varieties. All vines are planted, maintained, and harvested by students who put the philosophy of “wine-growing” into practice.

Wine Profile

Food Pairing Notes:

Merlot wines are a feminine grape with a great structure that pairs very well with ranch cheeses and fruit charcuterie boards but either with intense notes with dusty risotto mushrooms and elegant filet mignon. This Merlot wine is very versatile and contagious to delight any food!

Production Notes:

The wine was fermented in big Puncheons of 500L. These larger-sized barrels manage the strength and development of this Petit Verdot wine due to the increase in the inner barrel surface-to-wine ratio combined with the classic New Tonnellerie depuis 1952 millet. standard-2 Neutral Tonnellerie Nadale.​

Tasting Notes:

The Merlot is one of our favorite grape varieties, with a light black plum, unripe blackberries, sweet cherries, and violet flavors aromas. The bouquet is driven by delicious fruit cake with chocolatey milk notes and medium ripe tannins, giving complete and lasting intensity. The smooth tannins and inviting, velvety mouthfeel quality persists on the palate.

Vintage Notes:

As a result of the high temperatures, the acid levels were maintained, and the cool autumn weather rescued an otherwise hot year, making for full-bodied yet well-balanced wines. The Merlot grapes is usually one of the first harvested grapes the Enology and Viticulture students pick yearly. We developed excellent canopy management directed by the instructor Leonard Law at the College Cellars.