Sterling Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley 05
| Vintage: | 2005 |
| Varietal: | Merlot |
| Appellation: | Napa Valley |
| Sugar: | 89% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Gros Verdot, 2% Petite Sirah, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot |
| Acid: | 5.3 g/L |
| PH: | 3.78 |
| Aging: | 12 Months: 30% French Oak; 60% American Oak; 10% European Oak. 25% New Oak. |
| Alcohol %: | 14.2 |
| Tasting Notes: | Merlot is a benchmark varietal for Sterling and we take great pride in this wine. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks for about 9 days. Keeping the lots separate, we put the wine to barrel, some before malolactic fermentation and some after. After 12 months of aging in a combination of new and used barrels, the various lots were blended and bottled. Small amounts of the other Bordelaise varietals add a note of complexity to the finished wine. Bright ruby in color, this lovely wine offers aromas of ripe black cherries, raspberries and cedar. Luscious fruit flavors of blackberries and cherries accented by a touch of toasty oak lead to a long, silky finish. Enjoy this wine paired with grilled New York steak, roast lamb and aged cheeses. The smooth, silky tannins make it a good match for rich chocolate desserts as well. |
| Vineyard Notes: | The majority of the fruit for the 25 Sterling Vineyards Merlot was grown in premium vineyards located in the heart of the Napa Valley, in areas from Calistoga to Carneros. A smaller portion of fruit was sourced from top vineyards in Sonoma County. The combination of grapes from varying microclimates and diverse soils produced a wine of excellent structure and varietal character. |
| Production Notes: | 90% Napa Valley; 10% Knights Valley |
| Winemaker Notes: | The 2005 vintage started out wet and cool, followed by heat in August and a cool autumn. Harvest finally wrapped up just before Thanksgiving?one of the longest harvests on record. Overall, the vintage shows exceptional quality and we expect that this year will be one of the best of the decade. |
Tasting Notes:
Merlot is a benchmark varietal for Sterling and we take great pride in this wine. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks for about 9 days. Keeping the lots separate, we put the wine to barrel, some before malolactic fermentation and some after. After 12 months of aging in a combination of new and used barrels, the various lots were blended and bottled. Small amounts of the other Bordelaise varietals add a note of complexity to the finished wine. Bright ruby in color, this lovely wine offers aromas of ripe black cherries, raspberries and cedar. Luscious fruit flavors of blackberries and cherries accented by a touch of toasty oak lead to a long, silky finish. Enjoy this wine paired with grilled New York steak, roast lamb and aged cheeses. The smooth, silky tannins make it a good match for rich chocolate desserts as well.
Vineyard Notes:
The majority of the fruit for the 25 Sterling Vineyards Merlot was grown in premium vineyards located in the heart of the Napa Valley, in areas from Calistoga to Carneros. A smaller portion of fruit was sourced from top vineyards in Sonoma County. The combination of grapes from varying microclimates and diverse soils produced a wine of excellent structure and varietal character.
Production Notes:
90% Napa Valley; 10% Knights Valley
Winemaker Notes:
The 2005 vintage started out wet and cool, followed by heat in August and a cool autumn. Harvest finally wrapped up just before Thanksgiving?one of the longest harvests on record. Overall, the vintage shows exceptional quality and we expect that this year will be one of the best of the decade.
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