2005 Napa Valley Merlot

Vintage

Napa Valley's 2005 grape growing season was excellent, marked by consistently outstanding, highquality, abundant crops. Bloom and set-on-the-vine occurred later than usual because of wet weather that lasted well into Spring. Unseasonable precipitation into early June led to a pleasant Summer that continued the pattern of cool weather with only a few heat spikes. The September fog, that typically makes way for an Indian Summer, almost interfered with full ripening of the fruit, however the warm days finally arrived (later than normal) and the necessary sugars developed. Napa's 2005 harvest was fortunate to recognize an extended hang time with perfectly balanced sugars and acids.

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Winemaking

To naturally soften tannins and enhance varietal complexity, we gave the wine 28 days of skin contact. We then pressed the wine and transferred it to French oak barrels to undergo a long malolactic fermentation for roundness and depth. Blending in the Cabernet Sauvignon added interesting nuances to the lush berry flavor profile of the Merlot.

Vineyards

We sourced grapes throughout the Napa Valley appellation to accomplish the desired layering of flavors in our Oberon Merlot. Blending fruit from classic and emerging appellations, including Rutherford, Oakville, Stags Leap, Atlas Peak and Wooden Valley, allowed us to take advantage of both the volcanic hillside soils and the deeper alluvial soils of the Valley floor. With the diversity of flavors, we were able to create a well-rounded mouthful of wine.

Wine Facts

Varietals: Merlot 98.7%, Cabernet Sauvignon 1.3%
Appellation: Napa Valley
Barrel Aging: 18 months in French oak
Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.73 g/l
TA: 5.54 g/l

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