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Hawley Merlot

Dry Creek Valley, California

 

About the Wine

 

Our organic hillside vineyards lend themselves to making big, full-bodied wines. At the top of our vineyard, you can see from one end of the valley to the other. Merlot vines are a vigorous variety, and given abundant water and nutrients they will produce excessive crop and foliage– exactly the opposite of what we want to make quality wine. By planting the vines in rocky hillside ground, we force the vines to toil and produce smaller crops and berries. The small berries give us intense flavor with concentrated tannins and acidity, perfect for aging. The thinner leaf growth allows for more sun exposure to develop ripe flavor and darker color.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and plum fill the glass; with notes of coffee, cedar, and vanilla oak- from 30 months aging in 40% new French oak barrels. This wine is will benefit from at least three years of additional cellaring. Drink within 10 years.

 

Technical Data

 

Appellation: Hawley Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley

Varietal Composition: 78% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc

Harvest Date: 2009

Alcohol: 14.1%

Cases Bottled: 250

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