2007 Whitehall Lane Napa Valley Merlot

One 750ml bottle

The growing season in 2007 was picture perfect in Napa Valley. The dry, warm spring weather was a great beginning to the year. With an excellent fruit set, mild summer weather and no extreme temperature spikes, the fruit developed in ideal conditions. The weather began heating up in August, raising the sugar levels. September and October proved to be mild, giving the fruit additional time to ripen under the California sky. The Merlot grapes were harvested throughout the month of September and the Cabernet and Syrah were harvested in late October. 
 
The grapes from this wine came from five separate Merlot vineyards, two Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and one Syrah vineyard. This blend results in a cornucopia of flavor nuances. The wine was gently pressed and aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels for approximately 17 months. The Cabernet Sauvignon adds structure and intense fruit aromas and flavors. Syrah also enhances the aromas while also giving the wine added complexity. 
 
This ripe and rich Merlot has lovely aromas and flavors of black cherry leaning to ripe plum and toasty oak. It gains pleasing mid-palate structure from the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Syrah adds complexity and balance through to the lengthy finish. 

Black cherry, ripe plum and toasty oak