"Breezy" 2005 Merlot

Merlot are among the most planted grapes in the worlds' wine growing regions. It may also be the most maligned, at least that’s what you would believe if you’d heard Miles spout off in the movie “Sideways”.

Alas, poor Miles never tasted our Caneros Merlot before he came to his half fermented conclusions. Our Merlot is soft and velvety featuring fruit notes of cherrys, black berries, blue berries and plums – really jammy & yummy !!

In California, Merlot was first grown to be blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in classic Bordeaux style to add softness and body to cab’s tannic firmness. On it’s own, Merlot pairs well with foods one would choose to have with Pinot Noir.

Our fruit was grown in the Carneros section of Napa Valley. Carneros is an appellation that straddles the Napa & Sonoma county border. Close proximitry to the San Francisco bay offers cooling breezes (are you getting a hint?) that allow the growing Merlot to thrive – along with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

2005 was a bountiful harvest and we were able to acquire this wonderful fruit from Truchard Vineyards. The Truchards make some wonderful Pinot & Syrah. This wine went through small lot fermentaion, was racked and aged 20 months on French oak. We bottled on May 7th, 2007. We feel the 18 months of bottle aging enhanced both releases.

So open a bottle, let it breathe some, and then drink a toast to “Breezy”!


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