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Winemakers:
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Alex Golitzin, Paul Golitzin
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Varietal:
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100% Merlot
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Vineyards:
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Ciel du Cheval
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Barrels:
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100% New French Oak
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Time in Barrel:
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22 Months
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Time in Bottle
before release:
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12 months
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Case Production:
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50 Cases
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In 1993 we purchased a small quantity of Merlot from Ciel du Cheval
Vineyard, one of our excellent growers. Our intent was to add some
Merlot to our Cabernet to develop some extra complexity. We fermented
the Merlot separately and put it into new French Oak barrels. After the
wine had spent some time in barrel we tasted it and decided it was far
too exceptional to lose in the blend with the Cabernet. We proceeded to age and bottle it separately. This is our first Merlot and only 50 cases were produced.
"Dark red-ruby. Brambly aromas of roasted plums
and currants, along with a profusion of oak notes:
coffee, mocha, toffee, creosote, scotch, coconut. Lush,
fat and very concentrated; a seamless wine of great sweetness
and superb depth. Expands in the mouth and explodes on the
aftertaste. Fairly tannic and extremely long. An outstanding
if quite oaky American merlot. But the quantity made was
infinitesmal."
Score 91
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar
July/August ’97 Issue 73