2021 Spring Mountain District Merlot

Vineyard

Properties: Bales Creek Vineyard

Appellation: Spring Mountain District
Clonal Selections:  181 merlot
Yield: 2 tons per acre
100% Merlot

Growing Season
2021 The Joy is Back 

The 2021 vintage will be remembered for low yields with intensely-flavored, small sized berries and a smooth and uneventful harvest season. The season started off with very little rain, leading to the 2nd year of drought conditions in Napa Valley, Harvest began early with white wine grapes picked on July 30th and red wine grapes beginning on August 31. While concerning in the long term, the drought of 2021 resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The resulting grapes are packed full of flavor. Winemakers across the valley are excited about the prospects of the 2021s and it is likely the smaller yields per vine and smaller berry size will result in another amazing vintage from Napa Valley.
Harvest Brix:   26.2

 
Winemaking:

Hand-harvested, picked at night
Gently de-stemmed and whole berries transferred to stainless steel
Cold soaked for 48 hours
Inoculated with D21 yeast and fermented for 14 days on the skins
Free run juice drained from tank, settled for 24 hours then racked to barrel
Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 66% new
Coopers:  Nadalie
Bottled August 2023
Composition- 100% Merlot

Tasting Notes: An exceptional year for Merlot on Spring Mountain, this wine opens with deep, dark brambly boysenberry, blueberry and candied bing cherry.  Layered with dusty cocoa powder, cedar and woodspice notes with a hint of anise.  On the palate the bright and forward fruit is powerful with soft and sweet candied tannins carrying seamlessly onto the mid palate where the coco and caramel note gracefully carry the fruit onto the balanced and smooth finish.