Swanson Vineyards 2019 Merlot Napa Valley

 Tasting Notes
Opaque, dark scarlet in the glass. Intense aromas of plum, crushed red fruits and dried oregano developing into more floral and minerality tones of violets and wet slate. On the palate, generous layers of red fruit, ripe plum, brown sugar and blackcurrants sit alongside each other with more savory characteristics of seasoned leather and black tea. Texturally soft with firm tannins which provide structure, this wine shows balance and persistence throughout the palate.

Vineyard Notes
Situated on fluvial soils deposited from the ever changing course of the Napa River, this vineyard benefits from good drainage, perfect exposure and readily available nutrients. The farming uses quad trellising to protect the grapes from too much sun exposure, allowing for a long hang time with plenty of time for the grapes to ripen to their full potential.

Winemaker Notes
Each block is hand harvested individually and brought to the winery where the clusters were sorted again before being destemmed, with 50% crushed and 50% whole berries in the fermentation. The must was then allowed 2-4 days cold soak followed by a warm fermentation using a variety of different yeast strains. With two pump overs a day the wine was only pressed off the skins when dry. It was then sent to barrel to undergo malolactic fermentation (lasting 6 months). Once this was complete it was racked one more time and then allowed to rest in barrel in our caves.

Vintage Notes
A wet start to the year helped recharge the soil moisture profiles in all our vineyards, delivering much needed relief to all regions. Cool conditions persisted throughout the spring, with overcast weather during flowering that resulted in lowering yields. This was followed by cool temperatures leading into early summer which further delayed fruit development. Conditions gradually improved as we entered summer, with warmer temperatures encouraging the vineyards to “catch up” from the sluggish start. Warm and dry weather throughout harvest meant the grapes could be given sufficient time to stay on the vine and develop the intense flavors we look for.