Noble Vines 181 Merlot

Description

For centuries, vintners have singled out individual vines that produce exceptional grapes. A select few have stood the test of time and have been granted numbers to distinguish them. Noble Vines.BEHIND THE NUMBERS Each vine type performs best when it is planted in the kind of soil and climate in which it was born. The clay soil and gentle Mediterranean-like climate of our Clay Station vineyard and other nearby vineyards on a breezy knoll in Lodi make it a perfect California home for the vaunted Merlot 181 vine. The clay-rich soil interspersed with sand and rock provides an ideal mix of both water retention and aeration similar to 181s ancestral home at the great chateaux of Pomerol in Bordeaux, France. Like Bordeaux, Lodi offers stone cobbles over a layer of red clay soil that allows for deep root penetration and therefore, stable vines, even during periods of low moisture and heat.Charlie Hossom, WineGrowerWINEMAKING Lodi produces Merlot fruit of exceptional quality due to warm, dry growing seasons and well-balanced crop loads. Moderate summer weather and warm autumnal temperatures allow the grapes to gradually ripen, delivering full-flavored fruit by harvest. In the winery, we ferment at cool temperatures to balance the bright acidity with deep fruit flavors, then transfer a portion of the wine to age on American and French oak for nine months to further develop the complexity of the final blend.TASTING NOTES Noble Vines 181 Merlot is a classic style of Merlotsofter tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon, but equal in elegance and flavor concentration. It opens with aromas of blackberry, cherry, vanilla and baking spice, followed by flavors of ripe plum, black cherry and toasty oak. 181 Merlot is medium bodied, supple in texture and provides a long, lingering finish. Boasting a gentle balance of tannins and acidity, it is the perfect companion for pasta with sausage and roasted peppers or pan-seared steak with sauteed mushrooms. – Noble Vines