98 Points,
Double Gold Best of Class - 2021 Sunset International Wine Competition
Long and elegant with exceptional mouthfeel.
Will easily cellar for another 5-7 years.
WINEMAKER NOTES
Frank Family grows several acres of Merlot on their Rutherford properties, which they often blend with their Cabernet Sauvignons to add softness and a more rounded mouthfeel. But this Merlot is worthy to stand on its own. With so much elegant and structured potential that it can stand toe-to-toe with many Napa Valley Cabernets.
VINEYARDS
Sourced from their family-owned Benjamin Vineyard in Rutherford as well as several of their closest neighbors and long-term grape growers, Delouise, Round Pond Estate, and Sunseri Vineyards located in Oak Knoll, Rutherford, and Chiles Valley respectively.
Winemaker: Todd Graff
Vintage: 2018
Appellation: 100% Napa Valley
Varietal Composition: 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc
Harvest Date: September 21 - October 19, 2018
Aging: 18 months in 33% new and 67% once and twice-filled French oak barrels
Bottled: May 2020
pH: 3.55
TA: 0.60 g/100ml
Alcohol: 14.5%
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
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