Merlot from the Wetzel Family Estate has a reputation for being a big, complex wine.
First produced in 1984, this has been a classically structured wine each year, often showing as much tannin as many Cabernet Sauvignons.
The 2020 growing season enjoyed near-perfect growing conditions. The year began with unseasonably warm temperatures, and lower than normal rainfall. This was followed by weeks of steady daytime heat and cool evenings, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly.
We prune our Merlot vines heavily and drop fruit several times during the growing season so the remaining clusters ripen evenly. Winemaker Kevin Hall has found that fermenting Merlot at a slightly lower temperature than some of our other Bordeaux varieties maintains the lush flavors and structure. After fermentation the wine spent 15 months aging in a combination of French and American oak barrels.
This wine always impresses red wine lovers, and we refer to it as a Merlot for Cabernet lovers. There are big aromas of black cherry, plum, cassis, vanilla and oak in the glass. This wine has broad mouth-feel with flavors of cherry, cassis, blackberry, plum and a hint of chocolate. This is a nicely balanced wine with a long, textured finish.
ACCOLADES:
2020: 95 points & Gold Medal - Beverage Testing Institute
2020: 93 points & Editors' Choice - Wine Enthusiast
2020: 92 points & Gold Medal - Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge
2020: 91 points - California State Fair
2020: 90 points - Decanter World Wine Awards
2020: Double Gold Medal & Best of Class - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
