TASTING NOTE:
The 2017 Merlot is a solid effort, offering pretty notes of black cherries, black tea, leafy herbs, and chocolate. Medium-bodied, with nicely integrated acidity and light tannins, it’s well-made, balanced, and already delicious. Drink it over the coming decade.
-Jeb Dunnuck, 91 pts
WINEMAKER’S NOTE:
The 2017 Spring Mountain Merlot is a serious complex wine. In previous years, the red bright fruit took the lead, where this year it falls more into the cassis black fruit with layers of spice. Gravel minerality and earth surround the dark fruit. The wine is stereotypically rich and lush as is expected from low yielding mountain Merlot. Blackcurrants and cooking chocolate dominate the
palate. The tannins are much firmer than in previous years with well-balanced mountain acidity. This big Merlot will age wonderfully over the next 14-15 years (2033-2034).
Blend: 81% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc