Wonderfully aromatic, with dark berry fruit, intense spice on the nose. Hints of orange peel, black fruit and sweet spice elements abound on the palate.
The Vineyards For the 2006 Napa Valley Merlot, Winemaker Laurie Hook chose several Napa Valley vineyards to create a Merlot with layers of flavors, aromas and complexity. The majority of the grapes come from Beringer's Big Ranch Road Vineyard, which is found just north of the town of Napa and has consistently shown itself to have great Merlot growing conditions. Merlot from the DeCarle Vineyard in Oakville, as well as some Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were added to the final blend to create a rich flavorful Merlot.
Winemaking Winemaker Hook was able to get excellent extraction during fermentation that resulted in plush, chewy tannins and bright fruit characteristics. As has become tradition, she kept all of the lots separate and aged the wines in oak barrels (one third new) for 14 months to integrate the extracted fruit and tannins, while adding enticing brown spice aromas and flavors to the wine. The addition of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc contributed to the color, depth and structure of this complex Merlot.
“Pinot Noir always presents an incredible array of characteristics, beginning with the aromas of chocolate covered cherries, candied violets and traces of anise and mint that greet the nose. Vibrant red fruit flavors are accentuated by bright acidity, hints of smoke and barrel toast. The 2008 Napa Valley Pinot Noir has a lovely richness and weight, making it a wonderful pairing for many richer dishes.” – Winemaker, Laurie Hook
Elegant floral and vanilla bean aromas give way to flavors of citrus zest and warm brioche. The 2009 Blanc strikes a wonderful balance between rich body and bright, enticing flavors.
Flavors of ripe citrus and apple are accented by aromas of toffee, tangerines and orange blossom. The mouth-coating, round texture highlights the rich flavors, all balanced by bright, refreshing notes that linger into the finish.
Pinot Noir always presents an incredible array of characteristics, beginning with the aromas of chocolate covered cherries, candied violets and traces of anise and mint that greet the nose. Vibrant red fruit flavors are accentuated by bright acidity, hints of smoke and barrel toast.
This wine displays both tropical and citrus notes, a multi-layered blend of pineapple, orange peel and lemon/lime flavors. The oak brings in lightly toasted notes of vanilla and cinnamon, and there’s an underlying minerality that keeps the wine fresh and thirst-quenching. With an intricately textured body and a creamy finish, this is a richly satisfying wine.
The 2010 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of blueberry, dark plum, baking spices, sweet licorice, brioche, and a hint of graphite. The palate presents ripe flavors of boysenberry and ripe blue fruit, accented by soft and supple tannins, and a long, black fruit-infused finish.
Pale bright yellow. Pure aromas of musky nectarine, grapefruit and pineapple. Boasts good thickness and richness for a chardonnay in this price range; the dominant characteristic is lively stone fruit flavors.
The 2010 Meritage is brimming with dark red and black fruits – black cherry, red cherry and ripe Santa Rosa plum. Sweet barrel spices such as nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon mingle with the fruit on the palate along with a hint of French lavender. This is a well-integrated wine with a full, fleshy mouthfeel and flavors that really explode in the mouth. A crowd pleaser.
Aromas of cranberry and sweet pastry are followed by notes of white pepper, pomegranate, and spiced raspberries. A hint of orange rind and subtle brown spices carries into a round, plush fruit core and pleasing finish.
Aromas and flavors of pear, stone fruit and ginger are accented by a palate of refreshing citrus, freshly baked apple pie, and brown spice flavors. A slightly creamy texture is complemented by a bright finish.