| Vintage: | 2010 |
| Wine Type: | Red Wine |
Vineyard Notes:
The 2010 Merus features fruit from individual rows of vines in the top vineyards of Coombsville, a relatively new AVA in the southern part of Napa Valley. Isolated and protected, Coombsville’s Region II climate is warmer and sunnier than nearby Carneros and cooler than many renowned districts to the north. The topography is a mix of hills, benches and mountains and the soils are volcanic, marine and alluvial. The unusual growing conditions create wines that are lush, structured, and elegant. The 2010 growing season in Coombsville began with cool, wet weather in the spring and early summer. A heat spell in August helped accelerate the ripening process with little negative impact to the vineyards. Prior to harvest we went through each site on a vine by vine basis and carefully removed any damaged clusters. Due to the rains in October, we picked fruit on three separate occasions based on flavor and the condition of the berries.
Production Notes:
Handmade in every sense of the word, Merus is composed of fruit grown in the Coombsville AVA of southern Napa Valley. The vineyards selected for Merus are owned by a handful of serious growers who possess extraordinary terroir and a willingness to implement our strict farming and harvesting protocols. Severe pruning, cluster sorting, small-lot fermentations and careful lot selection combine to create a wine that is dense, concentrated and nuanced. The 2010 Merus was vinifi ed and aged in our temperature and humidity controlled caves below Howell Mountain. It was bottled unfinned and unfiltered to preserve aromatics, texture and flavor. 521 cases produced
Winemaker Notes:
In keeping with the style of previous vintages, the 2010 Merus is beautifully balanced and extremely complex. The cooler weather conditions throughout the growing season yielded a wine that is elegant, structured, high-toned and complete. Key notes include violet, cedar, granite and red fruit.