Production Notes
Varietal Content: 79% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc; Cooperage: 100% French oak château-style barrels (60 gallons); Age of Barrels: 90% New
Winemaker Notes
From its vibrant red fruit to its signature minerality, this is a classic expression of the qualities that have made Three Palms Vineyard legendary in the world of California Merlot. The aromas are bright and appealing with layers of red currant, cranberry, cherry and ripe raspberry. The palate offers a robust structure with lush red fruit flavors, as well as sophisticated supporting notes of warm earth, dried wild herbs and minerals. This age-worthy wine will benefit from decanting in its youth.
Production
Though the 2008 growing season presented certain challenges—from early frosts to drought conditions—a meticulous approach to viticulture and sorting yielded small crops with good concentration, highlighting soft, appealing tannins for our red varietals and bright acidity for our white grapes. A long, moderately cool summer led to a harvest that commenced in mid-August and concluded in early November. This relatively relaxed pace allowed us to pick in numerous passes to ensure quality, often focusing on individual rows or a single side of the vines.