Amour Merlot 2009
From a single Merlot vineyard on our home ranch this award winning pure Merlot is a perfect ruby color. The wine is a melding of noble character with fine elegance and great style. A wonderfully expressive nose, full of raspberry and blackberry aromas.
An ideal pairing for chocolate desserts but is also excellent with soft meats such as pork chop, rack of lamb or filet mignon where the the meat is the primary desired flavor and the cooking process involves leaving fat on the meat.
Tasting Notes
On the palate, the luscious, creamy chocolate texture carries plenty of fruit, the liquorices extending the flavor profile, with soft, supple tannins and balanced acidity. There is no doubt why this estate grown, single-vineyard Merlot wins gold medals at every outing.
Production Notes
Cases produced = 322
Winemaker Notes
This year provided lush, beautiful grapes for great wine. Late spring rains delayed irrigation needs and the warm spell in June helped curtail excessive canopy development. With only 4 days of 100°F plus reduced demand for water in a year when rainfall was little more than two-thirds of normal for the third year in a row, the timing of the precipitation was on the vine's side. Couple that with the lack of frost and the mild, relatively cool growing season, Mother Nature managed to have it all work in unison to give vines and grapes the best scenario possible.
Cooperage Notes
French Oak for 22 months, approximately 40% new, 40% one use and the balance neutral.
