Amour Merlot 2011
Perfect ruby color, purity and precision, the wine is energetic and alive in the mouth leaving no doubt why this estate grown, single-vineyard Merlot has repeatedly won gold medals.
Pairing Notes
The wine is a melding of noble character and fine elegance with great style - This is Merlot as it was meant to be, an ideal pairing for chocolate desserts, excellent with soft meats such as pork chop, rack of lamb or filet mignon. more . . .
The color is deep ruby red and the nose is complex from the very first, expressing a floral violet aspect that gives way to attractive red fruit, raspberry, and black cherry aromas. This vintage shines thanks to its aromatic freshness and precision. It starts off very full-bodied on the palate. The middle palate is quite full, rich, and voluptuous, and the aftertaste is interminable. The tannin is smooth, silky, and elegant, and the wine is altogether perfectly balanced, with lovely fresh fruit on the finish.
Challenging year in the vineyard reaps rewards in the cellar. What began with a wet winter and spring continued with rainfall into mid-June that delayed bloom and disrupted fruit set resulting in shatter in some vineyards and set the stage for a long, cooler-than-average growing season with a later-than-average harvest beset by autumn rain storms with more than a third above normal in rainfall. While this is good news for water resources, the cloud cover and cool temperatures delayed vine development by several weeks at the onset of the growing season.
This timetable continued through the somewhat cool summer season few high heat events occurred at any point causing us to develop more open vine canopies to ensure sunlight, warmth and good air circulation around the grape clusters. The shatter resulted in less crop by more than 30% of normal crop.
After a consistently cool summer season, significant mid-October rain pushed the vintage even later but we were rewarded with weeks of fantastic weather, a prolonged Indian summer that provided needed ripening time. Yields were generally down by 10% with very good quality, lower alcohols, good structure and length on the palate.
French Oak for 22 months, approximately 40% new, 40% one use and the balance neutral.
Cases produced = 508 No allergens were used in the making of this wine.
| Color | Red |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2011 |
| Style | Red Bordeaux |
| Appellation | Dry Creek Valley |
| Varietal | Merlot |
| Date Bottled | 15th Jul 2013 |
| Drinkable | 2013 -2020 |
| Alcohol | 14.50% |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
