Vineyards
Grapes for the 2020 Napa Cellars Merlot are primarily sourced from Bayview Red Hen Vineyard in the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley. This region is ideal for cultivating Merlot grapes, with moderate to cool climates that support an extended growing season, resulting in an elegant, complex, and balanced wine.
Harvest
The 2020 growing season started with a warm, dry winter with no typical rain or cold weather until the end of March. Overall rainfall was 50% of normal. The mild winter and spring translated to an early start. Berries were small, with concentrated flavor and tannins. The vineyards included in this wine produced fantastic results that were typical of a low yielding vintage.
Winemaking
Once harvested, the grapes underwent a 12 to 13 day maceration period and were fermented using the délestage method. This process allows the winemaker to extract color and flavor from the skins. After the fermentation process was completed, the wine was aged for 20 months in 100% French oak barrels, 39% of which were new.
Merlot
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