2005 Trinchero Family Merlot

VINEYARD INFORMATION

Our 2005 Trinchero Family Merlot was sourced from some of the California's premier, cool-climate, coastal appellations. Lots from estate and contracted vineyards from Monterey (48%), Santa Barbara (41%) and Napa County (11%) were blended to enhance complexity, balance and varietal accuracy.

WINEMAKING

We used the delestage method favored by many top Bordeaux chateaux during fermentation of this 2005 Merlot. We rack the fermenting wine into an empty tank, allowing the cap to settle to the bottom and then return the wine back to that original tank, splashing the juice over the cap. This helps to develop deeper color and greater flavor extraction. It also gives us the opportunity to remove seeds, which can add harsh tannins to a finished wine. After a 10 day maceration, the wine was transferred to a combination of new and used American and French oak for one year.

WINEMAKER NOTES

Trinchero Family wines typically express the purest manifestation of the grape variety, which means they’re often fruit-driven and delicious. This 2005 Merlot is no exception. The wine is lush, rich and remarkably smooth with ripe, juicy fruit and mouthwatering acidity.

CHEF NOTES

Juicy ripe fruit, flavor-enhancing acidity and medium-plus body make our Trinchero Family Merlot a staple for many of our winery dishes. Our chef pairs this versatile wine with Rosemary Roasted Lamb Chops with Caramelized Cippollini Onions and Mashed Vanilla Sweet Potatoes. Enjoy.

WINE INFORMATION

Composition: 82% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon
Barrel Aging: 12 months in new and used American and French oak&
Alcohol: 13.9%
T.A.: 0.56g/100ml
pH: 3.59
Cases: 50,000
Release Date: November 2007