varietals/blend- 96% Merlot, 4% Malbec
vintage
The 2016 vintage was yet another drought year – the fifth in a row in the
Napa Valley. Though the little rain that did fall came at the right time.
Our vines got a healthy dose of water before and after budbreak, when
they need the water for a burst of growth. The spring and early summer
were warm and dry, and the days grew hotter as summer progressed. It
seemed as though we would have another early harvest due to the heat of
late-August and early-September. However, the days cooled enough for
our grapes to mature more slowly, allowing flavor to develop and tannin to
mature prior to harvesting.
Fermentation & aging
Our Merlot grapes were cold soaked for four to five days before the onset
of fermentation. The fermentation was then allowed to reach a maximum
temperature of 92 degrees F and pressed off the skins after 8 - 10 days.
The wine was then moved into oak barrels where they underwent
malolactic fermentation. 75% of these barrels were new barrels and the
balance were once-filled barrels. 88% of our Merlot barrels were French
Oak Bordeaux barrels and 12% were American Oak barrels. The coopers
used include Sylvain, Taransaud, Nadalie, and Demptos. A touch of
Malbec was added to the blend to add depth and weight to the palate. The
Merlot was aged for 19 months before bottling.
Winemaker impressions
The mild climate and alluvial soils of the Oak Knoll District lend this
wine great balance and structure. The alluvial soils bring darker fruits to
the nose and palate, and give this wine its structure and concentration.
The 2016 vintage has layers of aromatics ranging from black cherry, plum,
and raspberry to graham cracker, vanilla, butterscotch, and sweet hickory
smoke. These flavors extend to the palate, which has a rich and silky entry
with bright acidity and firm structure, resulting in great tension, balance,
and persistence on the finish.
-plumpjackwinery.com
List Price: $72.00
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