2019 Hendry Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley, USA

Hendry Merlot is planted in blocks 13A (Clone 3), and 13B, (Clone 14). Block 13B is our oldest Merlot block, planted in 1995. In 2019, budbreak for the Merlot occurred on April 2nd, bloom on May 28th, median veraison on August 3rd, and harvest was on September 10th. Bloom to harvest was 106 days.

Each year, we pick and ferment the Bordeaux varietals barrels in small lots, aging them individually, each according to its own recipe. After approximately one year of barrel aging, George Hendry selects the blend for our RED blend. In some years, we also choose to bottle small quantities of the individual components separately. This wine was aged a total of 15 months in French oak barrels, approximately 40% of which were new.

Medium-ruby color. On the nose, deep, dark berries, toasted bread, evergreen, spice. On the palate, light-to-medium body, moderate tannins, and pleasant, dark berry and cherry fruit flavors, finishing with mouthwatering acidity. Balanced, flavorful, complex enough to return to in the glass for reexamining.