Kenefick Ranch Merlot Calistoga Napa Valley, 2016

Spice, incense, menthol, forest fruits and blackberries are all present and lead to a smooth yet structured wine. In the mouth, cherry and raspberry fruits show through mid-palate, with a grainy texture and more smoky dark fruits lingering on the finish. Merlot was blended with 12% Petit Verdot. Grapes picked by hand and sorted underwent a cold soak for four days before fermentation. The fermenting must was pumped over twice a day and a rack-and-return process was practiced twice during fermentation. It was matured in French oak barrels from Taransaud, Sylvain, Orion and Treuil coopers for 18 months and bottled on June 11, 2018.