2010 SINGLE VINEYARD LIMITED MERLOT
Tasting notes
Dark purple/garnet color. Aromas of black cherry and plum , dark chocolate and lightly buttered toast, with hints of smoked sausage, dried mint and basil and earth. The palate is full bodied with a sweet entry followed by black cherry and plum fruits, toasted oak, cocoa, and hints of vanilla and cinnamon. The tannins are firm but beautifully integrated with nicely balancing acidity, all of which gives a full mid-palate and long and enticing finish.
Grapes are from Bel’ Villa Vineyard’s South Block, which is in the Red Mountain AVA. This wine was cold soaked overnight then inoculated with yeast, fermented for 7 days on skins while being pumped over twice daily before pressing to barrels, where it was inoculated with malo-lactic bacteria. It was 100% barrel aged for 16 months in 83% new oak consisting of 33% French and 67% American.
Harvest Notes: 2010 was one of the coolest vintages on record in Washington State with the growing season registering about 10% fewer heat units than average. Although ripening was delayed 2 to 3 weeks, our warmer Red Mountain AVA vineyards still had a long, warm post-veraison period that allowed the grapes to fully mature. This meant the fruit had great acid retention and developed intense flavor and color, which resulted in fruitier, more structured wines with nice acidity and great varietal character.
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Varietal | Merlot |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Merlot |
| Appellation | Red Mountain |
| Vineyard | 100% Bel’ Villa |
| Acid | 5.3 g/L |
| PH | 3.73 |
| Alcohol | 13.90% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Cases Produced | 73 cases |
