About This Item
**Cannot be shipped to MT**
Opaque in appearance, black currant, black cherry and cassis characterize the aromatic expression. The black fruit flavors flood the palate in a seductive mouth coating texture which dances with well-balanced natural acidity. The finish goes on and on with gently gripping tannin which completes the delightful experience of this classic mountain-grown Merlot from 2000’ elevation atop Howell Mountain.
The volcanic terroir and high-elevation exposure really concentrate the fruit, producing extremely dark color, with an almost Cabernet-like intensity. Just three barrels are bottled of this mountain Merlot, grown on our winery property in a small single-vineyard block adjacent to our wine-production facility. ** Only 72 cases produced. **
I produced my first commercial Merlot in the 1976 vintage when it was about as well-known as Charbono is today. After several years of trying to convince folks to give it a try, its popularity grew and eventually snowballed.
Of course, Bordeaux producers have worked with this grape variety for many years and it is the noble variety of the Cabernet family on the right bank of that region. Like its Cabernet cousin, Merlot’s response to well-drained soils is profound expression and firm structure in the wines grown there.
My first experience with Merlot grown on Howell Mountain was in the 1980s and I was astounded by the expression of Merlot grown in this Viticultural Area. In 2006 we planted Clone 3 Merlot from cuttings at the Paloma Vineyard on Spring Mountain whose wines I produced during their first eight vintages beginning in 1994. I felt these were some of the best Merlot bottlings I have had the pleasure to craft in the 44 vintages I have worked with this grape variety and I was thrilled to bring this pedigree clone to our Howell Mountain Vineyard.
A portion of production from this small lot is blended into our Napa Valley Merlot, but we set aside some from each vintage to be bottled separately as a 100% Howell Mountain Merlot in order to share the experience.
– Bob Foley
