Organic. 100% Merlot. In 2023 I got the rare opportunity to work with some of the most coveted fruit in California from the Massa Vineyard in Carmel Valley. Farmed by Ian Brand, the Merlot section of this vineyard has mixed marine sediments and siliceous shale soil. I first tasted Merlot from Massa when Jamiee Motley made it. It has this distinct beauty to it that’s hard to describe in words.
The grapes were harvested on October 3rd, 2023. I decided to ferment the wine whole cluster because the stems looked fully ripe and I had a feeling it would lend to a compelling wine. I wanted to make a Merlot with structure and elegance. We destemmed and added a small part of the Alder Vineyard Merlot to the stainless steel tank and let it macerate for about a week and a half. We then pressed the fruit and let the juice finish fermenting in neutral barrel. 20ppm so2 added at bottling. The wine was bottled on April 30, 2024.
The grapes were harvested on October 3rd, 2023. I decided to ferment the wine whole cluster because the stems looked fully ripe and I had a feeling it would lend to a compelling wine. I wanted to make a Merlot with structure and elegance. We destemmed and added a small part of the Alder Vineyard Merlot to the stainless steel tank and let it macerate for about a week and a half. We then pressed the fruit and let the juice finish fermenting in neutral barrel. 20ppm so2 added at bottling. The wine was bottled on April 30, 2024.
