2004 Bell Wine Cellars Merlot, Yountville, Napa Valley (Special Offers) -- Bell Wine Cellars Shopping Cart -- Valley Napa Yountville, Merlot, Cellars Wine Bell 2004

<H1>2004 Bell Wine Cellars Merlot, Yountville, Napa Valley -- Bell Wine Cellars Shopping Cart</H1> $36.00 -- 2004 Bell Wine Cellars Merlot, Yountville, Napa Valley <IMG SRC="https://store.nexternal.com/bellwine/images/YVL%20Merlot1.gif" WIDTH=150 ALIGN=right ALT="2004 Bell Wine Cellars Merlot, Yountville, Napa Valley" NAME="2004 Bell Wine Cellars Merlot, Yountville, Napa Valley" BORDER=0 HSPACE=10> Vineyards Our Merlot grapes are estate grown on the winery’s Spanos Berberian Vineyard in Yountville approximately one mile south of the Yountville Hills. Yountville enjoys the early morning fog and cool growing conditions of the maritime influenced southern Napa Valley, whilst the early receding fog gives us more sunlight and warmer daytime temperatures than the more southerly Carneros region. Our warm summer daytime temperatures and cool evenings result in grapes with rich fruit flavors and an excellent acid balance. Vinification Merlot grapes were hand-harvested and gently crushed to minimize crushing of berries and maximize fruit character. We fermented at 80 degrees-F with a Bordeaux yeast strain, and extracted color utilizing gentle irrigation over the skins. Following fermentation, the wine underwent malo-lactic fermentation and was then racked to barrel. The wine was barrel aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels for 18 months. The wine was not fined and received one light filtration prior to bottling. Tasting Notes Our Merlot, deep garnet in color, has rich black cherry fruit aromas, with hints of eucalyptus and oak. Diligent canopy management during the summer and severe crop thinning prior to harvest to balance the crop yields a rich, full-bodied wine with a lovely structure. Elegant tannins balance well with good fruit acidity, concentrated fruit flavors and sweet vanilla oak flavors to yield a wine that will develop well with several years of aging. A rich, concentrated “Cabernet drinkers” Merlot with a layered, lingering finish and supple mouthfeel. Technical Analysis: Varietal: Merlot (100%) Appellation: Yountville, Napa Valley Harvest Sugar 26.2 Brix Harvest Acid 0.59 gm/100ml Total Acid 0.58 gm/100ml pH 3.69 Alcohol 15.0% Aging 18 months in oak, 60% new barrels 70% French, 30% American Bottle Date June 2006 Production 250 cases <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com/bellwine" TITLE="Bell Wine Cellars Products">Bell Wine Cellars Products</A> <A HREF="http://bellwine.com">Bell Wine Cellars</A> Bell Wine Cellars <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com" TITLE="ecommerce software">ecommerce software</A> powered by Nexternal