This wines comes from our Legacy Estate Merlot vineyard, which was first planted in 1963, and interplanted with Cabernet a decade or so later.  As winemakers would now agree, it was not a good location for Merlot or Cabernet grapes.  It was too cold, among other challenges.  But this odd, hybrid vineyard is what Anthony Austin, RRV Winemaker at that time, and his apprentice, current Winemaker Giovanni Balistreri, inherited when they took ownership of the estate in 2008.

“The vineyard is characterized by slow ripening & high acidity. It’s really too cold for merlot. But if you can get it ripe, it really does add a dimension to Merlot that is rare. This really needs age to soften the tannins and the acid.” - Anthony Austin

From this singular & unique vineyard came several vintages of Merlot wines that are as distinctive as the vineyard itself.  The cool weather slowed the ripening and increased the acid levels well beyond that of a typical Merlot.  The result is a Merlot with higher acid that can soften over a long period of time and is uniquely structured to age beautifully.

As the oldest of the remaining three vintages of this wine, the 2014 is an excellent example of as wine that embodies the structure and balance required for a wine to age well. As the oldest of the three remaining vintages, this wine's fruit & acid have softened the most, and it has taken on a smooth, velvety texture with subtle, complex flavors & aromas.

Drink now or age another 7-10 years.