2006 Reserve Alexandre Meritage, Alexander Valley

Vintage
2006
Wine Type
Red Wine
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Alexander Valley
Harvest Date
2006
Aging
20 months
Alcohol %
14.5
Tasting Notes
A multifaceted, noteworthy wine Reserve Alexandre strikes a balance between intensity and refinement. The core of the palate is reminiscent of black currant and pomegranate fruit complimented by floral aromas of rose petal and petunia. These fruit and floral notes are interwoven with lovely fresh earth aromas of warm stone and bittersweet chocolate. The graceful structure of this wine yields supple tannins with a silky mouth feel and the interplay of the five varietals results in a noble and luxurious wine.
Production Notes
In crafting Reserve Alexandre we look to our vineyard sources that consistently produce grapes with abundant fruit and rich structure. Low-yielding vines from high-elevations, hillsides, and bench land sites produce grape berries with excellent concentration, unparalleled finesse and subtlety. Each of the five varietals brings a unique character to the blend. Cabernet Sauvignon is the backbone and framework of the wine, Merlot fleshes out the body and adds to the juicy palate, Malbec brings the floral component and sumptuous spice, Petit Verdot adds a measure of tannin and lovely color, and an aliquot of Cabernet Franc adds brown spice and a sophisticated dried herb note to the final blend. Each component is vinted individually and the varied lots are blended in stages and then matured as a single wine for fourteen months.
Varietal composition
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Malbec 7% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc