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Materra 2014 'Cunat Reserve' Oak Knoll District Napa Valley

Materra 2014 'Cunat Reserve' Oak Knoll District Napa Valley

Barrett & Trujillo
Sublime Winemaking
dryness
acidity
tannin
body
fruit
Barrett & Trujillo
Sublime Winemaking

Mission Codename Cunat believe this

That’s it. Can’t sell another fine Merlot after this one.

Nothing will compete. NOTHING. Materra just dunked on everything else out there in the classiest Merlot department at a stupefying 74% off! We don’t foresee any topping this.

Materra. Probably have not heard of them, as they’re a quiet Napa Valley powerhouse. Driven by Chelsea Barrett (yes, she is Heidi Barrett’s daughter) who honed her craft at Opus One, Joel Gott, and Two Hands before working with Heidi at Amuse Bouche and Au Sommet. Factor in consulting winemaker Michael Trujillo, another winemaking force who launched Karl Lawrence Cellars, and you have a serious reckoning at foot. Trujillo spent 13 years with the fabled André Tchelistcheff at Sequoia Grove by the way, and that kind of legacy is RARE these days, just like this haunting Reserve.

INKY. Dark. SO dark. You’ve heard about “Cab lovers Merlot” and this right here is the legal definition of that. Heaps of crushed blackberry, tar, graphite, eucalyptus, and sweet oak. Supremely balanced with a texture akin to satin on the palate, yet with serious umph beneath. It’s just a massive, head-spinningly complex work, second only to their Cab in the hierarchy of wines they make. At $110 it holds its own in the value department, but at our price, even a fool could not pass it up!

Years of cellaring at the winery library has morphed and mellowed this into a well-aged Pomerol-esque profile. Let’s be honest, thanks to the mainstream wine press completely overlooking this gem, we were able to coax this deal, otherwise this wine IS worth the $110 the winery gets for it. They let us have at it because they KNOW how much our Operatives appreciate hidden gems.

The only press we could find to boost our excitement here is a Wine Spectator Tasting Highlight that picked a previous vintage Materra as one of “12 Rock Star Merlots from California” claiming, “Merlot’s recent quality surge is proving naysayers wrong; it’s been long enough since the grape’s name was put at the bottom of the spit bucket! At its best, Merlot shows a seductive quality that relies more on finesse than power.” So, take a hike Miles, cause THAT’s what matters!

Highly LIMITED so be the early bird, then thank us.

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Tasting Profile Tasting Profile

dryness
acidity
tannin
body
fruit
Materra 2014 'Cunat Reserve' Oak Knoll District Napa Valley 750ml Wine Label
Look

INKY, dark… SO dark

Smell

Heaps of crushed blackberry, tar, graphite, eucalyptus, and sweet oak

Taste

Supremely balanced with a texture akin to satin, yet with serious umph beneath

Finish

It’s just a massive, head spinninginly complex work, long, VERY long for a Merlot

Pairing

Don’t be shy with the rich, fatty proteins, mushrooms, spices, has the guts to face all

What the Winery Says 2014 'Cunat Reserve' Oak Knoll District Napa Valley

Materra
Materra
Winemakers
Chelsea Barrett & Michael Trujillo
Vintage
2014
Varietals
90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
Alcohol
14.2%
Bottling date
May 2016
Aging
22 months
Barrels
100% new French oak

About the Winery Materra

Materra Winemaker Chelsea Barrett & Michael Trujillo
Materra Winemaker Chelsea Barrett & Michael Trujillo
Materra 2014 'Cunat Reserve' Oak Knoll District Napa Valley 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Aug 04, 2020 at 11:59 pm
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Materra 2014 'Cunat Reserve' Oak Knoll District Napa Valley 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Aug 04, 2020 at 11:59 pm
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