Medlock Ames in full effect today!!

We couldn’t help it! We went on a buying frenzy with this gorgeous Merlot when we were offered the chance!

Not that we don’t try, you know. Dozens of Merlots come and go through the sample stash. It happens to be one of those varieties that has to be just right to blow our little minds. Like this one. When we loved the 2019, we wondered what a different year might look like in the hands of a legend. And it looks like more magic!

Of course, it’s a Medlock Ames, and of course it too is made by one of our favorite wine wizards Jean Hoefliger. The man comes with his own (tech sheet!) if you want to see how prolific he is and The Wine Independent explains why: “One of Napa’s most famous consultant enologists is Bordeaux’s Michel Rolland, who works for Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Dalla Valle, Bryant Family, Realm, etc. Rolland has worked with and mentored many of the top winemakers in Napa Valley today, some of whom have become consultant winemakers themselves. One of his most gifted protégés is Jean Hoefliger.”

If you don’t remember the story of Medlock Ames from their previous wines, let us remind you of the awesomeness. Chris Medlock James and Ames Morison are college best friends who left the hustle of Manhattan for the rolling hills of Sonoma. They knew what they wanted from the very beginning. Driving around Chalk Hill, their vision was realized at Bell Mountain Ranch, that charming spot where Russian River Valley meets Alexander Valley. Ames is the winemaking force here, reaching for hillside Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties that exude power without excess. To that end, they have taken organic viticulture and sustainability to a whole new level.

The press came soon after their launch when Food & Wine declared Nirvana in Sonoma! announcing that “up on Bell Mountain, Medlock Ames winery produces amazing wines in a utopian setting.”

Merlot loves this rugged mountain terroir. Decanter is right, it’s truly “built like a Cabernet” while revealing an irresistible seductive silkiness rarely seen in this grape. The original $70 is a fair price for this level of quality no doubt, but this deal is just too crazy to pass. Their neighbor Vérité gets $500+ a bottle for theirs. You can buy 15 bottles with that kind of budget today, compute that for a minute.

We cleaned them out of all they had - barely enough. Trust us with this one, thank us later.

93 Points—The Wine Independent “The 2020 Yarrow Merlot, with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. It swans out of the glass with gregarious notes of stewed black plums and boysenberry preserves followed by hints of mint tea, lilacs, and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is bursting with black and blue fruit preserves, supported by velvety tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.”

92 Points—International Wine Report “This Merlot from Medlock Ames begins with pleasant aromas of blueberry, strawberry and black tea. Yarrow has a bouquet of blackberry, plum, berry bramble and prune. The palate is medium to full body with plenty of fruit, and offers hints of black tea on a long, savory finish.”

92 Points—James Suckling “Great balance and pure fruit flavors give a lot to like about this medium-bodied, lightly tannic wine made from organically grown estate grapes. Tasty red and black cherries and a smooth texture. Drink or hold.”