Swanson Vineyards 2010 Merlot

Wine Profile: Swanson Merlot, the heart and soul of our storied 100-acre Oakville Cross Road vineyard, established itself 20 vintages back and continues to set the standard of balance and consistency among all Napa and Sonoma Merlots. As complex and delicately layered as most Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, while delighting both new and discriminating palates with its trademark drinkability, Merlot is who we are and what we do. We are Oakville’s largest producer of estate-grown Merlot, aptly and quite frequently described as the “Cab-lover’s Merlot”.

Vineyard Notes

Merlot: From our mid-valley Oakville Cross Road Estate and two small vineyards near the flank of the Mayacamas range in Oakville.
Cabernet Sauvignon: Selected from two small blocks, one adjacent to our Rutherford winery, and one in Yountville.
Petit Verdot: Sourced from a small block in the Oak Knoll district just south of Yountville on the valley’s eastern edge.
Winemaker Notes: The 2010 Swanson Oakville Merlot shows an exuberant array of aromas, including plum, black cherry, exotic spices, espresso and sweet vanilla. On the palate, there is excellent definition and considerable power, yet at the same time, the wine is long, graceful and elegant. Our restraint in using just one-third new oak allows the lush fruit and succulent ripe tannins of this wine to be front and center. This Merlot will continue to improve in the bottle, with optimum drinkability from 2015 through 2018.