Today we share one of the longstanding houses in Napa. Merryvale’s historic building was the first winery built in the Napa Valley after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 and has become a favorite destination for visitors to the valley. This is a beautiful wine country setting, surrounded by French oak barrels and casks. I’ve enjoyed visiting this beautiful property many times and the surrounding serene vineyards. The property is owned by the Schlatter family. They have been making their ‘Profile’ red blend for many years and this years edition for my palate was the finest one yet!
They have produced a brilliant range of wines and I adore the 2021 Merryvale ‘Profile’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is a stunning wine from this warm vintage. This one even eclipses the incredible ’19 bottling. Learn more at https://www.merryvale.com and here are the beautiful new wines by Merryvale.
2022 Merryvale ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay underwent full malolactic fermentation. It is better than first tasted. Loads of lemon zest and tropical fruits fill the palate with brioche and shades of cardamom. Gorgeous now enjoy over the next few years. Drink 2026-2033- 93
2023 Merryvale ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Merryvale ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir offers red cherry compote and cola on the nose with shades of stony minerals. The palate is dense and delicious with a sensational texture and great sense of weight. Cran-cola and sandy soils comine with shades of red licorice on the palate. This is refined and delicious Pinot that will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 93
2021 Merryvale ‘Profile’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Profile’ is an ebullient combination of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. This comes off exceedingly exotic on the nose with Asian spices and graphite that combine with sandalwood and shades of creme de violette. The heady aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is powerful, concentrated and filled with stony minerals and underlying finesse. This is even better than the sinfully good 2019. Give this at least an hour in the decanter of savoring in its heady youth. Drink 2026-2050- 97