From its vibrant red fruit to its signature minerality, this is a classic expression of the qualities that have made Three Palms Vineyard legendary in the world of California Merlot. The aromas are bright and appealing with layers of red currant, cranberry, cherry and ripe raspberry. The palate offers a robust structure with lush red fruit flavors, as well as sophisticated supporting notes of warm earth, dried wild herbs and minerals. This age-worthy wine will benefit from decanting in its youth.
Though the 2008 growing season presented certain challenges—from early frosts to drought conditions—a meticulous approach to viticulture and sorting yielded small crops with good concentration, highlighting soft, appealing tannins for our red varietals and bright acidity for our white grapes. A long, moderately cool summer led to a harvest that commenced in mid-August and concluded in early November. This relatively relaxed pace allowed us to pick in numerous passes to ensure quality, often focusing on individual rows or a single side of the vines.
Appellation: Napa Valley
Harvest Dates: September 6 – October 31, 2008
Average Sugar at Harvest: 27.9° Brix
Varietal Content
79% Merlot
17% Cabernet Sauvignon
3% Petit Verdot
1% Cabernet Franc
Cooperage
100% French oak château-style barrels (60 gallons)
Barrel Aging: 18 Months
Age of Barrels: 90% New
Production/Technical Data
Alcohol: 14.5%
Titratable Acidity: 0.60 g/100ml
pH: 3.73
Bottled: July 2010
Released: April 2011
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92 Points
Shows distinctive varietal character and deserving a good three to five more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. More>