Mystery Barrel Aged Merlot 2019 (California)

Description

Cherry, Oak, Raspberry

The 2019 Rum Barrel-Aged Merlot blends the craftsmanship of California winemaking with the tradition of dark rum barrel aging. Dark ruby red in color, it opens with rich, sweet aromas of blackstrap molasses, vanilla, mocha, cocoa powder, maple, tobacco leaf, spiced rum cake, anise, black cherry, and dark plum. Ripe concentrated flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, spiced rum cake, molasses, caramel, brown sugar, baking spice, sweet oak, vanilla, and dark chocolate carry through to a long, lush, and sweet finish.

The grapes for the 2019 Rum Barrel-Aged Merlot were primarily sourced from prime vineyards up and down California’s Central Coast and Lodi regions, where warm days and cool nights provide ideal ripening conditions for grapes to develop complex flavors and deep, concentrated color. The grapes were harvested at night to preserve ideal acidity and sugar levels. Harvest ran from September through October 2019.

The 2019 vintage was a moderate growing season throughout Spring and Summer. Harvest began around the first week of September and maintained a consistently steady pace, finishing in early November. Near-perfect temperatures and lack of precipitation during harvest allowed the grapes to fully ripen. The resulting wines show beautiful color, texture, and flavor.

We start our unique process with Merlot grapes carefully picked at night and in the early morning to ensure peak ripeness. The wine is then aged and blended to deliver exceptional fruit flavors and complexity. After full malolactic fermentation, a portion of the blend is selected to be aged for an additional 10 months in American oak rum barrels. The barrels add nuances of toasted coconut, molasses, and brown spices.

Food Pairing: A superb accompaniment to Caribbean rum cake, pasta Bolognese, Korean short ribs, Jamaican jerk chicken, spicy coconut curry, dark chocolate, brie with fig jam, and a white sandy beach at sunse.