Matanzas Creek - Merlot Alexander Valley 2017 (750ml)

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Price: $54.99

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Producer	Matanzas Creek
Country	United States
Region	Alexander Valley
Varietal	Merlot
Vintage	2017
Sku	120623
Size	750ml
ABV	14.30%

Matanzas Creek Description

RNDC

O U R E S T A T E
For the past four decades, Matanzas Creek Winery has focused on creating site-expressive wines.
Throughout the years our methodology has remained the same: utilize a range of vineyard clones and
fermentation vessels, and explore new farming and winemaking techniques, to produce thoughtfully
crafted, expressive, and balanced wines. Today, all Matanzas Creek Winery estate vineyards are
sustainably farmed and are certified under the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.
W I N E M A K I N G
During the 2017 growing season, summers were warm allowing for full berry development to highlight a
Merlot marked by dark fruit nuances, inky color texture, and age-worthy acidity. Grapes are harvested at
perfect ripeness, sorted by hand, cold soaked for 5 days, then fermented on their skins for an average of
15 days. Sourced from the mountains and bench lands of nine specific and distinct vineyard blocks from
the Alexander Valley compose the blend.
W I N E P R O F I L E
Color: Medium purple
Aromas/Flavors: Satsuma plum, dark chocolate covered raspberries, allspice aromas primarily
Palate: Classic Merlot, good concentration, savory, medium body, velvety tannins. Homemade cherry
pie tart and sandal wood aromas are perceived easily when tasting.
V I N T A G E N O T E S
2017 was one of those illustrious growing seasons until September when heat waves came at full force.
Vines are very adaptable to draught conditions, which helped us to have an excellent vintage. There were
vineyards in which we did not remove leaves in June as normal (guided by classical Farmer’s Almanac
information that had predicted heat waves) which helped protect the vines. We worked with our vineyard
managers in a preventative action to use canopy as umbrellas to protect the cluster from direct sunlight.
Merlot blocks were harvested before the fires erupted so no smoke intrusion was found on any of our wines.

technical notes
W I N E M A K E R
Marcia Torres Forno
C O M P O S I T I O N
99% Merlot
1% Cabernet Sauvignon
A P P E L L A T I O N
Alexander Valley
É L E V A G E
Aged for 18 months in 28%
New French Oak barrels
A L C O H O L
14.3%
T A
5.9 g/L
P H
3.55
R S
1.2 g/L