SAN JUAN VINEYARDS 2005 MERLOT Aromas of sweet cherries and a dash of cayenne intermingle with chocolate and graphite. There are sweet cherry flavors at the front of the mouth carrying to a long, bright finish. This is a big, dark wine with generous dusty tannins. The Merlot fruit was sourced from three vineyards: Alder Creek with Harvest Brix at 25.5; Kestrel View Estates with Brix at 24.5; and Gordon Bros. with Brix at 24.5. Three different yeasts were used in fermentation. The Merlot was fermented in open top fermenters and aged in French, American and Hungarian oak for 20 months. The Merlot was released in December, 2007. It received a Silver Medal at the Tri-Cities Wine Competition in November, 2007. 2005 Merlot: |