2020 Merlot Reserve 1.5L Magnum
Tasting Notes
Aromas of bittersweet chocolate, açai, and pomegranate with notes of creamy cocoa. On the palate rich, dark flavors of boysenberry and black plum are surrounded by mingling notes of mocha and black tea. Lively acidity and taut, velvety tannins bring joyous lift and lasting grip that draws out in a long, cohesive finish.
Best enjoyed at 60° - 65°f
Suggested drink window: now – 2027 – 2034+
The Merlot Reserve is exclusively from the Damiani Vineyard which is our first estate planting of merlot back in 1997. This is a truly special site for the DWC portfolio not only because it’s the oldest estate planting, but it also has a unique soil type to not only our portfolio but the FLX – Lordstown channery silt loam. This soil series that formed mainly from cryoturbated siltstone and sandstone on bedrock. Cryoturbation is the process of freezing and thawing over centuries which expands and contracts the different strata, shifting them over time and causing a marbling effect of the various layers.
Winemaking
• 100% Merlot
• Vineyard: Damiani Vineyard
• Vineyard locations: Southeast side of Seneca Lake
• Soil: Howard and Lansing gravelly silt loam
• Harvested September 28th
• Unfined & unfiltered
• Brix: 24.0° │ pH: 3.59 │ T/A: 6.4 g/L │ RS: 0.0 │ ABV: 14.5
• Bottled: 5/23/2022
• Cases Produced: 5
Click here for Full Tech Sheet
2020 Vintage Notes
2020 was a winemaker's dream, a vintage of idyllic growing conditions in the Finger Lakes. Expect to see extremely high-quality wines that show concentration, complexity, silky tannins, and the varietal specificity for which we are known. During the growing season we experienced gorgeous warm days and heat in timely doses. The heat produced the right amount of moisture stress (read lack of rain) to keep the fruit slightly dehydrated and the consequent flavor development of the skins and pulp lent a complexity to the juices that are playing out in the wines.
Winemakers Phil and Lauren crafted truly remarkable wines that will show well early but will have the depth of character to age gracefully.
