1999 Sonoma County Reserve Selection Merlot

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Tasting Notes

The wine has a red garnet color. The nose is marked with aromas of black cherry, wild red berries, cassis, and sweet oak. Secondary aromas of bittersweet chocolate and black pepper are noticeable. The wine is well balanced with an elegant, velvety mouth-feel and a long finish. The 1999 Sonoma County Reserve Selection Merlot, is a beautifully structured wine with an ideal balance of richness and finesse. Enjoyable now, but it will further reward with patience and cellaring, revealing even more nuances.

Acclaim

92 points
"The '99 is the inaugural release if the reserve Merlot fruit from the Bennett Valley blended with Alexander and Knights Valley. The nose is open showing peppery, spicy, barnyard, cherry jam aromas showing black olive, mint and smoky notes. Richer, riper and bigger than the regular bottling with a firm structure. Spicy, weedy, cherry, mint flavours with some olive and vanilla on the finish." - Anthony Gismondi, Beverage Dynamics February 2003

88 points - "Bright ruby-red. Aromas of red currant, bitter cherry, tobacco leaf, baking spices, smoke and nuts, plus a light herbaceousness. Sweet and moderately fleshy, with good concentration and spine. The spicy character carries through in the mouth. Juicy and firm on the back end." - Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar May 2002

Vintage Notes

The 1999 Sonoma County Reserve Selection Merlot, marks Matanzas Creek’s twenty-second vintage as one of America’s premium producers of this varietal. For this, the inaugural release of the Reserve Selection Merlot from Bennett Valley was blended with fruit from Alexander and Knights Valleys. This marriage produced a lush, opulent wine. After crush, fermentation and some extended maceration, individual lots were aged in new French oak barrels for 17 months. The final blend is a full-bodied wine with impeccable balance of fruit, oak and tannins and a further potential for graceful aging.

Production Statistics

Finished Wine:
13.9% Alcohol
6.58 g/l TA
3.55 pH
Aged 17 months barrel aging in 100% French oak, 80% new
Maceration length, 19 days

Final Blend:
76% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc