Merlot, Barlow Vineyards

The 2018 Barlow Merlot is truly one to get your hands on, with a palate of concentrated flavors including ripe blueberry, cherry, and a hint of sweet French vanilla. The mouthfeel includes round, silky tannins, with hints of clove and cinnamon. The color is luxurious with a brilliant ruby color and the aromas round out the experience with rich raspberry, black cherry, and a pop of cocoa.

The 2018 harvest season was a seamless combination of heavenly hangtime and exceptional phenolic development. February saw abundant rains, followed by lots of filtered light in spring and early summer. Both bud break and flowering occurred a bit late, but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. Summer brought generous sun during the day and cooler marine influences, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes. The relatively mild summer followed by extended fall sunshine and moderate heat created near-ideal conditions for winemakers to allow their fruit to accumulate flavor complexity with gradual increases in sugar levels. Volume was up 20-30% increase over average crop quantity.