Merlot

We harvest Merlot from some of California’s finest vineyards in Monterey, Santa Barbara and Napa Counties where the fruit develops rich, lush flavors. This wine is exceptionally well balanced, with juicy black cherry and plum flavors and just a hint of vanilla and cedar on the finish.

Vineyard Information

Main Street Winery Merlot was crafted from four of California’s premier, cool-climate, coastal appellations. Lots from Napa, Santa Barbara, Lake and Monterey Counties were blended to
enhance complexity, balance, and varietal accuracy.

Winemaking

We used the Délestage method favored by many top Bordeaux chateaux during fermentation of our 2006 Merlot. We rack the fermenting wine into an empty tank, allowing the cap to settle to the bottom and then return the wine back to the original tank, splashing the juice over the cap. This helps to develop deeper color and provide greater flavor extraction. It also gives us the opportunity to remove seeds that can add harsh tannins or green flavors to the finished wine. After a 10-day maceration, the wine was transferred to a combination of new and used French and American oak.

Tasting Notes

Main Street Winery wines are pure manifestations of the grape variety, and this 2006 Merlot is no exception. The wine is lush, rich, and remarkably smooth. Ripe, juicy fruits start on the palate but
lead to a mouth-watering acidity and a smooth finish.

Technical Analysis

Composition:	98% Merlot 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation:	80% Monterey County 8% Santa Barbara County 7% Napa County 5% Lake County
Alcohol:	13.5%
Total Acidity:	0.52g / 100ml
pH:	3.63
Residual Sugar:	0.17/100ml