2019 Old Vines Merlot

The final vintage of Darcie’s original wine, first produced in 1996. These mature, low-yielding vines run north to south yet tilt to the west with a shallow red clay soil and persistent breeze that forms the ideal combination for growing world-class Merlot. We painstakingly hand-sort every cluster and grape that goes into our open top fermenter to eliminate green stems that can cause bitterness in the final wine.

Displaying a deep purple-ruby hue in the glass, the 2019 Old Vines Merlot immediately signals its richness and concentration. Winemaker Julian Halasz found “cedar,” while vintner Darcie Kent noted “fresh blackberry, right off the vine.” Julian continued in his notes, “[the 2019 is a] balanced, elegant, old vine Merlot that displays the typical character of the vineyard terroir.” The depth of aromas is matched by the lush, velvety mouthfeel, soft, integrated tannins, and flavors of chocolate covered cherry, black pepper, and blueberry.