Estate Merlot

The Wine

Our Merlot is a deep ruby-purple color, displaying wonderful aromas of black cherry, blackberry pie, cedar and fresh pea shoots with hints of butterscotch clove, red and black pepper, and mint. The ripe, well balanced tannins are soft and silky. A rich mouthfeel bursts with intense cherry fruit, bay spice, and toasted oak, emerging in an elegant plummy finish.

The 2004 Vintage

An unusually warm, dry spring led to early budbreak and set the stage for an early harvest. Summer temperatures were seasonably warm, with early September bringing a memorable heat spell. The early season heat-stress resulted in smaller grape clusters and berries with intense, concentrated aromas and flavors.

Food Affinities

This year’s vintage is a wonderful food wine. It will match a wide range of international and local favorites including polenta, tamales and enchiladas, grilled steak and pork or a wood-fired pizza.

Our Estate Vineyard

Our primary estate vineyard is located in the heart of the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA, which occupies an ideal climate zone between Napa’s warmer up-valley districts and its cool southern tip. Merlot grows beautifully in the ancient alluvial loam, temperate climate, and long growing season of our estate vineyard.

About Trefethen

In 1968, our family purchased seven farms surrounding a magnificent, but run-down, 19th-century winery in southern Napa Valley and created Trefethen Family Vineyards. At the time, there were fewer than 30 working wineries in Napa Valley. True to our original vision of creating a classic wine estate, we have never purchased a single outside grape. Instead, we lavish extraordinary care on our two sustainably farmed estate vineyards in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. Controlling all viticultural practices allows us to produce grapes with pure, intense flavors beautifully reflecting our unique terroir.