Leese - Fitch

2009 California Merlot

Notes

With rich garnet color, this blend has aromas of caramelized apple, fresh boysenberry syrup, sage, and light clove. In the mouth, there are flavors of red raspberry, cedar, dark plum, light cocoa, and pomegranate. The finish shows lingering tart cherry, cardamom spice, and mocha.

This vintage was built around a lot of 2009 Monterey Merlot. This block of Merlot provides jammy fruit with subtle spice and rich mouthfeel. The appellation of Clarksburg brings a dab of Syrah and Merlot to the blend that add additional power in tannin as well as nice herbaceous notes that add complexity. There is a leg of Lodi Merlot which contributes rich fruit and brambly earth notes. Last but definitely not least, we added Napa Merlot that has been on oak for a few years. It was dark and sappy with great cedary integrated oak and spice. This leg added complexity to the blend and gave the blend a nice backbone.

Pairings

This is a great glass of Merlot to have with the following dishes: pork stir fry with a plum sauce over brown rice, grilled gulf shrimp over dirty rice and steamed snap peas, or BBQ chicken pizza with gruyere cheese and caramelized onions.