COMPLETE TASTING NOTES
The 1998 Merlot harvest arrived a month later than in the previous vintage, the result of a long, cool growing season. With bud break having occurred quite early, during the last week of March, the "hang time" for our Merlot was at a record length of nearly seven months, and flavor and tannin development were extended up to six weeks beyond normal. Crops were also small, augmenting the concentration of the fruit and providing Chalk Hill with exceptional raw material. Further proof of this excellence lies in the final blend selected for the 1998 Merlot. Merlot is often blended with other Bordeaux varieties to heighten complexity and to fine-tune the balance. However, the 1998 Merlot was nearly perfect on its own, requiring only a small addition of Malbec to broaden the middle palate of the wine.
Traditional techniques captured the essence of the fruit: de-stemming with minimal crushing of the berries; native yeast fermentations; ageing in French oak, over half of which was new; malolactic in barrel; and periodic rackings. The wine was lightly fined with one egg white per barrel, and was bottled without filtration in July 2000. This is a Merlot of substantial proportions, taking the "right bank" Bordeaux appellations of Pomerol and St.-Émilion as direct inspiration. Concentrated flavors of black cherry, blueberry, cassis, plum, and chocolate mingle with spicy oak, and the finish is expansive and persistent. Pair this wine with roasted meats and other hearty foods, but also experiment with cheeses and herbed dishes to expose the wine's inherent balance and richness.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
- Blend:
- 97% Merlot, 3% Malbec
- Vineyard:
- Estate
- Appellation:
- Chalk Hill
- Ageing:
- Twenty months, 59% new French oak
- Harvested:
- October 15 - 27, 1998, Brix 23.7°, T.A. 5.7 g/l, pH 3.57
- Bottled:
- July 18 -19, 2000, T.A. 5.9 g/l, pH 3.60
