Description

92 Points, Wine & Spirits Magazine.  At​ ​Bravante​ ​Vineyards​ ​we​ ​have​ ​2​ ​blocks​ ​of​ ​Merlot,​ ​one​ ​at​ ​each​ ​end​ ​of​ ​our​ ​Stoneridge Vineyard,​ ​and​ ​they​ ​both​ ​add​ ​distinctive​ ​parts​ ​to​ ​our​ ​Estate​ ​Grown​ ​Merlot.​ ​​​At​ ​the​ ​northern end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​property​ ​is​ ​Block​ ​1,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​classic​ ​Merlot​ ​-​ ​fruity,​ ​rich​ ​and​ ​complex.​ ​​​At​ ​the southern​ ​end​ ​is​ ​Block​ ​5,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​all​ ​‘Howell​ ​Mountain’​ ​--​ ​​​intense​ ​and​ ​structured.​ ​​​​​Blended together​ ​they​ ​produce​ ​a​ ​rich,​ ​and​ ​nuanced​ ​Merlot,​ ​which​ ​has​ ​concentration​ ​and​ ​loads​ ​of varietal​ ​Merlot​ ​character.

Bravante​ ​Vineyards​ ​2012​ ​Estate​ ​Merlot​ ​starts​ ​off​ ​with​ ​bright​ ​fruit​ ​of​ ​dark​ ​cherries​ ​and​ ​plums complexed​ ​by​ ​aromas​ ​of​ ​cedar,​ ​sage​ ​and​ ​hints​ ​of​ ​tobacco.​ ​This​ ​Merlot​ ​has​ ​intense​ ​flavors​ ​of cherries,​ ​berries​ ​and​ ​hints​ ​of​ ​herbs​ ​and​ ​oak​ ​with​ ​a​ ​rich​ ​body​ ​and​ ​excellent​ ​structure​ ​and balance.

90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet

14.7 ABV

100% Howell Mountain 

Duane Dappen, Winemaker