Chateau St. Jean
Merlot Château St. Jean
2019
About this winery
Sonoma County is a diverse growing region with a complex terrain of small valleys, benchlands and hillsides. A coastal appellation, it is favored with fog in the morning and sunny afternoons cooled by maritime breezes. From the cool Carneros area in the south to the more moderate Russian River and Alexander Valleys further north, a wide variety of grapes can enjoy the optimum climate to achieve rich varietal flavor. Chateau St. Jean is a pioneer in vineyard designation within Sonoma County —...
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Production notes
The Merlot grapes were picked at optimum ripeness in the cool morning hours and sent directly to the winery where frequent pumpovers throughout fermentation created consistent contact between the skins and juice enabling maximum flavor extraction from the fruit. The Merlot was aged on a combination of French and American oak to integrate flavors, soften tannins and enhance texture of the final wine, imparting complex spice notes, a hint of toast and layered structure, demonstrating a great representation of the personality of our California vineyards.
Tasting notes
Ripe fruit aromas of fresh dark berries, red plum and black cherry are robust and lead to rich flavors of blackberry pie, milk chocolate alongside notes of black tea on the palate. The wine is well structured and plush, with a juicy mouthfeel, smooth tannins and a lasting finish.