2016 Foley Sonoma Estate Merlot, Alexander Valley
90 Points - Robert Parker
Winemaker Notes
This 2016 Alexander Valley Merlot opens with dusty plum, tobacco and
herbal aromas, with ripe berry tones peeking through. This fragrance
carries through to the palate, where bright fruit, trending more toward
just-ripe boysenberry, accompanies the same beautifully dusty and tobacco
notes found on the nose. These flavors taper off with a touch of mocha on
the lasting finish.
Composition
77% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
Wine Specs
Vintage
2016
Varietal
Merlot
Appellation
Alexander Valley
Harvest Date
October 5 – 7, 2016
Acid
6.0 g/L
pH
3.76
Aging
15 months in French oak, 15% new
Alcohol %
14.8
Production Notes
For 2016, we combined fruit from our estate vineyards and from our
neighbors, the Fanucchi’s. Located just across from the winery, our estate
Merlot vineyard has loamy soil which makes for excellent drainage and
vigorous growing. The Fanucchi Merlot is planted on gravel soils with excellent
drainage, producing highly concentrated fruit. Following harvest, the grapes
were fermented in stainless steel tanks and then racked to French oak barrels.
After aging for 15 months in barrel (15% new), the wine was bottled.
Vineyard Notes
2016 was a superb vintage in Alexander Valley. Although yields were slightly
lower than in 2015, fruit quality was high across all varietals. Veraison set in
early and completed by the end of July - beginning of August, and a week of
warm temperatures pushed harvest up ahead of schedule. The fruit for this
2016 Merlot was harvested October 5 – 7, 2016 and entered the crush pad
in optimal condition.
Production
Only 266 cases produced
