Merryvale, Profile, Red Wine, Napa Valley 2018

“Another example of how good ’18 is, this brims with cassis, dark plum and blackberry fruit but stays reserved overall, while subtle loam, cedar and iron notes keep it grounded. The long, well-defined finish has cut and drive. Should cruise in the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2038.”-95WS

The greatest wine estates, those that demand your attention and capture your heart, reflect the people who steward them. Napa Valley’s Merryvale Vineyards, owned by the singular Schlatter family for over 30 years, is such a wine estate. With European roots and California dreams, Swiss-born René and Laurence Schlatter embody both the reverence for history and optimism for the future that characterize this beloved Napa Valley landmark. Reflective and precise in their approach yet with a willingness to take risks, the Schlatters have built upon a decades-long foundation to create wines, that, like the family itself, are serious, layered and authentic. Wines that demand – and reward – your head, heart and palate.

Blended from the best lots from this 25-acre hillside vineyard, Merryvale Profile reflects both the vintage’s unique characteristics and the diversity of clonal selections, rootstocks, soils, elevations, and microclimates of this estate. The resulting wine is rich and complex with dark fruit and a savory minerality that will evolve beautifully for years to come.