2018 Profile
Varietals
82% Cabernet Sauvignon
17% Caberent Franc
1% Petit Verdot
Appellation
Napa Valley
Alcohol
14.5%
Flavor Profile
Silkily structured and loaded with fruit, this wine is the embodiment of powerful elegance. 2018 was a remarkable vintage—the long growing season allowed the grapes to achieve full phenolic maturity, while the lack of extreme weather created the ideal conditions for harvesting at peak ripeness. The resulting wine is both a winemaker’s and wine lover’s dream—fresh, tense, deep, complex and long. Aromatics of allspice, blue fruits, leather, cocoa and endless other descriptors impress as the waves of lush texture wash over the palate. Full bodied without being heavy, the wine’s natural acidity provides the freshness to balance the generous structure and fine mountain tannin. The finish is long and rewarding. Enjoy now and as the wine matures over the next 25+ years.
- Vineyard Notes
Profile is a true representation of our hillside estate vineyard in Conn Valley. Blended from the best lots produced across 25 sloped and rocky acres, it reflects each vintage’s unique characteristics through the diversity of clonal selections, rootstocks, soils, elevation, orientation and microclimates on the property. Located east of St. Helena and overlooking the Napa Valley, the Profile Estate Vineyard lies on an eastern ridge at almost one thousand feet of elevation. Planted in 1997 by David Abreu, Michel Rolland and then winemaker Bob Levy, the vineyard is comprised of five different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, along with two acres of Cabernet Franc and one acre of Petit Verdot. The steep slopes, rocky soils and volcanic ash bedrock make it a very challenging site to farm, yet this vineyard consistently delivers grapes that stand out for their plush fruit character, complexity and silky tannin.
The grapes were hand harvested at night in order to retain freshness and get the fruit in the cellar as cool as possible. The wine was vinified with classic Bordeaux techniques. Wild yeast fermentation began after five days of cold soak and reached peak temperature of 90°F. After 15 to 21 days of maceration, the wines were drained directly to barrel to complete spontaneous malolactic fermentation. We aged the wine for 21 months in 80% new French oak barrels. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration.
- FROM JEB DUNNUCK: "DENSE PURPLE-HUED, WITH ROCKING NOTES...
“… of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, graphite, chocolate, and freshly sharpened pencils, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a pure, layered mouthfeel, lots of ripe tannins, and a great finish. This is a brilliant wine, and it shows the style and class of this vintage nicely. It’s approachable today, given its balance and purity, yet will evolve for 25+ years.” —Jeb Dunnuck [96 POINTS]
- FROM JAMES SUCKLING: "HERE'S A MEDIUM-BODIED NAPA RED...
“… with round, fine tannins that give a caressing texture to the delicious berry, chocolate and walnut flavors. Lightly chewy at the finish.” —James Suckling [92 POINTS]
- FROM DECANTER MAGAZINE: "MERRYVALE'S FLAGSHIP BORDEAUX BLEND...
“… displaying dark fruits and an oily, rich density. The palate is luxurious… bright, clean, mineral finish.” —Matthew Luczy [92 POINTS]