The Windacre Vineyard is one of the oldest in Sonoma County. Since the 1980s the site has been dedicated to traditional Bordeaux grape varieties. Peter and Diana Merriam, who grew up in New England where Peter has a wine retail business, purchased the property in 2000. Their son Evan is the estate manager, working with winemaker William Weese. The 21-acre estate is certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). The estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were harvested and sorted by hand and combined with grapes sourced nearby. The wine spent 18 months in 25% new French oak. The 2018 vintage is a blend of 85% Cabernet and 15% Merlot. It is very elegant Cabernet with aromas of black cherry, mingling with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and a very slight touch of citrus zest. It is deftly balanced in the mouth between the freshness of the fruit, the brightness of the acidity and the ripeness of the tannins.
Merriam Vineyard, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
By Rebecca Murphy