Clos Du Val Merlot 2016

76% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Deep plum in color. Offers aromas of complex, yet vibrant black fruit, spice, dark chocolate, and a hint of toast. The mouthfeel is warm and rich, with a solid middle marked with flavors of black cherry and blueberry, punctuated by a silky, lingering finish.

After a worldwide search for ideal vineyard properties on which to grow classic French varietals, John Goelet and French winemaker Bernard Portet founded Clos Du Val (French for "enclosure in the valley") in 1972 in the Stags Leap District. It was a small vineyard estate of only 150 acres, so in 1973 they acquired an additional 180 acres in the Carneros district. Portet's French-inspired approach to winemaking, combined with the extraordinary character of the Napa Valley fruit, established Clos Du Val's tradition of classic estate-style wines of balance, complexity, and elegance. He officially retired in 2010 and today Senior Winemaker Kristy Melton continues to handcraft Napa Valley wines with a unique and elegant style.