2006 3 Blind Moose California Merlot
Tasting Notes
Full-bodied wine with a vibrant, deep red
color. Aromatics of fresh, ripe plums and
berries, with hints of spice and mocha.
Rounded, soft mouthfeel with dense
fruit flavors, chocolate, balanced with
sweet smooth textures and finesse.
Vintage
The 2006 growing season was a good
one with a lot of spring rains delivering
above-average rainfall. Spring temperatures
were mild, so ripening proceeded
at an even pace. In July, a two-week heat
wave hit the region, but the vines came
through fine. Temperatures returned to
normal by the start of harvest in
mid-August. We harvested the crop at
optimum maturity and see great flavor
development in the wines.
Vineyards
The grapes came from two excellent
sources for high-quality California
Merlot. Ninety percent came from the
sundrenched, moose-friendly vineyards
along the cool Central Coast, and the
balance came from the Lodi region.
Winemaking
Fermenting this wine was the least
of our worries. It made the journey
from sugar to alcohol in stainless
steel tanks swiftly, with the juice
pumped over the skins several times
daily to maximize the extraction of
color, flavor and tannin. A judicious
dollop of French and American oak
enhanced the wine’s texture and
complexity, as did blending in 10%
of Que Syrah Syrah.
Technical Info
Harvest Dates: Early September 2006
Average Brix at Harvest: 24°
Fermentation: Stainless steel with oak adjuncts
Aging: 45% French oak and 10% American oak,
oak adjuncts
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acid: 0.60
pH: 3.50