2016 Tenor Merlot
The 2016 Tenor Merlot was crafted from several vineyards across three separate AVAs in Washington State: Columbia Valley, Red Mountain, and the Walla Walla Valley. Farmed using sustainable practices, the vines were limited to one or two clusters per shoot for maximum concentration. They were then hand-harvested in the early morning between late September and late October, with the final pick coming on October 28th, 2016. Upon arriving in the winery, each cluster was hand-sorted, berry-sorted, and then fermented in either stainless steel (81%) or concrete (19%) tanks. Using only the free-run wine, it was then moved to custom French oak barrels for 21 months of cellaring with over 40 individual evaluations by our winemaking team. The resulting 11 barrels were bottled, without fining or filtration, on August 13th, 2018, producing only 257 cases.This wine is currently not available. Join the mailing list to stay informed about Tenors releases.
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"The 2016 Merlot (100% Merlot aged in 91% new French oak) has a smoky, meaty bouquet of ripe bloody blueberry and currant fruits, freshly sharpened pencils, wood smoke, and camphor. This ripe, medium to full-bodied effort has plenty of fruit, nicely balanced oak, ripe tannins and a good finish."
92 points - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
Tasting Notes
Sweet smoked strawberry, plum puree, sandalwood and black tea. Even a hint of dried herbs dance in the background. Swirling brings up plum skin, black currants, bramble fruit, black spices and dark caramel. The palate is plush, round and surprisingly vibrant with a juicy quality to the plump and sultry fruit. It finishes with silky but firm tannins and a mixture of red and black fruits and a hint of licorice. Remarkably pleasurable now, but still a baby.
Wine Facts
Labeled Appellation:
Columbia Valley
Vineyard(s):
Dionysus, Red Mountain Vineyard, Hedges Family Estate, Pepper Bridge
Varietal Composition:
100% Merlot
Vinification:
Fermentation in 81% stainless steel, 19% concrete. Aged in 91% new and 9% used French oak for 21 months
Alcohol:
14.4%
Cases Produced:
257
Drinkability:
Now-2031
Trade Materials
Additional Information about this Vintage
Harvest & Farming Practices: In most of these vineyards they are farmed with vertical shoot positioning and extensive leafing on the eastside of the vine. All vineyards are farmed sustainably, with Hedges Estate vineyard being farmed biodynamically. Tonnage is controlled via surface area in each block and tons per acre tends to vary between just under 3 tons per acre and just over 4 tons per acre depending on the varietal.
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