Merryvale Profile 2013

Blend: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc

Now in its 30th vintage, the Profile proprietary red blend showcases the best fruit from the estate’s hillside Profile Vineyard east of St. Helena. The 2013 blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged 26 months in 100% new French oak from Taransaud, Darnajou, and Sylvain (14.8% alc.). Fruit was harvested at night, hand-sorted in the field and again at the winery, then cold-soaked for five days before fermenting with native yeasts, with daily pump-overs and délestage. Macerations ran 30–45 days; a portion was barrel-fermented on whole berries for 30 days. Malolactic fermentation occurred in new French oak, and the wine was racked every six months during élevage. It was bottled without fining or filtration.

The vintage’s exceptional phenolic maturity enabled deep extraction and layered complexity: aromas of licorice, blackberry, raspberry, and plum intertwine with dark chocolate, black olive, and a balsamic lift. A rich, round entry leads to a palate of significant depth and length, where concentration is balanced by elegance and detail, finishing with leather tones and savory thyme. The oak is fully integrated, the tannins fine-grained and supple. Decant in its youth; expect a lovely tier of complexity eight to ten years from vintage, with additional evolution over the following decade under proper cellaring.