Snowden ‘Lost Vineyard’ Merlot 2018

94
Snowden
Fanciful Name: Lost Vineyard Merlot
Varietal: Merlot
Vintage: 2018
Country of Origin: United States
Appellation: Napa Valley
Retail Price: $37.99

Tasting Notes: Merlot has had to overcome quite a stigma over the past decade, but wineries that continued to produce quality merlot are making some of the best in the world. Randy and Scott Snowden had sold their grapes until 1993 to the likes of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Silver Oak, Caymus, Frank Family, Viader and Ramey. They decided to start making wine in 1993 and allowed Diana Snowden (Scott’s daughter, one of my favorite winemakers) to take the helm of winemaking in 2005. Lost Vineyard is a two-acre block located on perlite and sand soils. This wine was hand-harvested and fermented with native wild yeast and aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 14 months while being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The wine is 95% merlot with 5% cabernet sauvignon. Diana knocked this merlot out of the park! It has beautiful structure and intensity, with loads of fruit and velvet texture. Bright flavors of red cherry and currant pop into the palate with silky finesse and elegant balance. The mid-palate is balanced with ripe red fruit, with touches of spice and whiffs of earthy underbrush. Notes of plum, vanilla and cedar are prevalent with hints of tealeaf on the long, lingering finish
Snowden ‘Lost Vineyard’ Merlot 2018
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