Cuvée POM

Early seasonal rains fell, though short of average, but the timing was ideal for vine health and wine quality in 2016. Every phenological marker, from budbreak in spring to bloom and veraison in the summer, occurred 1 to 2 weeks earlier than normal. Merlot buds pushed from dormancy in the middle of March, following heavy rains that fell earlier in the month. Vine canopy growth propelled through the spring, bouyed by additional light rains in April and an ideal bloom period in early May. Tannin structure for 2016 was amplified by a warm veraison period beginning the third week of July. Good ripening weather brought our Bordeaux varieties in early, with this exceptional Merlot being harvested the second week of October, showing the dark color and ripe red fruit flavors this wine is known for.