Mitsuko’s Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley

Mitsuko’s Vineyard, located south of Highway 121 in the cooler part of Napa Carneros, has proved to have an abundance of ideal sites for Chardonnay. Since its purchase as bare land in 1989, we have continually refined our plantings to optimize the wine grape quality potential of each block by determining the best clones to match each soil type. Thus, our Chardonnay blend continues to evolve towards greater heights every year.

Vintage Notes

A wet start to the year helped recharge the soil moisture profiles in all our vineyards, delivering much needed relief to all regions. Cool conditions persisted throughout the spring, with overcast weather during flowering that resulted in lowering yields. This was followed by cool temperatures leading into early summer which further delayed fruit development. Conditions gradually improved as we entered summer, with warmer temperatures encouraging the vineyards to “catch up” from the sluggish start. Warm and dry weather throughout harvest meant the grapes could be given sufficient time to stay on the vine and develop the intense flavors we look for. The long Indian summer meant we had a relatively late harvest, with the last of our grapes, being picked at the start of November.

Winemaker Notes

Leaving the picking decision until the last moment to gain as much flavor as possible, we hand and machine harvested all our Merlot blocks in three consecutive days. Delivering the fruit to the winery in the early morning, the grapes were destemmed to tank where the must was chilled for a period of three days. Following this cold soak the tanks were allowed to gently warm and the must was inoculated. As the fermentation progressed, the tank was pumped over twice a day, allowing full extraction of tannins, flavor and color from the must. When the wine was dry, the must was pressed and transferred to a combination of barrels and tank storage where it underwent malolactic fermentation. After 12 months aging the wine was lightly filtered and bottled.

Tasting Notes

Generous nose reminiscent of dark plums wrapped around black licorice and anise. On the palate the wine is full bodied with plenty of depth, driving this merlot’s copious dark fruit notes, black currents, briar and plum.