2010 Merryvale Saint Helena Cabernet Sauvignon

Merryvale was founded in 1983 though the historic estate dates to the early 20th century. Located in St. Helena, the estate was built just after the repeal of prohibition. Today it is owned by the Schlatter family. Merryvale owns 25 acres of vineyards and grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Named after a building in San Francisco, the winery’s mission is to make Bordeaux-style wines. It makes about 10,000 cases of Merryvale annually, and about 90,000 cases of its second line, the Starmont label. Merryvale’s signature wines are Profile, a red Bordeaux blend, and Silhouette, a Burgundian Chardonnay. Wine Enthusiast rated the 2008 Profile at 97 pts and called it “a tremendous wine that shows how Merryvale is absolutely at the top of its game.”

St. Helena AVA is at the northern end of Napa Valley just north of Rutherford and south of Calistoga. It is a relatively warm climate thanks to the Mayacamas Mountains on its western edge, which protect it from Pacific Ocean fog. Out of the 9,000 acres in the appellation, some 1,500 are under vine. The principal grapes grown in St. Helena are the Bordeaux grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. St. Helena is considered prime wine producing territory, and it was one of the first important wine producing regions in northern California. The legendary Charles Krug founded his winery just north of the town of St. Helena in 1873, and today the appellation is home to many prestigious producers, including Abreu, Grace Family and Spottswoode.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.