Merlot ‘La Storia’ Alexander Valley

Winemaker

Miro Tcholakov

Appellation

Alexander Valley

Varieties

Malbec, Merlot

Viticulture

Geyserville Estate Vineyard.

Ratings & Reviews

Vineyard

The 200 acre Geyserville Estate Vineyard consists of 12 red grape varietals, varying in age from 4 to 128 years old. While the majority of the vines are supported by trellis wires, the Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignane blocks are head pruned, which allows these varieties to produce higher quality fruit. Although more labor is involved in farming grapes this way, the improved fruit quality outweighs the increase time and labor cost. All of the fruit is handpicked, mostly at night which keeps the temperature of the juice from 50 to 60 ° F, which preserves and enhances the flavors of the grapes. Soil-building cover crops are used to add nutrients and nitrogen into the soil, as well as control erosion and suppress unwanted weeds, which is part of the winery's sustainable farming efforts. Nothing goes to waste as grape stems and pomace for instance, are composted, turning them into a nutrient-rich material that can be used in the vineyards.

Vinification

Post fermentation, the wine was aged on the grape skins for total of 21 days. Post pressing, the wine was racked twice and pumped into 33% new, mostly French and other European oak barrels. The balance went into older mixed barrels.

Aging

15 months in 33% new French and European oak

Features

Bottle, Cork

Available Sizes (L)

0.750