Rombauer Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley 2023

Viticulture

The Merlot is grown in estate-owned and grower-partner vineyards on the Napa side of Carneros, where the clay soils are similar to those of Bordeaux’s right bank. The cool climate allows the thin-skinned grapes to gradually develop flavor and tannins while retaining natural acidity. 

One of the best vintages in recent memory. 2023 was cool and consistent, ending with some warm spells in September. These perfect conditions allowed optimal fruit ripeness while still preserving the signature acid and body for which Rombauer wines are known. Sustainable farming practices throughout the growing season were tailored to each block with the assistance of aerial photos produced using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) technology. The fruit was handpicked at dawn and sorted in the vineyard. 

Vinification

The grapes were carefully destemmed and optically sorted to ensure only perfect fruit made it into the wine. A cold soak extracted color and flavor before a combination of tank and barrel fermentation was used to provide a richer, more textured palate. The wine was gently basket-pressed before being racked to French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and aging. 

Aged 16 months in French oak (35% new)

Tasting notes

Aromas of rich dark fruit and cassis meet hints of vanilla on the nose. The palate is dense and layered, with flavors of red plum, blackberry and spice. The wine’s fine, soft tannins are subtly framed by a bright acidity in each harmonious sip. 

Winery Description

Founded in 1980 by Koerner and Joan Rombauer, Rombauer Vineyards have been producing acclaimed wines from Napa Valley, Sonoma County, the Sierra Foothills, and the Santa Lucia Highlands for over 40years.

In 1972, former commercial airline pilot, Koerner Rombauer and his wife Joan Rombauer moved their two children, two horses and five dogs to Napa Valley, where they fell in love with the landscape and winegrowing. They were already well acquainted with the natural relationship between food and wine - Koerner's great aunt Irma wrote the internationally renowned cookbook, The Joy of Cooking, and his German ancestors had deep roots in the winegrowing region of Rheingau.
 
Having made friends in Napa Valley's growing wine community, the Rombauers become partners in Conn Creek Winery with Bill Beaver and Bill Collins. The family learns the business from the ground up, helping with everything from cleaning tanks to working on the bottling line.

The Rombauers sell their stake in Conn Creek in 1980 and start their own winery. They harvest their first grapes Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap District and with Winemaker Bob Levy produce their first vintages at Shafer Vineyards and even in Koerner's garage, which is bonded as a winery for the purpose.

The inaugural wines for Rombauer Vineyards are bottled at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. The Rombauers break ground for their own winery on their St. Helena property and crush their first grapes, Chardonnay, in August. The family builds a winery with capacity beyond their own needs to house a custom-crush business to help finance construction. From 1982 to 2008, Rombauer Vineyards serves as home base to an elite group of up-and-coming wineries, including Dominus, Neyers Cellars, Spottswoode, Duckhorn, Merryvale, Corison, Etude and others.

In 1984 they released their first Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Six years later, Rombauer Vineyards purchased its first Chardonnay grapes from the Carneros region in 1990. This marked the beginning of a lasting partnership with the Sangiacomo family, farmers for three generations. 

Rombauer Vineyards 1991 Carneros Chardonnay makes Wine Spectator’s prestigious Top 100 Wines list, ranking No. 68. It is the first of five appearances on the annual list for the winery’s iconic Chardonnay. Critical acclaim and popularity with consumers continued as Rombauer’s 1993 Carneros Chardonnay ranks No. 32 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines list.

The winery has become widely acclaimed with over seventy 90+ point awards across Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir varietals. Under the direction of Richie Allen, the Vice President of Viticulture and Winemaking and Winemaker Luke Clayton, Rombauer Vineyards combines traditional viticultural and winemaking practices with the best available technology to ensure the highest quality wine production. This has created spectacular wines such as the Carneros Chardonnay, named one of the Top 100 Wines of the World five times by Wine Spectator and is ranked among the Top 10 Chardonnays for 17 consecutive years in Wine & Spirits Restaurant Wine Poll.

Rombauer Vineyards believes it's an honor and responsibility to be good stewards of their vineyards. They use sustainable practices in the vineyards and at the winery to protect and preserve the land for future generations, earning certifications as California Sustainable Certified Vineyard & Winery and Napa Green Winery Certified. Today, Rombauer Vineyards is still operated with members of the second and third generations of the Rombauer family, and carries on Koerner Rombauer's values of gratitude through family-style hospitality.