2021 Austin Hope Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 89.6 points

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  2/25/2024 - AaronJCohen wrote: 91 Points

  Opened for Pris bday Made duck w cherry relish per chef who recommended pairing w this wine. The wine was fruity with jammy blueberry and boysenberry. It was like a sweet cherry pie mid palate w soft tannins. It was exposed to a lot of oak giving it a sweet cedar finish.

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  1/5/2024 - AaronJCohen Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Consumed this wine at home it was lovely. Notes of raspberries, plum and notes of tobacco.

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  9/20/2023 - AaronJCohen wrote:

  Austin Hope is in constant motion and a lifelong learner. He continually pushes his team to explore a nd
  experiment with new varietals, new techniques an d concepts that will ultimately improve the quality of his
  wines for everyone to enjoy. When a particular tri al or experiment exceeds expecta tions, Austin is able to
  share it with the Cel lar Club. These small product on wines are truly the result of his li felong passion and
  yours to enjoy.
  
  Our Merlot is sourced in the Estrella district and located on Airport Road near the Estrella River. This is an ideal spot with
  sandy soils and daily breezes from both the north and south.
  The 2021 growing season was very typical through early spring with warm days and cool nights. Early summer through
  harvest gave us some unexpected heatwaves but plenty of marine breezes and mild weather prevailed. The result was a
  slight delay of harvest while we waited for acidity, pH and brix to balance creating mature flavors.
  W I N E M A K I N G N O T E S
  After harvest, the Merlot was fermented in stainless-steel tanks for 10-14 days. Extended macerations and carefully
  managed pump overs enhanced the extraction of color and tannin. The Merlot was aged for 9 months in neutral American
  and French Oak. The lots were racked only once during its cellar life, with the final racking occurring to blend, just prior to
  filtering and bottling in mid-July of 2022.
  T A S T I N G N O T E S
  Our Austin Hope Merlot is a stunning rendition of this noble grape. On the nose, rich berry, spiced with black pepper and
  an earthy tone fill your glass. On the palate lively notes of plum, raspberry, and tobacco create a robust full-bodied wine
  with fine firm luscious tannins that linger.

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