Inconnu, 2018 Los Carneros Merlot


Producer


Vintage

2018

Region

United StatesCalifornia

Appellation

Los Carneros, Sonoma

Varietal

Merlot

Farming

No/Low till, regenerative viticulture, Organic

Vinification

Barrel Aged, Hand harvested, Indigenous yeast fermented, Organically Grown Grapes

Soil Type

Clay, Gravelly loam, Sandy loam

Laura is hearkening back to old school (1960s/1970s/mid80s) California Bordeaux with this vineyard. It’s organically farmed, west-facing hillside, vine age 20-25 years, Carneros gumbo soils; think clay loam, and a ton of other random stuff. Fermentation is in 1.5-ton vats and very slow and at cool temperatures to bring forth the more delicate aromatics of Merlot. The wine stays on the skins for 2 weeks post fermentation to get softer more integrated tannins that one misses out on by not using new French oak barrels. Aged for 18 months in a mix of neutral and twice used Demptos medium toast barrels (Demptos is known for giving a baking spice aromatic profile).