Our cool climate Merlot comes from our vineyards in southern Napa Valley grown within sight of the San Francisco Bay. We blended in a small amount of Merlot from our warmer upper Napa Valley vineyards to craft a complex, balanced wine. Committed to natural wine growing and sustainability, we farm our five estate vineyards without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides and they are certified organic and Biodynamic®.

94 Point Review - Robert Whitley The current vintage of Grgich Merlot is a yet another example of how this remarkable winery has succeeded while going against the conventional wisdom over these past three decades. The approach is decidely Old World, evidenced by the fact that with all of its wines Grgich is a vintage or two behind its neighbors in the Napa Valley, choosing to give its wines additional bottle age before releasing them to market. The use of wild (indigenous) yeasts to ferment its wines is common in Europe, but frowned upon in most U.S. precincts, where cultured yeasts are the norm. The wines are always impeccably balanced and among the most cellar-worthy made in the United States. In my cellar I have Grgich Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the early 1990s that are in superb condition, with many more years left in an already long life. So I look at the 2009 Grgich Merlot two ways. In the moment it is a beautiful wine that exhibits firm structure, inviting aromas of red and black fruits with hints of savory spices, and it’s a steal at the price. On the other hand, I can’t wait to taste it again in a dozen years or more.