2017 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain Napa Valley

The 2017 Paloma Merlot fills the glass with luscious aromas of dark, ripe plum, blackberry and hints of thyme.  On the palate, the wine presents a rich, hearty mouthfeel, with consistent notes of ripe, black fruits and a pleasingly, lingering finish.  Showing beautifully in its youth, this offering will evolve seamlessly, offering years of enjoyment.  While an ideal candidate for pairing with a broad range of rich foods, the 2017 Merlot is a meal in itself.  Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley. 85% Merlot / 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in  33% new French oak. 1842 cases produced.

Sheldon Richards:
My parents, Barbara and Jim, always had an interest in wine, both in its making and its consumption, and in food and gardening. In 1980, they were living in Midland, Texas, and began thinking about a retirement home. They decided to start looking for a small property in the Napa Valley where they could build a home and plant a small vineyard. This dream was realized in 1983 when a friend of theirs, Dan Duckhorn, called and told them about the property now known as Paloma Vineyard. When you operate and vineyard and winery, you never retire!

The property is located five miles northwest of St. Helena at the top of Spring Mountain. In the last half of the 19th century it was a vineyard, but was allowed to return to forest around the turn of the century. The purchase of this raw land was the beginning of an odyssey that is ongoing, ever changing, but with one goal—to grow the best grapes possible and make a wine that reflects the terroir of Paloma Vineyard, Spring Mountain and Napa. They were rewarded for strength and determination, receiving the Wine Spectaor’s 2003 TOP PICK over 15,000 other wines from around the world.

For those interested in such things: the elevation of Paloma Vineyard is 2060 feet above sea level at the bottom of the property and 2240 at the top; exposure is generally east with many variations; and the soils are derived from the Sonoma volcanics and from Franciscan sandstone. Total acreage is 17 acres with 15 acres planted in Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.