Napa Valley

Full

Cork

Polish, intensity, and suaveness define this wine, underpinned by an utterly powerful backbone of dusty mountain tannin that supports pure red berry and black cherry fruit, layered with plum, Asian spice nuances, and a subtle minty freshness. Mineral-led, full-bodied, deeply layered, and expressive, the finish is strikingly long—so long, and so fresh in this vintage. This Merlot hails from the same block within the W.S. Keyes Vineyard that Tom Rinaldi once sourced for Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot in the early days. Winemaker Chris Carpenter has a bold vision for this wine, aiming for it to compete on the world stage alongside benchmarks such as Masseto and Pétrus. The Merlot grapes here have thick skins, and Carpenter leans fully into that intensity, blending in 18% Cabernet Sauvignon from the same site to amplify structure and depth. Native fermentations take place in stainless steel, followed by ageing for 22 months in 73% new French oak barrels.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

La Jota Vineyard Co, W.S. Keyes Vineyard, Merlot, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, California, USA, 2023

Polish, intensity, and suaveness define this wine, underpinned by an utterly powerful backbone of dusty mountain tannin that sup

La Jota Vineyard Co, W.S. Keyes Vineyard, Merlot, Napa

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