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Larkmead Vineyards 2005 ‘Firebelle’
Merlot Blend, Napa Valley
The 2005 Larkmead ‘Firebelle’ is the first vintage to have been crushed, crafted
and bottled at the new Larkmead Vineyards Winery on Larkmead Lane.
Winemaker Notes:
Alcohol 14.7%
100% Estate grown fruit at Larkmead Vineyards
48% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels
2,100 cases produced
“Deep ruby-red color. Highly aromatic nose of bright cherry, redcurrant and
flowers darkens to sweet blackberry, licorice and dried herbs with aeration. The
palate opens with spicy red licorice and cola notes then unfolds and broadens to
feature typical Larkmead flavors of cassis and black cherry with an elegant
underpinning of stony minerality. The tannins are long and elegant and bring forth
a smoky cedar/mocha finish.
The product of an unusually long and cool growing season, we can admire the
intriguing aromatic complexity and subtle nuance that these growing conditions,
in tandem with our rocky upper-valley site, conferred on this bottling. In strong
contrast to the voluptuous, warm-season 2004 release, the new vintage features an
array of ‘cooler’ Bordeaux-like red and black fruits with tobacco and underbrush
complexity, and as such is more soil- than fruit-driven. An increase in the
concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon component and the introduction of a small amount of nuanced
Cabernet Franc, both darkens and enlivens the spicy red fruit nature of the dominant Merlot.
The wine’s inherent balance of site, fruit and structural elements offers natural development potential
of four to six years in bottle.”
-Winemaker Andy Smith