Family Article
Pedroncelli Merlot Bench Vineyards
Last edited on 9/17/2023 by Cesare
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Specs
Barrel Aging: 14 months in American Oak, 30% new
Alcohol: 13.7%
pH: 3.63
Total Acidity: .630g/100ml
Tasting Notes
Aromas of dark red fruit and a touch of warm cooking spices. Flavors of cherry and plum are showcased with a vanilla oak toast. Medium-bodied with mild tannins follow through to a round and fruity finish. A beautifully balanced wine.
Vineyards
Bench Vineyards: The source for our Merlot comes from three vineyard blocks off our estate vineyard located along Dry Creek Road from a vineyard planted over 5 years beginning in 1990. Bench Vineyards, the
name chosen for this wine, describes the natural benches that flank Dry Creek Valley and rise gradually into the steep hills. Characterized by sloped topography and gravelly/rocky residual soils, the unique growing conditions combine to bring out the best in our Merlot.
Winemaker Notes
2020 brought a good growing season with a warm summer and even ripening. The grapes were picked over the last days of August based on maturity and acidity levels. A high concentration of phenols and aromatics highlights this vintage. The fruit was crushed into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and cold-soaked for 48 hours. Daily pump-overs during the fermentation give a substantial increase in flavor and color. The young wine was transferred to small American oak barrels to age for 14 months in order to develop smoothness and complexity, giving the wine a subtle backbone of oak components with judicial use of new oak.
Barrel Aging: 14 months in American Oak, 30% new
Alcohol: 13.7%
pH: 3.63
Total Acidity: .630g/100ml
Tasting Notes
Aromas of dark red fruit and a touch of warm cooking spices. Flavors of cherry and plum are showcased with a vanilla oak toast. Medium-bodied with mild tannins follow through to a round and fruity finish. A beautifully balanced wine.
Vineyards
Bench Vineyards: The source for our Merlot comes from three vineyard blocks off our estate vineyard located along Dry Creek Road from a vineyard planted over 5 years beginning in 1990. Bench Vineyards, the
name chosen for this wine, describes the natural benches that flank Dry Creek Valley and rise gradually into the steep hills. Characterized by sloped topography and gravelly/rocky residual soils, the unique growing conditions combine to bring out the best in our Merlot.
Winemaker Notes
2020 brought a good growing season with a warm summer and even ripening. The grapes were picked over the last days of August based on maturity and acidity levels. A high concentration of phenols and aromatics highlights this vintage. The fruit was crushed into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and cold-soaked for 48 hours. Daily pump-overs during the fermentation give a substantial increase in flavor and color. The young wine was transferred to small American oak barrels to age for 14 months in order to develop smoothness and complexity, giving the wine a subtle backbone of oak components with judicial use of new oak.