{ 2023 Red Experiment M2.3 }

Occasionally our imaginations take us on a wild adventure – in this case whole cluster Merlot. Our block of Merlot plays a small but important role in creating our flagship blends. Known for having a decadent mid-palate, it often adds a bit of richness and roundness at the blending table, but there are times that we wish the single expression of the variety had a bit more nuance and expression to match its presence on the palate.

As we tasted through the other wines, we found we loved the floral expression and detail in the portion of our Syrah that we fermented with whole clusters. So, the thought occurred to us – what if we fermented some of the Merlot with whole clusters and blended that back in, just like we do with the Syrah?

The 2023 Red Experiment M2.3 is the result of that initial spark. We fermented 2.5% of the Merlot with whole clusters and then blended that back in at pressing. The resulting wine maintains its natural core of black cherry, lush plum, raspberry, lilac, currant and molasses, while the whole cluster portion adds intrigue with notes of white peppercorn, lavender and chamomile. Plush tannin and breadth define the palate, Merlot’s signature, and grace this wine with depth and length that will continue to serve it well now and for years to come.