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2016 Red Experiment M2.6 | Three-Bottle Collection
  • 2016 Red Experiment M2.6 | Three-Bottle Collection
2016 Red Experiment M2.6 | Three-Bottle Collection

Three-Bottle Collection 2016 Red Experiment M2.6

Experiment M2.6
$810.00
Enjoy With:
The Unknown Craftsman
by Sōetsu Yanagi

The Experimental Story

Put simply, the extremely limited suite of wines that comprise our Experiment Series vary dramatically from year to year, each one a poetic answer to a new set of questions posed by the art of winemaking. While we call these ever-changing wines by the name Experiment, they might also be described as an ‘Investigation’ or ‘Exploration.’

Every new Experiment is but a small bite into a much larger fruit, but each one also tells us something new about our property, our grapes and about the larger subject of wine itself. Only the most compelling Experiments are bottled and released to our mailing list collectors. Many lessons gleaned from Experiment have in turn become new winery practice and informed successive vintages of an estate wine, such as Hexameter.

Tasting Notes

2016 Red Experiment M2.6

Note: An exploration of Merlot

Merlot can be a tricky grape to grow on Pritchard Hill, and only one block is planted to this variety. As a consequence, we hadn't made a Merlot-focused blend prior to Experiment M2.6. Our goal was to study the effects of Merlot, particularly with an eye toward ageability.

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Varietals

  • 47.01% Merlot
  • 41.06% Cabernet Franc
  • 7.14% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 4.79% Petit Verdot

Methodology

Each lot was barreled down and aged separately for 12 months after fermentation. Then, the lots were tasted and blended to create a wine of 47% Merlot. This was then aged for an additional 8 months prior to bottling.

In Conclusion

There was never any doubt of Merlot's nobility or strength in carrying a blend. This Experiment cemented its important contributions to a blend, adding mid-palate, richness and softer tannins. All of these attributes are greatly accentuated in this wine. Time will ultimately answer the aging question, but Merlot certainly contributes mightily and pulls together its brawnier siblings in a graceful way that we are confident will progress beautifully.